Broadband Organic Ternary Bulk Heterojunctions Photodetector Based on Non-Fullerene Acceptor with Enhanced Flat-Spectrum Response Range from 200 to 1100 nm.

Both flat-spectrum responsivity and high external quantum efficiency (EQE) of bulk heterojunction organic photodetectors (BHJ OPDs) are greatly in demand and still challenging to realize from the ultraviolet (UV) to near-infrared (NIR) regions. In this article, conjugated polymer donor poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and PTB7-Th are blended with a low band gap nonfullerene acceptor (NFA) IEICO-4F to form a ternary BHJ active layer, thereby forming a BHJ OPD with a broadband responsivity spectrum from UV to visible light to NIR region (200-1100 nm). Under 6 V voltage and in the range from 280 to 810 nm, the ternary BHJ OPD shows a relatively flat responsivity spectrum, and the highest responsivity is 1.348 A/W, which is 1.34 times that of the binary BHJ OPD. Specifically, the ternary BHJ OPD achieved the highest EQE at 285 nm and as high as 449.31%. In addition, the ternary OPD detectivity (D*) is 2.65 times that of the binary BHJ OPD. Therefore, ternary BHJ as an active layer provides an effective method to develop BHJ OPDs with an expanded response range, higher responsivity, improved EQE, and broadband spectrum with flat spectral response from the UV to NIR region.

Significant Enhancement of MgZnO Metal-Semiconductor-Metal Photodetectors via Coupling with Pt Nanoparticle Surface Plasmons.

We proposed and demonstrated MgZnO metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) ultraviolet photodetectors (UV) assisted with surface plasmons (SPs) prepared by the radio frequency magnetron sputtering deposition method. After the decoration of their surface with Pt nanoparticles (NPs), the responsivity of all the electrode spacing (3, 5, and 8 µm) photodetectors were enhanced dramatically; to our surprise, comparing with them the responsivity of larger spacing sample, more SPs were gathered which are smaller than others in turn. A physical mechanism focused on SPs and depletion width is given to explain the above results.

Exonuclease I manipulating primer-modified gold nanoparticles for colorimetric telomerase activity assay.

Telomerase is a widely accepted cancer biomarker. The conventional method for telomerase activity assay, the telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP), is time-consuming and susceptible to contaminants. Therefore, development of simple and sensitive strategies for telomerase detection is still a challenging subject. Here we develop a highly sensitive method for telomerase detection based on primer-modified gold nanoparticles (GNPs) manipulated by exonuclease I (Exo I). In the absence of telomerase, Exo I digests the substrate nucleic acid on the surface of GNPs, inducing the GNPs' aggregation. In the presence of telomerase, the telomerase elongation products which fold into G-quadruplex are resistant to the digestion of Exo I, and protect the GNPs from aggregation. By using this method, we can detect telomerase activity in 100 HL-60 cancer cells mL(-1) by naked eyes, and the detection limit is 29 HL-60 cells mL(-1). This method is very simple and reliable, without any separation and amplification procedure. We also demonstrate the feasibility of this protocol for screening of telomerase inhibitors as anticancer agents. This method is promising to be applied in early clinical diagnosis and drug discovery.

[Effect of maximum blood pressure when discharged from the hospital on the prognosis among patients with acute ischemic stroke].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between maximum blood pressure and the prognosis after discharged from the hospital, among patients with ischemic stroke. METHODS: A cohort study was conducted which including 471 cases of ischemic stroke patients that were collected from February 2014 to December 2014 at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University. Values of everyday blood pressure were measured on each patient at the first six days after admitted to the hospital. Maximum blood pressure value of the 6 days was taken as an indicator of the blood pressure levels. The ability on daily living was measured by the modified Rankin score (mRs). Data were analyzed by Chi-square test, t test and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Confounding factors would include age, gender, culture, physical activity, income, smoking, alcohol, hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke history, hospitalization mRs, lipid parameters, homocysteine and blood sugar and were adjusted. Results from multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the maximum SBP was associated with adverse outcomes. Compared with 140-159 mmHg for SBP, OR (95% CI) was 2.51 (1.30-4.85) for 160-179 mmHg, OR (95% CI) was 2.68 (1.27-5.65) for those pressure levels higher than 180 mmHg, after multiple factors were adjusted. Compared with 90-99 mmHg for DBP, OR (95% CI) was 1.92 (1.00-3.67) for 100-109 mmHg, OR (95% CI) was 2.78 (1.35-5.69) for the ones higher than 110 mmHg. CONCLUSION: Maximum blood pressure during hospitalization might be associated with adverse outcome of ischemic stroke patients.

Unconventional charge distribution in the planar wheel-type M©B6H6(-/0/+) (M = Mn, Fe and Co): central M with negative charges and peripheral boron ring with positive charges.

Planar wheel-type D6h M©B6H6(-/0/+) (M = Mn, Fe and Co for anion, neutral and cation, respectively.) clusters with a planar hexacoordinate transition-metal at the center of the boron ring were designed and investigated by density functional theory. These planar clusters are chemically stable as a result of their large binding energy, vertical ionization potential, and vertical electron affinity. The detailed natural population and molecular orbital analyses suggest that not only does the M atom donate electrons to the boron ring for participation in the π-delocalized bonding, but also the boron ring donates electrons back to the M atom for the formation of the σ-delocalized bonding, which leads to a strong aromaticity and unconventional charge distribution, i.e., the M atom is negatively charged, while the boron ring is positively charged. This study may open a new area in coordination chemistry for planar hexacoordinate transition metals and we expect further experimental exploration of their synthesis and potential applications.

Performance enhancement of ZnO UV photodetectors by surface plasmons.

Surface plasmons, a unique property of metal nanoparticles, have been widely applied to enhance the performance of optical and electrical devices. In this study, a high quality zinc oxide (ZnO) thin film was grown on a quartz substrate by a radio frequency magnetron sputtering technique, and a metal-semiconductor-metal structured ultraviolet detector was prepared on the ZnO film. The responsivity of the photodetector was enhanced from 0.836 to 1.306 A/W by sputtering metal (Pt) nanoparticles on the surface of the device. In addition, the absorption of the ZnO thin film was enhanced partly in the ultraviolet band. It is revealed that Pt nanoparticles play a key role in enhancing the performance of the photodetectors, where surface plasma resonance occurs.

Mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width in vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Activated platelets play a substantial role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and atherothrombosis. Mean platelet volume (MPV) is an early marker of platelet activation, which is linked to a variety of pro-thrombotic and pro-inflammatory diseases. This study is to examine the association between platelet indices and vascular dementia (VaD) and AD. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the levels of platelet count, MPV, and platelet distribution width (PDW) in 150 VaD patients, 110 AD patients, and 150 non-demented controls. MPV and PDW were significantly lower in patients with VaD and AD as compared with controls. The decrease in PDW for AD patients as compared with VaD patients was also significant (p < 0.001). In addition, there was a positive correlation between Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and MPV and PDW, after adjusting confounding factors (r = 0.532 for MPV and r = 0.425 for PDW, p < 0.001 for both). Multivariate regression analysis showed that MPV and PDW were significantly associated with MMSE (ß = 0.366 for MPV and ß = 0.273 for PDW, p < 0.001 for both). In conclusion, MPV and PDW were both decreased in VaD and AD. PDW levels were significantly lower in AD as compared to those in VaD. Our findings suggest that PDW in combination with MMSE scores could be potential indicators for distinguishing VaD from AD.

[A case-control study on the duration of sleeping and cerebral infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between duration of sleeping and cerebral infarction. METHODS: A case-control study involved 1037 cerebral infarction patients admitted by the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University,December 2011-December 2012 as cases. Another 1205 adults free from cerebro-vascular diseases who had undergone physical examination in the hospital at the same period, were served as controls. All the subjects were interviewed with unified questionnaire. Chi-square test, u-test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed. RESULTS: After adjustment for potential confounding factors including age, sex, body mass index, wrist-hip ratio, smoking, alcohol intake, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease and lipid parameters, data from the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of cerebral infarction was greater in people who slept less than 6 hours per night than those who slept between 6 hours and 8 hours per night, with an odds ratio (95% CI)as 2.81 (95% CI:1.68-4.70). There was no significant association between factor as 'sleeping longer than 8 hours/pre day' and cerebral infarction. Through the subgroup analysis, data showed that the association between 'shorter than 6 hour sleep/night' and cerebral infarction consistently existed, across the categories of sex, and the degree of association was greater in women than in men, with the odds ratio as 5.58 (95% CI: 1.78-17.52) and 2.00 (95% CI:1.10-3.64) respectively. CONCLUSION: Short sleeping duration might increase the risk of developing cerebral infarction.

Transplantation of Schwann cells co-cultured with brain-derived neurotrophic factor for the treatment of experimental autoimmune neuritis.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of transplantation of Schwann cells (SCs) co-cultured with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) for the treatment of experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN). Primary SCs were co-cultured with various BDNF concentrations, and the optimum concentration was determined by cell proliferation, and NGF and FGF levels. A rat model of EAN was established by immunization with 400µg of P2 peptide dissolved in Freund's complete adjuvant. SCs were labeled with CFSE and injected into the cisterna magna 14days after immunization. We found proliferation of SCs, and NGF and FGF levels were highest at a BDNF concentration of 50ng/mL. Compared with EAN group, SCs+BDNF group showed the lower paralysis scores from day 34 to day 45, and in sciatic nerves showed a significant decrease in inflammatory cell infiltration (involved CD4-, CD8- and CD68-positive cells) at days 25 and 35, an alleviated demyelination at days 35 and 45, and an increase in S-100-positive cells and a decrease in NGF-positive cells at each time point (P<0.05). Compared with the EAN group, the SCs+BDNF group showed, in sciatic nerves, the mRNA level of NGF was significantly decreased but that of S-100 was increased at day 25, the mRNA level of CCL3 was also remarkably reduced at day 35, and the mRNA level of CD11a, CCL3 and NGF was reduced but that of S-100 was elevated at day 45 (P<0.05). There were no differences in results between the SCs group and EAN group. In the end, we draw the conclusions that the exogenous SCs injected through cisterna magna can migrate to the injured peripheral nerves, BDNF promotes the proliferation and secretory function of SCs in vitro, and BDNF-treated SCs in vivo can reduce paralysis, inflammation, and demyelination and improve the self-repair capability of body in EAN.

Decreased mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width are associated with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease.

Neuroinflammation is a critical driving force underlying mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathologies. Activated platelets play an important role in neuroinflammation and have been implicated in AD pathogenic mechanisms. Mean platelet volume (MPV), a marker of platelet activation, is involved in the pathophysiology of a variety of pro-inflammatory diseases. However, little research has been conducted to investigate the relationship between platelet indices and MCI and AD pathogenesis. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the levels of platelet count, MPV and platelet distribution width (PDW) in 120 AD patients, 120 MCI patients, and 120 non-demented controls. Our study showed that MPV and PDW were significantly lower in patients with AD as compared with either MCI or controls. Moreover, MCI patients had lower MPV and PDW values compared with the controls (P < 0.001). In addition, there is a positive correlation between mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and MPV and PDW, after adjusting age, gender, and body mass index (r = 0.576, P < 0.001 for MPV; r = 0.465, P < 0.001 for PDW, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that MPV and PDW were significantly associated with MMSE (ß = 0.462; P < 0.001 for MPV; ß = 0.245; P < 0.001 for PDW; respectively). In conclusion, MPV and PDW were decreased in MCI and AD patients. Further prospective research is warranted to determine the potential clinical application of MPV and PDW as biomarkers in the early diagnosis of AD.

Di/mono-nuclear iron(I)/(II) complexes as functional models for the 2Fe2S subunit and distal Fe moiety of the active site of [FeFe] hydrogenases: protonations, molecular structures and electrochemical properties.

Di/mono-nuclear iron(I)/(II) complexes containing conjugated and electron-withdrawing S-to-S linkers, [{(µ-S)(2)(C(4)N(2)H(2))}Fe(2)(CO)(6)] (1), [{(µ-S)(2)(C(4)N(2)H(2))}Fe(2)(CO)(5)(PMe(3))] (1P), and [{(µ-S)(2)(C(4)N(2)H(2))}Fe(CO)(2)(PMe(3))(2)] (2) were prepared as biomimetic models for the 2Fe2S subunit and distal Fe moiety of the active site of [FeFe] hydrogenases. The N atoms in the heterocyclic pyrazines of 1 and 2 were protonated in the presence of proton acid to generate one and two hydrides, [1(NH)](+) CF(3)SO(3)(-), [2(NH)](+) CF(3)SO(3)(-), and [2(NH)(2)](2+) (CF(3)SO(3)(-))(2), respectively. The protonation processes were evidenced by in situ IR and NMR spectroscopy. The molecular structures of the protonated species [1(NH)](+) CF(3)SO(3)(-) and [2(NH)(2)](2+) (CF(3)SO(3)(-))(2) together with their originating complexes and , and the mono-PMe(3) substituted diiron complex were identified by X-ray crystallography. The IR and single-crystal analysis data all suggested that the electron-withdrawing bridge, pyrazine, led to decreased electron density at the Fe centers of the model complexes, which was consistent with the electrochemical studies. The cyclic voltammograms indicated that complex exhibited a low primary reduction potential at -1.17 V vs. Fc-Fc(+) with a 270 mV positive shift compared with that of the benzene-1,2-dithiolate (bdt) bridged analogue [(µ-bdt)Fe(2)(CO)(6)]. Under the weak acid conditions, complexes 1 and 2 could electrochemically catalyze the proton reduction. More interestingly, the mononuclear ferrous complex 2 showed two catalytic peaks during the formation of hydrogen, confirming its potential as a catalyst for hydrogen production.

Bis{µ-[4-(1,3-benzothia-zol-2-yl)phen-yl]methane-thiol-ato-κS,S':S,S'}bis-[tricarbonyl-iron(I)](Fe-Fe).

The title compound, [Fe(2)(C(14)H(10)NS(2))(2)(CO)(6)], was synthesized as a structural and biochemical model for the active site of [FeFe]-hydrogenase. The bond lengths (Fe-Fe, Fe-S and Fe-C) and angles (C-Fe-Fe and Fe-S-Fe) are within expected ranges. The S⋯S distance [2.9069 (12) Å] and the dihedral angle between two Fe-S-Fe planes [78.5 (3)°] of the butterfly-shaped Fe(2)S(2) core are enlarged compared with related bridged dithiol-ate diiron analogues. The calculated 4-benzothia-zolebenzyl best planes are almost parallel [dihedral angle = 3.7 (7)°].

Hypoxia promotes rabbit pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells proliferation through a 15-LOX-2 product 15(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid.

The initial event of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension is acute hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction followed by remodeling of pulmonary arteries. Although 15(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid [15(S)-HETE] is found to be able to induce hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, role of 15(S)-HETE in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) proliferation has been studied less. We sought evidence for a role of 15(S)-HETE in the development of hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension. We found that hypoxia enhances 15-lipoxygenase-2 (15-LOX-2) expression and stimulates cultured rabbit PASMCs proliferation. 15(S)-HETE at concentration 0.1 µM stimulated proliferation of PASMCs and induced ERK 1/ERK 2 phosphorylation but had no effect on p38 kinase expression as assessed by Western blotting. 15(S)-HETE-stimulated PASMC proliferation was blocked by the MEK inhibitors PD-98059. Hypoxia (3% O(2))-stimulated PASMC proliferation was blocked by U0126, a MEK inhibitor, as well as by NDGA and CDC, inhibitors of 15-LOX, but not by the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB-202190. We conclude that 15-LOX-2 and its product, 15(S)-HETE, are important intermediates in hypoxia-induced rabbit PASMC proliferation and may participate in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension.

[Culture and characterization of and lentiviral vectors mediated glial cell derived neurotrophic factor expression in mesenchymal stem cells from human umbilical cord blood].

OBJECTIVE: To isolate and culture mesenchymal stem cells from umbilical cord blood (UCB-MSCs), study its biological characterization in vitro, transfect UCB-MSCs using lentiviral vectors encoding glial cell derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) gene, evaluate the biological function change of UCB-MSCs, and detect GDNF expression level in vitro. METHODS: We isolated monocyte by Ficoll density gradient, separated two kinds of adherent cells through different trypsin digestion time, and detected the cells surface markers by fluorescence activated cell sorting when it was proliferated for P7 passages. At the same time, we sub-cloned GDNF gene into lentiviral vectors and packaged lentiviral supernatant through three plasmids co-transfection method, then transfected the UCB-MSCs using lentiviral vectors encoding GDNF at different multiplicity of infection, and evaluated the change of biological function by observing the ability of proliferation and differentiation, morphology, and the cells surface markers. We detected the GDNF mRNA and protein expression level by using real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) and enzyme-link immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The UCB-MSCs were successfully isolated and cultured in vitro, and induced it to differentiate into fat cells. FACS results showed that the UCB-MSCs expressed CD90, CD73, and CD105 positively, and CD14, CD34, CD45, CD19, HLA-DR, Stro-1, and CD106 negatively. Real-time PCR and ELISA showed that the expressions of GDNF protein and mRNA were correlated with the copy number of transfected cells: high copy number of transfected cells were associated with high GDNF expression. The biological characterization of UCB-MSCs did not obviously change after sub-cloning with GDNF. CONCLUSIONS: UCB-MSCs was successfully isolated and cultured in vitro. By transfecting UCB-MSCs with GDNF gene-containing lentiviral vectors, the secretion of GDNF protein and mRNA expression level can be controlled by the copy number of transfected cells, and thus make it constantly express GDNF at high level.

Cholecystokinin-8 antagonizes electroacupuncture analgesia through its B receptor in the caudate nucleus.

OBJECTIVES: The analgesic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation has been proved. However, its mechanism of action is not clear. It has been well-known that cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8) is a neuropeptide which is mainly related to the mediation of pain. The caudate nucleus was selected to determine if the release of CCK and the neural activity in this nucleus were involved in producing EA analgesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Radiant heat focused on the rat-tail was used as the noxious stimulus. The pain threshold of rats was measured by tail-flick latency (TFL). EA stimulation at the bilateral Zusanli (ST 36) acupoints of rats was used to investigate the effects of EA analgesia. The electrical activities of pain-excited neurons (PEN) and pain-inhibited neurons (PIN) in the caudate nucleus were recorded with a glass microelectrode. The present study examined the antagonistic effects of the intracerebral ventricular injection of CCK-8 on EA analgesia and reversing effects of CCK-B receptor antagonist (L-365,260) injection into the caudate nucleus on CCK-8. RESULTS: The radiant heat focused on the tail of rats caused an increase in the evoked discharge of PEN and a reduction in the evoked discharge of PIN. EA stimulation at the bilateral ST 36 acupoints of rats resulted in the inhibition of PEN, the potentiation of PIN, and prolongation of TFL. The analgesic effect of EA was antagonized when CCK-8 was injected into the intracerebral ventricle of rats. The antagonistic effect of CCK-8 on EA analgesia was reversed by injection of CCK-B receptor antagonist (L-365,260) into the caudate nucleus of rats. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that CCK-8 antagonize EA analgesia through its B receptor.

1-Ethyl-6-fluoro-7-(4-methyl-piperazin-4-ium-1-yl)-4-oxo-1,4-dihydroquinoline-3-carboxylate hexa-hydrate.

In the title compound, C(17)H(20)FN(3)O(3)·6H(2)O, the pefloxacin (pef) neutral zwitterion is accompanied by six water mol-ecules of hydration. An extensive network of O-H⋯O and N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds help to establish the crystal packing.