Nanocrystalline SrS:Ce3+ system for the generation of white light‐emitting diodes

Nanocrystalline SrS phosphors doped with Ce³⁺ ions at different concentrations (0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 mol%) are synthesized via the solid‐state diffusion method (SSDM), which is suitable for the large‐scale production of phosphors in industrial applications. The as‐prepared samples are characterized using an X‐ray diffraction (XRD) technique, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and energy‐dispersive X‐ray (EDX) analysis. The optical properties of these phosphors are analyzed using reflectance spectra, photoluminescence spectra and afterglow decay curves. The cubic structure of the SrS phosphor is confirmed by XRD analysis and the crystallite size calculated by Scherer's formula using XRD data shows the nanocrystalline nature of the phosphors. No phase change is observed with increasing concentrations of Ce³⁺ ions. The surface morphology of the prepared phosphors is determined by FESEM, which shows a sphere‐like structure and good connectivity of the grains. The authenticity of the formation of nanocrystalline phosphors is examined by HRTEM analysis. Elemental compositional information for the prepared phosphors is gathered by EDX analysis. Photoluminescence studies reveal that the emission spectra of the prepared phosphor shows broad band emission centered at 458 and 550 nm due to the transition of electrons from the 5d → 4f energy levels. The afterglow decay characteristics of different as‐synthesized SrS:Ce³⁺ nanophosphors are conceptually described. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Membrane particle changes attending the acrosome reaction in guinea pig spermatozoa

To examine the freeze-fracture appearance of membrane alterations accompanying the preparation of sperm membranes for fusions-the first preparatory stage occurring before physiological release of the acrosomal content, the second afterward-we induced the acrosome reaction in capacitated guinea pig spermatozoa by adding calcium to the mixture. The most common features observed before fusion of the acrosomal and plasma membranes were the deletion of fibrillar intramembranous particles from the E-fracture faces of both membranes, and the clearance of globular particles from the P face of the plasma membrane-events taking place near the terminus of the equatorial segment. Large particles, >12nm, remained not far from the cleared E-face patches. The P face of the outer acrosomal membrane is virtually clear from the outset. In addition, when fusion was completed, occasional double lines of large particles transiently embossed the P face of the plasma membrane (postacrosomal) side of the fusion zone. Behind the line of fusion, another series of particle-cleared foci emerged. We interpreted these postfusion membrane clearances as a second adaptation for sperm-egg interaction. Induction of the acrosome reaction in media containing phosphatidylcholine liposomes resulted in their apparent attachment, incorporation, or exchange in both the originally and secondarily cleared regions. Our observations support the concepts that membranes become receptive to union at particle- deficient interfaces, and that the physiologically created barren areas in freeze-fracture replicas may herald incipient membrane fusion.     

Structural Analysis of the Hemagglutinin from the Recent 2013 H7N9 Influenza Virus

In March 2013, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported human infections with an H7N9 influenza virus, and by 20 July 2013, the numbers of laboratory-confirmed cases had climbed to 134, including 43 fatalities and 127 hospitalizations. The newly emerging H7N9 viruses constitute an obvious public health concern because of the apparent severity of this outbreak. Here we focus on the hemagglutinins (HAs) of these viruses and assess their receptor binding phenotype in relation to previous HAs studied. Glycan microarray and kinetic analyses of recombinant A(H7N9) HAs were performed to compare the receptor binding profile of wild-type receptor binding site variants at position 217, a residue analogous to one of two positions known to switch avian to human receptor preference in H2N2 and H3N2 viruses. Two recombinant A(H7N9) HAs were structurally characterized, and a mutational study of the receptor binding site was performed to analyze important residues that can affect receptor preference and affinity. Results highlight a weak human receptor preference of the H7N9 HAs, suggesting that these viruses require further adaptation in order to adapt fully to humans.     

Taxol inhibits stimulation of cell DNA synthesis by human cytomegalovirus

The microtubule (MT)-stabilizing drug, taxol, inhibited human cytomegalovirus (CMV)-initiated cell DNA synthesis by up to 100% in serum-arrested mouse embryo (ME) fibroblasts that were abortively infected by CMV. Taxol concentrations known to increase MT polymerization and to stabilize existing MTs (10 to 20 micrograms/ml) blocked CMV-stimulated cell DNA synthesis, while taxol concentrations of 2.5 micrograms/ml, or less, did not. Taxol maximally inhibited CMV initiation of cell DNA synthesis when added 3 h after virus infection and inhibited this initiation by greater than 50% when added up to 12 h after CMV infection. Control experiments suggest that taxol specifically inhibited CMV-stimulated cell DNA synthesis. Pretreatment of CMV stock with taxol did not reduce the stimulatory effect of CMV on cell DNA synthesis and taxol had no detectable effect on CMV-specific early protein synthesis. Moreover, taxol did not appear to alter thymidine pool sizes, affect cell viability, or compromise the DNA synthetic machinery in CMV-infected cells. Since taxol increases tubulin polymerization and inhibits MT disassembly, these results suggest that dynamic changes in MTs or in the pool of free tubulin subunits are necessary for CMV to stimulate cell entry into a proliferative cycle.     

High affinity receptors for bombesin/GRP-like peptides on human small cell lung cancer

The binding of a radiolabeled bombesin analogue to human small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines was investigated. (125I-Tyr4)bombesin bound with high affinity (Kd = 0.5 nM) to a single class of sites (2,000/cell) using SCLC line NCI-H446. Binding was reversible, saturable and specific. The pharmacology of binding was investigated using NCI-H466 and SCLC line NCI-H345. Bombesin and structurally related peptides, such as gastrin releasing peptide (GRP), but not other peptides, such as substance P or vasopressin, inhibited high affinity (125I-Tyr4)BN binding activity. Finally, the putative receptor, a 78,000 dalton polypeptide, was identified by purifying radiolabeled cell lysates on bombesin or GRP affinity resins and then displaying the bound polypeptides on sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gels. Because SCLC both produces bombesin/GRP-like peptides and contains high affinity receptors for these peptides, they may function as important autocrine regulatory factors for human SCLC.