Coherent Random Lasing in Colloidal Quantum Dot-Doped Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal with Low Threshold and High Stability.

High-concentration (2-10 wt %) ZnCdSeS/ZnS alloyed quantum dot-doped polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (QD-PDLCs) were prepared via ultraviolet (UV) curing. The QD-PDLC morphology and resonance characteristics of a coherent random laser were investigated. The doping concentration of the liquid crystal and quantum dots was varied to investigate its effect on the lasing threshold, line width, and stability with respect to the density and grain size of the liquid crystal droplets inside the PDLC structure. Furthermore, the QD-PDLC laser performance was influenced by the pump position and area because of spatial localization of the random resonators. Moreover, the QD-PDLC showed good long-term stability; after 15 days of laser excitation (3 h/day), the laser output was maintained at 92% of the original emission intensity. The random laser threshold was as low as 50 µJ/cm2 with the optimized preparation process, which suggested strong potential for applications in polymer random fiber lasers, sensors, and displays.

The association of three promoter polymorphisms in interleukin-10 gene with the risk for colorectal cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma: A meta-analysis.

Mounting evidence supports a potent inhibitory role of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in tumor carcinogenesis, angiogenesis and metastasis. This meta-analysis was designed to examine the association of three promoter polymorphisms (-592C > A, -819C > T and -1082G > A) in IL-10 gene with the risk for colorectal cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. Qualification assessment and data collection were completed by two authors independently. The random-effects model using the DerSimonian and Laird method was fitted by the STATA software. Twenty-five articles involving 5933 cases and 9724 controls were meta-analyzed. Overall comparisons of the mutant alleles (-592A, -819T and -1082A) of three promoter polymorphisms with alternative wild alleles failed to reveal any statistical significance for both colorectal cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma (P > 0.05), and the likelihood of heterogeneity was low (I(2) < 50%). For -592C > A polymorphism, a significant risk for colorectal cancer was identified when analysis was restricted to East Asians (odds ratio or OR = 1.41, 95% confidence interval or CI: 1.18-1.68, P < 0.001) and retrospective studies (OR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.09-1.39, P = 0.001). As weighed by the Egger's test and the fill-and-trim method, there was a low probability of publication bias for all studied polymorphisms. Our findings collectively suggest that the -592C > A polymorphism in IL-10 gene might be a susceptibility locus for colorectal cancer in East Asians.

The association of six non-synonymous variants in three DNA repair genes with hepatocellular carcinoma risk: a meta-analysis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a complex polygenic disease. Despite the huge advances in genetic epidemiology, it still remains a challenge to unveil the genetic architecture of hepatocellular carcinoma. We, therefore, decided to meta-analytically assess the association of six non-synonymous coding variants from XRCC1, XRCC3 and XPD genes with hepatocellular carcinoma risk by pooling the results of 20 English articles. This meta-analysis was conducted according to the PRISMA statement, and data collection was independently completed in duplicate. In overall analyses, the minor alleles of four variants, Arg280His (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval, P: 1.37, 1.13-1.66, 0.001), Thr241Met (1.93, 1.17-3.20, 0.011), Asp312Asn (1.22, 1.08-1.38, 0.001) and Lys751Gln (1.42, 1.02-1.97, 0.038), were associated with the significant risk for hepatocellular carcinoma. There were low probabilities of publication bias for all variants. Subgroup analyses revealed significant association of XRCC1 gene Arg399Gln with hepatocellular carcinoma in Chinese especially from south China (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval, P: 1.57, 1.16-2.14, 0.004), in larger studies (1.48, 1.11-1.98, 0.007) and in studies with population-based controls (1.33, 1.06-1.68, 0.016). Taken together, our findings demonstrated that XPD gene Asp312Asn and XRCC1 gene Arg399Gln might be candidate susceptibility loci for hepatocellular carcinoma. Considering the ubiquity of genetic heterogeneity, further validation in a broad range of ethnic populations is warranted.

One-Pot Synthesis of Arylketones from Aromatic Acids via Palladium-Catalyzed Suzuki Coupling.

A palladium-catalyzed one-pot procedure for the synthesis of aryl ketones has been developed. Triazine esters when coupled with aryl boronic acids provided aryl ketones in moderate to excellent yields (up to 95%) in the presence of 1 mol % Pd(PPh3)2Cl2 for 30 min.

4-(8-quinolyl)amino-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole as a new selective and sensitive fluorescent and colorimetric pH probe with dual-responsive ranges in aqueous solutions.

Fluorescent and colorimetric pH probe possess many advantages including rapid response time, nondestructive testing, and excellent pH sensitivity. However, they usually cannot be utilized simultaneously in both acidic and basic pH ranges. In this study, a new selective and sensitive fluorescent and colorimetric pH probe, 4-(8-quinolyl)amino-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (1), was designated and synthesized. The optical probe exhibited dual-responsive pH ranges to both acidic and basic aqueous solutions. When the solution pH was gradually increased from 8.5 to 13.3, the absorption spectra of 1 showed an obvious hyperchromicity, accompanied with a red shift of the absorption band at 340 nm, a blue shift of the absorption band at 482 nm, and a distinct color change from orange to violet pink to yellow. Within the pH range from 2.2 to 0.2, the fluorescent spectra of 1 showed a "turn-on" response signal to solution pH. In order to understand the response mechanism of the probe to solution pH, the probe molecule was split into two parts, 8-aminoquinoline (2) and 4-amino-7- nitro-benzofurazan (3). UV-vis absorption and fluorescent experiments of 2 and 3 indicated that both are sensitive optical pH probes. Furthermore, the NMR experiment of 1 was explored in basic and acidic conditions. The results indicated that the colorimetric responses of 1 to pH under basic condition should be attributed to the deprotonation of the imino group on the quinolyl ring, and the fluorescent recognition of 1 to pH under acidic condition was probably due to the protonation of the nitrogen atoms from the benzofurazan and quinolyl rings.