Actively tunable and switchable terahertz metamaterials with multi-band perfect absorption and polarization conversion.

In this paper, we theoretically present and numerically demonstrate an actively tunable and switchable multi-functional metamaterial based on vanadium dioxide (VO2) and graphene in the terahertz region. When VO2 is in the metallic phase, the proposed metamaterial serves as a multi-band perfect absorber, which exhibits the characteristics of insensitive polarization and robust tolerance for variations of the incidence angle. When VO2 is in the insulator phase, the proposed metamaterial acts as a polarization converter, which can simultaneously achieve perfect linear-to-linear and linear-to-circular polarization conversions. The simulation results show the cross-polarization conversion rate can reach ∼100% at the frequency region from 6.09 to 6.43 THz as well as 8.15 THz. Moreover, the ellipticity of linear-to-circular polarization conversion reaches ±1 at frequencies of 5.75 and 8.34 THz, respectively, which means the linear polarization waves can be completely converted into circular polarization waves. The proposed metamaterial provides new insight for the design of optoelectronic devices with multi-functionality in the terahertz region.

The relationship between perfluoroalkyl substances and hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Hypertension is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and a leading cause of premature death. Epidemiological studies have found that perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are associated with hypertension. However, the correlation between PFASs and hypertension has not been systematically reported. Based on evidence from population epidemiological surveys, we conducted a meta-analysis following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to assess the correlation between PFASs exposure and hypertension. In this study, three databases of PubMed, Web of science, Embase were searched and 13 literatures with 81,096 participants were included. Literature heterogeneity was evaluated by I2 statistic, and the random effect model (I2 > 50%) and fixed effect model (I2 < 50%) were used to combine the studies in meta-analysis. The results showed that PFNA (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.04-1.19), PFOA (OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.02-1.23), PFOS (OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.06-1.34) and PFHxS (OR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.00-1.06) were significantly associated with hypertension, while other types of PFASs (∑PFAS, PFDA, PFUnDA) had no statistical significance. In addition, PFNA (OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.03-1.22), PFOA (OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.01-1.25) and PFOS (OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.00-1.25) exposure were positively correlated with the risk of hypertension in men, but not in women. Our study reveals that PFASs are risk factors for hypertension, with notable gender differences observed in PFASs-exposed populations. Specifically, males exposed to PFNA, PFOA, and PFOS exhibit a higher risk of hypertension compared to females. However, further investigations are needed to delve into the precise mechanism through which PFASs contribute to the development of hypertension.

A molecular approach integrating genomic and DNA methylation profiling for tissue of origin identification in lung-specific cancer of unknown primary.

BACKGROUND: Determining the tissue of origin (TOO) is essential for managing cancer of unknown primary (CUP). In this study, we evaluated the concordance between genome profiling and DNA methylation analysis in determining TOO for lung-specific CUP and assessed their performance by comparing the clinical responses and survival outcomes of patients predicted with multiple primary or with metastatic cancer. METHODS: We started by retrospectively screening for CUP patients who presented with both intra- and extrathoracic tumors. Tumor samples from included patients were analyzed with targeted sequencing with a 520-gene panel and targeted bisulfite sequencing. TOO inferences were made in parallel via an algorithm using genome profiles and time interval between tumors and via machine learning-based classification of DNA methylation profiles. RESULTS: Four hundred patients were screened retrospectively. Excluding patients definitively diagnosed with conventional diagnostic work-up or without available samples, 16 CUP patients were included. Both molecular approaches alone enabled inference of clonality for all analyzed patients. Genome profile enabled TOO inference for 43.8% (7/16) patients, and the percentage rose to 68.8% (11/16) after considering inter-tumor time lag. On the other hand, DNA methylation analysis was conclusive for TOO prediction for 100% (14/14) patients with available samples. The two approaches gave 100% (9/9) concordant inferences regarding clonality and TOO identity. Moreover, patients predicted with metastatic disease showed significantly shorter overall survival than those with multiple primary tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Genome and DNA methylation profiling have shown promise as individual analysis for TOO identification. This study demonstrated the feasibility of incorporating the two methods and proposes an integrative scheme to facilitate diagnosing and treating lung-specific CUPs.

Combined Effects of Warming and Imidacloprid on Survival, Reproduction and Population Growth of Brachionus calyciflorus (Rotifera).

Global warming and pesticide contamination are two stressors of high concern, but their combined effects on freshwater biota are controversial. This study investigated the combined effects of warming and imidacloprid (IMI) on survival (measured as life expectancy at hatching), reproduction (net reproductive rate), population growth (intrinsic rate of population increase) and sexual reproduction (proportion of sexual offspring) of Brachionus calyciflorus using a life table experiment. The results showed that compared with controls, treatments with IMI at 50-100 mg/L significantly decreased survival, reproduction and population growth of the rotifers at 20℃. The inhibiting effect at higher IMI concentrations on survival increased with increasing temperatures, but those on reproduction and population growth increased only when the temperature increased from 25℃ to 30℃. The proportion of sexual offspring decreased with increasing temperatures. When monitoring the ecological effects of pollutants, environmental temperature and the possible adaptation of rotifers to it should be taken into consideration.

Gelator-Enhanced Organohydrogels with Switchable Mechanics and High-Strain Shape-Memory Capacity.

Hydrogels and organogels, as two crucial representatives of soft materials, have attracted immense interest. However, they develop independently along two parallel lines, and these gels with single networks have their inherent drawbacks. For example, hydrogels tend to freeze, and organogels are usually brittle. Herein, organogels were incorporated into a hydrogel matrix for the synthesis of organohydrogels GOHs through polymerization in Pickering emulsion. The rigid organogel domains contribute to enhancing the strength of organohydrogels. Besides this, the organogels derived from 12-HAS self-assembly behavior exhibit a gel-sol transition when the temperature reaches 70 °C, thus leading to a thermo-softening behavior in the GOHs. Due to the phase transition of organogel domains and the elastic hydrogel network, the resultant organohydrogels demonstrate high-strain shape-memory performance (over 1000%) which could help achieve full recovery in seconds. Consequently, GOHs are endowed with the potential of practical application in soft robots, wearable devices, and biological materials.

Ionic Liquid-Based Microemulsions with Reversible Microstructures Regulated by CO2.

CO2-responsive microemulsions based on ionic liquid 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine-oleic acid (TMG-OA) have been designed to provide an approach for reducing the volatilization of amine in amine-containing microemulsions effectively and exhibit reversible transitions of microstructures. The ionic liquid TMG-OA was prepared by the direct neutralization of oleic acid (HOA) and 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine (TMG, one of volatile and toxic amines). From the investigations of nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectrum, pH, thermogravimetry, and automatic interface tension meter, the excellent properties of switchability, stability, and surface activity of TMG-OA were demonstrated, and then the ionic liquid-based microemulsions with CO2 response were prepared with TMG-OA (surfactant), HOA (oil phase), isopropyl alcohol (IPA, cosurfactant), and water. Interestingly, for microemulsions with a higher IPA content (47.42, 44.48 wt %), sizes of microemulsions are increased upon introducing CO2 and decreased upon addition of N2/65 °C. In addition, for microemulsions with a lower IPA content (26.22 wt %), the new microemulsions with different sizes are regenerated after the phase separation of emulsions generated by introducing CO2, and incomplete recovery of microemulsions can be observed upon addition of N2/65 °C. The reversible microstructures are induced by the swelling behavior and the reduced single phase area, which are caused by the reversible conversion between TMG-OA and HOA components.

Redox and pH Dual-Responsive Emulsion Using Ferrocenecarboxylic Acid and N,N-Dimethyldodecylamine.

The derivatives of ferrocene with redox properties are widely used. Some studies have used complex synthesis processes to obtain surfactants with redox properties. In order to simplify the synthesis process, FA-DMDA-Ox, a surfactant with redox and pH dual responses, was prepared by simple electrostatic interaction between ferrocenecarboxylic acid (FA) and N,N-dimethyldodecylamine (DMDA). A stable oil-in-water emulsion was prepared by using FA-DMDA-Ox at 25 °C. When sodium sulfite was added to the emulsion, the emulsion was demulsified. This was due to the oxidized ferrocene group that was reduced from the charged hydrophilic state to the uncharged hydrophobic state, which destroyed the original surface activity. In addition, when added HCl or NaOH to the emulsion changed pH, demulsification was caused by the dissociation of FA-DMDA-Ox.

New Low-Energy Method for Nanoemulsion Formation: pH Regulation Based on Fatty Acid/Amine Complexes.

Phase inversion composition methods and phase inversion temperature methods are the common methods for nanoemulsion formation. The mechanisms governing both PIC and PIT are the same: composition or temperature can trigger a change in the surfactant spontaneous curvature during the emulsification process. It is anticipated that pH may also induce a change in the spontaneous curvature of pH-responsive surfactants to prepare nanoemulsions. Therefore, fatty acid/amine complexes were synthesized through electrostatic interactions. Based on these complexes, nanoemulsions were successfully prepared by pH regulation. Electrical conductivity and pH measurements were employed to determine the phase inversion process. Dynamic light scattering, digital fluorescence microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were employed to characterize the droplet size and morphology of the nanoemulsion. The effects of complex concentration, NaCl concentration, and pH of the system were investigated. The developed method, phase inversion pH (PIpH) method, is a moderate and easy-control method. Using this method, the size distributions of nanoemulsion are monomodal and narrow. Nanoemulsion prepared by PIpH has a unique pH-responsive behavior that can be controllably regulated among nanoemulsions, emulsions, and phase separation systems.

Predictive value of monocytes and lymphocytes for short-term neutrophil changes in chemotherapy-induced severe neutropenia in solid tumors.

PURPOSE: To explore whether monocytes, lymphocytes, and platelets have a predictive value for short-term neutrophil changes in patients with severe neutropenia (SN) induced by chemotherapy. METHODS: Complete blood counts (CBC) were collected from a total of 62 patients with chemotherapy-induced SN from December 2013 to March 2018. CBCs at intervals of 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, and 5 days were recorded, and logistic regression analyses were performed to determine whether the monocyte percentage (MP), absolute monocyte count (AMC), lymphocyte percentage (LP), absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), or platelet count (PC) were correlated with short-term neutrophil changes. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves (AUCs) were calculated for parameters with a P value < 0.05. RESULTS: The MP was significantly correlated with changes in neutrophils for intervals of 1 to 5 days, while the LP was significantly correlated with changes in neutrophils for intervals of 2 to 5 days. A cutoff value of 6.5% for the MP yielded a sensitivity of 80%, a specificity of 88.6%, and an AUC of 0.908 for predicting an increase in neutrophils on the third day. A cutoff value of 14.75% for the LP yielded a sensitivity of 93.3%, a specificity of 70.3%, and an AUC of 0.812 for predicting an increase in neutrophils on the sixth day. CONCLUSIONS: In chemotherapy-induced neutropenia patients, the MP is the best predictor of short-term neutrophil changes. Close monitoring and proper interpretation of the MP and LP are informative in managing chemotherapy-induced neutropenia.

Transcriptome and Gene Editing Analyses Reveal MOF1a Defect Alters the Expression of Genes Associated with Tapetum Development and Chromosome Behavior at Meiosis Stage Resulting in Low Pollen Fertility of Tetraploid Rice.

Autotetraploid rice is a useful rice germplasm for polyploid rice breeding. However, low fertility limits its commercial production. A neo-tetraploid rice with high fertility was developed from the progenies of crossing between autotetraploid lines by our research group. Our previous study showed that a myeloblastosis (MYB) transcription factor, MOF1, might be associated with the pollen development in tetraploid rice. However, little information is available about its role in pollen development in tetraploid rice. Here, we identified a new haplotype of MOF1 from neo-tetraploid rice and marked it as MOF1a. Transcriptome and qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated that MOF1a highly expressed in anthers, and displayed differential expression in neo-tetraploid rice compared to tetraploid rice line with low pollen fertility. The mutant (mof1a) of MOF1a, which was generated by CRISPR/Cas9 knockout in neo-tetraploid rice, showed low pollen fertility, and also exhibited abnormal tapetum and middle layer development, and defective chromosome behaviors during meiosis. A total of 13 tapetal related genes were found to be up-regulated in meiotic anthers of MOF1a compared with wild type plants by RNA-seq analysis, including CYP703A3, PTC1, and OsABCG26, which had been demonstrated to affect tapetal development. Moreover, 335 meiosis-related genes displayed differential expression patterns at same stage, including nine important meiosis-related genes, such as metallothionein OsMT1a. These results demonstrated that MOF1a plays an important role in pollen development and provides a foundation for understanding the molecular mechanism underlying MOF1a in reproduction of tetraploid rice.

Apatinib in patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer after second-line or third-line chemotherapy: a phase II, single-arm, multicentre, prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) remains an aggressive cancer with short-term survival due to limited therapeutic options. Apatinib is a small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor that selectively inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of apatinib in patients with extensive-stage (EC) SCLC who had progressed after two or three previous therapies. METHODS: Eligible patients were histologically confirmed ES-SCLC after two or three previous treatments, including a platinum-based regimen. Patients received apatinib at an initial dose of 500 mg once daily. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate. RESULTS: Forty patients were enrolled. At the data cut-off time (November 15, 2018), the median follow-up was 7.4 months; no patients remained on treatment, and five were still in follow-up. An objective response was achieved in 7 of 40 patients (17.5%) in the intention-to-treat population, and 7 of 38 patients (18.4%) in the per-protocol population. The median progression-free survival and overall survival were 3.0 months and 5·8 months, respectively. The most commonly observed grade 3 or greater treatment-related adverse events were hypertension, hand-foot syndrome, increased L-gamma-glutamyltransferase. CONCLUSIONS: Apatinib exhibited efficacy and an acceptable safety profile in previously heavily-treated ES-SCLC patients. Further exploration of apatinib in phase III trials is warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02945852.

Conversion of a surfactant-based microemulsion to a surfactant-free microemulsion by CO2.

A microemulsion with a CO2 response was prepared by mixing the surfactant sodium oleate (NaOA), the co-surfactant isopropyl alcohol (IPA), oil phase oleic acid (HOA) and water. This surfactant-based microemulsion (SBME) shows a CO2 responsive behavior, and the introduction of CO2 can breakdown the microemulsion. Through the research in this paper, it is found that the content of IPA has a direct impact on the CO2 response behavior of SBME. It was found that the lower the IPA content (22.73 wt%), the more obvious the CO2 response behavior of SBME. Conversely, when the concentration of IPA is high (54.05 wt% and 63.83 wt%), the introduction of CO2 does not directly lead to the demulsification of the microemulsion. NaOA can be converted to HOA under the action of CO2, which is why SBME shows CO2 response behavior. By comparing the effects of CO2 on the (pseudo-)ternary phase diagrams of SBME and surfactant-free microemulsion (SFME), we found evidence that SBME shows different CO2 response behaviors. When CO2 was bubbled into the SBME system with a low IPA content, IPA cannot stabilize the excessive HOA and water in the system and eventually break the microemulsion. The situation is different when CO2 is applied to the SBME system with a high IPA content. IPA as an amphiphilic solvent can stabilize the HOA and water in the system to form SFME. In this process, SBME can be demulsified (low IPA content) or can be converted to SFME (high IPA content) in the presence of CO2.

Spatial resolution enhancement for pushbroom-based microscopic hyperspectral imaging.

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is a promising tool for microscopic histopathology studies. Pushbroom microscopic hyperspectral imaging systems are widely used because of their low cost and easy implementation. However, the spatial resolution of pushbroom HSI systems is limited by the width of the optical entrance slit. A narrower slit leads to longer exposure time and slower imaging speed. In this paper, we explored several spatial resolution enhancement algorithms, originally designed for remote-sensing hyperspectral imaging, for pushbroom microscopic HSI systems. Our results demonstrate that those algorithms could effectively achieve a higher spatial resolution without sacrificing imaging speed.

MicroRNA-193b-3p regulates matrix metalloproteinase 19 expression in interleukin-1ß-induced human chondrocytes.

Micro(mi)RNAs are small, non-coding RNA molecules known to play a significant role in osteoarthritis (OA) initiation and development, and similar to matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), they participate in cartilage degeneration and cleave multiple extracellular matrices. The aim of this study was to determine whether the expression of MMP-19 in interleukin (IL)-1ß-induced human chondrocytes is directly regulated by miR-193b-3p. Expression levels of miR-193b-3p and MMP-19 in normal and osteoarthritis (OA) human cartilage, and interleukin-1 ß (IL-1ß)-induced human chondrocytes were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Additionally, expression level of MMP-19 in IL-1ß-induced human chondrocytes was estimated by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry analyses. The effect of miR-193b-3p on MMP-19 expression was evaluated using transient transfection of normal human chondrocytes with miR-193b-3p mimic or its antisense inhibitor (miR-193b-3p inhibitor), and siMMP-19. The putative binding site of miR-193b-3p in the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of MMP-19 mRNA was validated by luciferase reporter assay. miR-193b-3p expression was reduced in OA cartilage compared to that in normal chondrocytes, while the opposite was observed for MMP-19. Upregulation of MMP-19 expression was correlated with downregulation of miR-193b-3p in IL-1ß-stimulated normal chondrocytes. Increase in miR-193b-3p levels was associated with silencing of MMP-19. Overexpression of miR-193b-3p suppressed the activity of the reporter construct containing the 3'-UTR of human MMP-19 mRNA and inhibited the IL-1ß-induced expression of MMP-19 and iNOS in chondrocytes, while treatment with miR-193b-3p inhibitor enhanced MMP-19 expression. MiR-193b-3p is an important regulator of MMP-19 in human chondrocytes and may relieve the inflammatory response in OA.

The efficacy and safety of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies combined with chemotherapy or CTLA4 antibody as a first-line treatment for advanced lung cancer.

Checkpoint inhibitors show promising efficacy in advanced lung cancer, especially in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This meta-analysis was conducted to explore the therapeutic efficacy and safety of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies combined with chemotherapy or CTLA4 antibody as first-line treatments for patients with advanced lung cancer. A systematic search was performed in databases for this system review and quantitative meta-analysis. Twelve trials were finally enrolled in the meta-analysis. Our analyses revealed that the combined overall response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) for immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with chemotherapy for the treatment of NSCLC were 47.0% (95% CI: 34.2%-60.2%) and 80.9% (95% CI: 69.4%-88.7%), respectively. The combined ORR and DCR for CTLA4 antibody combined with chemotherapy for the treatment of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) were 65.4% (61.1%-69.5%) and 87.6% (84.5%-90.2%), respectively. The combined six-month progression-free survival rates (PFSRs6m ) for NSCLC and SCLC were 50.2% (95% CI: 21.9%-78.4%) and 30.7% (21.2%-40.3%), respectively, and the OSRs1y were 56.4% (39.1%-73.7%) and 36.9% (33.3%-40.5%), respectively. In addition, the combined ORR and DCR for the checkpoint inhibitors plus CTLA4 antibody treatment group in NSCLC were 29.6% (95% CI: 11.4%-57.8%) and 48.7% (16.8%-81.7%), respectively. In subgroup analyses, a significant improvement in PFS was observed in NSCLC and SCLC, with a combined hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval of 0.841 (0.737-0.961) and 0.856 (0.756-0.968), respectively. In summary, synergistic activity and an acceptable safety profile were observed with checkpoint inhibitor plus chemotherapy combination treatment in lung cancer.

CDK6 and miR-320c Co-Regulate Chondrocyte Catabolism Through NF-κB Signaling Pathways.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6) regulates inflammatory response and cell differentiation. This study sought to determine whether CDK6 and miR-320c co-regulate chondrogenesis and inflammation. METHODS: Utilizing quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC), CDK6 and miR-320c expression were assessed in a micromass culture of human bone mesenchymal stem cells that underwent chondrogenesis in vitro as well as in chondrocytes from E16.5 mouse forelimbs. Normal chondrocytes were transfected with miR-320c mimic, miR-320c inhibitor, or CDK6-siRNA. Luciferase reporter assay results confirmed that miR-320c directly targets CDK6 by interacting with the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of its mRNA. qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and Cell Counting Kit-8 were subsequently used to evaluate the effects of miR-320c overexpression and CDK6 inhibition on inflammatory factor expression, as well as to investigate the effects of NF-kB and MAPK signaling pathway activation on IL-1ß-induced chondrocyte inflammation. RESULTS: Our results show that miR-320c expression increased during the middle stage and decreased during the late stage of hBMSC chondrogenic differentiation. In contrast, CDK6 expression decreased during the middle stage and increased during the late stage of hBMSC chondrogenic differentiation. Moreover, CDK6 expression increased in severe OA cartilage and in hypertrophic chondrocytes of mouse forelimbs at E16.5. Results of the luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-320c modulated CDK6 expression by binding to the 3'-UTR of its mRNA. miR-320c overexpression and CDK6 inhibition repressed IL-1ß-induced expression of inflammatory factors and regulated the NF-kB signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: CDK6 and miR-320c co-regulate hBMSC chondrogenesis and IL-1ß-induced chondrocyte inflammation through the NF-kB signaling pathway, suggesting that miR-320c and CDK6 inhibitors can be used to repress catabolism in human chondrocytes.

CO2-Responsive Surfactant-Free Microemulsion.

A surfactant-free microemulsion (SFME) with CO2 stimuli responsive properties was prepared. The oil and the water phases were N, N-dimethylcyclohexylamine (DMCHA) and deionized water, respectively, and N, N-dimethylethanolamine was used as an amphisolvent. The single-phase and multiphase zones were measured by the ternary-phase diagram, and the microstructure of the SFME was determined by measuring the change trend of the electrical conductivity of the system with increasing DMCHA content. While using methyl orange as a probe, the microstructure of the SFME was further confirmed by an UV-visible spectrometer. The microstructures of water-in-oil (SFME-I) and oil-in-water (SFME-II) microemulsions were obtained by changing the DMCHA content in the system. The SFME-I system has a significant phase separation after the action of CO2. However, with the continuous introduction of CO2, the upper phase of DMCHA is gradually protonated and dissolves in the aqueous phase, resulting in a gradual decrease in the volume of the upper phase, and eventually in an aqueous solution of ammonium bicarbonate. For SFME-II, CO2 does not directly cause phase separation, but eventually it becomes an aqueous solution of ammonium bicarbonate with the addition of CO2. Both the water-in-oil structure SFME-I and the oil-in-water structure SFME-II have excellent CO2 stimuli responsive performance.

One-pot synthesis of N-doped carbon dots by pyrolyzing the gel composed of ethanolamine and 1-carboxyethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride and their selective fluorescence sensing for Cr(vi) ions.

N-Doped carbon dots (CDs) were directly synthesized with a high yield of 21.85% by one-pot pyrolysis of a gel composed of ethanolamine and 1-carboxyethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride at 220 °C for 2 h. The as-synthesized CDs with a mean particle size of 7.8 nm were uniform, amorphous, and abundant in nitrogen content (23.15 wt%) and surface groups such as amide and hydroxyl. Thus, the CDs exhibited good water-solubility, bright blue excitation- and pH-dependent fluorescence with a quantum yield of 17.93%, and high ionic strength tolerance. In addition, a CD-based fluorescent sensor towards Cr(vi) ions with favorable sensitivity and selectivity was constructed based on the inner filter effect. Two good linear relationships between the concentration of Cr(vi) ions and the PL quenching efficiency were obtained in the ranges from 0.2 to 2 (R2 = 0.9965) and 2-40 µM (R2 = 0.9918), and the limits of detection (LOD = 3σ/S) were calculated as 0.018 and 0.25 µM, respectively. Importantly, this sensor was solid and capable of rapidly detecting Cr(vi) ions in tap water with detection ranges of 0.2-2 (R2 = 0.9817) and 2-60 µM (R2 = 0.9902), LODs of 0.048 and 0.40 µM, and recoveries of 102.1-106%.

A super-resolution method-based pipeline for fundus fluorescein angiography imaging.

BACKGROUND: Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) imaging is a standard diagnostic tool for many retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. High-resolution FFA images facilitate the detection of small lesions such as microaneurysms, and other landmark changes, in the early stages; this can help an ophthalmologist improve a patient's cure rate. However, only low-resolution images are available in most clinical cases. Super-resolution (SR), which is a method to improve the resolution of an image, has been successfully employed for natural and remote sensing images. To the best of our knowledge, no one has applied SR techniques to FFA imaging so far. METHODS: In this work, we propose a SR method-based pipeline for FFA imaging. The aim of this pipeline is to enhance the image quality of FFA by using SR techniques. Several SR frameworks including neighborhood embedding, sparsity-based, locally-linear regression and deep learning-based approaches are investigated. Based on a clinical FFA dataset collected from Second Affiliated Hospital to Xuzhou Medical University, each SR method is implemented and evaluated for the pipeline to improve the resolution of FFA images. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: As shown in our results, most SR algorithms have a positive impact on the enhancement of FFA images. Super-resolution forests (SRF), a random forest-based SR method has displayed remarkable high effectiveness and outperformed other methods. Hence, SRF should be one potential way to benefit ophthalmologists by obtaining high-resolution FFA images in a clinical setting.

Identification and Characterization of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in stem cell differentiation. However, their role in osteogenesis of human adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), a promising cell source for bone regeneration, remains unknown. Here, we investigated the expression profile and potential roles of lncRNAs in osteogenic differentiation of human ASCs. METHODS: Human ASCs were induced to differentiate into osteoblasts in vitro, and the expression profiles of lncRNAs and mRNAs in undifferentiated and osteogenic differentiated ASCs were obtained by microarray. Bioinformatics analyses including subgroup analysis, gene ontology analysis, pathway analysis and co-expression network analysis were performed. The function of lncRNA H19 was determined by in vitro knockdown and overexpression. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was utilized to examine the expression of selected genes. RESULTS: We identified 1,460 upregulated and 1,112 downregulated lncRNAs in osteogenic differentiated human ASCs as compared with those of undifferentiated cells (Fold change ≥ 2.0, P < 0.05). Among these, 94 antisense lncRNAs, 85 enhancer-like lncRNAs and 160 lincRNAs were further recognized. We used 12 lncRNAs and 157 mRNAs to comprise a coding-non-coding gene expression network. Additionally, silencing of H19 caused a significantly increase in expression of osteogenesis-related genes, including ALPL and RUNX2, while a decrease was observed after H19 overexpression. CONCLUSION: This study revealed for the first time the global expression profile of lncRNAs involved in osteogenic differentiation of human ASCs and provided a foundation for future investigations of lncRNA regulation of human ASC osteogenesis.