Flexible organic light-emitting diodes with enhanced light out-coupling efficiency fabricated on a double-sided nanotextured substrate.

High-efficiency organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) have generated tremendous research interest. One of the exciting possibilities of OLEDs is the use of flexible plastic substrates, which unfortunately have a mismatching refractive index compared with the conventional ITO anode and the air. To unlock the light loss on flexible plastic, we report a high-efficiency flexible OLED directly fabricated on a double-sided nanotextured polycarbonate substrate by thermal nanoimprint lithography.

Disrupted resting-state functional architecture of the brain after 45-day simulated microgravity.

Long-term spaceflight induces both physiological and psychological changes in astronauts. To understand the neural mechanisms underlying these physiological and psychological changes, it is critical to investigate the effects of microgravity on the functional architecture of the brain. In this study, we used resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) to study whether the functional architecture of the brain is altered after 45 days of -6° head-down tilt (HDT) bed rest, which is a reliable model for the simulation of microgravity.

Decreasing ventromedial prefrontal cortex deactivation in risky decision making after simulated microgravity: effects of -6° head-down tilt bed rest.

Space is characterized by risk and uncertainty. As humans play an important role in long-duration space missions, the ability to make risky decisions effectively is important for astronauts who spend extended time periods in space. The present study used the Balloon Analog Risk Task to conduct both behavioral and fMRI experiments to evaluate the effects of simulated microgravity on individuals' risk-taking behavior and the neural basis of the effect.

Somatostatin inhibits the production of interferon-γ by intestinal epithelial cells during intestinal ischemia-reperfusion in macaques.

Background: Our previous study found that somatostatin (SST) inhibited the intestinal inflammatory injury in a macaque model of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (IIR); however, the underlying mechanism was unclear.

Aims: The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of SST on IFN-γ and the systemic inflammatory response after IIR.

Methods: Fifteen macaques were randomly divided into controls, IIR and SST+ IIR groups.

New sesquiterpenic acids from Inula wissmanniana.

Eight new (1-8) and two known (9 and 10) sesquiterpenic acids featuring α-methylene-γ-carboxyl units were isolated from the whole plants of Inula wissmanniana, along with two new germacranolides (11 and 12). Their structures were elucidated based on detailed spectroscopic analysis, including HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR, and X-ray crystallography. Notably, the skeleton of 1 was firstly discovered from nature, while that of 2 was discovered for the second time.

A finger-shaped tactile sensor for fabric surfaces evaluation by 2-dimensional active sliding touch.

Sliding tactile perception is a basic function for human beings to determine the mechanical properties of object surfaces and recognize materials. Imitating this process, this paper proposes a novel finger-shaped tactile sensor based on a thin piezoelectric polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) film for surface texture measurement. A parallelogram mechanism is designed to ensure that the sensor applies a constant contact force perpendicular to the object surface, and a 2-dimensional movable mechanical structure is utilized to generate the relative motion at a certain speed between the sensor and the object surface.

Graphene nanoribbon aerogels unzipped from carbon nanotube sponges.

Graphene nanoribbon aerogels are fabricated by directly unzipping multi-walled carbon nanotube sponges. These fascinating materials have potential applications as high performance nanocomposites and supercapacitor electrodes.

Determinants of mortality and loss to follow-up among adults enrolled in HIV care services in Rwanda.

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) improves morbidity and mortality in patients with HIV, however high rates of loss to follow-up (LTF) and mortality have been documented in HIV care and treatment programs.

Methods: We analyzed routinely-collected data on HIV-infected patients ≥ 15 years enrolled at 41 healthcare facilities in Rwanda from 2005 to 2010. LTF was defined as not attending clinic in the last 12 months for pre-ART patients and 6 months for ART patients.

Variations in NAG-1 expression of human gastric carcinoma and normal gastric tissues.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-activated gene-1 (NAG-1), a member of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily, has been demonstrated to possess antitumorigenic and proapoptotic activities in gastric cancer cells. In the present study, the expression of NAG-1 was assessed in human gastric carcinoma, tumor-adjacent normal tissues and normal gastric mucosa, with the aim to investigate the role of NAG-1 in the carcinogenesis and development of gastric carcinoma. NAG-1 protein expression was evaluated using immunohistochemical staining, while the expression of NAG-1 mRNA was evaluated using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

Analysis of somatostatin receptors and somatostatin promoter methylation in human gastric cancer.

Somatostatin (SST) is a gut peptide that is able to inhibit the growth of tumor cells in gastric cancer and other types of cancer. The present study investigated the mRNA and protein levels of SST and SST receptors (SSTRs) in human gastric cancer, and detected the DNA methylation of the SST promoter. The protein levels of SST were detected using a radioimmunoassay in 102 human gastric tissue specimens (51 pairs of samples from 51 gastric cancer patients, each pair of samples included a cancer tissue and a normal tissue sample).

Ultrasound-promoted extraction of cheap microbial flocculant from waste activated sludge.

Ultrasound was uniquely applied to promote the extraction of cheap microbial flocculant (MBF) from waste activated sludge (WAS) of municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Various influencing factors, including ultrasonic conditions (frequency, power density and treatment time) and WAS features (pH, concentration and source), were systematically investigated. The propitious ultrasonic conditions for MBF preparation from WAS were 20 kHz, 2.

Bioactive eudesmane and germacrane derivatives from Inula wissmanniana Hand.-Mazz.

Phytochemical investigation of Inula wissmanniana Hand.-Mazz. afforded 21 eudesmane and germacrane derivatives, including rare 4,5-secoeudesman-12,5-olide, eudesman-12,5-olide, 3,4-secoeudesman-12-oic acid, and germacra-4-en-12,6-olides.

[Effect of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor on CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells in mouse hepatocellular carcinoma].

Objective: To investigate the effect of celecoxib on regulatory T cells (Treg) in mouse hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Total of 40 mice was divided into two subgroups, normal animal groups include control and celecoxib group, HCC groups include control and celecoxib group. 30 mg/kg of celecoxib were given daily for 24 days for celecoxib groups.

[The characteristics and trends of acute pesticide poisoning of Shaoxing in 2006 to 2011].

Objective: To describe the epidemiological characteristics of acute pesticide poisoning in Shaoxing, China during 2006-2011 and to provide a reference for the prevention and control of pesticide poisoning.

Methods: The data on pesticide poisoning in Shaoxing during 2006-2011 were obtained from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention and were then analyzed.

Results: A total of 2024 cases of acute pesticide poisoning were reported in Shaoxing during 2006-2011, and 44 cases were missed, accounting for 2.

Resolution of PMA-induced skin inflammation involves interaction of IFN-γ and ALOX15.

Background: Acute inflammation and its timely resolution play important roles in the body's responses to the environmental stimulation. Although IFN-γ is well known for the induction of inflammation, its role in the inflammation resolution is still poorly understood.

Methodology And Principal Findings: In this study, we investigated the function of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) during the resolution of PMA-induced skin inflammation in vivo.

Mitochondrial dysfunction represses HIF-1α protein synthesis through AMPK activation in human hepatoma HepG2 cells.

Background: Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is an important transcription factor that modulates cellular responses to hypoxia and also plays critical roles in cancer progression. Recently, somatic mutations and decreased copy number of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were detected in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). These mutations were shown to have the potential to cause mitochondrial dysfunction.

Chemical constituents of the stems of Celastrus rugosus.

Two new sesquiterpene pyridine alkaloids rugosusines A and B (1 and 2), and thirty-one known compounds were isolated from the stems of Celastrus rugosus. The structures of new compounds were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis, including HR-ESI-MS and 2D NMR spectroscopic data. All the compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Role of mesenteric lymph pathway in the effects of exogenous somatostatin against early intestinal injury after ischemia-reperfusion in rats.

Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R)-induced gut injury remains a challenge for critically ill patients. This study aims to test whether mesenteric lymph pathway is involved in intestinal I/R injury and whether somatostatin (SST) affects mesenteric lymph pathway after mesenteric reperfusion. Intestinal I/R rats were treated with SST-14 by intravenous injection combined with intraperitoneal injection before occlusion of the SMA until the end of the experiment.

Chemical constituents from Inula wissmanniana and their anti-inflammatory activities.

Two new inositol derivatives, 4-acetate-1,2,3,5-tetrakis(2-methyl-2-butenoate) inositol (1) and 3-acetate-1,2,4,5-tetrakis(2-methyl-2-butenoate) inositol (2), one new flavonolignan 23-o-acetylsilychristin A (3), and one new thymol derivative 3-hydroxy-4-(2-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)benzoic acid (4), along with 13 known compounds, including ten flavonolignans (5-14) and three thymol derivatives (15-17) were isolated from the aerial part of Inula wissmanniana. The structures of new compounds were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis, including HRESIMS and 2D-NMR spectroscopic data. All the compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time.

[Study on an optical system of small ultraviolet imaging spectrometer with high resolution in broadband].

An ultraviolet imaging spectrometer was studied based on the principle of the small scale ultraviolet spectral instrument. The scheme composed of an off-axis parabolic mirror telescope and a single toroidal grating spectral imaging system was designed. The optimization of the optical system is the optimum processing for the parameters of the toroidal grating.

Aphanamgrandiol A, a new triterpenoid with a unique carbon skeleton from Aphanamixis grandifolia.

Aphanamgrandiol A (1), a novel triterpenoid with a bicyclo[3,2,1]octane ring skeleton produced by 2,3-ring opening and 2,6-ring closure, was isolated from the stems of Aphanamixis grandifolia. The structures were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D NMR techniques, and determined unambiguously by X-ray crystal diffraction. Aphanamgrandiol A showed moderate cytotoxicities against MCG-803, SKOV-3, HCT116 and HepG2 cell lines.

Apoptin induces apoptosis in nude mice allograft model of human bladder cancer by altering multiple bladder tumor-associated gene expression profiles.

Bladder cancer (BC) is one of the most common human malignancies that account for major death in the world. Apoptin that is derived from chicken anemia virus (CAV) has displayed tumor-specific cytotoxic activity in a variety of human carcinomas. However, the magical function of apoptin in bladder carcinoma cell lines has not been identified yet.

IFN-γ-mediated downregulation of LXA4 is necessary for the maintenance of nonresolving inflammation and papilloma persistence.

Nonresolving inflammation is a hallmark of many types of tumors and the molecular mechanisms maintaining this inflammation are still largely unknown. In a two-stage carcinogenesis model, we observed here that the lack of IFN-γ receptor or neutralization of IFN-γ accelerated spontaneous papilloma regression in mice. The impaired maintenance of local inflammation was associated with reduced IFN-γ and enhanced biosynthesis of proresolution lipid mediator lipoxin A4 (LXA4).

NHE8 plays important roles in gastric mucosal protection.

Sodium/hydrogen exchanger (NHE) 8 is an apically expressed membrane protein in the intestinal epithelial cells. It plays important roles in sodium absorption and bicarbonate secretion in the intestine. Although NHE8 mRNA has been detected in the stomach, the precise location and physiological role of NHE8 in the gastric glands remain unclear.