A Novel Three-Dimensional Nanosensing Array for the Discrimination of Sulfur-Containing Species and Sulfur Bacteria.

The discrimination of various sulfur -containing species helps us to deeply understand how sulfur affects cellular signaling and other physiological events. Herein, we present a three-dimensional sensor array based on simultaneous variation of the optical properties (fluorescence, light scattering, and UV-vis absorption) of gold-silver alloy nanocluster (AuAgNCs)-gold nanoparticle (AuNPs) composite for the rapid identification of 13 sulfur-containing species and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. The sensor array is fabricated based on the strong coordination interactions between sulfur-containing compounds and AuAgNCs on the surface of AuNPs.

Management of Unique Basilar Invagination Combined with C1 Prolapsing into the Foramen Magnum in Children: Report of 2 Cases.

Background: Basilar invagination (BI) is a developmental anomaly and commonly presents with neurologic findings. The incidence of BI associated with other osseous anomalies of the craniovertebral junction is high, including incomplete ring of C1 with spreading of the lateral masses, atlanto-occipital assimilation, hypoplasia of the atlas, basiocciput hypoplasia, and occipital condylar hypoplasia. However, BI combined with C1 prolapsing into the foramen magnum (FM) is an extremely rare condition.

Hypoxia alleviation-triggered enhanced photodynamic therapy in combination with IDO inhibitor for preferable cancer therapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has attracted growing attention in the field of cancer therapy due to its non-invasive intervention and initiation of antitumor immune responses by use of non-toxic photosensitizers (PS) and topical light irradiation. However, inherent hypoxia and immunosuppression mediated by checkpoints in tumors severally impair the efficacy of PDT and PDT-induced immunity. Herein, a multi-functional nanoplatform is rationally constructed by fluorinated polymer nanoparticle saturated with oxygen in advance, which simultaneously encapsulated PS (Ce6) and an indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) inhibitor (NLG919).

Ultrasensitive Colorimetric Chromium Chemosensor Based on Dye Color Switching under the Cr(VI)-Stimulated Au NPs Catalytic Activity.

In view of the high toxicity of Cr(VI), simple and rapid on-site analytical approaches are in high demand for environment monitoring. Herein, an innovative chemosensor is developed for on-site sensitive detection of Cr(VI) in minutes by the naked eye. The chemosensor consists of gallic acid-capped gold nanoparticles (GA-Au NPs), methylene blue (MB), and NaBH.

A ratiometric fluorescent nanoprobe based on naphthalimide derivative-functionalized carbon dots for imaging lysosomal formaldehyde in HeLa cells.

Endogenous formaldehyde (FA) exists in many living cells and in inhomogeneous distribution in organelles. In particular, lysosomes play significant roles in FA generation and the biofunction of living cells. Herein, we developed a new ratiometric fluorescent nanoprobe, based on naphthalimide derivative (ND)-functionalized carbon dots (CDs), for monitoring endogenous FA in lysosomes.

Proliferation of antibiotic resistance genes in coastal recirculating mariculture system.

The abuse of antibiotics has caused the propagation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in aquaculture systems. Although the recirculating systems have been considered as a promising approach for preventing the coastal water pollution of antibiotics and ARG, rare information is available on the distribution and proliferation of ARGs in the recirculating mariculture system. This study firstly investigated the proliferation of ARGs in coastal recirculating mariculture systems.

Intracellular Zinc Quantification by Fluorescence Imaging with a FRET System.

Fluorescence imaging of cellular metals is widely reported. However, the quantification of intracellular metals with fluorescence imaging is so far not feasible and highly challenging. In this work, a ratiometric probe with two fluorescently labeled complementary DNA strains is designed for intracellular zinc quantification via fluorescence imaging, based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from carbon dots (CDs) to fluorescein (FAM).

Long noncoding RNA MALAT1 releases epigenetic silencing of HIV-1 replication by displacing the polycomb repressive complex 2 from binding to the LTR promoter.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) may either repress or activate HIV-1 replication and latency; however, specific mechanisms for their action are not always clear. In HIV-1 infected CD4+ T cells, we performed RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis and discovered an up-regulation of MALAT1 (metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1), an lncRNA previously described in cancer cells that associate with cancer pathogenesis. Moreover, we found that MALAT1 promoted HIV-1 transcription and infection, as its knockdown by CRISPR/Cas9 markedly reduced the HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR)-driven gene transcription and viral replication.

Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine for Parkinson's disease dementia and Lewy body dementia: A meta-analysis.

Recently, several randomized controlled trials on the use of cholinesterase inhibitors or memantine as treatments for cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease (CIND-PD), Parkinson's disease with dementia (PDD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) were completed. The present study provided a meta-analysis of these studies to evaluate the efficacy of cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine on CIND-PD, PDD and DLB. The Cochrane Library, Pubmed, Embase and Web of Science databases were searched to retrieve eligible studies.

Combined prognostic value of the cancer stem cell markers CD47 and CD133 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Treatments based on the inhibition of pivotal signals of cancer stem cells (CSCs) are on a promising track. Recent studies have shown that targeting CSCs with broader immune-based therapeutic methods, for example, the anti-CD47 treatment, may serve as a more potent strategy for eliminating these intractable cells. We aimed to explore the prognostic effects of CD47/CD133 and the potential therapeutic significance of CD47 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Construction of a cDNA library and preliminary analysis of the expressed sequence tags of the earthworm Eisenia fetida (Savigny, 1826).

Earthworms are useful indicator organisms of soil health and Eisenia fetida have been extensively used as test organisms in ecotoxicological studies. In order to gain insight into the gene expression profiles associated with physiological functions of earthworms, a full‑length enriched cDNA library of the Eisenia fetida genome was successfully constructed using Switching Mechanism at 5'End of RNA Template technology. Construction of a cDNA library and analysis of Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) are efficient approaches for collecting genomic information and identifying genes important for a given biological process.

Toxic Effects and Possible Mechanisms of Deoxynivalenol Exposure on Sperm and Testicular Damage in BALB/c Mice.

Deoxynivalenol (DON, vomitoxin) is the most common mycotoxin in cereals and grains. DON contamination can cause a serious health threat to humans and farm animals. DON has been reported to exert significant toxicity effects on the male reproductive system.

Selenocarrageenan-inspired hybrid graphene hydrogel as recyclable adsorbent for efficient scavenging of dyes and Hg in water environment.

It remains a real challenge to treat the industrial wastewater containing hardly-decomposed dyes and heavy metal ions. Herein, an environment-friendly hybrid hydrogel is prepared by a simple mixing of selenocarrageenan (SeCA) and graphene oxide (GO) under heating and stirring for 5 min without any other reagent. Such a selenocarrageenan hybrid graphene hydrogel (SeCA-GH) without volume shrinkage exhibits excellent adsorption capacity and selective binding to dyes and Hg.

Pyridine boronic acid-polyoxometalate based porous hybrid for efficient depletion of high abundant glycoproteins in plasma.

A porous hybrid, namely PW@TiO-Si(Et)Si/Pba, is fabricated by the modification of PW@TiO-Si(Et)Si with pyridine boronic acid via a solvothermal method. The covalent interactions between the boronic acid group of the hybrid and the glycosylated site of proteins provide the as-prepared hybrid with favorable adsorption performance towards glycoproteins. The adsorption behaviors of glycoproteins onto the hybrid fit well with the Langmuir model, and the adsorption capacities for glycoprotein IgG and Trf are high, up to 348.

[Directing construction of CRISPR/Cas9 vector of SmPAL1 in Salvia miltiorrhiza by target efficiency detection in vitro].

To construct CRISPR/Cas9 vectors for the editing of SmPAL1 in the phenylpropane metabolic pathway of Salvia miltiorrhiza, CIRSPR/Cas9 target sites of SmPAL1 were designed by online software. Its target efficiencies were detected in vitro by enzyme digestion and sequences with highly efficiency were constructed into CRISPR/Cas9 vectors. Three possible CRISPR target sequences (SmPAL1-g1, SmPAL1-g2, SmPAL1-g3) were designed and the enzyme digestion efficiencies were 53.

Improving the adsorption capacity for ovalbumin by functional modification of aminated mesoporous silica nanoparticles with tryptophan.

Tryptophan (Trp) modified aminated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (AMSNs), shortened to Trp-AMSNs, are prepared via covalent binding. The obtained Trp-AMSNs exhibit a uniform size of ca. 83 nm, a mesopore diameter of ca.

High-Throughput/High-Precision Sampling of Single Cells into ICP-MS for Elucidating Cellular Nanoparticles.

In single-cell analysis with ICP-MS it is highly important to ensure precise single-cell sampling into ICP. For this purpose, a simple configured pressure-resistant MicroCross interface is developed for high-throughput/high-precision microdroplet generation and single-cell encapsulation. Aqueous cell suspension is ejected and sheared into droplets by tangent-flowing hexanol-continuous phases in the flow-focusing geometry of MicroCross, wherein to precisely trap a single cell into a droplet, with an extremely low probability of <0.

Synthesis of highly stable red-emissive carbon polymer dots by modulated polymerization: from the mechanism to application in intracellular pH imaging.

Great efforts have been made to develop facile and efficient methods to prepare carbonaceous nanostructures with long-wavelength emission. Herein, we report a low-temperature aqueous strategy to synthesize red-emissive carbon polymer dots (R-CPDs) through the regulation of oxidative polymerization of p-phenylenediamine at 80 °C. The morphology, chemical composition and photophysical properties of the R-CPDs are characterized and analyzed in detail, thereby elucidating their photoluminescence origins from the surface state and crosslink enhanced emission effect.

Complete plastome sequence of linn. (Dilleniaceae): an Endangered (EN) species in South China.

Linn. is an endangered plant species occurring in southern Guangxi province and Yunnan province of China, which has been grown in gardens as an ornamental plant and is widely used in the medical field. Here, we report and characterize the complete plastid genome sequence of to provide genomic resources useful for promoting its conservation.

Polymeric Ionic Liquid-Based Fluorescent Amphiphilic Block Copolymer Micelle for Selective and Sensitive Detection of p-Phenylenediamine.

A highly sensitive and selective detection of p-phenylenediamine (PPD) is achieved by a fluorescence sensor, which is constructed by encapsulating the hydrophobic fluorescent 1-pyrenecarboxaldehyde (Py-CHO) into a polymeric ionic liquid (PIL)-based amphiphilic block copolymer (BCP) micelle. The amine-aldehyde condensation reaction between PPD and Py-CHO leads to the fluorescence quenching of Py-CHO, giving rise to the basis for the quantitative detection of PPD. The core cavity of the micelle formed by the self-assembly of PIL provides an excellent hydrophobic environment for the accommodation of fluorescent Py-CHO, offering significant improved sensitivity and selectivity for PPD detection.

Immobilization of a Ce(IV)-substituted polyoxometalate on ethylenediamine-functionalized graphene oxide for selective extraction of phosphoproteins.

A sorbent for selective extraction of phosphoproteins was obtained by immobilization of a Ce(IV)-substituted polyoxometalate on ethylenediamine-functionalized graphene oxide (CeEGO). The resulting composites exhibit an adsorption capacity of 981 mg g for β-casein due to the synergistic effect of metal-affinity interaction between Ce(IV) and phosphate groups and π-stacking interaction between the polyoxometalate framework and the phosphate groups. The results of LC-MS and SDS-PAGE analysis show that the CeEGO composites can be applied to the extraction of phosphoproteins from protein mixture, and as little as 50 μg mL of the phosphoprotein β-casein can be detected by SDS-PAGE.

Complete plastome sequence of (Piperaceae): An endemic plant species in South China.

is dioecious climbers woody with 10 m tall, which is an endemic species in China. It grows on trees or rocks in forests (100-600 m) in Guangdong and Hainan Province of China. Here, we report and characterize the complete plastid genome sequence of in an effort to provide genomic resources useful for promoting its conservation.

Complete plastome sequence of (Styracaeae): An endangered (EN) plant species endemic to China.

is a critically endangered plant species occurring in central and southeastern China. Although the systematic position of was still unclear, morphological characters, plastid and nSSR evidence supported that should be separated from (Styracaceae). Here, we report and characterize the complete plastid genome sequence of in an effort to provide genomic resources useful for promoting its conservation.

Complete plastome sequence of Traill and Tsiang (Apocynaceae).

is the largest genus (about 350-450 species) within Apocynaceae. It is a subshrub or liana, epiphytic or epilithic. Most species grow in tropical and subtropical South and Southeast Asia.