[Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Study on Photocatalysis of PATP When Adsorbed on Ag/TiO2 Nanotubes].

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is spectroscopic technique with ultra-sensitivity and high selectivity and has attracted great attention because of the potential applications in various fields. P-aminothiophenol (PATP) is often used as SERS probe molecule because it is easy to adsorb on SERS substrates and produce high-quality SERS signals. TiO2 is extensively used as photocatalyst although its photocatalytic efficiency is still needed to be improved. Noble metal-modified TiO2 is one of current important techniques for maximizing the efficiency of photocatalytic efficiency. In this article, a kind of bifunctional SERS substrates, Ag/TiO2 nanotubes, with photocatalysis property were prepared, the TiO2 NTs were prepared by anodic oxidation and noble metal Ag nanoparticles were deposited on the surface of TiO2 NTs by photoreduction method. The photocatalysis of PATP on Ag/TiO2 NTs and on Ag mirror substrates were studied. The SERS signals of PATP were decreased with the ultraviolet irradiation time, however, on Ag mirror substrates, SERS intensity of PATP was slightly changed, which indicated the photocatalysis reaction of PATP on Ag/TiO2 NTs substrates. The kinetics analysis results indicate that the kinetics of the photocatalysis follows the first order of the dynamical reaction.

Deposition of luminescent Y2O3:Eu3+ on ferromagnetic mesoporous CoFe2O4@mSiO2 nanocomposites.

Luminescent Y2O3:Eu(3+) particles have been deposited on the surface of ferromagnetic mesoporous CoFe2O4@mSiO2 nanoparticles by a co-precipitation method, obtaining multifunctional CoFe2O4@mSiO2@Y2O3:Eu(3+) nanocomposites. XRD, SEM, TEM, EDX, XPS, N2-adsorption-desorption, FT-IR, VSM and PL were used to characterized the samples. The results reveal that the nanocomposites display typical mesoporous characteristics with high surface areas (BET), large pore volumes and core-shell structures. The composites show ferromagnetic properties and red luminescence from the (5)D0-(7)F2 transition at 610 nm. The size and the magnetic and luminescence properties of the composites could be tuned by systematically varying the experimental parameters, such as the annealing temperature, the mass ratio of CoFe2O4@mSiO2 to Y2O3:Eu(3+), and the volume of TEOS. A possible quenching mechanism of the luminescent Y2O3:Eu(3+) by the ferromagnetic CoFe2O4 is proposed. The high BET and large pore volume may give the composite potential application in controlled drug release.

DNA Sequences Under Multiple Guanine-Cytosine (GC) Base Pairs Constraint.

DNA computing is a new computing method that has high efficiency in solving large-scale nonlinear and Non-deterministic Polynomial complete problems. The design of DNA sequences is an important step in DNA computing, and the quality of the DNA sequences directly affects the accuracy of DNA computing results. Efficiently designing high-quality DNA sequences is currently a significant challenge. In order to improve the efficiency of DNA sequence design, a sparrow evolutionary search algorithm (SESA) is proposed by us. It inherits the fast convergence of the sparrow search algorithm and avoids the situation that the sparrow search algorithm is prone to fall into a local optimum, which greatly improves the search performance of the algorithm on discrete numerical problems. In order to improve the quality of DNA sequence, a new constraint, multiple GC constraint, has been proposed in this paper. Simulated experiments in NUPACK show that this constraint can greatly improve the quality of the DNA sequences designed by us. Compared with previous results, our DNA sequences have better stability.

H-ACO with Consecutive Bases Pairing Constraint for Designing DNA Sequences.

DNA computing is a novel computing method that does not rely on traditional computers. The design of DNA sequences is a crucial step in DNA computing, and the quality of the sequence design directly affects the results of DNA computing. In this paper, a new constraint called the consecutive base pairing constraint is proposed to limit specific base pairings in DNA sequence design. Additionally, to improve the efficiency and capability of DNA sequence design, the Hierarchy-ant colony (H-ACO) algorithm is introduced, which combines the features of multiple algorithms and optimizes discrete numerical calculations. Experimental results show that the H-ACO algorithm performs well in DNA sequence design. Finally, this paper compares a series of constraint values and NUPACK simulation data with previous design results, and the DNA sequence set designed in this paper has more advantages.

In situ assembly of monodisperse, multifunctional silica microspheres embedded with magnetic and fluorescent nanoparticles and their application in adsorption of methylene blue.

Many efforts have been devoted towards the fabrication of multifunctional (mesoporous, magnetic and fluorescent) nanocomposites due to their growing applications as adsorbents, catalysts, and biomedical application, etc. Novel, flower-structured multifunctional Fe3O4/YVO4:Eu(3+)@SiO2 microspheres were successfully synthesized through a simple self-assembled process. The as-obtained products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), N2 adsorption-desorption, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The results reveal that the novel composites exhibit typical mesoporous structure, narrow size distribution, good monodispersity, excellent luminescent properties and superparamagnetic features. The effects of magnetic field on the luminescent intensity of multifunctional composites have been discussed in our manuscript. Furthermore, the adsorption experiments indicate that the resulting multifunctional composites are powerful adsorbents for the removal of methylene blue from water with a maximum adsorption efficiency of 98%. It is envisioned that multifunctional composites with high surface area are of particular interest for adsorption of pollutants, separation, and water purification.

Risk factors of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage in Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

This study aimed to investigate the frequency and features of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) in Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and evaluate the association of DAH with the features. A total of 943 patients with SLE were categorized into two groups: 896 patients without DAH and 47 patients with DAH. The demographic data, clinical and laboratory findings, and SLE disease activity index 2000 of all patients were statistically analyzed. The DAH frequency in patients with SLE was 4.98%, and the mortality rate of DAH was 42.55%. The clinical features with statistical differences between the two groups were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression, and the results suggested that shorter disease duration [odds ratio (OR): 0.972, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.946, 0.998], younger age (OR: 0.867, 95% CI 0.764, 0.984), moderate (OR: 25.949, 95% CI 3.316, 203.065) or severe (OR: 24.904, 95% CI 2.675, 231.859) anemia, abnormally elevated levels of urine protein (OR: 10.839, 95% CI 1.351, 86.938) and serum creatinine (OR: 14.534, 95% CI 5.012, 42.142), interstitial lung disease (OR: 6.569, 95% CI 2.053, 21.021), and infection (OR: 8.890, 95% CI 3.580, 22.077) were independent risk factors for the occurrence of DAH in patients with SLE. Moderate or severe anemia was highly suggestive of DAH.

Therapeutic Effects of Tofacitinib on Pristane-Induced Murine Lupus.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of tofacitinib, a Janus kinase (JAK) 1/JAK3 inhibitor, in treating murine lupus, and also explore 12 related genes downstream of JAK-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathways to find the underlying mechanism. Materials and methods: This study was conducted between July 2017 and January 2020. Fifty-seven female BALB/c mice (aging 8 to 10 weeks old; weighing 18 to 20 g) were assigned to a saline control (SC) group and a pristane-induced lupus group. The latter included four groups, namely, pristane control (PC), tofacitinib (T), methylprednisolone (MP), and tofacitinib plus methylprednisolone (T+MP). Animal models of lupus were induced with pristane, whereas SC mice were treated with normal saline. From the 22nd week after induction, each group was given the aforementioned corresponding intervention for 11 weeks. The following variables were tested: serum concentrations of anti-double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (anti-dsDNA), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and interferon gamma (IFN-γ); number of regulatory T (Treg) cells; messenger ribonucleic acid levels of forkhead box P3 and 12 related genes downstream of JAK-STAT pathway; and renal impairment. Results: Red swollen joints and proteinuria were first observed in PC after the 12th week. After treatment, T, MP, and T+MP showed relieved red swollen joints and splenomegaly, as well as decreased urine protein, anti-dsDNA, IL-6, IFN-γ, Treg cells, pathological scores, and hyperplasia of mesangial matrix in glomeruli compared with PC. The IFN regulatory factor 7 level was higher in T+MP (p0.05) and MP (p>0.05) than in PC after treatment. The expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) 1 was lower in T (p>0.05), T+MP (p0.05) than in PC. The SOCS3 level was higher in T (p>0.05) and T+MP (p0.05) than in PC. Conclusion: Tofacitinib can ameliorate glomerulonephritis and arthritis in a pristane-induced murine model of lupus. SOCS3 gene may be involved in the therapeutic mechanism of tofacitinib.

Association of Interstitial Lung Disease With Clinical Characteristics of Chinese Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the frequency and clinical and laboratory features of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to evaluate the association of ILD with the clinical features. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 505 SLE patients (64 males, 441 females; mean age 35.3±15.3 years; range, 14 to 87 years) who were categorized into two groups as 449 patients without ILD and 56 patients with ILD based on evidence obtained from high-resolution computed tomography images. The demographic data, clinical and laboratory findings, SLE disease activity index score, and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index of all patients were also recorded and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The ILD frequency in patients with SLE was 11.1%. Compared to the group of SLE patients without ILD, the group of SLE patients with ILD possessed the following statistical differences: elderly age, longer illness duration, lower level of anti-double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid, and higher level of serum complement 3, increased ratios of Raynaud's phenomenon, moist rales and tachypnea. Multivariate logistic regression results suggested that elderly age (≥60 years), long illness duration (1-10 years, ≥10 years), Raynaud's phenomenon, and tachypnea were statistically associated with the occurrence of ILD in SLE patients. CONCLUSION: Chinese SLE patients who possessed the factors that were statistically associated with ILD, namely, elderly age (≥60 years old), long illness duration (≥1 years), Raynaud's phenomenon, and tachypnea, were recommended to be monitored for the possibility of ILD.

Investigation of the Charge-Transfer Between Ga-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles and Molecules Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering: Doping Induced Band-Gap Shrinkage.

Semiconductor nanomaterial is a kind of important enhancement substrate in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), and the charge-transfer (CT) process contributes dominantly when they are used as the enhancement substrate for SERS. Doping has significant effect on the CT process of semiconductor nanomaterials. Yet till now, none attempts have been made to explore how doping affects the CT process between the semiconductor and probe molecules. For the first time, this paper investigates the effect of gallium (Ga) doping on the CT process between ZnO nanoparticles and 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA) monolayer. In this paper, a series of Ga-doped ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) with various ratio of Ga and Zn are synthesized and their SERS performances are studied. The study shows that the doped Ga can cause the band gap shrinkage of ZnO NPs and then affect the CT resonance process form the valence band (VB) of ZnO NPs to the LUMO of 4-MBA molecules. The band gap of Ga-doped ZnO NPs is gradually narrowed with the increasing doping concentration, and a minimum value (3.16 eV) is reached with the Ga and Zn ratio of 3.8%, resulting in the maximum degree of CT. This work investigates the effects of doping induced band gap shrinkage on CT using SERS and provides a new insight on improving the SERS performance of semiconductor NPs.

Investigation of charge-transfer between a 4-mercaptobenzoic acid monolayer and TiO2 nanoparticles under high pressure using surface-enhanced Raman scattering.

We investigated the CT process between a 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA) monolayer and TiO2 NPs under high pressure using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Employing the CT enhancement mechanism of semiconductors, we explore the CT process and explain how the pressure affects the process in the 4-MBA@TiO2 system.

Room Temperature CO Oxidation over Pt/MgFe2O4: A Stable Inverse Spinel Oxide Support for Preparing Highly Efficient Pt Catalyst.

MgFe2O4 with inverse spinel structure is demonstrated to be an efficient support for constructing practical potential Pt catalyst (Pt/MgFe2O4). The resultant Pt/MgFe2O4 exhibits excellent catalytic behavior in CO oxidation under normal temperature and humidity. TOF calculated based on the content of Pt is 0.131 s-1. The excellent performance of Pt/MgFe2O4 attributes to the presence of surface undercoordinated lattice oxygens on MgFe2O4 support. These oxygens could participate in the initial CO oxidation and then be recovered under O2 conditions. Over this Pt/MgFe2O4 catalyst, CO catalytic oxidation should mainly follow a redox mechanism.

Magnetic properties of carbon-encapsulated Fe-Co alloy nanoparticles.

Carbon-encapsulated Fe-Co alloy nanoparticles (Fe-Co(C)) have been fabricated with different Co/Fe ratios by an efficient solid-state route using melamine as carbon source. The structure and morphology of Fe-Co(C) nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The XRD characterization results reveal that all products are alloys with no carbide impurity. The TEM and HRTEM observations show that the alloy nanoparticles are encapsulated in carbon shells. Additionally, the reactions involved in the syntheses are postulated. The variation of magnetic properties of Fe-Co(C) with Co/Fe has been discussed according to the room temperature VSM measurement results.

Association of Ig/BCL6 translocations with germinal center B lymphocytes in human lymphoid tissues: implications for malignant transformation.

Chromosomal translocations (CTs) between immunoglobulin (Ig) genes and the BCL6 proto-oncogene are frequently associated with diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs) and follicular lymphomas (FLs) and are implicated in the development of these lymphomas. However, whether Ig/BCL6 translocation per se is sufficient to drive malignant transformation is not clear. To understand the biology of Ig/BCL6-translocated cells prior to their malignant transformation, we developed a system capable of detecting 1 to 3 Igmu/BCL6 CT cells in 1 million mixed cells through the detection of chimeric Imu-BCL6E2 and BCL6E1-Cmu1 transcripts that reflect reciprocal Igmu/BCL6 translocations. The chimeric transcripts that existed in the vast majority of normal lymphoid tissues are due to Igmu/BCL6 CT and were not generated from trans-splicing. Both Imu-BCL6E2 and BCL6E1-Cmu1 transcripts were coexpressed in the same cell populations. The Ig/BCL6 recombination junctions themselves were isolated from B-cell subpopulations expressing the Imu-BCL6 transcripts. The appearance of Igmu/BCL6 CT was associated with cells expressing germinal center but not naive B-cell markers. This study shows that Ig/BCL6 translocations occur in germinal center-stage B cells in healthy humans, and that Ig/BCL6 CTs per se are not likely sufficient to cause the malignant transformation in the context of human B cells.

The human herpesvirus 6 U100 gene product is the third component of the gH-gL glycoprotein complex on the viral envelope.

The human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) variant A U100 gene encodes the third component of the glycoprotein H (gH)-glycoprotein L (gL)-containing complex. Glycosidase digestion analysis showed that the U100 gene products are glycoproteins consisting of an 80-kDa protein with complex N-linked oligosaccharides and a 74-kDa protein with immature, high-mannose N-linked oligosaccharides. Based on these characteristics, we designated the U100 gene products glycoprotein Q (gQ). Only the 80-kDa form of gQ was coimmunoprecipitated with an anti-gH antibody, suggesting that the 80-kDa protein associates with the gH-gL complex in HHV-6-infected cells. Furthermore, the complex was detected in purified virions, suggesting that it may play an important role in viral entry.

Human herpesvirus 6 variant A glycoprotein H-glycoprotein L-glycoprotein Q complex associates with human CD46.

Human CD46 is a cellular receptor for human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6). Virus entry into host cells requires a glycoprotein H (gH)-glycoprotein L (gL) complex. We show that the CD46 ectodomain blocked HHV-6 infection and bound a complex of gH-gL and the 80-kDa U100 gene product, designated glycoprotein Q, indicating that the complex is a viral ligand for CD46.

[Effects of Exogenous Wild-Type p53 Gene on K562 Cells]

To investigate the effects of wt-p53 gene on proliferation and differentiation of K562 cells and to explore the feasibility of wt-p53 in leukemia gene therapy, pC53-SN(3), containing wt-p53 cDNA, and temperature-sensitive p53 mutant pN53cG(Val135) which behaved like wt-p53 at 32.5 degrees C, were introduced into p53-null K562 cells respectively by lipofectin mediated DNA transfection. In the presence of G418, K-SN(3) and K-pN53cG clones expressing P53 protein were selected. The effects of exogenous wt-p53 gene on the proliferation and differentiation of K562 cells were studied by detection of cell growth curves, leukemic colony formation, cell cycle analysis and DNA fragmentation, TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and benzidine staining. The results showed: (1) The level of p53 mRNA in K-SN(3) cells was lower than that in K-pN53cG cells by RT-PCR. (2) K-SN(3) and K-pN53cG(32.5 degrees C) cells proliferated more slowly than the control K562 cells, and their colony formation was obviously suppressed. The cells in G(0)/G(1) phase increased, and the cells in S phase decreased. These features were more obvious in K-pN53cG(32.5 degrees C). (3) K-pN53cG(32.5 degrees C) showed the feature of apoptosis and K-SN(3) showed the characteristics of erythroid lineage differentiation. It was indicated that exogenous of wt-p53 was capable of inhibiting the proliferation of K562 cells and inducing apoptosis of the cells at higher p53 level and interestingly, inducing the cells differentiation on erythroid lineage at lower p53 level.