[Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline and Copper Complex by Bi2MoO6/Bi2S3 Heterojunction].

Bi2MoO6/Bi2S3 heterojunctions were synthesized by the solvothermal method. The morphology, chemical composition, and photoelectric properties of the heterojunction materials were characterized by XRD, TEM, UV-Vis, XPS, and I-T. Tetracycline (TC) and tetracycline-copper (TC-Cu) composites were degraded by the as-prepared heterojunctions under visible light. The effects of pH, initial concentration of TC, and molar ratio of TC to Cu2+ on the degradation deficiency of TC were investigated. Additionally, the main active radicals, intermediates, and mechanisms were ascertained by in situ capture experiments and the identification of intermediates. The toxicities of TC and TC-Cu before and after degradation were evaluated by chlorella growth inhibition experiments. The results showed that the prepared Bi2MoO6/Bi2S3 heterojunction was a uniform nanosheet and its band gap was 1.76 eV. Bi2MoO6 and Bi2S3 with a mass ratio of 3:1 (MS-0.3) exhibited a composite ratio of TC and Cu2+ was 2:1 and had the best photocatalytic performance. When the concentration of TC was 10 mg·L-1 with neutral solutions, after reacting for 60 min, the degradation rate of TC and mineralization rate of the solution for TC-Cu were 85.63% and 52.94%, respectively. The results of active group capture experiments showed that the main active group of the heterojunction was the·O2- radical in visible light. In addition, the results of growth inhibition experiments showed that the presence of Cu2+ reduces the toxicity of TC photocatalytic degradation products in the TC-Cu complex, and the antibiotics can be effectively removed in the TC-Cu complex by photocatalytic oxidation.

Onboard absolute radiometric calibration and validation of the satellite calibration spectrometer on HY-1C.

As the reference radiometric calibration standard of sensors on the Haiyang-1C (HY-1C) satellite platform, the satellite calibration spectrometer (SCS) is equipped with an onboard calibration system composed of double solar diffusers and an erbium-doped diffuser to monitor the postlaunch radiometric response change. Herein, through onboard calibration data analysis, the calibration diffuser performance remains stable without degradation, and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on Terra is adopted as a reference to repeatedly verify onboard radiometric calibration results by selecting different dates and reflectance scenes. The SCS equivalent reflectance is obtained by combining the mean digital number (DN) of the SCS crossing area image with the radiometric calibration coefficient. The spectral reflectance is obtained via interpolation and iteration, which is adopted as the actual MODIS incident pupil spectral reflectance because the small imaging time interval can be ignored and almost vertically observed, and it is convoluted with the MODIS spectral response function to obtain the predicted equivalent reflectance. Validation is completed by comparing the predicted MODIS equivalent reflectance to the measured value based on the onboard calibration coefficient. The results show that (1) the difference between the measured and predicted MODIS band equivalent reflectance is between -0.00466 and 0.0039, and (2) the percentage difference between the measured and predicted MODIS band equivalent reflectance ranges from 4.17% and 1.24%, indicating that the calibration system carried on HY-1C can perform high-precision SCS radiometric calibration, meeting the cross-calibration accuracy requirements of other loads on the same platform.

The Research of On-Orbit Calibration Method Based on Solar Diffuser.

As one of the most important ways of improving the calibration accuracy at present, the calibration method based on a solar diffuser(SD) is an independent calibration way with advantages of high accuracy, high frequency and high efficiency . The principles, methods and implementation process of on-orbit calibration based on the SD is described in this thesis. The radiance reference for calibration in space is found and the physical model of the on-orbit reflectance calibration is provided. The main factor which affects the calibration uncertainty is the determination of the SD bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) value by analyzing the physical models of on-orbit calibration. Thus, the timing selection of the on-orbit calibration is introduced and the BRDF in the range of angles variety within the calibration timing is tested in the lab. During the on-orbit calibration time, the high accuracy on-orbit calibration in the remote sensors' whole life is achieved by the accurate radiance input which is ensured by monitoring and correcting the SD BRDF value from its fabrication to its life end. Finally, the on-orbit calibration uncertainty is estimated based on the measurement levels of the parameters in the physical model. And the uncertainties of on-orbit reflectance calibration and method of radiance calibration are better than 2.03% and 2.04% by type B standard uncertainty evaluation method.

[Optimization the formulation of Eisemia foetida protein burn spray by response surface methodology].

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the formulation of Eisemia foetida protein (EFP) burn spray. METHODS: A five-factor, three-level response surface method was employed; The response variable was the proliferation effect of EFP on NIH3T3 cells. RESULTS: The optimization formulation was as follows: the proportion of EFP, glycerol and mannitol was 0.91%, 1.42% and 5%, respectively; 0.02 mol/L Na2 HPO4 and 0.01 mol/L citric acid buffer system corresponding pH value was 7.0. CONCLUSION: The response surface method is reliable, efficient and suitable for optimizing the formulation of EFP burn spray.

[Immunonanogold catalytic spectrophotometric determination of trace complement 3].

Gold nanoparticles about 10 nm in size were prepared by improved trisodium citrate reduction procedure, and were used to label goat anti-human C3 to obtain a sensitive spectral probe for complement 3 (C3) in the condition of pH 7.5. The immune reaction between nanogold-labeled C3 antibody (anti-C3) and the antigen C3 took place to form the nanogold immune complex in pH 5.6 Na2 HPO4-C6H8O7 buffer solution and in the presence of polyethylene (PEG). The optimal immunoreaction conditions were pH 5.6-9.7 microg x mL(-1) nanogold-labeled anti-C3, 6.0% PEG 6000 and incubation time 15 min under ultrasonic irradiation. After centrifuging for 10 min at 12 000 r x min(-1), the excess nanogold-labeled anti-C3 in the upper solutions was obtained, and was used to catalyze the colored particle reaction between HAuCl4 and NH2 OH x HCl to produce gold particles with bigger size. The influence on the immunonanogold catalytic reaction was considered spectrophotometrically. A pH 2.97 Na3C6H5O7-HCl buffer solution, 53.33 microg x mL(-1) HAuCl4, 74.13 microg x mL(-1) NH2OH x HCl, and reaction time of 3 min at 37 degrees C water bath were chosen for use. Results demonstrated that with increasing C3, the concentration of gold labeled anti-C3 in the upper solution decreased, and the absorbance decreased linearly. Linear relationships between the decreased absorbance and the C3 concentration in the range of 0.025-0.60 ng x mL(-1) were obtained by spectrophotometry at 760 nm. The regress equation was deltaA760 nm = 0.276c+0.025 4, the correlation coefficient was 0.990 3, and the detection limit reached 0.007 2 ng x mL(-1) of C3. The influence of foreign substances such as HAS, BSA, and ammonia acid on the determination of 0.2 ng x mL(-1) of C3was examined. Results showed that this assay has high selectivity. The sensitive, rapid and highly specific assay was applied to the quantification of C3 in human sera, with satisfactory results.

[Researching the character and stenosis of coronary calcified plaques by using 16-slice spiral CT].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the characters of coronary calcified plaques by using 16-slice spiral CT and determine their stenosis degree according to the results of catheter coronary angiography. METHODS: Twenty patients who had received 16-slice spiral CT coronary angiography and conventional coronary angiography (CAG) were found to be with calcified plaques. The characters of these plaques, including the diameter of calcified plaques and lumen diameter of the exact artery segment, were retrospectively analyzed. The stenosis degree of the corresponding segment was judged in accordance with the results of CAG. RESULTS: Totally 84 calcified plaques were observed in 16-slice spiral CT images in these 20 patients. Among them there were 16 small nodules (diameter: < 0.15 cm), 56 purely calcified plaques (diameter: > or = 0. 15 cm), and 12 complex plaques with calcify component. There was no obvious stenosis in artery segments with little calcified nodules. The stenosis degree of most segments with purely calcified plaques (75%) was less than 50%. The stenosis degree had no significant correlation with the size of plaques (P > 0.05). However, the stenosis degree of complex plaques had much closer relationship with the characters of mixed plaques. CONCLUSIONS: Most coronary segments with calcified plaques have slight stenosis. Their stenosis degree is not related with the size of plaques. The stenosis degree of complex plaques has a closer relationship with the characters of mixed plaques.

Evaluation of computed tomography coronary angiography in patients with a high heart rate using 16-slice spiral computed tomography with 0.37-s gantry rotation time.

The aim of our study is to evaluate computed tomography (CT) coronary angiography in patients with a high heart rate using 16-slice spiral CT with 0.37-s gantry rotation time. We compare the image quality of patients whose heart rates were over 70 beats per minute (bpm) with that of patients whose heart rates were 70 bpm or less. Sixty patients with various heart rates underwent retrospectively ECG-gated multislice spiral CT (MSCT) coronary angiography. Two experienced observers who were blind to the heart rates of the patients evaluated all the MSCT coronary angiographic images and calculated the assessable segments. A total of 620 out of 891 (69.6%) segments were satisfactorily visualized. On average, 10.3 coronary artery segments per patient could be evaluated. In 36 patients whose heart rates were below 70 bpm [mean 62.2 bpm+/-5.32 (standard deviation, SD)], the number of assessable segments was 10.72+/-2.02 (SD). In the other 24 patients whose heart rates were above 70 bpm [mean 78.6 bpm+/-8.24 (SD)], the corresponding number was 9.75+/-1.74 (SD). No statistically significant difference was found in these two subgroups' t test, P>0.05. The new generation of 16-slice spiral CT with 0.37-s rotation time can satisfactorily evaluate the coronary arteries of patients with high heart rates (above 70 bpm, up to 102 bpm).

Deletion, methylation, and expression of the NKX3.1 suppressor gene in primary human prostate cancer.

NKX3.1 is a prostate-specific homeoprotein and tumor suppressor that is affected by the loss of 8p21 in prostate cancer. In mice, Nkx3.1 haploinsufficiency results in prostatic dysplasia and complements cancer formation induced by loss of other suppressor genes. However, NKX3.1 expression can be immunohistochemically detected in most primary prostate cancers. We examined the relationship between suppressor gene haploinsufficiency, methylation, and quantitative NKX3.1 expression levels in primary prostate cancer. NKX3.1 gene copy number was assessed by microsatellite analysis, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and quantitative PCR. NKX3.1 gene methylation was determined in prostate cancer cell lines and we thereby identified potential CpG methylation sites for methylation-specific PCR analysis in tissues. We validated and then applied an internally controlled fluorescence immunomicroscopic assay for NKX3.1 protein expression in 48 primary prostate cancer specimens from radical prostatectomies. NKX3.1 loss of heterozygosity was found in 27 of 43 tissues tested. Classic CpG island methylation of the NKX3.1 gene was not found in either prostate cancer cell lines or tissues. However, in 33 of 40 samples tested, CpG sites at -921, -903, and -47 were methylated to a greater degree in malignant than in adjacent normal cells. In 43 of 48 samples, NKX3.1 protein expression was reduced from 0.34 to 0.90 compared with adjacent normal luminal epithelium (mean of all samples, 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.05). In 12 cases that also had high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, NKX3.1 expression levels were similar in preinvasive and invasive cancer cells and significantly lower than adjacent normal cells. Even in the presence of allelic loss, NKX3.1 expression is reduced over a wide range in prostate cancer at the time of prostatectomy, suggesting that diverse factors influence expression. Samples with protein expression below the median level in cancer cells had both NKX3.1 deletion and selective CpG methylation.

Adoptive immunotherapy of cancer with polyclonal, 108-fold hyperexpanded, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.

T cell-mediated cancer immunotherapy is dose dependent and optimally requires participation of antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Here, we isolated tumor-sensitized T cells and activated them in vitro using conditions that led to greater than 108-fold numerical hyperexpansion of either the CD4+ or CD8+ subset while retaining their capacity for in vivo therapeutic efficacy. Murine tumor-draining lymph node (TDLN) cells were segregated to purify the CD62Llow subset, or the CD4+ subset thereof. Cells were then propagated through multiple cycles of anti-CD3 activation with IL-2 + IL-7 for the CD8+ subset, or IL-7 + IL-23 for the CD4+ subset. A broad repertoire of TCR Vbeta families was maintained throughout hyperexpansion, which was similar to the starting population. Adoptive transfer of hyper-expanded CD8+ T cells eliminated established pulmonary metastases, in an immunologically specific fashion without the requirement for adjunct IL-2. Hyper-expanded CD4+ T cells cured established tumors in intracranial or subcutaneous sites that were not susceptible to CD8+ T cells alone. Because accessibility and antigen presentation within metastases varies according to anatomic site, maintenance of a broad repertoire of both CD4+ and CD8+ T effector cells will augment the overall systemic efficacy of adoptive immunotherapy.

Increased expression of caspase-1 and interleukin-18 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is supposedly a T-cell mediated autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system. Cytokines and other molecules involved in the regulation of apoptosis are thought to be of importance for the pathogenesis of MS. In this study, the mRNA levels of interleukin 18 (IL-18), IL-1beta and their processing enzyme caspase-1 were quantified by a competitive RT-PCR method in unstimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in MS patients never treated with disease modifying drugs. Western blot was used to support the expression pattern at the protein level. We found that the expression of caspase-1 and IL-18 was significantly increased in MS patients compared with healthy controls. Analysis of clinical subgroups revealed that caspase-1 was increased in all subgroups, whereas IL-18 was upregulated in chronic progression (P=0.001) and relapsing MS patients in remission (P=0.002) but not significantly during relapses (P=0.12). mRNA levels of IL-1beta were not significantly altered in MS except for a possible decrease in chronic progression (P=0.03). An increased IL-18 expression, potentially augmented at the mature protein level, may indicate a pathway worth considering in future therapeutic strategies in MS.