A Programmable Ambient Light Sensor with Dark Current Compensation and Wide Dynamic Range.

Ambient light sensors are becoming increasingly popular due to their effectiveness in extending the battery life of portable electronic devices. However, conventional ambient light sensors are large in area and small in dynamic range, and they do not take into account the effects caused due to a dark current. To address the above problems, a programmable ambient light sensor with dark current compensation and a wide dynamic range is proposed in this paper. The proposed ambient light sensor exhibits a low current power consumption of only 7.7 µA in dark environments, and it operates across a wide voltage range (2-5 V) and temperature range (-40-80 °C). It senses ambient light and provides an output current proportional to the ambient light intensity, with built-in dark current compensation to effectively suppress the effects of a dark current. It provides a wide dynamic range over the entire operating temperature range with three selectable output-current gain modes. The proposed ambient light sensor was designed and fabricated using a 0.18 µm standard CMOS process, and the effective area of the chip is 663 µm × 652 µm. The effectiveness of the circuit was verified through testing, making it highly suitable for portable electronic products and fluorescent fiber-optic temperature sensors.

Blue-light-enhanced avalanche photodiode with a multi-finger grating structure for fluorescence detection.

The responsiveness of the photodetectors is critical to the accuracy of the fluorescent fiber optical temperature sensor. However, the current gain and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of traditional photodiodes (PDs) is low, which makes it difficult to meet the high-precision detection requirements of the system. In response to the above problems, this paper achieves a novel, to the best of our knowledge, multi-finger grating (MFG) avalanche photodiode (APD). The device combines the polysilicon gate and the space charge region formed by P+/N-Well to detect photon signals. The conversion capability of the photodetector can be significantly enhanced by the MFG structure. The principle of the device is simulated and verified by technology-computer-aided design (TCAD). The standard grating APD (SG-APD), 2-finger grating APD (2FG-APD), 3-finger grating APD (3FG-APD), and 4-finger grating APD (4FG-APD) are fabricated based on 0.18 µm CMOS process. The optoelectronic detection characteristics of these devices are analyzed by establishing an optoelectronic test platform. At 480 nm, the responsivity of 2FG-APD, 3FG-APD, and 4FG-APD increases by 79.3%, 96.9%, and 70.2%, respectively, compared to SG-APD (4.021 A/W). The test results indicate that 3FG-APD exhibits a strong photon response in the blue light range. The device has broad application prospects in the field of fluorescence detection.

YM155 inhibits neuroblastoma growth through degradation of MYCN: A new role as a USP7 inhibitor.

Amplification of the MYCN gene (MNA) is observed in approximately 25 to 35% of neuroblastoma patients, and is a well-recognized marker of tumor aggressiveness and poor outcome. Targeting MYCN is a novel therapy strategy to induce tumor regression. Here, we discovered that a BIRC5/Survivin inhibitor, YM155, specifically inhibits MNA neuroblastoma cell growth in vitro. We found that YM155 promotes MYCN degradation in MNA cells. Further, we found that YM155 inhibits USP7 deubiquitinase activity in vitro, using Ub-aminomethylcoumarin (Ub-AMC) as substrate. Results from in vivo studies further demonstrated that YM155 significantly inhibited the tumor growth in MNA neuroblastoma xenograft model. Our data support a novel mechanism of action of YM155 in inhibition of growth of cancer cells through inducing MYCN degradation by inibition of activity of deubiquitinase like USP7.

Flow characteristics and formation optimization of vortex ring air supply.

The vortex rings ventilation (VRV) is a new type of air supply system comprising vortex rings. Compared with an air supply jet, a vortex ring reduces the loss of fresh air during transportation because of its stable structure. However, during the formation of the vortex ring, it entrains the ambient air and reduces the fresh air in the vortex ring. In this study, a vortex ring generator with a fresh air cavity is proposed to form confined vortex rings. This improved the fresh air ratio of the VRV. Based on previous experiments, a piston-orifice axisymmetric model with a dynamic grid was developed to form an air vortex ring. The flow characteristics of free and confined vortex rings during the generation stage were studied. First, the evolution of free vortex rings with different stroke lengths was studied, and the optimal piston stroke length and radial constraint size were determined. Subsequently, the mixing ratios of the free and confined vortex rings were compared and analyzed. The results showed that the mixing ratio of the confined vortex ring formed by the fresh air cavity in the formation stage was zero. Moving to the location of 4.9 times the orifice diameter ( D 0 $$ {D}_0 $$ ), reduced the mixing ratio of the confined vortex ring by 77.78% compared with that of the free vortex ring. In addition, the influence of three inner diameters and four outlet diameters of fresh air cavities on the vortex rings was studied to optimize the size of the vortex ring generator. The results showed that the inner diameter of the fresh air cavity was greater than 3 D 0 $$ 3{D}_0 $$ and that an outlet diameter greater than 2.5 D 0 $$ 2.5{D}_0 $$ had little influence on the vortex rings.

Application Research of Individualized Conditional Reprogramming System to Guide Treatment of Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common causes of malignant tumors in the world. Due to the high heterogeneity of GC and lack of specificity of available chemotherapy regimens, these tumors are prone to resistance, recurrence, and metastasis. Here, we formulated an individualized chemotherapy regimen for GC using a modified individual conditional reprogramming (i-CR) system. We established a primary tumor cell bank of GC cells and completed drug screening in order to realize individualized and accurate GC treatment. METHODS: We collected specimens from 93 surgical or gastroscopy GC cases and established a primary tumor cell bank using the i-CR system and PDX models. We also completed in vitro culture and drug sensitivity screening of the GC cells using the i-CR system. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) of the i-CR cells was performed using P0 and P5. We then chose targeted chemotherapy drugs based on the i-CR system results. RESULTS: Of the 72 cases that were collected from surgical specimens, 26 cases were successfully cultured with i-CR system, and of the 21 cases collected from gastroscopy specimens, seven were successfully cultured. Among these, 20 cases of the PDX model were established. SRC ± G3 had the highest culture success rate. The i-CR cells of P0 and P5 appeared to be highly conserved. According to drug sensitivity screening, we examined the predictive value of responses of GC patients to chemotherapeutic agents, especially in neoadjuvant patients. CONCLUSION: The i-CR system does not only represent the growth characteristics of tumors in vivo, but also provides support for clinical drug use. Drug susceptibility results were relatively consistent with clinical efficacy.

Potential application of using vortex ring for personalized ventilation.

A novel vortex ring personalized ventilation system (VRPV) is proposed for efficiently supplying fresh air to room occupants. A vortex ring generator with a piston-cylinder is developed for an experimental study of the formation, transportation, and ventilation characteristics of the VRPV. The translational velocity, volume, and fresh air ratio of the vortex rings are studied using high-speed cameras and tracer gas experiments. According to the results, the categories of the vortex ring volume in the formation stage are studied. It is observed that the velocity of the piston determines the initial translational velocity of the vortex ring, and a fitting equation is proposed to predict the evolution of the translational velocity. The deviation range of the VRPV over different distances is studied, and it is shown to be affected by interference from both the generator and the environment. Finally, the total volumes, fresh air volumes, and fresh air ratios of the VRPV are studied at different distances. The results indicate that, as a personalized ventilation system, the fresh air ratio of the VRPV is up to 159.3% higher than that of a symmetrical round jet within a 0-4 m range. This shows the excellent application potential of the VRPV for providing high-efficiency personalized ventilation with lower fresh airflow rates.

Changes in the Urinary Proteome in a Patient-Derived Xenograft (PDX) Nude Mouse Model of Colorectal Tumor.

In this report, the urinary proteome from a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model was examined at the peptide level to study the origins of urinary proteins in tumor-bearing nude mice. Urine was collected from PDX mice before and after colorectal tumor implantation. A total of 4,318 unique peptides were identified, and 78 unambiguous human-origin peptides were discerned in the PDX model urine. Unlike the differential urinary protein composition of tumor-bearing immunocompetent rat models, the differential urinary proteins in the PDX model did not include host immune-response proteins. This study demonstrates that tumor-secreted proteins can be observed in the urine proteome of the PDX model. However, immune-response proteins, which are very early candidate tumor biomarkers, are not present in the urine of PDX model mice; this absence is due to immune deficiency. Therefore, immunodeficient animals may not be suitable models for searching for early immunity-associated tumor biomarkers in the urine.

Influence of biomass burning on atmospheric aerosols over the western South China Sea: Insights from ions, carbonaceous fractions and stable carbon isotope ratios.

Total suspended particle (TSP) samples were collected during a cruise campaign over the western South China Sea (SCS) from August to September 2014. Ten water-soluble ions (WSI), organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC) and stable carbon isotope ratios of total carbon (δ13CTC) were measured. The average concentrations of total WSI, OC and EC were 7.91 ±â€¯3.44 µg/m3, 2.04 ±â€¯1.25 µg/m3 and 0.30 ±â€¯0.22 µg/m3, respectively. Among the investigated WSI, sulfate (SO42-), sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) were the most abundant species, accounting for 39.2%, 24.5% and 14.3% of the total mass of the WSI, respectively. Significantly positive correlations of OC and EC with non-sea-salt potassium (nss-K+), a tracer for biomass burning, suggest that biomass burning is the major source of carbonaceous aerosols. The values of δ13CTC ranged from -26.6‰ to -24.4‰ with an average of -25.3 ±â€¯0.7‰. Based on the literature data of δ13CTC, back-trajectory analysis and satellite fire spots, we propose that C3 plant burning in Southeast Asia significantly contributes to carbonaceous aerosols over the western SCS. This is also supported by a good correlation between δ13CTC and the mass ratios of nss-K+/TC. Furthermore, high Cl- depletion (73 ±â€¯23%) was observed in the aerosols over the western SCS. Given the neutralization of SO42- by ammonium (NH4+), excess nss-SO42- and oxalate (C2O42-) made major contributions to Cl- depletion in the samples strongly influenced by biomass burning. This study provides useful information to better understand the influence of biomass burning on atmospheric aerosols over the SCS.

Preparation of polyclonal antibody specific for AtPLC4, an Arabidopsis phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C in rabbits.

Phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase Cs (PI-PLCs) are important enzymes in eukaryotes, which catalyze the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate into the two second messengers inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and diacylglycerol. The Arabidopsis genome contains nine putative PI-PLC genes. AtPLC4, an abiotic stress induced gene, has been reported to encode an active PI-PLC isoform. However, the exact roles of putative AtPLC4 in plant remain to be elicited. The first 108 amino acid residues of the N-terminal of AtPLC4, referred to as AtPLC4 N, was expressed as a recombinant protein in Escherichia coli and used as antigen in generating antibody. Purified recombinant proteins including AtPLC1 to AtPLC5, AtPLC8, AtPLC9 and AtPLC4 N were transferred onto the same blot to test specificity of the prepared antibody. Western blot result shows that only AtPLC4 and AtPLC4 N can be recognized by the antibody. The antibody recognized a protein of approximately 68kDa in the plasma membrane fraction and cytosolic fractions prepared from Arabidopsis thaliana plants. This corresponds very well with the calculated molecular weight of AtPLC4. The results suggest that AtPLC4 may encode a plasma membrane-associated protein.