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Methods Mol Biol 2019 ;1894:133-143

Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Information Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.

Gelatin zymography is a relatively simple, inexpensive, and powerful technique to detect proteolytic enzymes capable of degrading gelatin from various biological sources. It has been used particularly to detect the two members of the matrix metalloproteinase family, MMP-2 (gelatinase A) and MMP-9 (gelatinase B), due to their potent gelatin-degrading activity. MMP-2 and MMP-9 are also able to degrade a number of extracellular matrix molecules including type IV, V, and XI collagens, laminin, and aggrecan core protein, thus making them important in the nanotoxicity research. Read More

Atten Percept Psychophys 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Center for Language and Literature, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.

We report a series of 22 experiments in which the implicit associations test (IAT) was used to investigate cross-modal correspondences between visual (luminance, hue [R-G, B-Y], saturation) and acoustic (loudness, pitch, formants [F1, F2], spectral centroid, trill) dimensions. Colors were sampled from the perceptually accurate CIE-Lab space, and the complex, vowel-like sounds were created with a formant synthesizer capable of separately manipulating individual acoustic properties. In line with previous reports, the loudness and pitch of acoustic stimuli were associated with both luminance and saturation of the presented colors. Read More

Sustain Sci 2018 6;13(6):1549-1564. Epub 2018 Aug 6.

19University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Cities are currently experiencing serious, multifaceted impacts from global environmental change, especially climate change, and the degree to which they will need to cope with and adapt to such challenges will continue to increase. A complex systems approach inspired by evolutionary theory can inform strategies for policies and interventions to deal with growing urban vulnerabilities. Such an approach would guide the design of new (and redesign of existing) urban structures, while promoting innovative integration of grey, green and blue infrastructure in service of environmental and health objectives. Read More

Front Physiol 2018 28;9:1658. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.

Antimicrobial blue light (aBL) has attracted increasing interest for its antimicrobial properties. However, the underlying bactericidal mechanism has not yet been verified. One hypothesis is that aBL causes the excitation of intracellular chromophores; leading to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the resultant oxidization of various biomolecules. Read More

Front Neuroinform 2018 28;12:84. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Blue Brain Project, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.

Despite vast numbers of studies of stained cells in the mouse brain, no current brain atlas provides region-by-region neuron counts. In fact, neuron numbers are only available for about 4% of brain of regions and estimates often vary by as much as 3-fold. Here we provide a first 3D cell atlas for the whole mouse brain, showing cell positions constructed algorithmically from whole brain Nissl and gene expression stains, and compared against values from the literature. Read More

Natl J Maxillofac Surg 2018 Jul-Dec;9(2):184-190

Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Pacific Dental College, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.

Introduction: Oral leukoplakia, oral submucous fibrosis, and oral lichen planus are the precancerous or potentially malignant lesions and conditions whereas oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a cancerous or malignant lesion of the oral cavity. They have characteristic clinical and histopathological features. These diseases not only originate from epithelium but also associated with chronic inflammation juxta-epithellialy. Read More

J Conserv Dent 2018 Nov-Dec;21(6):627-631

Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.

Objectives: The specific objective of this study was to determine whether the current flowable resin composites can establish an effective seal in repairing noncarious amalgam margin defects.

Material And Methods: A total of 30 freshly extracted caries-free human third molars were used for this investigation. Class I preparations with a standardized 160-μ marginal defect were made by condensing amalgam against a Mylar strip. Read More

Cont Lens Anterior Eye 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano - Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, I-20126, Milan, Italy; Optic and Optometry Center of the University of Milano - Bicocca (COMiB), Italy.

Lactoferrin (LF), an iron-binding protein with antioxidant activity, is significantly reduced in the lacrimal film of patients affected by keratoconus (KC) compared to healthy subjects, and this is supposed to be the cause for tear iron increase and consequent iron deposition and oxygen free radical accumulation in the cornea. We decided to study if LF-loaded contact lenses (LF-CLs) could exert antioxidant activity on epithelial cells incubated in tears collected from two patients affected by keratoconus (KC1 and KC2). Moreover through this model we indirectly estimated iron concentration in the tears of healthy and KC subjects. Read More

J Biosci Bioeng 2018 Dec 10. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Department of Biosciences, Manipal University, Jaipur 303007, Rajasthan, India. Electronic address:

Microbial fuel cell is one of the most convenient and cost-effective technology for producing the clean energy. This study explores the exoelectrogenic behavior of Pichia fermentans in a microbial fuel cell. Two different reactor designs (double- and single-chambered) were tested in the presence and in the absence of a mediator (methylene blue). Read More

Cell Immunol 2018 Dec 4. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2252, Australia; Molecular Horizons, University of Wollongong, NSW 2252, Australia; Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2252, Australia. Electronic address:

Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a frequent curative therapy for numerous haematological malignancies. However, HSCT is limited by the occurrence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), with current therapies restricted to general immunosuppression. Activation of the P2X7 receptor by extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) causes inflammation and tissue damage in GVHD. Read More

Microb Cell Fact 2018 Dec 13;17(1):193. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.

Background: Beyond pathway engineering, the metabolic state of the production host is critical in maintaining the efficiency of cellular production. The biotechnologically important yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae adjusts its energy metabolism based on the availability of oxygen and carbon sources. This transition between respiratory and non-respiratory metabolic state is accompanied by substantial modifications of central carbon metabolism, which impact the efficiency of metabolic pathways and the corresponding final product titers. Read More

BMC Plant Biol 2018 Dec 13;18(1):352. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Biotechnology Research Center, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Ecology and Physiology, Jinan, 250100, People's Republic of China.

Background: Early peanut pod development is an important process of peanut reproductive development. Modes of DNA methylation during early peanut pod development are still unclear, possibly because its allotetraploid genome may cause difficulty for the methylome analysis.

Results: To investigate the functions of the dynamic DNA methylation during the early development of the peanut pod, global methylome and gene expression analyses were carried out by Illumina high throughput sequencing. Read More

Nanomaterials (Basel) 2018 Dec 12;8(12). Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Institute of Photonics and Nanotechnology, Faculty of Physics, Vilnius University, Sauletekio 3, 10257 Vilnius, Lithuania.

In this paper, a superior-quality InN/p-GaN interface grown using pulsed metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy (MOVPE) is demonstrated. The InN/p-GaN heterojunction interface based on high-quality InN (electron concentration 5.19 × 10 cm and mobility 980 cm²/(V s)) showed good rectifying behavior. Read More

Membranes (Basel) 2018 Dec 12;8(4). Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Graduate School of Advanced Science and Technology, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 1-1 Asahidai, Nomi, Ishikawa 923-1292, Japan.

Deposition of UiO-66 metal⁻organic framework nanoparticles onto a porous polymer support is a promising approach to designing highly-permeable, size-selective, flexible, and stable membranes for water filtration. In this article, a series of UiO-66 nanoparticles having different particle sizes were synthesized and employed to prepare UiO-66-deposited composite membranes. It was found that the size of the UiO-66 nanoparticles had great influences on the performance of the composite membranes for the filtration of a methylene blue aqueous solution. Read More

Children (Basel) 2018 Dec 10;5(12). Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a malignant tumor that represents the most common form of pediatric soft tissue sarcoma. It arises from mesenchymal origin and forms part of the group of small round blue cell tumors of childhood. It has a constant annual incidence of 4. Read More

Nanomaterials (Basel) 2018 Dec 10;8(12). Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Suzhou Institute of Nano-tech and Nano-bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China.

Both yellow luminescence (YL) and blue luminescence (BL) bands of GaN films have been investigated for decades, but few works report the relationship between them. In this study, two sets of GaN samples grown via metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) were investigated. A close relationship was found between the YL and BL bands for unintentionally doped GaN and Si-doped GaN samples, both of which were grown without intentional acceptor doping. Read More

Nanomaterials (Basel) 2018 Dec 7;8(12). Epub 2018 Dec 7.

College of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China.

TiO₂/Ag bilayer films sputtered onto a 2D polystyrene (PS) bead array in a magnetron sputtering system were found to form a nanocap-shaped nanostructure composed of a TiO₂-Ag composite on each PS bead, in which the Ag nanoparticles were trapped partially or fully in the TiO₂ matrix, depending on the TiO₂ thickness. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) results showed the opposite shifts of binding energy for Ti 2p and Ag 3d, indicating the transfer of electrons from metallic Ag to TiO₂ owing to the Ag-O-TiO₂ composite formation. UV-Vis absorption spectra showed the blue shifts of the surface plasma resonance peaks, and the maximum absorption peak intensity was obtained for TiO₂ at 30 nm. Read More

J Phys Chem B 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

As a basis of photosynthesis, photo-induced oxidation of (bacterio)chlorophyll molecules in the special reaction center complexes has been a subject of extensive research. In contrast, the generally harmful photooxidation of antenna chromoproteins has received much less attention. Here, we have established the permanent structural changes in the LH2 antenna bacteriochlorophyll-protein complex from a sulfur photosynthetic purple bacterium Ectothiorhodospira haloalkaliphila taking place at physiological conditions upon intense optical irradiation. Read More

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Development of highly efficient blue organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) with good stability is currently the most important issue in OLED displays and lighting. This paper reports an efficient blue fluorescent OLED based on a deep-blue emitting phosphorescent sensitizer ((dfpysipy)2Ir(mpic)) and a conventional fluorescent emitter (TBPe). Efficient triplet harvesting by the fluorescent emitter occurs in the OLED due to sensitization even though the difference in emission energy between the phosphorescent and fluorescent dyes was only 0. Read More

Mem Cognit 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.

For literate individuals, does the spoken production of language involve access to orthographic codes? Previous research has rendered mixed results, with a few positive findings contrasting with a range of null findings. In the current experiments, we chose spoken Mandarin as the target language in order to better dissociate sound from spelling. Mandarin speakers named coloured line drawings of common objects with adjective-noun phrases (e. Read More

Anal Bioanal Chem 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330088, Jiangxi, China.

A simple, rapid, and effective colorimetric assay for the detection of uric acid (UA) has been built, using the MoS nanoflakes-catalyzed 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB)-HO system. In the presence of oxygen and uricase, uric acid was oxidized specifically to produce HO. MoS nanoflakes synthesized by hydrothermal reaction could catalyze the oxidation of TMB by HO, and engendering the colorimetric signal. Read More

Mikrochim Acta 2018 Dec 12;186(1):16. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, 999078, China.

The authors show that silver nanoclusters functionalized with Ce(III) ions are a viable fluorescent probe for selective and sensitive detection of sulfide at pH 7.0. The blue fluorescence of silver nanoclusters (with excitation/emission peaks at 358/426 nm) is enhanced on the addition of Ce(III) ions but is quenched in the presence of a trace concentrations of sulfide. Read More

Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Division of Biotechnology, Advanced Institute of Environment and Bioscience, College of Environmental and Bioresource Sciences, Chonbuk National University, Iksan, Jeonbuk, 54596, South Korea.

Light and bacteria can be used in combination to enhance secondary metabolite production during fermentation. Red yeast rice powder (RYRP) was inoculated with Bacillus subtilis (B2) isolated from freshwater seafood and incubated under light-emitting diodes (LEDs) of different colors (blue, green, red, white), fluorescent white light, and in darkness. Blue LED-mediated fermentation with B2 significantly enhanced production of phenolic compounds (68. Read More

Analyst 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Engineering Technology Research Center for Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Chongqing, College of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China.

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS), known as endotoxins, can cause a strong inflammatory response and lead to multiple organ failure in severe cases. This work reports a simple label-free voltammetric aptasensor for highly sensitive determination of LPS using a polyethyleneimine (PEI) functionalized reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) composite (PEI-rGO-MoS2) as a new nanocarrier for electroactive toluidine blue (TB). The PEI-rGO-MoS2 nanocomposite with high electrical conductivity and large specific surface area can greatly increase the loading of TB and facilitate electron transfer from TB to an electrode. Read More

Front Chem 2018 27;6:579. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Institut für Organische Chemie und Makromolekulare Chemie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf Düsseldorf, Germany.

The mild reaction conditions of the palladium-copper coupling-isomerization reaction open a highly convergent, chromogenic route to blue emissive pyrroles in the sense of a consecutive four-component reaction. By virtue of this strategy a phenol derivative can be readily accessed, which can be transformed in a level-2 transformation to a library of bichromophoric pyrrol-fluorophore conjugates by facile alkylation with fluorophore halides. The photophysics of the underlying blue emitter derivative and the conjugates is studied by absorption and emission spectroscopy, furnishing intramolecular energy transfer at short distances as well as competing fluorescence quenching. Read More

Chem Sci 2018 Nov 6;9(42):8150-8159. Epub 2018 Sep 6.

School of Chemistry , University of Leeds , Woodhouse Lane , Leeds LS2 9JT , UK . Email:

Cyclotriguaiacylene has been functionalised with 3- or 4-pyridyl-azo-phenyl groups to form a series of molecular hosts with three azobenzene-type groups that exhibit reversible photo-isomerisation. Reaction of the host molecules with [Ir(C^N)(NCMe)] where C^N is the cyclometallating 2-phenylpyridinato, 2-(4-methylphenyl)pyridinato or 2-(4,5,6-trifluorophenyl)pyridinato results in the self-assembly of a family of five different [{Ir(C^N)}(L)] coordination cages. Photo-irradiation of each of the cages with a high energy laser results in → photo-isomerisation of the pyridyl-azo-phenyl groups with up to 40% of groups isomerising. Read More

Exp Ther Med 2018 Dec 18;16(6):4623-4631. Epub 2018 Sep 18.

Department of Orthopedics and Rescue Center of Severe Wound and Trauma of Chinese PLA, General Hospital of Shenyang Military Area Command of Chinese PLA, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, P.R. China.

Osteoarthritis (OS) is a common disease in orthopedics. Although OS is known as an inflammation mediated by inflammatory cytokines; however, the mechanism is poorly understood. In the present study, the role of bone morphogenetic protein-9 (BMP9) was investigated in chondrogenic differentiation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs). Read More

Front Neurol 2018 27;9:1000. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States.

Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) contain the photopigment melanopsin, and are primarily involved in non-image forming functions, such as the pupillary light reflex and circadian rhythm entrainment. The goal of this study was to develop and validate a targeted ipRGC immunotoxin to ultimately examine the role of ipRGCs in macaque monkeys. An immunotoxin for the macaque melanopsin gene (), consisting of a saporin-conjugated antibody directed at the N-terminus, was prepared in solutions of 0. Read More

Plant Physiol 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

ENEA, Trisaia Research Center CITY: Rotondella (MT) STATE: Italy POSTAL_CODE: 75026 Italy [IT]

Cryptochromes are flavin-containing blue/UV-A light photoreceptors that regulate various plant light-induced physiological processes. In Arabidopsis thaliana (Brassicaceae), cryptochromes mediate de-etiolation, photoperiodic control of flowering, entrainment of the circadian clock, cotyledon opening and expansion, anthocyanin accumulation and root growth. In tomato (Solanum lycopersicum; Solanaceae), cryptochromes are encoded by a multi-gene family, comprising CRY1a, CRY1b, CRY2 and CRY3. Read More

J Vet Diagn Invest 2018 Dec 12:1040638718814584. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Laboratoire d'anatomo-cytopathologie, Biopôle Alfort (Laloy, Sautier, Servely), Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France.

An 8-y-old, intact female degu ( Octodon degus) was presented with a slow-growing mass on the tail tip. The mass was completely removed by partial caudectomy. Histologically, the last coccygeal vertebra was replaced by a lobulated neoplasm composed of large clear polygonal cells embedded in a myxoid alcian blue-positive matrix with highly vacuolated cytoplasm (physaliferous cells) and intracytoplasmic periodic acid-Schiff-positive granules. Read More

Eur J Ophthalmol 2018 Dec 12:1120672118818322. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Purpose:: To study electroretinograms in infantile nystagmus syndrome associated with idiopathic infantile nystagmus, optic nerve hypoplasia, and albinism.

Methods:: A total of 30 children with idiopathic infantile nystagmus, 18 with optic nerve hypoplasia, and 18 with albinism were studied. Three electroretinogram protocols were applied according to child's age: 58 (mean: 2. Read More

Curr Health Sci J 2015 Oct-Dec;41(4):333-338. Epub 2015 Dec 22.

Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology of Craiova, Romania.

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONs) are of great interest in medicine, with great potential for imaging diagnostics, as well as therapeutic. Biomedical applications of IONs have been suggested for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with two available contrast agents on the market. However, new developments in biocompatibility and biodistribution are necessary as many new physiochemical features of coatings have been proposed for a good safety profile. Read More

Chem Asian J 2018 Dec 7. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Sungkyunkwan University, Polymer science and engineering, 2066, Seobu-ro, Jangan-gu, 440-746, Suwon, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF.

In this study, two new dibenzofuran derivatives featuring one or two cyanocarbazole units, 6-(dibenzo[b,d]furan-4-yl)-9-phenyl-9H-carbazole-3-carbonitrile (mBFCzCN) and 6,6'-(dibenzo[b,d]furan-4,6-diyl)bis(9-phenyl-9H-carbazole-3-carbonitrile) (dBFCzCN), were developed as host materials for phosphorescent organic light emitting diodes (PhOLEDs). A new molecular design connecting the cyanocarbazole to the dibenzofuran using the cyanocarbazole 6-position instead of its 9-position was created, and the effects of number of cyanocarbazole units in the dibenzofuran building block on the photophysical and electroluminescence properties were investigated in detail. The mBFCzCN compound revealed high triplet energy (2. Read More

Nanoscale 2018 Dec 7. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Institute of Materials and Systems for Sustainability (IMaSS), Nagoya University, Japan. and Center for Integrated Research of Future Electronics (CIRFE), Nagoya University, Japan.

Transient photoluminescence (PL) characteristics and localization phenomena in InGaN/GaN core-shell nanorods (NRs) were investigated from 6 K up to 285 K. The NRs exhibit three well-defined PL bands in the near-UV, blue, and green range ascribed to the emission of quantum well (QW) areas situated at the (1.00) sidewalls, (10. Read More

Sci Adv 2018 Dec 5;4(12):eaav2794. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow, G12 8QQ Glasgow, UK.

We present the first observational study of the onset and evolution of solar flare turbulence in the lower solar atmosphere on an unprecedented time scale of 1.7 s using the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph observing plasma at a temperature of 80,000 K. At this time resolution, nonthermal spectral line broadening, indicating turbulent velocity fluctuations, precedes the flare onset at this temperature and is coincident with net blue-shifts. Read More

Regen Ther 2019 Jun 20;10:17-26. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Surgical Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa 259-1193, Japan.

Introduction: Cartilage regeneration is a promising therapy for restoring joint function in patients with cartilage defects. The limited availability of autologous chondrocytes or chondrogenic progenitor cells is an obstacle to its clinical application. We investigated the existence and chondrogenic potential of synovial membrane-derived multilineage-differentiating stress-enduring (Muse)-like cells as an alternative cell source for cartilage regeneration. Read More

Iran J Basic Med Sci 2018 Oct;21(10):992-997

Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266500, China.

Objectives: The study explored the neuroprotective role of Kalirin-7 (Kal-7) in Neuro-2A cells after oxygen-glucose deprivation and reperfusion (OGD/R) treatment.

Materials And Methods: The study used an OGD/R model of mouse Neuro-2A neuroblastoma cells . Cells were transfected with pCAGGS-Kal-7 to up-regulating kal-7. Read More

Front Neurol 2018 20;9:927. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Department of Neurosciences and Behavioral Sciences, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil.

In patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), presurgical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) often reveals hippocampal atrophy, while neuropathological assessment indicates the different types of hippocampal sclerosis (HS). Different HS types are not discriminated in MRI so far. We aimed to define the volume of each hippocampal subfield on MRI manually and to compare automatic and manual segmentations for the discrimination of HS types. Read More

J Nanopart Res 2018 15;20(11):305. Epub 2018 Nov 15.

Institute of Biomedical Research Cádiz (INIBICA), Cádiz, Spain.

Hydrophilic and homogeneous sub-10 nm blue light-emitting gold nanoparticles (NPs) functionalized with different capping agents have been prepared by simple chemical routes. Structure, average, size, and surface characteristics of these NPs have been widely studied, and the stability of colloidal NP solutions at different pH values has been evaluated. Au NPs show blue PL emission, particularly in the GSH capped NPs, in which the thiol-metal core transference transitions considerably enhance the fluorescent emission. Read More

Nanotechnology 2019 Feb;30(6):065702

Dept of Electrical Engineering, Yuan Ze University, Chung-Li, Taoyuan City, Taiwan.

The effect of 2D quenching on single chain photophysics was investigated by spin coating 13 nm thick films of polystyrene lightly doped with MEH-PPV onto CVD grown graphene and observing the changes in several photoluminescent (PL) observables. With 99% of the PL quenched, we found a 60% drop in the PL lifetime, along with a significant blue-shift of the PL emission due to the preferential quenching of emission at longer wavelengths. During photo-bleaching, the blue spectral shift observed for isolated polymers was eliminated in the presence of the quencher up until 70% of the polymer was photo-bleached. Read More

J Phys Condens Matter 2018 Nov 29. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, HUNGARY.

Transient absorption and photoluminescence are experimentally investigated in the polaronic reference system lithium niobate, LiNbO₃ (LN), with the aim to refine the microscopic model of small polaron dynamics in materials with strong electron-phonon coupling. As a unique feature, our study is performed by using two different spectroscopic methods, in crystals with dopants enhancing photorefraction or damage resistance, and over a broad temperature range from 15 - 400K. Although being self-consistent for particular experimental conditions, the hitherto used microscopic polaronic models reveal inconsistencies when applied to this larger data set. Read More

Nanotechnology 2018 Nov 29. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

College of Physics and Information Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, CHINA.

Bi-functional thin film with both selected light extraction and reliable moisture vapor barrier was proposed for simultaneous light management and encapsulation in the fields of lighting and display. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) was employed to obtain TiO2 and Al2O3 films with high uniformity, forming distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) structure. The DBRs exhibited excellent and tunable optical properties, as well as reliable moisture barrier performance. Read More

Nanotechnology 2018 Nov 30. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Department of Physics and Astronomy, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street North, London, Ontario, N6A 3K7, Lodnon, Ontario, N6A 3K7, CANADA.

Visible region active photocatalytic coatings are of interest for antimicrobial activity in low light applications or those employing LED lights with limited UV content. This work examined Ag and Fe doped titania nanoparticles (nTiO2) with varying dopant ranges in polyaspartic polymer coatings for potential light and dark activity. First, the Ag and Fe doped nTiO2 were synthesized by sol-gel chemistry with varying dopant concentrations, then characterized with respect to their size and aggregate size distribution, crystallinity, and surface and band gap features. Read More

Biomed Mater 2018 Nov 23. Epub 2018 Nov 23.

National Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Precision Surgery and Regenerative Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, CHINA.

Thrombogenicity is the predominant obstacle to successful implantation of decellularized spleen matrix (DSM). The aim of this study was to construct a transplantable functional bioartificial liver (BAL) with the use of DSM. This was achieved by layer-by-layer (LbL) electrostatic immobilization technique by using poly dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride (PDADMAC) and heparin. Read More

J Phys Condens Matter 2018 Nov 26. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Nanjing National Laboratory of Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing, CHINA.

Using first-principles calculations based on quasiharmonic approximation, we systematically investigated the vibrational properties, thermal expansion and thermomechanics properties of three monoatomic group-V monolayers with honeycomb structure: blue phosphorene, arsenene and antimonene. It is found antimonene shows negative thermal expansion in the temperature range studied, while blue phosphorene and arsenene display small positive thermal expansion at high temperature. The physical mechanisms of their different thermal properties are explored. Read More

Zhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2018 Oct;43(10):1075-1082

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China.

Objective: To explore the effects of honokiol (HKL) on pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and the underlying mechanisms.
 Methods: In animal experiment, a total of 40 C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a control group (Con group), a LPS intervention group (LPS group), a LPS+honokiol (HKL) intervention group (HKL group) and a LPS+HKL+nicotinamide (NAM) intervention group (NAM group) (n=10 in each group). In the cell experiment, the experiment cells were divided into a control group (Con group), a LPS intervention group (LPS group), a LPS+HKL intervention group (HKL group), a LPS+HKL+NAM intervention group (NAM group), and a LPS+HKL+compound C (CMC) intervention group (CMC group). Read More

Science 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Centro de Astrobiología (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, CSIC-INTA), Crta. de Ajalvir km 4, E-28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain.

Hot gas giant exoplanets can lose part of their atmosphere due to strong stellar irradiation, affecting their physical and chemical evolution. Studies of atmospheric escape from exoplanets have mostly relied on space-based observations of the hydrogen Lyman-α line in the far ultraviolet which is strongly affected by interstellar absorption. Using ground-based high-resolution spectroscopy we detect excess absorption in the helium triplet at 1083 nm during the transit of the Saturn-mass exoplanet WASP-69b, at a signal-to-noise ratio of 18. Read More

Science 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, CNRS, UMR 7095, Sorbonne Université, 98 bis boulevard Arago, F-75014, Paris, France.

Stellar heating causes atmospheres of close-in exoplanets to expand and escape. These extended atmospheres are difficult to observe because their main spectral signature-neutral hydrogen at ultraviolet wavelengths-is strongly absorbed by interstellar medium. We report the detection of the near-infrared triplet of neutral helium in the transiting warm Neptune-mass exoplanet HAT-P-11b using ground-based, high-resolution observations. Read More

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2018 Dec;57(12):980

Had I the heaven's embroidered cloths, Enwrought with golden and silver light, The blue and the dim and the dark cloths Of night and light and the half-light; I would spread the cloths under your feet: But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams. -W.B. Read More

J Acoust Soc Am 2018 Nov;144(5):2709

National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, Fisheries Research Agency, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-8648, Japan.

This paper presents a method for automatic detection of fish sounds in an underwater environment. There exist two difficulties: (i) features and classifiers that provide good detection results differ depending on the underwater environment and (ii) there are cases where a large amount of training data that is necessary for supervised machine learning cannot be prepared. A method presented in this paper (the proposed hybrid method) overcomes these difficulties as follows. Read More