| 1. |
- Beal, Jacob, et al.
(author)
-
Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density
- 2020
-
In: Communications Biology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2399-3642. ; 3:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data.
|
|
| 2. |
- Wang, Xiaoyu, et al.
(author)
-
Guest Editorial: Modeling and Simulation Methods for Analysis and Design of Advanced Energy Conversion Systems
- 2020
-
In: IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion. - 1558-0059 .- 0885-8969. ; 35:1, s. 309-311
-
Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The papers in this special section examine modeling and simulation methods for the analysis and design of advanced energy conversion systems. Energy conversion lies aEnergyveral fronts including materials, conversion methods, power electronics, and controls have created new opportunities for efficient energy conversion from both the conventional and new sources of energy. Our urgent need to solve many critical problems with regards to the sustainability and security of our energy system as well as the ever-increasing environmental challenges facing humanity have further spurred unprecedented opportunities for creation of innovative solutions to address these challenges.
|
|
| 3. |
|
|
| 4. |
- Wu, Peng, et al.
(author)
-
A novel methodology for synthesizing crystalline metallosilicates with expanded pore windows through molecular alkoxysilylation of zeolitic lamellar precursor
- 2008
-
In: Journal of the American Chemical Society. - : American Chemical Society. - 0002-7863 .- 1520-5126. ; 130:26, s. 8178-8187
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Postalkoxysilylation with diethoxydimethylsilane has been carried out on the zeolitic lamellar precursors of various topologies such as MWW, FER, CDO and MCM-47 aiming to construct new crystalline structures with expanded pore apertures between the layers. The silylation process and the crystalline and pore structures of the resulting materials have been investigated with the techniques of XRD, IR, 13C and 29Si MAS NMR, ICP, SEM, HRTEM, elemental analyses, and N2 adsorption. In contrast to forming known three-dimensional zeolite structures after direct calcination of the lamellar precursors, the silylation led to new crystalline structures with opener pores, as evidenced by the shift of layer-related diffractions to the lower-angle region in XRD patterns and the enlarged interlayer pores found by HRTEM images. After optimizing the treatment conditions, particularly the amount of silane agent, a maximum and homogeneous silylation was realized, which guaranteed the phase purity in interlayer expanded zeolites. The expanded structures were well preserved after calcination at 823 K or reflux in water for 1 to 2 weeks, indicating a high thermal stability and also a hydrothermal stability. The interlayer expanded zeolites prepared from the metallosilicate precursors of MWW topology exhibited higher catalytic activities in the redox and solid acid-catalyzed reactions of bulky molecules than that of their counterparts with conventional MWW topology.
|
|
| 5. |
|
|
| 6. |
- Yang, Lingling, et al.
(author)
-
Trichostatin A Inhibits Transforming Growth Factor-beta-Induced Reactive Oxygen Species Accumulation and Myofibroblast Differentiation via Enhanced NF-E2-Related Factor 2-Antioxidant Response Element Signaling
- 2013
-
In: Molecular Pharmacology. - : American Society for Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET). - 0026-895X .- 1521-0111. ; 83:3, s. 671-680
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Trichostatin A (TSA) has been shown to prevent fibrosis in vitro and in vivo. The present study aimed at investigating the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging by TSA on transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta)-induced myofibroblast differentiation of corneal fibroblasts in vitro. Human immortalized corneal fibroblasts were treated with TGF-beta in the presence of TSA, the NAD(P) H oxidase inhibitor diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), the antioxidant N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), the NF-E2-related factor 2-antioxidant response element (Nrf2-ARE) activator sulforaphane, or small interfering RNA. Myofibroblast differentiation was assessed by alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) expression, F-actin bundle formation, and collagen gel contraction. ROS, H2O2, intracellular glutathione (GSH) level, cellular total antioxidant capacity, and the activation of Nrf2-ARE signaling were determined with various assays. Treatment with TSA and the Nrf2-ARE activator resulted in increased inhibition of the TGF-beta-induced myofibroblast differentiation as compared with treatment with DPI or NAC. Furthermore, TSA also decreased cellular ROS and H2O2 accumulation induced by TGF-beta, whereas it elevated intracellular GSH level and cellular total antioxidant capacity. In addition, TSA induced Nrf2 nuclear translocation and up-regulated the expression of Nrf2-ARE downstream antioxidant genes, whereas Nrf2 knockdown by RNA interference blocked the inhibition of TSA on myofibroblast differentiation. In conclusion, this study provides the first evidence implicating that TSA inhibits TGF-beta-induced ROS accumulation and myofibroblast differentiation via enhanced Nrf2-ARE signaling.
|
|
| 7. |
- Zhang, Lingling, et al.
(author)
-
Integrative analysis of γδT cells and dietary factors reveals predictive values for autism spectrum disorder in children
- 2023
-
In: Brain, behavior, and immunity. - 0889-1591 .- 1090-2139. ; 111, s. 76-89
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) includes a range of multifactorial neurodevelopmental disabilities characterized by a variable set of neuropsychiatric symptoms. Immunological abnormalities have been considered to play important roles in the pathogenesis of ASD, but it is still unknown which abnormalities are more prominent. Methods: A total of 105 children with ASD and 105 age and gender-matched typically developing (TD) children were recruited. An eating and mealtime behavior questionnaire, dietary habits, and the Bristol Stool Scale were investigated. The immune cell profiles in peripheral blood were analyzed by flow cytometry, and cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17A, and TNF-α) in plasma were examined by Luminex assay. The obtained results were further validated using an external validation cohort including 82 children with ASD and 51 TD children. Results: Compared to TD children, children with ASD had significant eating and mealtime behavioral changes and gastrointestinal symptoms characterized by increased food fussiness and emotional eating, decreased fruit and vegetable consumption, and increased stool astriction. The proportion of γδT cells was significantly higher in children with ASD than TD children (β: 0.156; 95% CI: 0.888 ∼ 2.135, p < 0.001) even after adjusting for gender, eating and mealtime behaviors, and dietary habits. In addition, the increased γδT cells were evident in all age groups (age < 48 months: β: 0.288; 95% CI: 0.420 ∼ 4.899, p = 0.020; age ≥ 48 months: β: 0.458; 95% CI: 0.694 ∼ 9.352, p = 0.024), as well as in boys (β: 0.174; 95% CI: 0.834 ∼ 2.625, p < 0.001) but not in girls. These findings were also confirmed by an external validation cohort. Furthermore, IL-17, but not IFN-γ, secretion by the circulating γδT cells was increased in ASD children. Machine learning revealed that the area under the curve in nomogram plots for increased γδT cells combined with eating behavior/dietary factors was 0.905, which held true in both boys and girls and in all the age groups of ASD children. The decision curves showed that children can receive significantly higher diagnostic benefit within the threshold probability range from 0 to 1.0 in the nomogram model. Conclusions: Children with ASD present with divergent eating and mealtime behaviors and dietary habits as well as gastrointestinal symptoms. In peripheral blood, γδT cells but not αβT cells are associated with ASD. The increased γδT cells combined with eating and mealtime behavior/dietary factors have a high value for assisting in the diagnosis of ASD.
|
|
| 8. |
- Fu, Xi, et al.
(author)
-
Associations between the indoor microbiome, environmental characteristics and respiratory infections in junior high school students of Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
- 2021
-
In: Environmental Science. - : Royal Society of Chemistry. - 2050-7887 .- 2050-7895. ; 23:8, s. 1171-1181
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Pathogens are commonly present in the human respiratory tract, but symptoms are varied among individuals. The interactions between pathogens, commensal microorganisms and host immune systems are important in shaping the susceptibility, development and severity of respiratory diseases. Compared to the extensive studies on the human microbiota, few studies reported the association between indoor microbiome exposure and respiratory infections. In this study, 308 students from 21 classrooms were randomly selected to survey the occurrence of respiratory infections in junior high schools of Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Vacuum dust was collected from the floor, chairs and desks of these classrooms, and high-throughput amplicon sequencing (16S rRNA and ITS) and quantitative PCR were conducted to characterize the absolute concentration of the indoor microorganisms. Fifteen bacterial genera in the classes Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, and Cyanobacteria were protectively associated with respiratory infections (p < 0.01), and these bacteria were mainly derived from the outdoor environment. Previous studies also reported that outdoor environmental bacteria were protectively associated with chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma, but the genera identified were different between acute and chronic respiratory diseases. Four fungal genera from Ascomycota, including Devriesia, Endocarpon, Sarcinomyces and an unclassified genus from Herpotrichillaceae, were protectively associated with respiratory infections (p < 0.01). House dust mite (HDM) allergens and outdoor NO2 concentration were associated with respiratory infections and infection-related microorganisms. A causal mediation analysis revealed that the health effects of HDM and NO2 were partially or fully mediated by the indoor microorganisms. This is the first study to explore the association between environmental characteristics, microbiome exposure and respiratory infections in a public indoor environment, expanding our understanding of the complex interactions among these factors.
|
|
| 9. |
- Li, Qian, et al.
(author)
-
Multiple biomarker responses in caged benthic gastropods Bellamya aeruginosa after in situ exposure to Taihu Lake in China
- 2018
-
In: Environmental Sciences Europe. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2190-4707 .- 2190-4715. ; 30
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Freshwater sediments have been recognized as a long-term sink and potential source for environmental pollutants released into the aquatic ecosystems. In this study, the sediment quality of Taihu Lake, which is susceptible to anthropogenic contamination, was assessed by a combination of chemical analytical and biological end points. Specifically, the snail Bellamya aeruginosa was caged in situ at two locations representing different pollution levels for different exposure times (7, 14 and 21 days). At each of these time points, biochemical parameters, i.e., phase I biotransformation enzymes ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD), the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase, reactive oxygen species, protein carbonyl content and lipid peroxidation, were evaluated in the hepato-pancreas of snails. In addition, surface sediments were collected for analysis of contaminants of concern, including inorganic pollutants, organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers.Results: Chemical analyses revealed that sediments from Taihu Lake were contaminated with trace elements and organic pollutants. Concentrations of trace elements (Cu, Ni and As) and organochlorinated pesticides (4,4'-DDE) exceeded their corresponding threshold effect level according to the sediment quality assessment values for freshwater ecosystems in Canada, indicating that adverse biological effects may occur. All biomarkers, except EROD activity, were induced in snails during all exposure times. The integrated biomarker response index (IBR) indicated that during the initial exposure phase (7 days), B. aeruginosa were subjected to significant environmental stress, which diminished during later sampling time points.Conclusions: Results showed that IBR correlated well with the levels of environmental contaminants, demonstrating the applicability of this biomonitoring approach to complex environmental exposure scenarios.
|
|
| 10. |
- Li, Xiao-Fei, et al.
(author)
-
Effects of Interface Roughness on Electronic Transport Properties of Nanotube-Molecule-Nanotube Junctions
- 2010
-
In: The Journal of Physical Chemistry C. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1932-7447 .- 1932-7455. ; 114:28, s. 12335-12340
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We investigate electronic transport properties of molecular junctions constructed by a single conjugated molecule attached in the gap of two broken metallic single walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs). With the help of molecular dynamic simulations (MD), we have provided a realistic description for mechanical stretching processes of different carbon nanotubes and contact structures between the broken CNTs and the conjugated molecule in different junctions. Statistical analysis shows that the molecule generally prefers to be titled inside the junctions with polygonal contact, in particular the apex at the broken ends of tubes. Nonequilibrium Green's function (NEGF) calculations reveal that such realistic CNTs-molecular junctions have very different electron transport properties from junctions with ideal SWCNTs as electrodes. The statistically and energetically favorable CNTs-molecular junctions of different chiralities are found to be always metallic, but their absolute conductance is sensitive to the chirality of the tube. It is suggested that with armchair CNTs as electrodes, a better conductivity can be obtained. The calculated current-voltage characteristics of junctions with realistic contact geometries are in good agreement with experiments.
|
|
| 11. |
- Li, Xiao-Fei, et al.
(author)
-
Nanomechanically induced molecular conductance switch
- 2009
-
In: Applied Physics Letters. - : AIP Publishing. - 0003-6951 .- 1077-3118. ; 95:23
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A mechanical single molecular switch using specific metallic broken carbon nanotubes (BCNTs) as electrodes is designed. It can operate by simply pressing one of the electrodes mechanically with robust performance. The device has been modeled by combining molecular dynamics simulations and first principles calculations. With the help of molecular dynamic simulations, a realistic description of the broken ends of the BCNT is obtained, while high ON/OFF conductance ratio has been obtained from nonequilibrium Green's function calculations. A microscopic mechanism is suggested for the switch behavior.
|
|
| 12. |
- Song, Lin, et al.
(author)
-
KIBRA controls exosome secretion via inhibiting the proteasomal degradation of Rab27a
- 2019
-
In: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 10
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Exosomes are nanosized membrane vesicles released from cells after fusion of multivesicular bodies (MVBs) with the plasma membrane (PM) and play important roles in intercellular communication and numerous biological processes. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating exosome secretion remain poorly understood. Here we identify KIBRA as an adaptor-like protein that stabilizes Rab27a, which in turn controls exosome secretion both in vitro and in vivo. Knockdown or overexpression of KIBRA in neuronal and podocyte cell lines leads to a decrease or increase of exosome secretion, respectively, and KIBRA depletion increases MVB size and number. Comparing protein profiles between KIBRA knockout and wild-type mouse brain showed significantly decreased Rab27a, a small GTPase that regulates MVB-PM docking. Rab27a is stabilized by interacting with KIBRA, which prevents ubiquitination and degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. In conclusion, we show that KIBRA controls exosome secretion via inhibiting the proteasomal degradation of Rab27a.
|
|
| 13. |
- Wang, Xiaolei, et al.
(author)
-
Induction of Fibroblast Senescence During Mouse Corneal Wound Healing
- 2019
-
In: Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. - : ASSOC RESEARCH VISION OPHTHALMOLOGY INC. - 0146-0404 .- 1552-5783. ; 60:10, s. 3669-3679
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PURPOSE. To investigate the presence and role of fibroblast senescence in the dynamic process of corneal wound healing involving stromal cell apoptosis, proliferation, and differentiation.METHODS. An in vivo corneal wound healing model was performed using epithelial debridement in C57BL/6 mice. The corneas were stained using TUNEL, Ki67, and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) as markers of apoptosis, proliferation, and myofibroblastic differentiation, respectively. Cellular senescence was confirmed by senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-beta-gal) staining and P16(Ink4a) expression. Mitogenic response and gene expression were compared among normal fibroblasts, H2O2-induced senescent fibroblasts, and TGF-beta-induced myofibroblasts in vitro. The senescence was further detected in mouse models of corneal scarring, alkali burn, and penetrating keratoplasty (PKP).RESULTS. The apoptosis and proliferation of corneal stromal cells were found to peak at 4 and 24 hours after epithelial debridement. Positive staining of SA-beta-gal was observed clearly in the anterior stromal cells at 3 to 5 days. The senescent cells displayed P16(Ink4a) thorn vimentin+ alpha-SMA+, representing the major origin of activated corneal resident fibroblasts. Compared with normal fibroblasts and TGF-beta-induced myofibroblasts, H2O2-induced senescent fibroblasts showed a nonfibrogenic phenotype, including a reduced response to growth factor basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) or platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), increased matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 1/3/13 expression, and decreased fibronectin and collagen I expression. Moreover, cellular senescence was commonly found in the mouse corneal scarring, alkali burn, and PKP models.CONCLUSIONS. Corneal epithelial debridement induced the senescence of corneal fibroblasts after apoptosis and proliferation. The senescent cells displayed a nonfibrogenic phenotype and may be involved in the self-limitation of corneal fibrosis.
|
|
| 14. |
- Yang, Lingling, et al.
(author)
-
Substance P promotes diabetic corneal epithelial wound healing through molecular mechanisms mediated via the neurokinin-1 receptor.
- 2014
-
In: Diabetes. - : American Diabetes Association. - 0012-1797 .- 1939-327X. ; 63:12, s. 4262-4274
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Substance P (SP) is a neuropeptide, predominantly released from sensory nerve fibers, with a potentially protective role in diabetic corneal epithelial wound healing. However, the molecular mechanism remains unclear. We investigated the protective mechanism of SP against hyperglycemia-induced corneal epithelial wound healing defects, using type 1 diabetic mice and high glucose-treated corneal epithelial cells. Hyperglycemia induced delayed corneal epithelial wound healing, accompanied with attenuated corneal sensation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and impairments of Akt-, EGFR-, and Sirt1-activation, as well as decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capacity. However, SP application promoted the epithelial wound healing, the recovery of corneal sensation, the improvement of mitochondrial function, and the reactivation of Akt, EGFR and Sirt1, as well as increased ROS scavenging capacity, in both diabetic mouse corneal epithelium and high glucose-treated corneal epithelial cells. The promotion of SP on diabetic corneal epithelial healing was completely abolished by a NK-1 receptor antagonist. Moreover, the subconjunctival injection of NK-1 receptor antagonist also caused diabetic corneal pathological changes in normal mice. In conclusion, the results suggest that SP-NK-1 receptor signaling plays a critical role in the maintenance of corneal epithelium homeostasis, and that SP signaling through the NK-1 recssssseptor contributes to the promotion of diabetic corneal epithelial wound healing by rescued activation of Akt, EGFR, and Sirt1, improvement of mitochondrial function, and increased ROS scavenging capacity.
|
|
| 15. |
- Yao, Mingfei, et al.
(author)
-
An Update on the Efficacy and Functionality of Probiotics for the Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
- 2021
-
In: Engineering. - : Elsevier. - 2095-8099. ; 7:5, s. 679-686
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which has a global prevalence of 20%-33%, has become the main cause of chronic liver disease. Except for lifestyle medication, no definitive medical treatment has been established so far, making it urgent to find effective strategies for the treatment of NAFLD. With the identification of the significant role played by the gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of NAFLD, studies on probiotics for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD are increasing in number. Bacteria from the Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus genera constitute the most widely used traditional probiotics. More recently, emerging next-generation probiotics (NGPs) such as Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii have also gained attention due to their potential as therapeutic options for the treatment of NAFLD. This review provides an overview of the effects of oral administration of traditional probiotics and NGPs on the development and progress of NAFLD. The mechanisms by which probiotics directly or indirectly affect the disease are illustrated, based on the most recent animal and clinical studies. Although numerous studies have been published on this topic, further research is required to comprehensively understand the specific underlying mechanisms among probiotics, gut microbiota, and NAFLD, and additional large-scale clinical trials are required to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of probiotics for the treatment of NAFLD, as well as the safety of probiotics in the human body. (C) 2020 THE AUTHORS. Published by Elsevier LTD on behalf of Chinese Academy of Engineering and Higher Education Press Limited Company.
|
|
| 16. |
- Yu, Xia, et al.
(author)
-
Wild-Type and Non-Wild-Type Mycobacterium tuberculosis MIC Distributions for the Novel Fluoroquinolone Antofloxacin Compared with Those for Ofloxacin, Levofloxacin, and Moxifloxacin
- 2016
-
In: Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. - : AMER SOC MICROBIOLOGY. - 0066-4804 .- 1098-6596. ; 60:9, s. 5232-5237
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Antofloxacin (AFX) is a novel fluoroquinolone that has been approved in China for the treatment of infections caused by a variety of bacterial species. We investigated whether it could be repurposed for the treatment of tuberculosis by studying its in vitro activity. We determined the wild-type and non-wild-type MIC ranges for AFX as well as ofloxacin (OFX), levofloxacin (LFX), and moxifloxacin (MFX), using the microplate alamarBlue assay, of 126 clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains from Beijing, China, of which 48 were OFX resistant on the basis of drug susceptibility testing on Lowenstein-Jensen medium. The MIC distributions were correlated with mutations in the quinolone resistance-determining regions of gyrA (Rv0006) and gyrB (Rv0005). Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) data for AFX were retrieved from the literature. AFX showed lower MIC levels than OFX but higher MIC levels than LFX and MFX on the basis of the tentative epidemiological cutoff values (ECOFFs) determined in this study. All strains with non-wild-type MICs for AFX harbored known resistance mutations that also resulted in non-wild-type MICs for LFX and MFX. Moreover, our data suggested that the current critical concentration of OFX for Lowenstein-Jensen medium that was recently revised by the World Health Organization might be too high, resulting in the misclassification of phenotypically non-wildtype strains with known resistance mutations as wild type. On the basis of our exploratory PK/PD calculations, the current dose of AFX is unlikely to be optimal for the treatment of tuberculosis, but higher doses could be effective.
|
|
| 17. |
- Zhan, Lingling, et al.
(author)
-
A Near-Infrared Photoactive Morphology Modifier Leads to Significant Current Improvement and Energy Loss Mitigation for Ternary Organic Solar Cells
- 2018
-
In: Advanced Science. - : WILEY. - 2198-3844. ; 5:8
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Herein, efficient organic solar cells (OSCs) are realized with the ternary blend of a medium band gap donor (poly[(2,6-(4,8-bis(5-(2-ethylhexyl)thiophen-2-yl)-benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b]dithiophene))-alt-(5,5-(1,3-di-2-thienyl-5,7-bis(2-ethylhexyl)benzo[1,2-c:4,5-c]dithiophene-4,8-dione)] (PBDB-T)) with a low band gap acceptor (2,2-((2Z,2Z)-(((2,5-difluoro-1,4-phenylene)bis(4,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b:3,4-b]dithiophene-6,2-diyl))bis(methanylylidene))bis(5,6-difluoro-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-indene-2,1-diylidene))dimalononitrile (HF-PCIC)) and a near-infrared acceptor (2,2-((2Z,2Z)-(((4,4,9,9-tetrakis(4-hexylphenyl)-4,9-dihydro-s-indaceno[1,2-b:5,6-b]dithiophene-2,7-diyl)bis(4-((2-ethylhexyl)oxy)thiophene-5,2-diyl))bis(methanylylidene))bis(5,6-difluoro-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-indene-2,1-diylidene))dimalononitrile (IEICO-4F)). It is shown that the introduction of IEICO-4F third component into PBDB-T:HF-PCIC blend increases the short-circuit current density (J(sc)) of the ternary OSC to 23.46 mA cm(-2), with a 44% increment over those of binary devices. The significant current improvement originates from the broadened absorption range and the active layer morphology optimization through the introduction of IEICO-4F component. Furthermore, the energy loss of the ternary cells (0.59 eV) is much decreased over that of the binary cells (0.80 eV) due to the reduction of both radiative recombination from the absorption below the band gap and nonradiative recombination upon the addition of IEICO-4F. Therefore, the power conversion efficiency increases dramatically from 8.82% for the binary cells to 11.20% for the ternary cells. This work provides good examples for simultaneously achieving both significant current enhancement and energy loss mitigation in OSCs, which would lead to the further construction of highly efficient ternary OSCs.
|
|
| 18. |
- Zhang, Jinhui, et al.
(author)
-
VEGFA165 gene therapy ameliorates blood-labyrinth barrier breakdown and hearing loss
- 2021
-
In: JCI Insight. - : American Society for Clinical Investigation. - 2379-3708. ; 6:8
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Millions of people are affected by hearing loss. Hearing loss is frequently caused by noise or aging and often associated with loss of pericytes. Pericytes populate the small vessels in the adult cochlea. However, their role in different types of hearing loss is largely unknown. Using an inducible and conditional pericyte depletion mouse model and noise-exposed mouse model, we show that loss of pericytes leads to marked changes in vascular structure, in turn leading to vascular degeneration and hearing loss. In vitro, using advanced tissue explants from pericyte fluorescence reporter models combined with exogenous donor pericytes, we show that pericytes, signaled by VEGF isoform A165 (VEGFA165), vigorously drive new vessel growth in both adult and neonatal mouse inner ear tissue. In vivo, the delivery of an adeno-associated virus serotype 1-mediated (AAV1-mediated) VEGFA165 viral vector to pericyte-depleted or noise-exposed animals prevented and regenerated lost pericytes, improved blood supply, and attenuated hearing loss. These studies provide the first clear-cut evidence that pericytes are critical for vascular regeneration, vascular stability, and hearing in adults. The restoration of vascular function in the damaged cochlea, including in noise-exposed animals, suggests that VEGFA165 gene therapy could be a new strategy for ameliorating vascular associated hearing disorders.
|
|
| 19. |
- Zhang, Qi, et al.
(author)
-
GC/MS analysis of the rat urine for metabonomic research
- 2007
-
In: Journal of chromatography. B. - Amsterdam : Elsevier. - 1570-0232 .- 1873-376X. ; 854:1-2, s. 20-25
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this paper, an optimized protocol was established and validated for the metabonomic profiling in rat urine using GC/MS. The urine samples were extracted by methanol after treatment with urease to remove excessive urea, then the resulted supernatant was dried, methoximated, trimethylsilylated, and analyzed by GC/MS. Forty-nine endogenous metabolites were separated and identified in GC/MS chromatogram, of which 26 identified compounds were selected for quantitative analysis to evaluate the linearity, precision, and sensitivity of the method. It showed good linearity between mass spectrometry responses and relative concentrations of the 26 endogenous compounds over the range from 0.063 to 1.000(v/v, urine/urine+ water) and satisfactory reproducibility with intra-day and inter-days precision values all below 15%. The metabonomic profiling method based on GC/MS was successfully applied to urine samples from hyperlipidemia model rats. Obviously, separated clustering of model rats and the control rats were shown by principal components analysis (PCA); time-dependent metabonomic modification was detected as well. It was suggested that metabonomic profiling based on GC/MS be a robust method for urine samples.
|
|
