[Analysis of common genetic variants associated with neuro-synapse development among 60 family trios affected with sporadic autism spectrum disorders].

OBJECTIVE: To explore susceptibility genes for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). METHODS: Whole-exome sequencing was carried out for 60 family trios affected with sporadic ASD. Genetic variants discovered in over 10% of the patients were selected for genotype-phenotype correlation and pathway enrichment analysis using Phenolyzer software and metascape database. Combining gene-phenotypic scores, pathway-related genes associated with neural and neurite triggering were screened for the candidates. RESULTS: A total of 170 common variants were found to be associated with the ASD phenotype. Among these, there was only one high-confidence gene [SHANK2(0.8146)] and four medium-confidence genes [ERBB2(0.1322), LAMC3(0.1117), PPFIA4(0.1059), DISC1(0.1002)]. Twenty-pathways and four biological processes were found to be statistically significant by pathway enrichment analysis, which included neuron projection morphogenesis (GO: 0048812), regulation of neuroblast proliferation (GO: 1902692), modulation of excitatory postsynaptic potential (GO: 0098815), and dendrite morphogenesis (GO: 0048813). Twenty-one genes were found to be closely associated with neurological and neurite triggering, among which only SHANK2, ERBB2, and DISC1 had above-medium confidence correlation scores with the ASD phenotypes. CONCLUSION: Abnormal neuron projection morphogenesis (GO: 0048812) may be closely related to the occurrence of ASD. SHANK2, ERBB2, and DISC1 are susceptibility genes for ASD.

Improving "color rendering" of LED lighting for the growth of lettuce.

Light plays a vital role on the growth and development of plant. On the base of white light with high color rendering to the benefit of human survival and life, we proposed to improve "color rendering" of LED lighting for accelerating the growth of lettuce. Seven spectral LED lights were adopted to irradiate the lettuces under 150 µmol·m-2·s-1 for a 16 hd-1 photoperiod. The leaf area and number profiles, plant biomass, and photosynthetic rate under the as-prepared LED light treatments were investigated. We let the absorption spectrum of fresh leaf be the emission spectrum of ideal light and then evaluate the "color rendering" of as-prepared LED lights by the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient and CIE chromaticity coordinates. Under the irradiation of red-yellow-blue light with high correlation coefficient of 0.587, the dry weights and leaf growth rate are 2-3 times as high as the sharp red-blue light. The optimized LED light for lettuce growth can be presumed to be limited to the angle (about 75°) between the vectors passed through the ideal light in the CIE chromaticity coordinates. These findings open up a new idea to assess and find the optimized LED light for plant growth.

Enhanced Photoluminescence Properties of Carbon Dots by Doping with Europium.

Europium (Eu) doped carbon dots (CDs) were synthesized via a rapid and simple microwave medi- ated method using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a precursor, and characterized in detail. The results were that these as-prepared CDs showed a uniform and small particle size, and exhibit good pho- tostability and high photoluminescence quantum yields. Additionally, it also found that the doped Eu would change the fluorescence properties, which indicates potential applications in the field of biolabeling.

Crystal Growth and Photoluminescence Properties of Truncated Cubic BaMgAl10O17:Eu2+ Phosphors for Three-Dimensional Plasma Display Panels.

Monodispersed, truncated cube BaMgAl10O17:Eu2+ phosphors were synthesized by the sol-gel process. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), photoluminescence spectrum, powder X-ray diffraction and decay curves were used to evaluate the truncated cubic BaMgAl10O17:Eu2+ phosphors. The crystal growth process and photoluminescence properties were discussed in detail. The results showed that this truncated cubic morphology can be achieved via a simple sinter process. These truncated cubic BaMgAl10O17:Eu2+ phosphors showed acceptable emission intensity and better thermal properties. This result indicates truncated cubic BaMgAl10O17:Eu2+ phosphors would meet the requirements of plasma display panels (PDPs).

Structure design and photocatalytic properties of one-dimensional SnO2-TiO2 composites.

One-dimensional SnO2-TiO2 composites were prepared via emulsion electrospinning process. The obtained samples were characterized by a series of devices. The results showed that the porous core-shell SnO2-TiO2 photocatalyst exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity on the degradation of methyl orange (MO). It should be ascribed to the novel structure, which could separate the electrons and holes effectively.

[Research advance in autistic traits in non-affected population of autism spectrum disorder].

Autistic traits including social reciprocal deficits, communication deficits and stereotyped behaviors, are manifested not only in patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their families, but also in general population. In recent years, there has much research related to autistic traits. This article summarizes research advance of autistic traits in ASD relations and general population.

Giant phase transition properties at terahertz range in VO2 films deposited by sol-gel method.

VO(2) films were fabricated on high-purity single-crystalline silicon substrate by the sol-gel method, followed by rapid annealing. The composition and microstructure of the films were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results indicated a polycrystalline nature with high crystallinity and compact nanostructure for the films, and the concentration of +4 valence vanadium is 79.85%. Correlated with these, a giant transmission modulation ratio about 81% of the film was observed by terahertz time domain spectroscopy. The experimentally observed transmission characteristics were reproduced approximately, by a simulation at different conductivities across the phase transition. According to the effective-medium theory, we assumed that it is important to increase the concentration of +4 valence vanadium oxide phases and improve the compactness of the VO(2) films for giant phase transition properties. The sol-gel-derived VO(2) films with giant phase transition properties at terahertz range, and the study on their composition and microstructure, provide considerable insight into the fabrication of VO(2) films for the application in THz modulation devices.

[Synthesis and characterization of thermosensitive hydrogel based on PEG-PCL-PEG block copolymers].

In this paper, a series of low-molecular-weight PEG-PCL-PEG triblock copolymers were successfully synthesized by ring-opening polymerization method, and were characterized using 1H-NMR and FTIR. The aqueous solution displayed specific thermosensitive gel-sol transition when the concentration was above corresponding critical gel concentration (CGC). The gel-sol phase diagram was recorded using test tube-inverting method, which was depended on the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance in macromolecular structure, as well as heating history. As a result, the gel-sol transition temperature range could be altered, which might be very useful for its application as injectable drug delivery system.

Acute oral toxicity evaluation of biodegradable and pH-sensitive hydrogel based on polycaprolactone, poly(ethylene glycol) and methylacrylic acid (MAA).

In this article, a novel biodegradable and pH-sensitive hydrogel based on polycaprolactone, poly(ethylene glycol) and methylacrylic acid (MAA), was prepared by UV-initiated free radical polymerization. The obtained hydrogel was characterized by (1)H NMR and FTIR. The acute toxicity tests and histopathological study were performed in BALB/c mice. In acute oral toxicity test, mice were orally administered with a total 15 g/kg body weight (b.w.) of P(CL-MAA-EG) hydrogels, and were observed continuously for 14 days. For histopathologic study, samples including heart, liver, lung, kidneys, spleen, stomach, and intestine, were histochemically prepared and stained with hematoxylin-eosin for histopathologic examination. No mortality or significant signs of acute toxicity was observed during the whole observation period, and no macroscopic alteration was found in the organs. Histopathological analysis of various organs also did not show any significant pathological changes. Thus, the maximal tolerance dose of P(CL-MAA-EG) hydrogels was calculated to be higher than 15 g/kg b.w. in BALB/c mice. It was suggested that the studied P(CL-MAA-EG) hydrogel in this article were nontoxic after acute oral administration and it might be a promising candidate as a novel oral drug carrier.

Nano-cerium-element-doped titanium dioxide induces apoptosis of Bel 7402 human hepatoma cells in the presence of visible light.

AIM: To investigate the apoptotic effect of photoexcited titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) nanoparticles in the presence of visible light on human hepatoma cell line (Bel 7402) and to study the underlying mechanism. METHODS: Cerium-element-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles were prepared by impregnation method. Bel 7402 human hepatoma cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium in a humidified incubator with 50 mL/L CO(2) at 37 centigrade. A 15 W fluorescent lamp with continuous wavelength light was used as light source in the photocatalytic test. Fluorescence morphology and agarose gel eletrophoresis pattern were performed to analyze apoptotic cells. RESULTS: The Ce (IV)-doped TiO(2) nanoparticles displayed their superiority. The adsorption edge shifted to the 400-450 nm region. With visible light illuminated for 10 min, 10 microg/cm(3) Ce (IV)-doped TiO(2) induced micronuclei and significant apoptosis in 4 and 24 h, respectively. Hochest 33258 staining of the fixed cells revealed typical apoptotic structures (apoptotic bodies), agarose gel electrophoresis showed typical DNA ladder pattern in treated cells but not in untreated ones. CONCLUSION: Ce (IV) doped TiO(2) nanoparticles can induce apoptosis of Bel 7402 human hepatoma cells in the presence of visible light.

Synthesis, characterization and hydrolytic degradation study of polyetheresteramide copolymers based on epsilon-caprolactone, 6-aminocaproic acid, and poly(ethylene glycol).

In this paper, a new kind of biodegradable aliphatic polyetheresteramide copolymers (PEEA) based on epsilon-caprolactone, 6-aminocaproic acid, and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were synthesized by melt polymerization method. The obtained copolymers were characterized by 1H-NMR. The thermal properties of PEEA copolymers were studied by DSC and TGA/DTA under nitrogen atmosphere. The water absorption and hydrolytic degradation behavior was also studied in detail. With the increase in PEG content or the decrease in caprolactone content, the water absorption of the copolymers increased accordingly. For the hydrolytic degradation behavior, with the increase in PEG content or caprolactone content, the degradation rate increased then.

Synthesis, characterization and hydrolytic degradation of degradable poly(butylene terephthalate)/poly(ethylene glycol) (PBT/PEG) copolymers.

Hydrolytic degradable PBT/PEG copolymer was synthesized by macromolecular transesterification method from PBT and PEG macromonomers. The resultant copolymers were characterized by (1)H-NMR and GPC. The non-isothermal crystallization behavior of these copolymers was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The water absorption and hydrolytic degradation behavior of PBT/PEG copolymers were also studied in detail.

[Calcium carbide of different crystal formation synthesized by calcium carbide residue].

To recycle calcium carbide residue effectively, calcium carbide of different crystal form, including global aragonite, calcite and acicular calcium carbide was synthesized. Both the influence of pretreatment in the purity of calcium carbide, and the influence of temperatures of carbonization reaction, release velocity of carbon dioxide in the apparition of calcium carbide of different crystal form were studied with DTA-TG and SEM. The result shows that calcium carbide residue can take place chemistry reaction with ammonia chlorinate straight. Under the condition that pH was above 7, the purity of calcium carbide was above 97%, and the whiteness was above 98. Once provided the different temperatures of carbonization reaction and the proper release velocity of carbon dioxide, global aragonite, calcite and acicular calcium carbide were obtained.

Hydrolytic degradation behavior of biodegradable polyetheresteramide-based polyurethane copolymers.

In this article, a new kind of biodegradable polyetheresteramide-based polyurethane (PEEA-U) copolymers were prepared by the melt polycondensation method from epsilon-caprolactone, 6-aminocaproic acid, poly(ethylene glycol), and toluene diisocyanate. The water absorption of PEEA-U was affected strongly by the reaction time and the content of chain extender; and the hydrolytic degradation behavior of the copolymers was mainly determined by the reaction time, chain extender content, and the pH value of the degradation medium. Also, DSC, (1)H-NMR, and inherent viscosity were used to characterize the degradation behavior of the copolymers.

[Preparation of Ce-loaded nano-TiO2 and study on its UV-Vis reflective spectrum].

Ce-loaded nano-TiO2 was prepared by the loading technology of metallic ions, and was characterized by XRD and TEM. The UV-Vis reflective spectra of nano-TiO2 and Ce-loaded nano-TiO2 were analyzed. The result shows that after loading rare earth element Ce the reflective spectral characteristic of nano-TiO2 moves to the visible region with a red shift to 500 nm, and the obvious change takes place in the absorbance in the visible spectral range with a three-fold enhancement. It is indicated that the load of rare earth element Ce is favorable to enhancing the absorption of visible and UV light of anatase nano-TiO2, and thereby greatly increases its photocatalytic activity.