Theoretical design study on photophysical property on oligomers based on spirobifluorene and carbazole-triphenylamine for PLED applications

The photophysical properties of five blue light-emitting polymers based on spirobifluorene applied in polymer light-emitting diodes (PLED) materials have been studied by quantum chemistry. In order to understand the intrinsic reasons for the different performances displayed by the polymers, we carried out density functional theory (DFT) and Marcus theory investigations on their oligomers in terms of structure and properties stability, absorption and emission properties, and carrier injection and transport properties. Especially, some important parameters which had not been reported to our knowledge were given in this contribution, such as the ionization potentials (IPs), electron affinities (EAs), reorganization energies (λ), k _e /k _h (the ratio between the electron transfer rate (k _e ) and hole transfer rate (k _h )), and the radiative lifetimes (τ). The main results indicate that the co-oligomers of PCC-1, PCC-2, and PCC-3 with push-pull interactions produced by the existing D-A segments have better carrier injection and transport properties than the oligomers of PSF and PCF. Especially PCC-2 co-oligomer, its large radiation lifetime (7.46 ns) and well balanced and adequate carrier transport guarantee its champion performance for PLED. The calculated results coincide with the experimental ones. Besides, PNF structurally similar to PCC-2 has similar photoelectric properties to PCC-2 in theory, and the fluorescence emission of PNF co-oligomer is superior to PCC-2 co-oligomer. Therefore, we predict that PNF is a promising candidate for PLED.     

Correlations and comparisons of quantitative trait loci with family per se and testcross performance for grain yield and related traits in maize

Simultaneous improvement in grain yield and related traits in maize hybrids and their parents (inbred lines) requires a better knowledge of genotypic correlations between family per se performance (FP) and testcross performance (TP). Thus, to understand the genetic basis of yield-related traits in both inbred lines and their testcrosses, two F _2:3 populations (including 230 and 235 families, respectively) were evaluated for both FP and TP of eight yield-related traits in three diverse environments. Genotypic correlations between FP and TP, $ \hat{r}_{\text{g}} $ (FP, TP), were low (0–0.16) for grain yield per plant (GYPP) and kernel number per plant (KNPP) in the two populations, but relatively higher (0.32–0.69) for the other six traits with additive effects as the primary gene action. Similar results were demonstrated by the genotypic correlations between observed and predicted TP values based on quantitative trait loci positions and effects for FP, $ \hat{r}_{\text{g}} $ (M _FP, Y _TP). A total of 88 and 35 QTL were detected with FP and TP, respectively, across all eight traits in the two populations. However, the genotypic variances explained by the QTL detected in the cross-validation analysis were much lower than those in the whole data set for all traits. Several common QTL between FP and TP that accounted for large phenotypic variances were clustered in four genomic regions (bin 1.10, 4.05–4.06, 9.02, and 10.04), which are promising candidate loci for further map-based cloning and improvement in grain yield in maize. Compared with publicly available QTL data, these QTL were also detected in a wide range of genetic backgrounds and environments in maize. These results imply that effective selection based on FP to improve TP could be achieved for traits with prevailing additive effects.     

Lipoplex size determines lipofection efficiency with or without serum

In order to identify factors affecting cationic Iiposome-mediated gene transfer, the relationships were examined among cationic liposome/DNA complex (lipoplex)-cell interactions, lipoplex size and lipoplex-mediated transfection (lipofection) efficiency. It was found that lipofection efficiency was determined mainly by lipoplex size, but not by the extent of lipoplex-cell interactions including binding, uptake or fusion. In addition, it was found that serum affected mainly lipoplex size, but not lipoplex-cell interactions, which effect was the major reason behind the inhibitory effect of serum on lipofection efficiency. It was concluded that, in the presence or absence of serum, lipoplex size is a major factor determining Iipofection efficiency. Moreover, in the presence or absence of serum, lipoplex size was found to affect lipofection efficiency by controlling the size of the intracellular vesicles containing lipoplexes after internalization, but not by affecting lipoplex-cell interactions. In addition, large lipoplex particles showed, in general, higher lipofection efficiency than small particles. These results imply that, by controlling lipoplex size, an efficient lipid delivery system may be achieved for in vitro and in vivo gene therapy.     

Moderate mechanical stimulation rescues degenerative annulus fibrosus by suppressing caveolin-1 mediated pro-inflammatory signaling pathway

Mechanical loading can induce or antagonize the extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis, proliferation, migration, and inflammatory responses of annulus fibrosus cells (AFCs), depending on the loading mode and level. Caveolin-1 (Cav1), the core protein of caveolae, plays an important role in cellular mechanotransduction and inflammatory responses. In the present study, we presented that AFCs demonstrated different behaviors when subjected to cyclic tensile strain (CTS) for 24 h at a magnitude of 0%, 2%, 5% and 12%, respectively. It was found that 5% CTS had positive effects on cell proliferation, migration and anabolism, while 12% CTS had the opposite effects. Besides, cells exposed to interleukin-1β stimulus exhibited an increase expression in inflammatory genes, and the expression of these genes decreased after exposure to moderate mechanical loading with 5% CTS. In addition, 5% CTS decreased the level of Cav1 and integrin β1 and exhibited anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover, the expression of integrin β1 and p-p65 increased in AFCs transfected with Cav1 plasmids. In vivo results revealed that moderate mechanical stimulation could recover the water content and morphology of the discs. In conclusion, moderate mechanical stimulation restrained Cav1-mediated signaling pathway and exhibited anti-inflammatory effects on AFCs. Together with in vivo results, this study expounds the underlying molecular mechanisms on the effect of moderate mechanical stimulation on intervertebral discs (IVDs) and may provide a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of IVD degeneration.     

黄芩配伍川贝母后黄芩中主要化学成分含量变化及抗肺炎作用研究

本文旨在探究黄芩川贝母不同比例配伍后对黄芩中主要化学成分含量影响及等比配伍后抗肺炎作用.将黄芩川贝母按3∶0、3∶1、3∶2、3∶3、2∶3、1∶3、0∶3比例配伍后,水提取,高效液相色谱法测定黄芩苷、汉黄芩苷、黄芩素、汉黄芩素含量.选择健康ICR小鼠36只,随机分为6组,分别为空白组、LPS组、阳性药组、黄芩组、川贝...     

miR-106a-5p调控 PTEN对鼻咽癌细胞SUNE2增殖和迁移的抑制作用研究

目的研究miR-106a-5p对鼻咽癌细胞SUNE2增殖和迁移的影响。 方法将体外培养的鼻咽癌细胞SUNE2分成对照组（细胞未做任何处理）、Anti-NC组（转染阴性对照抑制剂）、Anti-miR-106a-5p组（转染miR-106a-5p抑制剂）、后期实验另设Anti-miR-106a-5p-inhibitor+si-NC组（转染miR-106a-5p抑制剂、siRNA阴性对照）、Anti-miR-106a-5p-inhibitor+si-PTEN组（转染miR-106a-5p抑制剂、PTEN siRNA）,采用Realtime PCR测定miR-106a-5p表达,MTT法检测增殖,Transwell小室检测细胞侵袭和迁移能力变化,用Western blot方法测定vimentin、E-cadherin蛋白表达。在线靶基因预测软件预测miR-106a-5p的靶基因可能为PTEN,双荧光素酶报告系统鉴定miR-106a-5p和PTEN的靶向关系。两组间比较用独立样本t检验,多组间比较采用单因素方差分析,组间两两比较采用LSD-t检验。 结果与正常鼻咽上皮细胞NP69比较,鼻咽癌细胞CNE-2、HK1、SUNE2中miR-106a-5p水平（1.00±0.11比1.84±0.13、2.19±0.14、2.87±0.25）升高,差异具有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。与对照组、Anti-NC组比较,Anti-miR-106a-5p组鼻咽癌细胞miR-106a-5p水平（1.00±0.10、0.99±0.12比0.76±0.08）降低,OD值（0.56±0.05、0.57±0.04比0.32±0.02）,细胞侵袭数[（128.47±11.65）个、（129.84±10.93）个比（85.12±6.75）个],迁移数[（182.51±14.81）个、（180.68±17.64）个比（122.01±11.62）个],vimentin蛋白表达水平（0.84±0.09、0.82±0.07比0.30±0.05）降低,E-cadherin蛋白表达水平（0.29±0.04、0.28±0.05比0.76±0.08）升高,差异具有统计学意义（P均< 0.05）。与Anti-miR-106a-inhibitor+si-NC组比较,Anti-miR-106a-inhibitor+si-PTEN组细胞OD值（0.33±0.03比0.52±0.05）、侵袭数[（84.16±5.91）个比（105.79±8.63）个]、迁移数[（118.42±10.25）个比（164.28±12.05）个]、vimentin蛋白表达水平（0.34±0.06比0.68±0.05）均升高,E-cadherin蛋白表达水平（0.72±0.06比0.29±0.05）降低,差异具有统计学意义（P均< 0.05）。 结论miR-106a-5p可通过靶向调控PTEN抑制鼻咽癌细胞SUNE2增殖和迁移潜能。     

基于Nextflow构建的宏条形码自动化分析流程EPPS

基于宏条形码技术的物种快速检测有助于生物多样性的评估、预测和保护。本文介绍了常用宏条形码分析的步骤和参数设定方法。我们利用Nextflow搭建了一款宏条形码分析流程EPPS, 可以自动化地运行从原始数据的质量控制到环境多样性的比较。Nextflow软件还拥有流程监控的功能, 可视化输出每个进程所消耗的时间与内存。本文还使用测试数据和已发表数据证明该平台能够有效地分析宏条形码数据并可靠地分析环境生物多样性的相似性。     

Gut microbiota in patients after surgical treatment for colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common disease worldwide that is strongly associated with the gut microbiota. However, little is known regarding the gut microbiota after surgical treatment. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to evaluate differences in gut microbiota among colorectal adenoma patients, CRC patients, CRC postoperative patients and healthy controls by comparing gut microbiota diversity, overall composition and taxonomic signature abundance. The gut microbiota of CRC patients, adenoma patients and healthy controls developed in accordance with the adenoma-carcinoma sequence, with impressive shifts in the gut microbiota before or during the development of CRC. The gut microbiota of postoperative patients and CRC patients differed significantly. Subdividing CRC postoperative patients according to the presence or absence of newly developed adenoma which based on the colonoscopy findings revealed that the gut microbiota of newly developed adenoma patients differed significantly from that of clean intestine patients and was more similar to the gut microbiota of carcinoma patients than to the gut microbiota of healthy controls. The alterations of the gut microbiota between the two groups of postoperative patients corresponded to CRC prognosis. More importantly, we used the different gut microbiota as biomarkers to distinguish postoperative patients with or without newly developed adenoma, achieving an AUC value of 0.72. These insights on the changes in the gut microbiota of CRC patients after surgical treatment may allow the use of the microbiota as non-invasive biomarkers for the diagnosis of newly developed adenomas and to help prevent cancer recurrence in postoperative patients.