Multi-Mode Photoluminescence Regulation in a Zero-Dimensional Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Metal Halide Perovskite─[(CH3)4N]2SnCl6.

Metal ion-doped zero-dimensional halide perovskites provide good platforms to generate broadband emission and explore the fundamental dynamics of emission regulations. Recently, Sb3+-doped zero-dimensional halide perovskites have attracted considerable attention for the high quantum yield of yellow emission; however, the triplet state recombination is activated and the singlet state emission is usually absent. Herein, we fabricate an Sb3+-doped zero-dimensional [(CH3)4N]2SnCl6 perovskite that can induce singlet and triplet emission. Density functional theory calculation shows that there are some overlaps between the highest occupied molecular orbitals and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals, which may induce a large energy separation between the lowest excited triplet states (T1) and the lowest excited singlet states (S1) [ΔE(S1 - T1)], impeding all the carriers' transfer from the singlet state to the triplet state. As a result, the reserved singlet emission together with the triplet emission can be regulated by excitation wavelength in situ. In addition, different Bi3+ ratios are co-doped into Sb3+@[(CH3)4N]2SnCl6, resulting in a photoluminescence ex situ regulation. Single-phase white light LED and optical anti-counterfeiting are developed further.

Tuning the Crystallinity and Coverage of SiO2-ZnIn2S4 Core-Shell Nanoparticles for Efficient Hydrogen Generation.

The coverage, thickness, and crystallinity of ZnIn2S4 (ZIS) shells on SiO2 core nanoparticles (SiO2@ZIS) were systematically investigated using microwave-assisted solvothermal methods aided by the addition of acid in ethanolic medium. The surface modification of the SiO2 cores with (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane was found to be critical to generate a homogeneous coverage of ZnIn2S4. The SiO2@ZIS core-shell nanoparticles exhibited the best coverage but poor crystallinity when synthesized in pure ethanol, whereas best crystallinity but poor coverage was observed when synthesized in an aqueous solution. The addition of selected amounts of acid (HCl) led to improved crystallinity in the ethanolic medium. The thickness of the ZIS shell could be controlled in an ethanolic solution by judiciously varying the amounts of acid and the concentration of the ZIS precursor. Increasing the concentration of the ZIS precursor to twice the standard concentration in ethanolic solution with the addition of 100 µL of HCl afforded better crystallinity, homogeneous coverage, and optimal photocatalytic hydrogen production.

Application of chromosomal microarray to investigate genetic causes of isolated fetal growth restriction.

BACKGROUND: Application of chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) to investigate the genetic characteristics of fetal growth restriction (FGR) without ultrasonic structural anomalies at 18-32 weeks. METHODS: This study includes singleton fetuses with the estimated fetal weight (EFW) using the formula of Hadlock C below the 10th percentile for gestational age. FGRs without structural anomalies were selected, and the ones at high risk of noninvasive prenatal testing for trisomy 13, 18 and 21 would be excluded. The cases were divided into two groups: early-onset group (< 24+ 0 weeks) and late-onset group (24-33 weeks). All patients were offered invasive prenatal testing with CMA and karyotype analysis. RESULTS: CMA detected 10 pathogenic copy number variants and 2 variant of uncertain significance case. CMA has a 5.5% (7/127) incremental yield of pathogenic chromosomal abnormalities over karyotyping. The positive detected rate was 9.6% (5/52) in early-onset group and 9.3% (7/75) in late-onset group respectively. CONCLUSIONS: When FGR without structural anomaly is diagnosed before 33 weeks, an invasive prenatal procedure is strongly recommended. CMA can identify a 5.5% (7/127) incremental detection rate of pathogenic chromosomal abnormalities, which would impact clinical management for FGR.

Broadening the photoresponsive activity of anatase titanium dioxide particles via decoration with partial gold shells.

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has gained increasing interest in materials research due to its outstanding properties and promising applications in a wide range of fields. From this perspective, we report the synthesis of custom-designed anatase TiO2 submicrometer particles coated with partial Au shells (ATiO2-AuShl). The synthetic strategy used herein yields uniformly shaped monodisperse particles. Amorphous TiO2 core particles were synthesized using template-free oxidation and hydrolysis of titanium nitride (TiN); subsequent hydrothermal treatment generated anatase TiO2 (ATiO2) particles. Coating ATiO2 particles with partial Au shells was accomplished using a simple seeded-growth method. Evaluation of the optical properties of these ATiO2-AuShl particles showed that these submicrometer composites exhibited an intense absorption peak for TiO2 in the UV region (∼326 nm) and a broad extinction band in the visible range (∼650 nm) arising from the incomplete Au shell. These ATiO2-AuShl composite particles provide a unique and effective means for broadening the optical response of TiO2-based nano- and micron-scale materials. The simplicity of our synthetic method should broaden the application of ATiO2-AuShl particles in various visible light-driven technologies.

[Solanine inhibits prostate cancer Du145 xenograft growth in nude mice by inducing cell cycle arrest in G1/S phase].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of solanine on the growth of human prostate cancer cell xenograft in nude mice. METHODS: Human prostate cancer Du145 cells were injected into the subcutaneous layers on the back of nude mice. After a week, the mice bearing subcutaneous tumor graft were randomly divided into solanine treatment group and saline control group for treatment for 3 weeks. The tumor grafts were then harvested to evaluate the inhibition rate. The mRNA and protein expressions of cell cycle-related genes in the tumors were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively, and tumor cell apoptosis was detected using TUNEL method. RESULTS: The tumor growth rate in solanine-treated group was significantly slower than that in the control group (P<0.01). The mRNA and protein expressions of C-myc, cyclin D1, cyclin E1, CDK2, CDK4 and CDK6 were significantly inhibited by solanine. Solanine significantly up-regulated p21 mRNA and protein expression in the tumors and induced a higher apoptosis rate of the tumor cells than saline (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The tumor-inhibition effect of solanine is probably mediated by regulating the expressions of genes related with G1/S cell cycle arrest and cell apoptosis.

Plasmonically Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production from Water: The Critical Role of Tunable Surface Plasmon Resonance from Gold-Silver Nanoshells.

Gold-silver nanoshells (GS-NSs) having a tunable surface plasmon resonance (SPR) were employed to facilitate charge separation of photoexcited carriers in the photocalytic production of hydrogen from water. Zinc indium sulfide (ZnIn2S4; ZIS), a visible-light-active photocatalyst, where the band gap varies with the [Zn]/[In] ratio, was used as a model ZIS system (E(g) = 2.25 eV) to investigate the mechanisms of plasmonic enhancement associated with the nanoshells. Three types of GS-NS cores with intense absorptions centered roughly at 500, 700, and 900 nm were used as seeds for preparing GS-NS@ZIS core-shell structures via a microwave-assisted hydrothermal reaction, yielding core-shell particles with composite diameters of ∼200 nm. Notably, an interlayer of dielectric silica (SiO2) between the GS-NSs and the ZIS photocatalyst provided another parameter to enhance the production of hydrogen and to distinguish the charge-transfer mechanisms. In particular, the direct transfer of hot electrons from the GS-NSs to the ZIS photocatalyst was blocked by this layer. Of the 10 particle samples examined in this study, the greatest hydrogen gas evolution rate was observed for GS-NSs having a SiO2 interlayer thickness of ∼17 nm and an SPR absorption centered at ∼700 nm, yielding a rate 2.6 times higher than that of the ZIS without GS-NSs. The apparent quantum efficiencies for these core-shell particles were recorded and compared to the absorption spectra. Analyses of the charge-transfer mechanisms were evaluated and are discussed based on the experimental findings.

[Rapid detection of chromosome number aberration in spontaneously aborted fetuses using fluorescence in situ hybridization].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in the diagnosis of common chromosome number aberration in spontaneously aborted fetuses. METHOD: A total of 100 spontaneously aborted fetuses were analyzed by G-banding and by FISH to test chromosome number aberration mainly for chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X and Y, and the results of FISH test was assessed according to those by G-banding test. RESULTS: FISH results were well consistent with those by G-banding test. FISH test identified trisomy in 32 samples and polyploidy in 7 samples. Two samples with cell culture failure were found to have trisomy 16 by FISH. Discrepancies in the results between the two tests occurred in 3 samples, but the results of FISH were verified by other methods. Kappa test between FISH technology and G-banding showed a good consistency between FISH and karyotyping (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: FISH is an effective and rapid method for detecting chromosome number aberration in spontaneously aborted fetuses, and the combination of FISH and karyotyping provides more reliable diagnostic evidence.

[Clinical application of SYBR Green I real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR for diagnosis of common chromosome aneuploidy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR in the diagnosis of chromosome anepuploidy. METHODS: ABCC4 gene on chromosome 13, TYMS gene on chromosome 18, DSCR3 gene on chromosome 21, HPRT2 gene on chromosome X, and SRY gene on Y chromosome were used as the target genes, with GAPDH gene on chromosome 12 as the control gene. Using double-standard curve fluorescent relative quantitative PCR method with SYBR Green as the fluorescent dye, the gene expression levels were detected and the results were compared with those of karyotype analysis. RESULTS: The ratio of the target gene on chromosome 13 to the control gene showed a significant difference between the normal karyotype group (0.90 - or + 0.31) and trisome group (1.39 - or + 0.12, P=0.003), and the genes on chromosome 18 (1.07 - or + 0.44 vs 1.66 - or + 0.12, P=0.000) and chromosome 21 (0.84 - or + 0.27 vs 1.73 - or + 0.54, P=0.000) showed similar results. The expression of the genes on the X chromosome showed no significant difference between 45, X group and 46,XY group (0.62 - or + 0.12 vs 0.63 - or + 0.25, P=0.965), nor between 46, XX group and 47,XXY group (1.32 - or + 0.37 vs 1.20 - or + 0.35, P=0.326), while a significant difference was noted between the single copy X (including 45,X and 46,XY) and two copies X (46,XX and 47,XXY) (0.63 - or + 0.23 vs 1.26 - or + 0.36, P=0.000). The expression of the target gene on the Y chromosome was not detected in normal females (46,XX), and a significant difference in the expression was found between normal male group (46,XY) and 47,XYY group (1.57 - or + 0.54 vs 3.08 - or + 0.15, P=0.003). CONCLUSION: SYBR Green I real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR can be used for the purpose of rapid diagnosis of chromosome aneuploidy.

[Chorionic villus cell culture and karyotype analysis in 110 cases of early spontaneous abortion].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of fetal chromosomal karyotype analysis in cases of early spontaneous abortion. METHODS: Chorionic villus specimens obtained from 110 cases of early spontaneous abortion were cultured for karyotype analysis. RESULTS: Of the 110 cases, chorionic villus was successfully cultured in 103 cases (93.7%), and abnormal embryo karyotypes were identified in 52 cases (50.5%). Trisomy was the most frequent embryo karyotype abnormalities in these cases, and chromosomal aberration occurred in 29 cases (52.9%) of the first spontaneous abortion and in 23 cases (42.6%) of repeated abortions. Female fetuses accounted for 75.5% (78 cases) in the spontaneously aborted fetuses and for 67.3% (35 cases) in fetuses with chromosomal abnormalities. CONCLUSION: Embryo chromosomal abnormality is the most important reason of early spontaneous abortion, and karyotype analysis of the villus helps identify the causes of abortion and ensure the success of the next pregnancy.