A water-soluble, upconverting SrYbGdF:Er/Tm@PSI bio-probe for in vivo trimodality imaging.

Multi-modality in vivo bioimaging has great renown for offering more comprehensive information in medical diagnosis and research. Incorporating different bioimaging capabilities into one biocompatible nanoprobe requires an elegant structural design. Considering optical and magnetic properties, X-ray absorption ability, and clinical safety, we prepared a water-soluble and upconverting PSIoAm-modified Sr2Yb0.

Fabrication of multifunctional cellulose nanocrystals/poly(lactic acid) nanocomposites with silver nanoparticles by spraying method.

The poly (lactic acid) (PLA)/functionalized cellulose nanocrystals formates (CNFs) were prepared by solution casting and then the binary films were sprayed with silver ammonia aqueous solution to fabricate PLA/CNF/Ag ternary nanocomposites. It was found that both deposited silver (Ag) nanoparticles and CNFs showed efficient reinforcing effect on the thermal, mechanical, barrier properties and antibacterial activity of PLA matrix. Especially, the maximum decomposition temperature (Tmax) and Young's modulus of PLA/CNF/Ag(6) nanocomposite film increased by 15.

[Laser Raman spectra study on Co-Mo/Al2O3 hydrodesulphurization catalysts].

Due to the implementation of more stringent specifications in sulfur content for gasoline , a deep understanding of the active phase of Co-Mo/Al2O3 catalysts is necessary to the development of hydrodesulphurization (HDS) catalysts. A series of Co-Mo/Al2O3 HDS catalysts with different metal loading were studied by laser Raman spectra. The existence form and the content of the active component of the catalyst were obtained by Raman spectra.

Identification of latent tuberculosis infection-related microRNAs in human U937 macrophages expressing Mycobacterium tuberculosis Hsp16.3.

Background: Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) relies on a homeostasis of macrophages and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). The small heat shock protein, Mtb Hsp16.3 (also known as latency-associated antigen), plays an important role in Mtb persistence within macrophages.

Expression of basic fibroblast growth factor results in the decrease of myostatin mRNA in murine C2C12 myoblasts.

During the development and regeneration of skeletal muscle, many growth factors, such as basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF, FGF-2) and myostatin, have been shown to play regulating roles. bFGF contributes to promote proliferation and to inhibit differentiation of skeletal muscle, whereas myostatin plays a series of contrasting roles. In order to elucidate whether the expression of bFGF has any relationship with the expression of myostatin in skeletal muscle cells, we constructed a eukaryotic expression vector for the expression of exogenous bFGF in murine C2C12 myoblasts.

Cloning and sequence analysis of myostatin promoter in sheep.

To better understand the structure and function of the myostatin's gene promoter region in sheep, we cloned and sequenced a 1.517 kb fragment containing the 5'-regulatory region of the sheep myostatin gene (GenBank accession number is AY918121). The promoter sequence consists of three TATA boxes, one CAAT box, and eight putative E-boxes.

[Molecular cloning, expression mutation of myostatin and study on biochemical activity of its C-terminal peptide].

Myostatin, a member of the TGF-beta family, negatively regulates skeletal muscle development. Mutation of myostatin activity leads to increases muscle growth and carcass lean yield. The bovine myostatin mutation cDNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction, and then sub-cloned into the expression vector pET-30a( + ) to form the expression plasmid pET30a (+)-action/ Myostatin.