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[Display omitted] • A lignocellulose nanofiber (LCNF) separator is developed for dendrite-free zinc-ion battery. • The LCNF separator enables increased zinc deposition kinetics and reduced desolvation barrier of hydrated zinc ions. • Such separator can be completely degraded in the natural soil within two weeks. The sustainable development of rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries (RZIBs) is severely limited by the uncontrolled zinc dendritic growth and side reactions on the anode. Herein, a lignocellulose nanofiber (LCNF) separator from waste palm with dual-function of water-gating and zinc-sieving is developed for the dendrite-free zinc anode. The obtained LCNF separator offer hydrophobic surface (96°), uniform nanopores (∼20 nm), excellent mechanical performance (47.8 MPa), and high ionic conductivity (18.1 mS cm−1). Therefore, the LCNF separator enables increased zinc deposition kinetics, and reduced desolvation barrier of hydrated zinc ions, effectively suppressing the Zn dendrite growth and promoting the uniform Zn plating/stripping on zinc anode. Such separator enables excellent performance: a low polarization of 60.1 mV and steady charge-discharge in a Zn//Zn symmetric cell for 3500 h at the current density of 0.5 mA cm−1; dendrite-free zinc plating/stripping at 99.0 % coulombic efficiency in a Cu//Zn asymmetric cell for over 250 cycles at 1 mA cm−2; 280.1 mAh g−1 in MgVO//Zn full battery with the retention of 89.7 % for over 2000 cycles at 5 A g−1. In addition, this LCNF separator can be completely degraded in the natural soil within two weeks, exhibiting a low environmental impact with their natural biodegradability. This design of green separator for dendrite-free RZIBs also provides a new insight for the sustainable development of other metal-ion rechargeable batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) and chemosensory proteins (CSPs) of arthropods are thought to be involved in chemical recognition which regulates pivotal behaviors including host choice, copulation and reproduction. In insects, OBPs and CSPs located mainly in the antenna but they have not been systematically characterized yet in Bemisia tabaci which is a cryptic species complex and could damage more than 600 plant species. In this study, among the 106,893 transcripts in the head assembly, 8 OBPs and 13 CSPs were identified in B. tabaci MED based on head transcriptomes of adults. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted to investigate the relationships of B. tabaci OBPs and CSPs with those from several other important Hemipteran species, and the motif-patterns between Hemiptera OBPs and CSPs were also compared by MEME. The expression profiles of the OBP and CSP genes in different tissues of B. tabaci MED adults were analyzed by real-time qPCR. Seven out of the 8 OBPs found in B. tabaci MED were highly expressed in the head. Conversely, only 4 CSPs were enriched in the head, while the other nine CSPs were specifically expressed in other tissues. Our findings pave the way for future research on chemical recognition of B. tabaci at the molecular level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have been extensively explored for photodynamic therapy (PDT) and imaging due to their representative large anti-Stokes shifts, deep penetration into biological tissues, narrow emission bands, and high spatial-temporal resolution. Conventional UCNP-based PDT system, however, utilizes exitation at 980 nm, at which water has significant absorption, leading to a huge concern that the cell killing effect is from the irradiation due to overheating effect. Here we report an efficient nanoplatform using 808-nm excited NaYbF4:Nd@NaGdF4:Yb/Er@NaGdF4 core−shell−shell nanoparticles loaded with Chlorin e6 and folic acid for simultaneous imaging and PDT. At this wavelength, the absorption of water is minimized. High energy transfer efficiency is achieved to generate cytotoxic singlet oxygen. Our nanoplatform effectively kills cancer cells in concentration-, time-, and receptor-dependent manners. More importantly, our nanoplatform is still able to efficiently generate singlet oxygen beneath 15-mm thickness of muscle tissue but 980 nm excitation cannot, showing that a higher penetration depth is achieved by our system. These results imply that our nanoplatform has the ability to effectively kill intrinsic tumor or the center of large tumors through PDT, which significantly improves the anticancer efficacy using UCNP-based PDT system and broadens the types of tumors that could be cured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a skin cancer usually mistaken as other benign tumors. Abnormal DFSP resection results in tumor recurrence. Quantitative characterization of collagen alteration on the skin tumor is essential for developing a diagnostic technique. In this study, second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy was performed to obtain images of the human DFSP skin and normal skin. Subsequently, structure and texture analysis methods were applied to determine the differences in skin texture characteristics between the two skin types, and the link between collagen alteration and tumor was established. Results suggest that combining SHG microscopy and texture analysis methods is a feasible and effective method to describe the characteristics of skin tumor like DFSP. SCANNING 37:1-5, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In order to develop a gas sensor with improved gas-diffusing performance, a three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical CdO nanostructure with a novel bio-inspired morphology was reported. The CdO nanostructures which exhibit a profile of natural leaveleaf were synthesized via a solvothermal approach combining with an annealing process. The solvothermally synthesized CdS precursors were converted into CdO under an optimal annealing condition. In gas-sensing measurements, acetone and diethyl ether were employed as target gases. The results show that the as-fabricated gas sensor exhibits fast response and recovery speeds toward analytes. The mechanism for the improved performance was demonstrated from the gas diffusion through the 3D hierarchical nanostructure. The kinetic processes of gas adsorption and desorption show that the 3D leaveleaf-shaped structure is significant to achieve an enhanced diffusing property. Additionally, a principal component analysis method was used to investigate the recognizable ability of the presented sensor. It is found that acetone and diethyl ether can be distinguished clearly. These findings indicate that the bio-inspired CdO nanostructure can be a promising candidate for the development of fast-responding gas sensors. Moreover, such bio-inspired structure would be also valuable for the design of some other novel nanomaterials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A coral-like SnO2 nanostructure densely-modified with TiO2 nanoparticles was reported for developing a self-cleaning gas sensor. The density of the TiO2 nanoparticles in the TiO2/SnO2 nanocomposites can be greatly improved via a plasma-based modification (PM) on SnO2/carbonaceous precursors before introducing Ti sources. In gas-sensing measurements, benzene and toluene were employed as target analytes. The results show that the gas sensor based on the TiO2/SnO2 nanostructures with PM exhibits a remarkably improved stability after detecting for many cycles compared with the ones based on TiO2/SnO2 without PM and pure SnO2 nanostructures. The mechanism for the stable performance has been demonstrated from the self-cleaning degradation of TiO2 nanoparticles towards the adsorbed organic species. Furthermore, the recognizable ability towards targets was also investigated by using some algorithmic recognition methods including principal component analysis (PCA) and nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF). The fascinating gas-sensing properties including enhanced stability, sensitivity, and recognizable ability enable the presented TiO2/SnO2 nanocomposites to be a promising candidate for fabricating self-cleaning gas sensor which can be applied for detecting environmental gas contaminants. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A phase-matched filtering technique is applied to extract fundamental mode signals from Rayleigh waves recorded at 62 digital seismic stations in the Yunnan and Sichuan regions. We use the fundamental mode of vibrations at two stations that are located on the same great circle as the focus to calculate an inter-station attenuation coefficient of the Rayleigh wave with periods between 0. 0 and 80.64 s, and invert for the inter-station S-wave Q-factor ( Q) at depths of 0-200 km. The results indicate that Q in Yunnan is 20-140, presenting a low Q background with apparent lateral variation. Taking the Honghe Fault as the boundary, Q of the crust is only 20 on the west side, extending to a depth of 120 km. The distribution of Q is consistent with large-scale Cenozoic volcanic and intrusive rocks in western Yunnan, implying that the crust and mantle are in the thermally active state. In the eastern Yunnan Block, east of the Xiaojiang Fault, Q in the upper 120 km is 140 in the south but only 20 in the north. Additionally, around the Dukou-Chuxiong in the mid-Yunnan Block, Q in the lithosphere is relatively high at 60-100, corresponding to a stiff crust. This is because the suture between the Indian and Eurasian plates reversed the tension in the rifting stage into the compression of orogenesis, leading to the closure of a gap in the crust. After some time, interstitial fluids gradually disappeared, resulting in a high velocity layer in the crust and low heat flow on the surface. The Yunnan region consists of an obvious block of elevated Q, distributed within the low background, consistent with the distribution of heat-flow values on the surface. The Honghe and Xiaojiang faults are tectonic boundaries in addition to being boundaries between regions of high and low crustal Q. The low Q is probably the result of crustal rupture and disturbance caused by strong earthquakes and the upwelling of hot substances along the deep fault zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel dithienylethenes were obtained by appending triphenylethene and BF 2 bdk moieties at the termini of dithienylethene unit (TDBB and TDTB), in which BF 2 bdk group not only functions as electron acceptor (A) but also responds to volatile organic amines. Only TDBB displayed excellent visible light-triggered photochromism and fluorescent switching behavior in toluene and in the PMMA film upon alternating irradiation with blue light (460–470 nm) and near-infrared light (760–770 nm). More importantly, they displayed a distinct fluorescent turn-on and colorimetric sensing performance for volatile n -propylamine in THF. Specially, the addition of excessive n -propylamine can effectively modulate their photochromic properties in THF. And their PMMA films showed the fluorescent turn-off and colorimetric sensory behavior towards n -propylamine vapor. Consequently, they would be utilized as novel dual sensory materials for volatile primary or secondary amine vapors in the environment and biological systems. [Display omitted] • Two novel dithienylethenes were developed by appending triphenylethene and BF 2 bdk moieties. • Only TDBB displayed visible light-triggered photochromism and fluorescent switching behavior in toluene and PMMA film. • They displayed a distinct fluorescent turn-on and colorimetric sensing performance for volatile n -propylamine in THF. • The addition of n -propylamine can effectively modulate their photochromic properties in THF. • Their PMMA films showed the fluorescent turn-off and colorimetric sensory behavior towards n -propylamine vapor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

we aimed to explore the role of thalidomide in breast cancer by using a mouse 4T1 breast tumor model. A tumor model was established by injecting logarithmic-phase 4T1 cells into the mammary fat pat.Tumor growth was monitored every day and tumor size was measured periodically. Which were performed to determine the cytokine and related gene mRNA expression, the cytokine production and protein expression, check the vessel formation and necrosis, the CD31 expression,the expression of CD31, F4/80 and CD206,staining the digested cells with F4/80, cd45 and CD11b to determine the M2 type macrophages accumulation by qRT-PCR, Cytokine antibody array, HE staining, Immunohistochemistry, Immunostaining, Flow cytometry, respectively. In the current study, Our results indicated that thalidomide significantly inhibited tumor growth in the mouse model by inhibiting angiogenesis and promoting the necrosis of tumor cells in tumor tissues. Moreover, immunostaining and flow cytometry results demonstrated that M2-type tumor-associated macrophage accumulation and infiltration were profoundly inhibited upon treatment with thalidomide. In addition, thalidomide treatment also regulated cytokine production by inhibiting the production of angiogenesis-related cytokines, such as G-CSF, VEGF-B, VEGFR1, VEGFR3 and IL-10. In conclusion, our studies explored the antitumor effect of thalidomide in a breast tumor model and uncovered that thalidomide inhibited breast tumor growth by inhibiting angiogenesis as a result of reducing TAM accumulation and infiltration and inhibiting angiogenesis-related cytokine production. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify hub genes. • Identifying genes which have the same trend of expression in substantia nigra (SN) and blood. • Identifying potential biomarker in the blood of PD by the validation of q-RT-PCR. Parkinson's disease (PD) ranks as the second most frequently occurring neurodegenerative disease. The precise pathogenic mechanism of this disease remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to identify the biomarkers in PD and classify the primary differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The present study searched for and downloaded mRNA expression data from the Gene Expression Omnibus database to identify differences in mRNA expression in the substantia nigra (SN) and blood of patients with PD and healthy controls. In addition, in order to investigate the biological functions of the classified dysregulated genes, the present study utilized Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), Gene Ontology (GO), reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), gene co-expression network analysis and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to assay TMEM243 as a diagnostic marker. Between PD and controls in GSE20292, the present study identified 1862 DEGs. Using the weighted gene co-expression network analysis, the present study identified 15 modules in PD. The module preservation analysis revealed that the tan, blue and green-yellow modules were the most stable. KEGG pathway analysis revealed that five DEGs in the black module were significantly enriched in the ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis pathway, nucleotide excision repair pathway, mismatch repair pathway. The present study selected 303 genes with high connectivity in blue, green-yellow and tan modules as hub genes, where 58 were differentially expressed in both the GSE20292 and GSE54536 datasets. In the SN and blood, 11 genes exhibited the same trend of expression. Furthermore, in the blood samples of patients with PD, the results displayed a significant upregulation of TMEM243. The expression levels of CCR4, CAMK1D, ACTR1B and SPSB3 increased, while both the levels of INA and PSMD4 decreased. These findings are consistent with the bioinformatics analysis results but are not statistically significant. TMEM243 can be considered as a diagnostic biomarker (area under the curve = 0.694; sensitivity, 80 %; specificity, 56 %; P < 0.018). TMEM243 was distinctly upregulated in the blood samples of patients with PD, as validated via RT-qPCR, and was highly sensitive, revealing its potential as a biomarker for the future diagnosis of PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: NF1(Neurofibromatosis type 1) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder. Patients with NF1 have an increased risk of developing benign or malignant tumours, such as gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs). However, the coexistence of NF1, GIST and colon cancer is very rare, and few cases have been reported in the literature.Case Presentation: We admitted a case of a 64-year-old man with type 1 neurofibromatosis, GISTs, and ascending colon cancer. This case was characterized by café-au-lait macules, discrete cutaneous neurofibromas, nodular neurofibromas, multiple jejunal tumours, and ascending colon cancer. Laparoscopic exploration revealed ascending colon cancer and multiple jejunal tumours. Laparoscopic right hemicolectomy and local excision of the jejunal tumours were performed successfully. The pathological results confirmed moderate differentiated adenocarcinoma of the ascending colon with multiple jejunal GISTs (low risk, very low risk). Moreover, the immunohistochemistry results of multiple jejunal GISTs suggest that NF1 is positive. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) of colon cancer revealed mutations in more than 20 genes, including KRAS, PIK3CA, APC, SMAD4, etc. The results of whole-exome sequencing (WES) of jejunal GISTs revealed an NF1 mutation and no KIT or PDGFR gene mutation.Conclusion: We report a rare case of simultaneous NF1, GIST and colon adenocarcinoma. For patients with NF1, benign and/or malignant tumours are often combined. Therefore, these patients should undergo regular physical examinations so that early detection and early treatment can be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the feasibility of GP73 as a diagnostic marker for liver inflammation and fibrosis in chronic HBV patients with normal or slightly raised ALT (<2 ULN) and to develop models based on GP73 and other biochemical parameters to improve diagnostic accuracy. Serum GP73 levels were analyzed in 220 chronic HBV patients with normal or slightly raised ALT who underwent liver biopsy. The results showed that the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was 0.806 for predicting significant liver inflammation (≥G2), while it was 0.742 for predicting significant fibrosis (≥S2). These results suggest that GP73 has higher diagnostic value for liver inflammation than liver fibrosis. Combining GP73, AST and ALB, as a diagnostic model for predicting significant liver inflammation, resulted in superior diagnostic performance over GP73 alone (AUC value increased from 0.806 to 0.854, z = 2.299, P = 0.021). By applying this diagnostic model, over 80% of chronic HBV patients with normal or slightly raised ALT will be correctly identified and hence avoid delay in diagnosis and treatment. In conclusion, GP73 would be an additional serum marker for predicting liver inflammation and fibrosis in chronic HBV patients with normal or slightly raised ALT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]