Improvement of the microprism distribution expression of an integrated light guide plate.

In our lab, the coefficient relational expressions called A(L,H), B(L,H), and C(L,H) between the coefficients in the microprism distribution expression and the structural parameters of the integrated light guide plate, which is to realize high luminance uniformity, have been proposed previously. Yet, there are some deficiencies in these coefficient relational expressions, such as numerical item redundancy and inconspicuous physical characterization. On this basis, the revised coefficient relational expressions of A(L,H), B(L,H), and C(L,H) are further studied. As a result, the numerical items of A(L,H), B(L,H), and C(L,H) are reduced by one-quarter, one-third, and one-half, respectively. The redundant high-order items are reduced, and C(L,H) is no longer a piecewise function. After revision, the effect of each numerical item on the coefficient values is highlighted, and it makes the physical characterization of each numerical term clearer. Moreover, by applying the revised coefficient relational expressions to acquire the microprism distribution, the luminance uniformities of all designed integrated backlight modules of 7.0 in. or less in size are totally higher than 85%. Taking a 5.0 in. integrated backlight module as an example, the performance of the integrated backlight module designed by the revised coefficient relational expressions is also improved over that before the revision. It verifies the correctness, effectiveness, and universality of the revised coefficient relational expressions, which will save a lot of design time.

miR-9 enhances the transactivation of nuclear factor of activated T cells by targeting KPNB1 and DYRK1B.

The fast response to stimuli and subsequent activation of the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) signaling pathway play an essential role in human T cell functions. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are increasingly implicated in regulation of numerous biological and pathological processes. In this study we demonstrate a novel function of miRNA-9 (miR-9) in regulation of the NFAT signaling pathway. Upon PMA-ionomycin stimulation, miR-9 was markedly increased, consistent with NFAT activation. Overexpression of miR-9 significantly enhanced NFAT activity and accelerated NFAT dephosphorylation and its nuclear translocation in response to PMA-ionomycin. Karyopherin-ß1 (KPNB1, a nucleocytoplasmic transporter) and dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1B (DYRK1B) were identified as direct targets of miR-9. Functionally, miR-9 promoted IL-2 production in stimulated human lymphocyte Jurkat T cells. Collectively, our data reveal a novel role for miR-9 in regulation of the NFAT pathway by targeting KPNB1 and DYRK1B.

Research of micro-prism distribution on the bottom surface of the small-size integrated light guide plate.

The luminance uniformity of the backlight module (BLM) importantly depends on the microstructure distribution on the bottom surface of the light guide plate (LGP). Based on the small-size integrated LGP (ILGP) proposed, we put forward a distribution expression of micro-prisms on the bottom surface of the ILGP, and present the relational expressions between the coefficients of the analytical expression and the structural parameters of the ILGP, such as the light guide length L, width of the ILGP W, thickness of the ILGP H, and space between light emitting diodes (LEDs) d. Then, the research results above are applied to the design of the small-size ILGPs. Not only can the micro-structure distributions on the bottom surface of the ILGPs be directly given, but also the simulation results show that the luminance uniformities of the integrated BLMs are higher than 85%. The research indicates that the expressions proposed in this paper are correct and effective, and have important guiding significances and referential value.

Application of a fast electrical pulse in gated multichannel plate camera.

An eight-frame gated microchannel plate (MCP) camera and a gating electrical pulse are described in this article. The gating electrical pulse is obtained by first generating a high voltage fast step pulse using avalanche transistors in Marx bank configuration, and then shaping it using avalanche diodes. The high voltage fast step pulse is about 200 ps in fall time and 4 kV in amplitude. The gating pulse wave form with width of 160 ps and amplitude of 2.5 kV is achieved. Each frame photocathode coated with gold on the MCP is part of a 12 Omega transmission line with open circuit end driven by the gating electrical pulse. The camera is tested by illuminating its photocathode with ultraviolet laser pulses, 266 nm in wavelength, which shows exposure time as short as 120 ps.

Research on Design of Tri-color Shift Device.

An azimuth-tuned tri-color shift device based on an embedded subwavelength one-dimensional rectangular structure with single period is proposed. High reflection efficiencies for both TE and TM polarizations can be achieved simultaneously. Under an oblique incidence of 60°, the reflection efficiencies can reach up to 85, 86, and 100 % in blue (azimuth of 24°), green (azimuth of 63°), and red (azimuth of 90°) waveband, respectively. Furthermore, the laws of influence of device period, groove depth, coating thickness, and incident angle on reflection characteristics are investigated and exposed, and feasibility of the device is demonstrated. The proposed device realizes tri-color shift for natural light using a simple structure. It exhibits high efficiency as well as good security. Such a device can be fabricated by the existing embossing and coating technique. All these break through the limit of bi-color shift anti-counterfeiting technology and have great applications in the field of optically variable image security.

A PCR-Based Method to Construct Lentiviral Vector Expressing Double Tough Decoy for miRNA Inhibition.

DNA vector-encoded Tough Decoy (TuD) miRNA inhibitor is attracting increased attention due to its high efficiency in miRNA suppression. The current methods used to construct TuD vectors are based on synthesizing long oligonucleotides (~90 mer), which have been costly and problematic because of mutations during synthesis. In this study, we report a PCR-based method for the generation of double Tough Decoy (dTuD) vector in which only two sets of shorter oligonucleotides (< 60 mer) were used. Different approaches were employed to test the inhibitory potency of dTuDs. We demonstrated that dTuD is the most efficient method in miRNA inhibition in vitro and in vivo. Using this method, a mini dTuD library against 88 human miRNAs was constructed and used for a high-throughput screening (HTS) of AP-1 pathway-related miRNAs. Seven miRNAs (miR-18b-5p, -101-3p, -148b-3p, -130b-3p, -186-3p, -187-3p and -1324) were identified as candidates involved in AP-1 pathway regulation. This novel method allows for an accurate and cost-effective generation of dTuD miRNA inhibitor, providing a powerful tool for efficient miRNA suppression in vitro and in vivo.

Hypoxia inducible factor-1 mediates expression of miR-322: potential role in proliferation and migration of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells.

There is growing evidence that microRNAs play important roles in cellular responses to hypoxia and in pulmonary hypertensive vascular remodeling, but the exact molecular mechanisms involved are not fully elucidated. In this study, we identified miR-322 as one of the microRNAs induced in lungs of chronically hypoxic mice and rats. The expression of miR-322 was also upregulated in primary cultured rat pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMC) in response to hypoxia. We demonstrated that HIF-1α, but not HIF-2α, transcriptionally upregulates the expression of miR-322 in hypoxia. Furthermore, miR-322 facilitated the accumulation of HIF-1α in the nucleus and promoted hypoxia-induced cell proliferation and migration. Direct targeting BMPR1a and smad5 by miR-322 was demonstrated in PASMCs suggesting that downregulation of BMP-Smad signaling pathway may be mediating the hypoxia-induced PASMC proliferation and migration. Our study implicates miR-322 in the hypoxic proliferative response of PASMCs suggesting that it may be playing a role in pulmonary vascular remodeling associated with pulmonary hypertension.

MiR-20a regulates the PRKG1 gene by targeting its coding region in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells.

Chronic hypoxia triggers pulmonary vascular remodeling, which is associated with de-differentiation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMC). Here, we show that miR-20a expression is up-regulated in response to hypoxia in both mouse and human PASMC. We also observed that miR-20a represses the protein kinase, cGMP-dependent, type I (PRKG1) gene and we identified two crucial miR-20a binding sites within the coding region of PRKG1. Functional studies showed that miR-20a promotes the proliferation and migration of human PASMC, whereas it inhibits their differentiation. In summary, we provided a possible mechanism by which hypoxia results in decreased PRKG1 expression and in the phenotypic switching of PASMC.

Transplantation of induced pluripotent stem cells improves functional recovery in Huntington's disease rat model.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this study was to determine the functional recovery of the transplanted induced pluripotent stem cells in a rat model of Huntington's disease with use of 18F-FDG microPET/CT imaging. METHODS: In a quinolinic acid-induced rat model of striatal degeneration, induced pluripotent stem cells were transplanted into the ipsilateral lateral ventricle ten days after the quinolinic acid injection. The response to the treatment was evaluated by serial 18F-FDG PET/CT scans and Morris water maze test. Histological analyses and Western blotting were performed six weeks after stem cell transplantation. RESULTS: After induced pluripotent stem cells transplantation, higher 18F-FDG accumulation in the injured striatum was observed during the 4 to 6-weeks period compared with the quinolinic acid-injected group, suggesting the metabolic recovery of injured striatum. The induced pluripotent stem cells transplantation improved learning and memory function (and striatal atrophy) of the rat in six week in the comparison with the quinolinic acid-treated controls. In addition, immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that transplanted stem cells survived and migrated into the lesioned area in striatum, and most of the stem cells expressed protein markers of neurons and glial cells. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that induced pluripotent stem cells can survive, differentiate to functional neurons and improve partial striatal function and metabolism after implantation in a rat Huntington's disease model.

Note: Non-gain microchannel plate gated framing camera.

An x-ray framing camera using a non-gain microchannel plate (MCP) is reported in this article. The advantage of the non-gain MCP is the less transit time spread. The non-gain MCP gated framing camera has four microstrip line cathodes with 6 mm in width. The time domain reflectometry curves of the four microstrip lines are measured, which show that the characteristic impedance of each microstrip line is about 17 Ω. While the photocathode is driven by the gating electrical pulse with width of 125 ps and amplitude of -1.48 kV with -400 V bias, the measured exposure time of this camera is about 72 ps.