Integrated platform for multiscale molecular imaging and phenotyping of the human brain.

Understanding cellular architectures and their connectivity is essential for interrogating system function and dysfunction. However, we lack technologies for mapping the multiscale details of individual cells and their connectivity in the human organ-scale system. We developed a platform that simultaneously extracts spatial, molecular, morphological, and connectivity information of individual cells from the same human brain. The platform includes three core elements: a vibrating microtome for ultraprecision slicing of large-scale tissues without losing cellular connectivity (MEGAtome), a polymer hydrogel-based tissue processing technology for multiplexed multiscale imaging of human organ-scale tissues (mELAST), and a computational pipeline for reconstructing three-dimensional connectivity across multiple brain slabs (UNSLICE). We applied this platform for analyzing human Alzheimer's disease pathology at multiple scales and demonstrating scalable neural connectivity mapping in the human brain.

YY1 modulates the radiosensitivity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma through KIF3B-mediated Hippo signaling pathway.

Radiotherapy is an important strategy in the comprehensive treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, effectiveness of radiotherapy is still restricted by radioresistance. Herein, we aimed to understand the mechanisms underlying ESCC radioresistance, for which we looked into the potential role of YY1. YY1 was upregulated in radioresistant tissues and correlated with poor prognosis of patients with ESCC. YY1 depletion enhanced the radiosensitivity of ESCC in vitro and in vivo. Multi-group sequencing showed that downregulation of YY1 inhibited the transcriptional activity of Kinesin Family Member 3B (KIF3B), which further activated the Hippo signaling pathway by interacting with Integrin-beta1 (ITGB1). Once the Hippo pathway was activated, its main effector, Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1), was phosphorylated in the cytoplasm and its expression reduced in the nucleus, thus enhancing the radiosensitivity by regulating its targeted genes. Our study provides new insights into the mechanisms underlying ESCC radioresistance and highlights the potential role of YY1 as a therapeutic target for ESCC.

Boosting photodetection performance of Cs2AgBiBr6 through A-site Rb substitution and interfacial engineering.

Bismuth-based double perovskite Cs2AgBiBr6 shows promise as a photodetection material. However, its detection performance and application are limited by high-exciton binding energy and poor carrier mobility. In this study, we address these limitations by delicately designing a solution-based method for incorporating A-site Rubidium (Rb) substitution into Cs2AgBiBr6 double perovskite films. The introduction of Rb resulted in a significant decrease in trap defect density and an improvement in film quality. The trap-filled limit voltage (VTFL) of pure and Rb-doped CABB film is determined to be 1.71 V and 0.48 V, respectively. Subsequently, by introducing an ultrathin atomic-layer-deposited (ALD) TiO2 films, the fabricated CABB photodetectors exhibit significantly improved photoresponse performance. The response speed and -3dB bandwidth are boosted from ∼93 ms to ∼350 µs and broadened from 1.4 kHz to 17 kHz, respectively. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations indicate Rb-substitution shortens the bond length and weaken exciton binding energy. Furthermore, we demonstrate a wireless near ultraviolet (UV) light communication system using CABB photodetectors as light receivers. Our findings provide an efficient approach to utilize A-site cation substitution as a tuning parameter for photodetection in high-exciton binding energy perovskite materials, thereby extending the potential applications of other functional perovskites.

Perovskite-based color camera inspired by human visual cells.

There are two primary types of photoreceptor cells in the human eye: cone cells and rod cells that enable color vision and night vision, respectively. Herein, inspired by the function of human visual cells, we develop a high-resolution perovskite-based color camera using a set of narrowband red, green, blue, and broadband white perovskite photodetectors as imaging sensors. The narrowband red, green, and blue perovskite photodetectors with color perceptions mimic long-, medium-, and short-wavelength cones cells to achieve color imaging ability. Also, the broadband white perovskite photodetector with better detectivity mimics rod cells to improve weak-light imaging ability. Our perovskite-based camera, combined with predesigned pattern illumination and image reconstruction technology, is demonstrated with high-resolution color images (up to 256 × 256 pixels) in diffuse mode. This is far beyond previously reported advanced perovskite array image sensors that only work in monochrome transmission mode. This work shows a new approach to bio-inspired cameras and their great potential to strongly mimic the ability of the natural eye.

Diagnostic value of procalcitonin, hypersensitive C-reactive protein and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio for bloodstream infections in pediatric tumor patients.

OBJECTIVES: Bloodstream infection (BSI) is one of the major causes of death in pediatric tumor patients. Blood samples are relatively easy to obtain and thus provide a ready source of infection-related biological markers for the prompt evaluation of infection risk. METHODS: A total of 259 pediatric tumor patients were included from May 2019 to March 2022. Patients were divided into BSI group (n=70) and control group (n=189). Clinical and biological data were collected using electronic medical records. Differences in biological markers between BSI group and control group and differences before and during infection in BSI group were analyzed. RESULTS: The infected group showed higher levels of procalcitonin (PCT) and hypersensitive C-reactive-protein (hsCRP), and lower prealbumin (PA) than the uninfected group. Area under the receiver-operating curve (ROC) curves (AUC) of PCT, hsCRP and NLR (absolute neutrophil count to the absolute lymphocyte count) were 0.756, 0.617 and 0.612. The AUC of other biomarkers was ≤0.6. In addition, PCT, hsCRP, NLR and fibrinogen (Fg) were significantly increased during infection, while PA and lymphocyte (LYM) were significantly decreased. Antibiotic resistant of Gram-positive bacteria to CHL, SXT, OXA and PEN was lower than that of Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. Resistant of Gram-positive bacteria to CHL was lower, while to SXT was higher than that of Gram-negative bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: This study explored the utility of biomarkers to assist in diagnosis and found that the PCT had the greatest predictive value for infection in pediatric tumor patients with BSI. Additionally, the PCT, hsCRP, NLR, PA, LYM and Fg were changed by BSI.

Asymmetries and relationships between muscle strength, proprioception, biomechanics, and postural stability in patients with unilateral knee osteoarthritis.

Background: The pathological mechanism of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is unknown. KOA degeneration may be associated with changes in muscle strength, proprioception, biomechanics, and postural stability. Objective: This study aimed to assess asymmetries in muscle strength, proprioception, biomechanics, and postural stability of bilateral lower limbs in patients with unilateral KOA and healthy controls and analyze correlations between KOA and these parameters. Methods: A total of 50 patients with unilateral KOA (age range: 50-70) and 50 healthy subjects were recruited as study participants (age range: 50-70). Muscle strength, proprioception, femorotibial angle (FTA), femoral condylar-tibial plateau angle (FCTP), average trajectory error (ATE), and center of pressure (COP) sways areas were accessed in study participants, and the correlation between these variables was investigated. Results: In patients with unilateral KOA, lower limb muscle strength was significantly lower on the symptomatic side than on the asymptomatic side (p < 0.01), while the proprioception (degree error), FTA, FCTP, and ATE were substantially higher compared to the asymptomatic side (p < 0.01). However, no significant difference was observed in the healthy controls (p > 0.05). Patients with unilateral KOA had lower muscle strength than healthy controls (p < 0.05), but their proprioception (degree error: the difference between the target and reproduction angles), ATE, and COP sway areas were higher (p < 0.05). Muscle strength was found to be negatively correlated with ATE and COP sways areas (p < 0.05), whereas proprioception (degree error) was positively correlated with ATE and COP sways areas (p < 0.05) in all study participants. However, no correlation was found between FTA, FCTP, and ATE, COP sways areas in patients with unilateral KOA (p > 0.05). Conclusion: In patients with unilateral KOA, muscle strength, proprioception, biomechanics, and postural stability of bilateral limbs are asymmetrical in unilateral KOA patients. Muscle strength, proprioception, and postural stability are significantly associated variables, and changes in these variables should be considered in KOA prevention and rehabilitation.

Perovskite Wide-Angle Field-Of-View Camera.

Researchers have attempted to create wide-angle field-of-view (FOV) cameras inspired by the structure of the eyes of animals, including fisheye and compound eye cameras. However, realizing wide-angle FOV cameras simultaneously exhibiting low distortion and high spatial resolution remains a significant challenge. In this study, a novel wide-angle FOV camera is developed by combining a single large-area flexible perovskite photodetector (FP-PD) using computational technology. With this camera, the proposed single-photodetector imaging technique can obtain high-spatial-resolution images using only a single detector, and the large-area FP-PD can be bent further to collect light from a wide-angle FOV. The proposed camera demonstrates remarkable features of an extraordinarily tunable wide FOV (greater than 150°), high spatial resolution of 256 × 256 pixels, and low distortion. It is believed that the proposed compatible and extensible camera prototype will promote the development of high-performance versatile FOV cameras.

Achieving dual-color imaging by dual-band perovskite photodetectors coupled with algorithms.

Dual-color or multispectral imaging based on conventional optical imaging techniques is suffering from the bottleneck of complex manufacturing and time consumption caused by multiple imaging. Herein, we develop a dual-color computational imaging system combining a vertically stacked dual-channel dual-band perovskite photodetectors (PDs) and the advanced Fourier imaging algorithm. Significantly, our imaging system bypasses the complex fabrication process of high-density dual-band PD arrays and is enabled to capture two high-resolution spectral images at the same time. Based on the experiments and simulations, we confirm that the spectral overlap of dual-band PDs will cause detrimental effect for color identification, and optimizing the bandwidth spectrum is beneficial for achieving much better spectral imaging. Moreover, we have further improved the imaging quality by increasing the sampling rate and suppressing current fluctuations. We suggest that these results provide important interesting insights for the development of advanced imaging systems, including IR imaging, THz imaging, multispectral/hyperspectral imaging, etc.

Low-Temperature Vapor-Phase Anion-Exchange Strategy for Wide-Bandgap Double-Perovskite Cs2AgBiCl6 Films toward Weak Ultraviolet Light Imaging.

Low-temperature synthesis of high-quality, high-stability, wide-bandgap perovskite films by solution methods is still challenging. Herein, large-scale wide-bandgap Cs2AgBiCl6 (CABC) double perovskite films are synthesized by a vapor-phase anion-exchange strategy. By dedicatedly designing an ultrathin TiO2 modification layer between the substrate and double perovskites, high-quality heterojunctions with matched energy band alignment are formed, contributing to a remarkably enhanced ON/OFF ratio of 2.4 × 104 (86 times) and a responsivity of 16 mA W-1 (12 times). Additionally, the ultraviolet photodetectors (UV PDs) exhibit an excellent UV detection limit of 1.18 µW cm-2 (20 nW), a broad linear dynamic range of 146 dB, and a high specific detectivity of 2.06 × 1011 Jones, as well as long-term stability. Finally, we further demonstrate a weak UV imaging system using CABC UV PDs as imaging sensors. The system is capable of imaging weak UV signals as low as 2.94 µW cm-2 (50 nW). Our results provide a feasible approach for low-temperature fabrication of wide-bandgap perovskite UV PDs and explore the promising application for weak UV detection and imaging.

Underwater Multispectral Computational Imaging Based on a Broadband Water-Resistant Sb2Se3 Heterojunction Photodetector.

Exploration, utilization, and protection of marine resources are of great significance to the survival and development of mankind. However, currently classical optical cameras suffer information loss, low contrast, and color distortion due to the absorption and scattering nature for the underwater environment. Here, we demonstrate an underwater multispectral computational imaging system combined with single-photodetector imaging algorithm technology and a CdS/Sb2Se3 heterojunction photodetector. The computational imaging technology coupled with an advanced Fourier algorithm can capture a scene by a single photodetector without spatial resolution that avoids the need to rely on high-density detectors array and bulky optical components in traditional imaging systems. This convenient computational imaging method provides more flexible possibilities for underwater imaging and promises to give more imaging capabilities (such as multispectral imaging, antiscattering imaging capability) to meet ever-changing demand of underwater imaging. In addition, the water-resistant CdS/Sb2Se3 heterojunction photodetector fabricated by the close spaced sublimation (Sb2Se3) and chemical bath deposition (CdS) shows excellent self-powered photodetection performance at zero bias with high LDR of 128 dB, broadband response spectrum range of 300-1050 nm, high responsivity up to 0.47 A/W, and high specific detectivity over 5 × 1012 jones. Compared with the traditional optical imaging system, our designed computational imaging system that combines the advanced Fourier algorithm and a high-performance CdS/Sb2Se3 heterojunction photodetector exhibits outstanding antiscattering imaging capability (shielded by frosted glass), weak light imaging capability (∼0.2 µW/cm2, corresponding to moonlight intensity), and multispectral imaging capability. Therefore, we believe that this work will boost the progress of marine science.

Bushen Qiangjin capsule inhibits the Wnt/α-catenin pathway to ameliorate papain-induced knee osteoarthritis in rat.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the molecular mechanism underlying the beneficial effect of Bushen Qiangjin capsule (BSQJ), a Traditional Chinese Medicine, on knee osteoarthritis (KOA). METHODS: In the present study, 32 female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, KOA, high-dose BSQJ (H-BSQJ), and low-dose BSQJ (L-BSQJ). After successfully establishing the KOA model by intra-articular injection of papain, H-BSQJ and L-BSQJ groups were intragastrically administered 0.243 and 0.122 g/kg BSQJ, respectively, daily for 6 weeks. At the end of the experiment, knee articular cartilage tissues of rats were collected for evaluation by hematoxylin and eosin staining, Safranin O-Fast Green staining, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling assay. Serum interleukin-1α and tumor necrosis factor-α levels of rats were detected with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Gene expression of Wnt-4, α-catenin, Frizzled-2, glycogen synthase kinase-3ß (GSK-3ß), cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinases 3 and 9 (caspases 3 and 9), collagen type II alpha 1 (Col2a1), and matrix metalloproteinases 1 and 13 (MMP-1 and MMP-3) of rat knee articular cartilage was quantified by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. Wnt-4, α-catenin, Frizzled-2, GSK-3ß, cleaved caspase-3, and cleaved caspase-9 protein expression in rat knee articular cartilage was determined by western blot analysis. RESULTS: BSQJ obviously reduced pathological damage and matrix degradation of articular cartilage in KOA rats. Compared with the KOA group, H-BSQJ rats exhibited downregulated mRNA and protein expression of Wnt-4, ß-catenin, Frizzled-2,and caspase-3, as well as upregulated mRNA and protein expression of GSK-3α. In addition, H-BSQJ significantly increased mRNA expression of Col2a1 and decreased mRNA expression of MMP-1 and MMP-13. CONCLUSION: BSQJ exerted a beneficial effect on KOA by a mechanism involving downregulation of the Wnt/α-catenin pathway, which inhibited both cartilage extracellular matrix degradation and chondrocyte apoptosis to ameliorate KOA in rats.

Interfacial Gradient-Energy-Band-Alignment Modulation via a Vapor-Phase Anion-Exchange Reaction toward Lead-Free Perovskite Photodetectors with Excellent UV Imaging Capability.

Bi-based inorganic perovskites have attracted great attention in optoelectronics, as they feature similar photoelectric properties but have high stability and lead-free merits. Unfortunately, due to the high exciton binding energy and small Bohr radius, their photodetection performance still largely lags behind that of Pb-based counterparts. Herein, using a vapor-phase chloride ion-substitution strategy, Cs3Bi2Br9 photodetectors (PDs) with gradient energy band alignment were delicately modulated, contributing to a high carrier separation/collection efficiency. The optimized Bi-based perovskite ACCT (Al2O3/Cs3Bi2Br9/Cs3Bi2ClxBr9-x/TiO2) PDs exhibit outstanding performance, the ON/OFF ratio and linear dynamic range (LDR) are significantly improved by 20 and 2.6 times, respectively. Significantly, we further demonstrate the high-SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) UV imaging based on the optimized device, which shows 21.887 dB higher than that of the pristine device. Finally, the vapor-phase anion-exchange modified perovskite PDs show long-term stability and high UV resistance. Vapor-phase ion-substitution is a promising approach for the synergistic effect of matched energy band alignment and interface passivation, which can be applied to other perovskite-based optoelectronic devices.

Polycrystalline Few-Layer Graphene as a Durable Anticorrosion Film for Copper.

Corrosion of metals in atmospheric environments is a worldwide problem in industry and daily life. Traditional anticorrosion methods including sacrificial anodes or protective coatings have performance limitations. Here, we report atomically thin, polycrystalline few-layer graphene (FLG) grown by chemical vapor deposition as a long-term protective coating film for copper (Cu). A six-year old, FLG-protected Cu is visually shiny and detailed material characterizations capture no sign of oxidation. The success of the durable anticorrosion film depends on the misalignment of grain boundaries between adjacent graphene layers. Theoretical calculations further found that corrosive molecules always encounter extremely high energy barrier when diffusing through the FLG layers. Therefore, the FLG is able to prevent the corrosive molecules from reaching the underlying Cu surface. This work highlights the interesting structures of polycrystalline FLG and sheds insight into the atomically thin coatings for various applications.

RNA sequencing reveals the circular RNA expression profiles of the infrapatellar fat pad/synovium unit.

BACKGROUND: The infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) and synovium are reported to act as a functional unit, with emerging roles in the pathophysiology of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in the pathogenesis of KOA, especially in cartilage homeostasis regulation. Nevertheless, the regulatory mechanisms of circRNAs in the KOA IPFP/synovium unit remain to be elucidated. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate alterations in the expression of circRNAs and predict their functions in the KOA IPFP/synovium unit using bioinformatics analysis. METHODS: In brief, 6 synovium and IPFP specimens were collected, in which 3 from patients with KOA and 3 from controls. Then, circRNA sequencing was conducted on 2 KOA synovium and IPFP specimens as well as 1 control to investigate the expression profiles of circRNAs. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Reactome signaling pathway analyses were employed to predict the functions of the differentially expressed circRNAs. Based on the miRNA sponge theory, we constructed a circRNA-miRNA network to predict the molecular regulatory mechanism of these circRNAs. Venn analysis was performed to confirm the circRNAs and miRNAs expressed in both synovium and IPFP. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was also used to validate the expression levels of circRNAs that were co-expressed in both synovium and IPFP. RESULTS: A total of 65 and 72 circRNAs were differentially expressed in KOA synovium and IPFP, respectively (fold change ≥2, P<0.05). After obtaining the parental genes of differentially expressed circRNAs, the top 10 enrichment GO entries, KEGG pathways, and Reactome pathways were annotated. Furthermore, hsa_circ_0005265 was found to be down-regulated in both synovium and IPFP, which was validated by qRT-PCR. The circRNA-miRNA network was created to annotate the probable regulatory mechanisms of the differentially expressed circRNAs, which consequently confirmed 2 target miRNAs (hsa-miR-6769b-5p and hsa-miR-1249-5p) associated with hsa_circ_0005265 in both synovium and IPFP. CONCLUSIONS: Our outcomes bring us closer to understanding the potential mechanism of the IPFP/synovium unit in the progression of KOA and finding new molecular targets for KOA therapy.

Precise Phase Control of Large-Scale Inorganic Perovskites via Vapor-Phase Anion-Exchange Strategy.

Anion exchange offers great flexibility and high precision in phase control, compositional engineering, and optoelectronic property tuning. Different from previous successful anion exchange process in liquid solution, herein, a vapor-phase anion-exchange strategy is developed to realize the precise phase and bandgap control of large-scale inorganic perovskites by using gas injection cycle, producing some perovskites such as CsPbCl3 which has never been reported in thin film morphology. Ab initio calculations also provide the insightful mechanism to understand the impact of anion exchange on tuning the electronic properties and optimizing the structural stability. Furthermore, because of precise control of specific atomic concentrations, intriguing tunable photoluminescence is observed and photodetectors with tunable photoresponse edge from green to ultraviolet light can be realized accurately with an ultrahigh spectral resolution of 1 nm. Therefore, a new, universal vapor-phase anion exchange method is offered for inorganic perovskite with fine-tunable optoelectronic properties.

Effects of bushen qianggu method for primary osteoporosis: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Primary osteoporosis (POP) is one of the most common orthopedic diseases with a high risk of fracture. Effective treatment of POP is of great significance to reduce the rate of disability and improve the quality of life. Bushen qianggu (BSQG) is a classical method of TCM in treating POP. However, there is no systematic review related to BSQG for POP. The purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive and reliable evaluation of the clinical evidence of BSQG in the treatment of POP. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Relevant randomized controlled trial literature evaluating the effect of BSQG on patients with POP will be obtained by searching the PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library Central Register of Controlled Trials, China national knowledge infrastructure database, Wan fang database, Chongqing VIP information, and SinoMed from their inception to May 2020. Two researchers will select and evaluate qualified studies independently. The bone mineral density value and the incidence of fractures will be accepted as the primary outcomes. The meta-analyses will be performed by using the RevMan 5.3. RESULTS: This study will provide a comprehensive evaluation of the efficacy and safety of BSQG method for patients with POP. CONCLUSION: The conclusion of our systematic review will provide evidence to judge whether BSQG is an effective intervention for patients with POP. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: 10.17605/OSF.IO/ZMX3W.

Importance of Bi-O Bonds at the Cs2AgBiBr6 Double-Perovskite/Substrate Interface for Crystal Quality and Photoelectric Performance.

Interface interactions between perovskite materials and substrates are of great significance for the development of high-quality perovskite materials. Herein, we have successfully prepared Cs2AgBiBr6 double-perovskite films via a one-step spin-coating process and demonstrated a novel approach that modifies the surface of substrates with an ultrathin metal oxide (MOx) layer to promote the film quality and photoelectric performance. Characterization results strongly suggest that the improvement is attributed to the Bi-O interfacial interaction at substrate/perovskite interface. Benefiting from this interface interaction, the average grain size of Cs2AgBiBr6 films has remarkably risen up to ∼500 nm, which is nearly four times larger than the one directly deposited on a commercial fluorine-doped tin oxide substrate. Meanwhile, the pin hole surface area ratio has reduced from 2.61 to 0.60%. Furthermore, the corresponding photodetectors (PDs) have been fabricated and the performance has significantly improved owing to the enhanced Cs2AgBiBr6 film quality. The on-off ratio of the optimized PD has a boost of almost 10 times. In addition, the minimum detected irradiation has decreased from 9.7 × 10-8 to 1.9 × 10-9 W cm-2, as well as the maximum detectivity has increased from 3.3 × 1011 to 1.2 × 1013 Jones. These results suggest a feasible method for crystallization improvement of double-perovskite films and indicate promising promotion of photoelectric performance.

Reducing current fluctuation of Cs3Bi2Br9 perovskite photodetectors for diffuse reflection imaging with wide dynamic range.

Recently, the newly booming metal halide perovskites have attracted extensive attention worldwide due to their outstanding optoelectronic performance, and are expected to be ideal candidates for photodetectors (PDs). However, there is still lack of perovskite PDs-based imaging devices coming into commercialization stage, due to some practical reasons including toxicity brought by lead-based perovskites and the large light current fluctuations. In this paper, for the first time we fabricate a lead-free Cs3Bi2Br9 perovskite PD, and build a prototype of this perovskite PD-based imaging system with diffuse reflection imaging mode. Moreover, we propose a new parameter F related to light current fluctuation to evaluate imaging performance of a PD especially for weak diffuse light condition, and prove its usability by comparison of unoptimized lead-free Cs3Bi2Br9 perovskite PD and atomic layer deposition (ALD) optimized Cs3Bi2Br9 PD. ALD-optimization can improve the quality of perovskite film and suppress the dark current and current fluctuation. Finally, we obtain satisfactory diffuse reflection images of 2D and 3D objects with wide dynamic range. Therefore, the ALD-optimized Cs3Bi2Br9 PD has addressed two major concerns about perovskite PDs-based imaging devices, that may extend application of perovskite materials and improve imaging quality.

PADI3 plays an antitumor role via the Hsp90/CKS1 pathway in colon cancer.

BACKGROUND: CKS1 is highly expressed in colon cancer tissues, and is essential for cancer cell proliferation. The downstream molecular mechanism of CKS1 has been fully studied, but the upstream regulatory mechanism of it is still unclear. Earlier research found that PADI3 plays its anti-tumor roles via suppress cell proliferation, in this study, we found that the expression pattern of PADI3 and CKS1 are negatively correlated in colon cancer tissues, and overexpression of PADI3 can partly reverse CKS1 induced cancer cell proliferation. However, the regulatory mechanism of PADI3 and CKS1 in the tumorigenesis of colon cancer is still unclear and need to do further research. METHODS: Western blot and real-time PCR were used to detect the expression levels of genes. CCK-8 and colony formation assays were used to examine cell proliferation and colony formation ability. Overexpression and rescue experiments were used to study the molecular mechanism of CKS1 in colon cancer cells, BALB/c nude mice were used to study the function of CKS1 in vivo. RESULTS: CKS1 is highly expressed in colon cancer tissues, and the overexpression of CKS1 promotes cell proliferation and colony formation in both HCT116 (originating from primary colon cancer) and SW620 (originating from metastatic tumor nodules of colon cancer) cells. CKS1-expressing HCT116 cells produced larger tumors than the control cells. The expression pattern of PADI3 and CKS1 are negatively correlation in clinical samples of colon cancer, further study indicates that PADI3 can significantly decrease Hsp90 and CKS1 expression, and Hsp90 is essential for PADI3 to downregulate CKS1expression in colon cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS: PADI3 exerts its antitumor activity by inhibiting Hsp90 and CKS1 expression, and Hsp90 is essential for PADI3 to suppress CKS1 expression.

Valence-State Controllable Fabrication of Cu2-xO/Si Type-II Heterojunction for High-Performance Photodetectors.

Cuprite, nominally cuprous oxide (Cu2O) but more correctly Cu2-xO, is widely used in optoelectronic applications because of its natural p-type, nontoxicity, and abundant availability. However, the photoresponsivity of Cu2O/Si photodetectors (PDs) has been limited by the lack of high-quality Cu2-xO films. Herein, we report a facile room-temperature solution method to prepare high-quality Cu2-xO films with controllable x value which were used as hole selective transport layers in crystalline n-type silicon-based heterojunction PDs. The detection performance of Cu2-xO/Si PDs exhibits a remarkable improvement via reducing the x value, resulting in the optimized PDs with high responsivity of 417 mA W-1 and fast response speed of 1.3 µs. Furthermore, the performance of the heterojunction PDs can be further improved by designing the pyramidal silicon structure, with enhanced responsivity of 600 mA W-1 and response speed of 600 ns. The superior photodetecting performance of Cu2-xO/n-Si heterojunctions is attributed to (i) the matched energy level band alignment, (ii) the low trap states in high-quality Cu2O thin films, and (iii) the excellent light trapping. We expect that the low-cost, highly efficient solution process would be of great convenience for large-scale fabrication of the Cu2-xO thin films and broaden the applications of Cu2-xO-based optoelectronic devices.