The Narrow Synthetic Window for Highly Homogenous InP Quantum Dots toward Narrow Red Emission.

Low-toxicity InP-based quantum dots (QDs) exhibit potential for replacing Cd/Pb-containing QDs in the visible and near-infrared regions. Despite advancements, further improvement relies on synthesizing homogeneous InP QDs to achieve a high color purity. In a commonly employed two-step "seed-mediated" synthetic approach, we demonstrate the high sensitivity of InP seed sizes and size distribution to the quantities of trioctylphosphine (TOP) and tris(trimethylsilyl)phosphine [(TMS)3P], attributed to the process of "self-focusing of size distribution" and enhanced reactivity of In-oleate through coordination with TOP. During growth, the processes of size focusing and defocusing are modulated by the accumulation of oleic acid and TOP molecules, as well as the amount of (TMS)3P in the growth precursor, which may relate to the dissolution process of InP magic size clusters. Through precise control, the best valley/depth ratio of InP QDs was 0.52 at the first absorption peak at 571 nm, resulting in luminescence with a full width at half-maximum of 35 at 620 nm with an absolute photoluminescence quantum yield around 90% after heteroepitaxial growth with ZnSe and ZnS shells.

DNA barcoding and mini-barcoding in authenticating processed animal-derived food: A case study involving the Chinese market.

This study used DNA barcoding and DNA mini-barcoding to test a variety of animal-derived food products sold in the Chinese market for potential mislabeling. Samples (52) including meat, poultry, and fish purchased from retail and online sources were examined. Regions of cytochrome C oxidase I (COI) gene (~650 bp) and 16S rRNA (~220 bp) were used as full- and mini-barcode markers, respectively. Approximately 94% (49 of 52) of the samples generated barcode sequences. The failure rate for full COI full-barcodes was 44%, but we obtained the 16S rRNA mini-barcode from 87% of the COI-failed cases. Overall, the survey revealed that 23% (12 of 52) of animal-derived products were mislabeled and, in most cases, contain undeclared species. Thus, regulatory measures and continuous monitoring for mislabeling of animal-derived products should be conducted.

Studying the effect of bioswales on nutrient pollution in urban combined sewer systems.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of bioswales on nutrient pollution in an urban combined sewershed. This evaluation was based on two criteria: the ability of bioswales to (1) remove nutrient pollution from stormwater runoff directly and (2) decrease sewer overflow volumes, which indirectly reduces total sewershed nutrient pollution during a storm event. Bioswales' direct nutrient removal was determined by analyzing nitrogen and phosphorus levels in water samples at seven bioswales located in the Bronx, New York City (NYC) over 42 storm events, while a bioswale's indirect nutrient removal through combined sewer overflow reduction was estimated by quantifying water retention at one of the bioswales. The study results indicated that: 1) the bioswale retained about 40% of stormwater conveyed to it from a drainage area 231 times its size, 2) bioswales leach nutrients into the subsurface, and 3) nitrogen leaching from bioswales varied seasonally, while phosphorus leaching decreased steadily over the study period. Although the studied bioswales leached a median 1.3 kg nitrogen per year into the subsurface, they provided an aggregate decrease in watershed nutrient pollution, from 7.7 to 6 kg nitrogen per year, due to their reduction of combined sewer overflow via stormwater retention.

Patterns of major depression and nonmedical use of prescription opioids in the United States.

INTRODUCTION: Recent epidemiologic studies have shown that nonmedical use of prescription opioids (NMUPO) and major depression frequently co-occur. Comorbid forms of drug use and mental illness such as NMUPO and depression pose a greater disease burden than either condition alone. However, sociodemographic and substance use differences between individuals with either NMUPO or depression and those with comorbid conditions have not yet been fully investigated. METHODS: Data came from the 2011 and 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Adolescents and adults were examined independently because of differences in screening for major depressive episodes (MDE). Weighted multinomial logistic regression investigated differences between persons with either past-year NMUPO (4.0%) or MDE (5.5%) and those with comorbid NMUPO and MDE (0.6%), compared to persons with neither condition. RESULTS: Females were more likely than males to report either MDE-alone and comorbid NMUPO and MDE, whereas adult men were marginally more likely to report NMUPO-alone (not significant among adolescents). Polydrug use and alcohol use disorders were more pronounced among those with comorbid NMUPO and MDE than persons with either NMUPO-alone or MDE-alone. Persons with independent and comorbid NMUPO and MDE were more likely to report lower income and unemployment versus employment. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that independent and comorbid NMUPO and MDE were disproportionately clustered with burdens of lower socioeconomic position, suggesting that a population-based approach to address NMUPO would target these social determinants of health, whereas a high-risk approach to prevention should be tailored to females experiencing MDE symptoms and polydrug users.

Association of TLR2 gene polymorphisms with ocular Behcet's disease in a Chinese Han population.

PURPOSE: TLR2, TLR4, TLR8, and TLR9 have been reported to be associated with several autoimmune diseases. The current study aimed to explore whether singe nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of these four genes were associated with ocular Behçet's disease (BD), Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome, acute anterior uveitis (AAU) with or without ankylosing spondylitis (AS), or pediatric uveitis in Han Chinese. METHODS: Genotyping was performed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The first stage study comprised 400 ocular BD patients, 400 VKH syndrome patients, 400 AAU ± AS patients, 400 pediatric uveitis patients and 600 healthy subjects. The second stage included 438 ocular BD patients and 1000 healthy subjects. Allele and genotype frequencies were compared between patients and controls using the χ(2) test. Real-time PCR was used to detect mRNA expression from PBMCs obtained from healthy controls. Levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-1beta in culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: In the first stage study, only the frequencies of the rs2289318/TLR2 genotype A and C allele and rs3804099/TLR2 genotype CT were significantly higher in ocular BD patients (Pc = 0.048; Pc = 0.008; Pc = 0.005, respectively) compared with controls. The second stage and combined studies confirmed the association (Pc = 0.001; Pc = 6.89E-06, Pc = 2.426E-06, respectively). TLR2 mRNA expression in PBMCs was increased in healthy carriers of the CC genotype of rs2289318/TLR2 and TT genotype of rs3804099/TLR2 following stimulation with peptidoglycan (PGN; P = 0.028; P = 0.004, respectively). No effect of the various TLR2 rs2289318 and rs3804099 genotypes on the release of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-1beta could be detected. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that the TLR2 gene is involved in the susceptibility to ocular BD.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate elicits proinflammatory responses in ARPE-19 cells.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) on the production of inflammatory mediators and the signaling pathways involved in S1P-mediated production of cytokines by ARPE-19 cells. METHODS: Expression of S1P receptors was examined using RT-PCR and real-time PCR. ARPE-19 cells were stimulated with S1P or TNF-α, and by coculturing with S1P in the presence or absence of pertussis toxin (PTX) or a series of kinase inhibitors. The induction of inflammatory cytokine production was determined by ELISA. Western blot analysis was used to detect the activation of signaling mediators and S1P(3) receptor. RESULTS: ARPE-19 cells express all the known receptors for S1P. Moreover, exogenously applied S1P induces ARPE-19 cell secretion of interleukin-8 (IL-8) in a dose- and time-dependent manner, but not IL-6 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1). S1P-mediated IL-8 secretion is regulated by PTX, extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Interestingly, treatment of ARPE-19 cells with TNF-α increases S1P(3) expression and correlates with the enhancement of S1P-induced IL-8 and IL-6 production. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that S1P significantly promoted ARPE-19 cells to secrete inflammatory mediators. extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2), p38 MAPK, and G(i)-dependent pathways are important signaling components in S1P-mediated IL-8 secretion by ARPE-19 cells. Moreover, these results provide evidence that S1P stimulation of RPE cells may play a role in regulating leukocyte function during ocular inflammation.

Effect of berberine on proinflammatory cytokine production by ARPE-19 cells following stimulation with tumor necrosis factor-α.

PURPOSE: Berberine (BBR) is a well-known drug used in traditional medicine and has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory properties. Whether it can affect the production of inflammatory cytokines by RPE cells is not yet clear and was therefore the subject of our study. METHODS: ARPE-19 cells were cultured with TNF-α in the presence or absence of BBR to different time points. Concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in the supernatant were measured by using an ELISA. The mRNA expression of these cytokines was measured by real-time PCR. Phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) was measured by Western blot assay. The signal transduction mechanisms involved in cytokine production were evaluated using various inhibitors for p38, ERK1/2, and JNK. RESULTS: TNF-α significantly increased the expression of IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 in ARPE-19 cells at both the protein and mRNA levels. It promoted the phosphorylation of p38, ERK1/2, and JNK. Inhibitory experiments showed that IL-6 was modulated by p38, whereas IL-8 and MCP-1 were modulated by p38, ERK1/2, and JNK signal pathways. BBR inhibited the expression of IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 remarkably at both protein and mRNA levels and down-regulated the phosphorylation of p38, ERK1/2, and JNK upon stimulation with TNF-α. CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggested that BBR significantly inhibits the expression of inflammatory cytokines in ARPE-19 cells and that the inhibitory effect is mediated by down-regulation of the p38, ERK1/2, and JNK pathways.

Elevated serum osteopontin levels and genetic polymorphisms of osteopontin are associated with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease.

PURPOSE: Osteopontin (OPN) is a proinflammatory cytokine involved in chronic inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to analyze the role of OPN in the pathogenesis of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease. METHODS: Serum levels of OPN in VKH patients and healthy controls were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) or CD4+ T cells were cultured with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies in the absence or presence of recombinant OPN for the determination of cell proliferation and cytokines. Cell proliferation was detected using a cell counting kit. Levels of interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-17 were detected by ELISA. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of OPN and four SNPs of OPN receptors were genotyped in 601 VKH patients and 605 healthy controls using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. RESULTS: OPN serum levels were significantly higher in patients with active VKH than in patients with inactive VKH and in healthy controls. PBMCs or CD4+ T cells cultured with recombinant OPN induced a marked cell proliferation and profound secretion of IFN-γ and IL-17 from patients with active VKH. A significantly increased frequency of the OPN rs4754 TT genotype (P = 0.004, pc = 0.048) was observed in VKH patients compared with healthy controls. No association could be detected among the four selected SNPs of OPN receptors and VKH. CONCLUSIONS: OPN may be relevant to the pathogenesis of VKH disease. The TT genotype of rs4754 may be a susceptible factor for VKH disease in a Chinese Han population.