Altered neurovascular coupling in semantic variant primary progressive aphasia.

Background: Semantic variant primary progressive aphasia (svPPA) is one of the main clinical phenotypes of frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Changes in both neuronal activity and cerebral perfusion have been observed in svPPA, suggesting a possible breakdown of neurovascular coupling (NVC).

Objective: To investigate alterations in NVC and their correlations with clinical manifestations in svPPA patients.

Site-controlled growth of In(Ga)As/GaAs quantum dots on patterned substrate.

In(Ga)As quantum dot (QD) with uniform size and controlled sites have great potential in optical communications and quantum computing. In this review, we focus on the site-controlled preparation of In(Ga)As quantum dot arrays based on patterned substrates, including the improvements made by the researchers to enhance the quantum dot site-control capability and optical quality. Based on the current research on site-controlled In(Ga)As QDs, it has been possible to grow uniformly ordered In(Ga)As QD arrays, in which the size, morphology, and nucleus location of each quantum dot can be precisely controlled.

A simulation study of irradiation effect on InAs/GaAsSb type II quantum dot structures.

Particles in space cause irradiation damage to the solar cells (SCs), resulting in the degradation of their performance. Quantum dot solar cells (QDSCs) have higher theoretical efficiency and better irradiation resistance than the conventional GaAs SCs, which makes them highly promising for application in space. In this paper, we study the proton irradiation effect on InAs/GaAsSb QDSCs by SRIM program.

Absorption enhancement in GaAs based quantum dot solar cells using double-sided nanopyramid arrays.

Quantum dot solar cells (QDSCs) are regarded as one of the most efficient devices due to their intermediate band structures. A suitable light-trapping (LT) strategy matching the absorption spectrum is important to improve the photocurrent conversion efficiency of QDSCs. In this paper, we have proposed a design of the periodically patterned top and bottom dielectric nanopyramid arrays for highly efficient light trapping in GaAs-based QDSCs.

Performance optimization of In(Ga)As quantum dot intermediate band solar cells.

Quantum dot intermediate band solar cell (QD-IBSC) has high efficiency theoretically. It can absorb photons with energy lower than the bandgap of the semiconductor through the half-filled intermediate band, extending the absorption spectrum of the cell. However, issues in the IBSC, such as the strain around multi-stacking QDs, low thermal excitation energy, and short carrier lifetime, lead to its low conversion efficiency.

Genome-wide analysis of maize PR-1 gene family and expression profiles induced by plant hormones and fungal phytopathogens.

Objective: In order to find similarity of the protein X in maize with other species we performed a BLASTP search to identify the maize ZmPR-1 family genes.

Methods: We used a BLASTP search to identify the maize ZmPR-1 family genes that may show similarities between the protein X in maize and other species.

Results: A total of 17 ZmPR-1 genes were identified and these genes were unevenly distributed on 8 chromosomes of maize.

A systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy of statins in the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Background: It was a meta-analysis on the efficacy of statins in the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Methods: The PubMed, Medline, Embase, Web of Sciences, and other Chinese and English databases were used to retrieve literature on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of statins in the treatment of atherosclerosis, published from January 2000 to January 2021. The Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Intervention 5.

Neuroprotective Effects of Pycnogenol Against Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation/Reoxygenation-Induced Injury in Primary Rat Astrocytes via NF-κB and ERK1/2 MAPK Pathways.

Backgrounds/aims: Pycnogenol (PYC) is a patented mix of bioflavonoids with potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated the effects of PYC on oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R)-induced injury in primary rat astrocytes.

Methods: The primary rat astrocytes were randomly divided into 6 groups, blank control, OGD/R, OGD/R+PYC (10, 20, 40, and 60 µg/mL).

MiR-144-3p and Its Target Gene β-Amyloid Precursor Protein Regulate 1-Methyl-4-Phenyl-1,2-3,6-Tetrahydropyridine-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to be involved in many neurodegenerative diseases. The present study focused on the role of hsa-miR-144-3p in one of the neurodegenerative diseases, Parkinson's disease (PD). Our study showed a remarkable down-regulation of miR-144-3p expression in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated SH-SY5Y cells.

Association Between Polymorphisms of DRD2, COMT, DBH, and MAO-A Genes and Migraine Susceptibility: A Meta-Analysis.

Some epidemiological studies have investigated the relationship between genetic polymorphisms of DRD2, COMT, DBH, and MAO-A and migraine susceptibility, but the results are still inconsistent. Thus, our aim was to further assess the association through a meta-analysis.We examined 5 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 4 genes, including DRD2 rs1799732 and rs6275, DBH rs7239728, MAI-A-VNTR, and COMT rs4680, and performed a meta-analysis of 11 published case-control studies including 3138 cases and 4126 controls.

Epidemiological features of viral encephalitis in Cangzhou of China with use of multiplex RT-PCR for five RNA viruses.

Objective: With use of multiplex RT-PCR testing the five RNA viruses associated with viral encephalitis, the aim of research is to find out the epidemiological features of viral encephalitis in Cangzhou of China.

Methods: Patients hospitalized in Cangzhou central hospital with the diagnosis of viral encephalitis from January 2010 to December 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. The sensitivity and specificity of multiplex RT-PCR was compared with ELISA through testing CSF samples of enterovirus (EVs), Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), mumps virus (MUV), measles virus (MV) and rubella virus (RV).