Relations between reactive oxygen species and Raman spectral variations of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells with different viability

Laser Physics - In this study, the Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) levels in Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hUC-MSCs) with different cell viability were measured by ROS probe...     

Facile synthesis of mercaptosuccinic acid-capped CdTe/CdS/ZnS core/double shell quantum dots with improved cell viability on different cancer cells and normal cells

Water-soluble, mercaptosuccinic acid (MSA)-capped CdTe/CdS/ZnS core/double shell quantum dots (QDs) were prepared by successive growth of CdS and ZnS shells on the as-synthesized CdTe/CdS_thin core/shell quantum dots. The formation of core/double shell structured QDs was investigated by ultraviolet-visible (UV–Vis) absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, PL decay studies, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The core/double shell QDs exhibited good photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) which is 70% higher than that of the parent core/shell QDs, and they are stable for months. The average particle size of the core/double shell QDs was ～3 nm as calculated from the transmission electron microscope (TEM) images. The cytotoxicity of the QDs was evaluated on a variety of cancer cells such as HeLa, MCF-7, A549, and normal Vero cells by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) cell viability assay. The results showed that core/double shell QDs were less toxic to the cells when compared to the parent core/shell QDs. MCF-7 cells showed proliferation on incubation with QDs, and this is attributed to the metalloestrogenic activity of cadmium ions released from QDs. The core/double shell CdTe/CdS/ZnS (CSS) QDs were conjugated with transferrin and successfully employed for the biolabeling and fluorescent imaging of HeLa cells. These core/double shell QDs are highly promising fluorescent probe for cancer cell labeling and imaging applications.     

高压下不同结构的Zr3N4合金结构和弹性性质的第一性原理计算

用基于平面波赝势密度泛函理论的第一性原理方法研究了高压下空间群为I4-3D,Pna21和Pnam的三种结构的Zr3N4的弹性性质,获得了这三种物质在高压下的体弹模量B,剪切模量G,杨氏模量E,泊松比,B/G等力学性质。结果表明,在高压下这三种结构的Zr3N4都是保持力学稳定的,且这三种结构的Zr3N4在各个方向的可压缩性是各向异性的。三种结构的Zr3N4对应的体弹模量,剪切模量和杨氏模量都是随着压强的增大而增大。其中空间群为I4-3D的Zr3N4有最好的抵抗体积压缩,变形和线性压缩的能力。泊松比和B/G的数据表明三种结构在此压强范围内均有较好的延展性,高压下空间群为Pna21和Pnam的Zr3N4延展性更好。研究结论对理论研究和实验有一定参考价值。     

Thrombin contributes to the injury development and neurological deficit after acute subdural hemorrhage in rats only in collaboration with additional blood-derived factors

Background

Acute subdural hemorrhage (ASDH) is a severe consequence of traumatic brain injury. The occurrence of subdural blood increases the lethality of these patients independent of the amount of blood or elevated intracranial pressure. Thrombin is one of the potential harmful blood components. Possible harmful effects of thrombin are mediated via the Protease-activated-receptor-1 (PAR1) and thus, translating the acute Thrombin release after ASDH into cell loss. The objectives of the present study were twofold, namely to examine (1) the impact of direct thrombin inhibition in the acute phase after hemorrhage on the long-term histological and functional deficits and (2) the early inhibition of PAR1 activation by thrombin with the selective antagonist SCH79797 on lesion volume at 14 days after ASDH. The effects of thrombin on the lesion size were investigated in two separate experiments via (1) direct thrombin inhibition in the subdural infused blood (Argatroban 600 µg) as well as by (2) intraventricular injection of the PAR-1 antagonist SCH79797 (1 µg or 5 µg). Lesion volume and behavior deficits using a neurological deficit score and a motor function test (beam balance test) were analyzed as outcome parameters at 14 days after injury.

Results

59 Male Sprague–Dawley rats received a subdural infusion of 300 µl autologous blood or sham operation. Lesion volume at 14 days after ASDH tended to be smaller in the Argatroban-treated group when compared to the vehicle group (8.1?±?1.1 vs. 10.1?±?2.3 mm², n.s.). Motor deficits in the beam balance test were not significantly less severe in the Argatroban-treated group. Animals treated with SCH79797 also showed a trend towards dose-dependent decreased lesion volume in comparison to the vehicle-treated group (1 μg: 4.3?±?0.7 mm³; 5 μg: 3.8?±?1.1 mm³; vehicle: 6.5?±?2.0 mm³, n.s).

Conclusions

Thrombin inhibition in the subdural blood and local cerebral blockade of PAR-1 cause a tendency towards reduced lesion volume or functional recovery. All results show a trend in favor of the acute treatment on the outcome parameters. Our results suggests that thrombin could be an important blood-derived factor during acute subdural hemorrhage that translates its deleterious effects in concert with other blood-induced factors.

     

Axonal outgrowth is associated with increased ERK 1/2 activation but decreased caspase 3 linked cell death in Schwann cells after immediate nerve repair in rats

Background  

Extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK1/2) is activated by nerve damage and its activation precedes survival and proliferation of Schwann cells. In contrast, activation of caspase 3, a cysteine protease, is considered as a marker for apoptosis in Schwann cells. In the present study, axonal outgrowth, activation of ERK1/2 by phosphorylation (p-ERK 1/2) and immunoreactivity of cleaved caspase 3 were examined after immediate, delayed, or no repair of transected rat sciatic nerves.     

Effect of temperature and high pressure on Mn2+ EPR spectra in K3H(SO4)2 fast-proton conductor

The linewidth ΔH _pp and spin-Hamiltonian parameters under temperature and high hydrostatic pressure by X-band continuous wave electron paramagnetic resonance in the K₃H(SO₄)₂ crystal were studied. Spin-Hamiltonian parameters, direction cosines and coordination of Mn²⁺ ion were determined at room temperature. The pressure at 300?MPa leads to the change of hydrogen bond potential and the transition from double well to single well potential moves about 10?K towards a higher temperature.     

Evolution of spin and field dependences of the effective mass with pressure in CeIn(3)

We have studied the field and spin dependences of the effective masses in CeIn3 as a function of pressure via the de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) effect. The effective mass increases with the field at pressures up to about 10 kbar and then decreases with the field. The spin direction of the dominant dHvA oscillation is likely to be reversed across the same pressure. The dHvA frequency changes significantly at the pressure P(c) for the antiferromagnetic quantum critical point and two neighboring pressures P2 and P4 below and above P(c). The spin and field dependences rapidly diminish across P(c) and finally disappear above P4. These observations are discussed in conjunction with relevant observations and theories.     

The biological characteristics of different generation mesenchymal stem cells cultured in vitro and cocultured with vascular scaffold

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were used widely as seed cells in tissue engineering blood vessel construction. However, the biological characteristics difference of different generation MSCs in vitro culture is unknown, which laid a foundation for appropriate generation seeded cells selection for tissue engineering blood vessel construction. In this report, MSCs were isolated from SD rat bone marrow and identified by flow cytometry; cell growth curve test, cell surface antigen expression rate detection, cryopreservation resuscitation rate test, CD31 expression rate test, cell cycle analysis, and adhesion difference on vascular scaffold test were performed. The research results indicated that the MSCs shape was spindle and uniform with vigorous growth. CD105 and CD90 factor expression rate reached 82.5 and 84.9%, respectively, and the expression rate of CD45 was only 7.3%. The proliferation capacity of the fourth generation MSCs were more exuberant, with proliferation index as 20.3%; the cell proliferation index of the eighth generation decreased to only 9.1%. The cryopreservation resuscitation rate of the second generation and fourth generation MSCs were both higher than 80%, and the cryopreservation resuscitation rate of the eighth generation MSCs was only about 60%. After the induction for 5 days, MSCs had weak CD31 expression, and with the prolonged induction time, expression increased. All generation MSCs expressed CD31 after being induced for 10 days; however, the CD31 positive expression rate of the second generation, fourth generation, and sixth generation MSCs had significant difference with the eighth generation MSCs. Adhesion rate of MSCs before sixth generation was around 40%, but the adhesion rate of eighth generation MSCs was only about 27%. In all, biological characteristics of different generation MSCs existed certain differences, and especially the eighth generation MSCs aged seriously, whose cell activity decreased significantly. The researchers believed that the MSCs before the sixth generation can maintain excellent properties of MSCs, and can be used as seed cells for vascular tissue engineering.     

Time-resolved spectroscopy in LiCaAlF6 doped with Cr3+ as a function of pressure and temperature: Excited-state crossover and phase-transition effects

This work investigates phase transition (PT) and excited-state-crossover (ESCO) effects on the photoluminescence (PL) properties of LiCaAlF₆: Cr³⁺. The structural requirements for changing the Cr³⁺ PL behavior from a broad-band emission at 1.59 eV (781 nm) at ambient conditions, to ruby-like narrow-line emission at 1.87 eV (663 nm) are analyzed in the 0–35 GPa range. We report a PL study on LiCaAlF₆: Cr³⁺ by means of time-resolved emission as a function of pressure and temperature. In particular we focus on the PL variations occurring around the pressure-induced trigonal-to-monoclinic first-order PT in LiCaAlF₆ at 7 GPa.     

Strongly enhanced flux pinning in the YBa_2Cu_3O_(7-X) films with the co-doping of Ba TiO_3 nanorod and Y_2O_3 nanoparticles at 65 K

YBa2Cu3O7-x(YBCO) films with co-doping BaTiO3(BTO) and Y2O3 nanostructures were prepared by metal organic deposition using trifluoroacetates(TFA-MOD). The properties of the BTO/Y2O3co-doped YBCO films with different excess yttrium have been systematically studied by x-ray diffraction(XRD), Raman spectra, and scanning electron microscope(SEM). The optimized content of yttrium excess in the BTO/Y2O3co-doped YBCO films is 10 mol.%, and the critical current density is as high as ~ 17 mA/cm2(self-field, 65 K) by the magnetic signal. In addition, the Y2Cu2O5 was formed when the content of yttrium excess increases to 24 mol.%, which may result in the deterioration of the superconducting properties and the microstructure. The unique combination of the different types of nanostructures of BTO and Y2O3 in the doped YBCO films, compared with the pure YBCO films and BTO doped YBCO films, enhances the critical current density(JC) not only at the self-magnetic field, but also in the applied magnetic field.     

Analysis of the effect of interatomic interaction energy in V-Fe alloys with different iron concentrations on segregation and swelling processes after ion irradiation

Comparative analysis of iron segregation profiles near the free surfaces of V-(2, 5, 7) at % Fe alloys irradiated with 50-keV V⁺ ions at temperatures 30–40°C with doses from 1 × 10¹⁹ to 1 × 10²¹ ions/m² has been performed. Data on the change in the moduli of normal elasticity and the values of swelling of these alloys with a change in Fe concentration in them are reported. A correlation between the character of the concentration dependence of the degree of Fe segregation, partial diffusion coefficients of the alloy components, the Young moduli, and the preference factors for vacancies and interstitials between dislocations and voids in these alloys is established.     

A study of the gasification of carbon black with molten salt of Li2CO3 and K2CO3 for application in the external anode media of a direct carbon fuel cell

The characteristics of gasification reactions for carbon–carbonate mixtures were experimentally investigated at high temperatures up to 900 °C, considering the application of the mixtures to the external anode media of a direct carbon fuel cell. A thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) was conducted in either a nitrogen or carbon dioxide ambient environment for Li₂CO₃, K₂CO₃ and a mixture of these two substances with carbon black. Changes in the exit gas composition were also monitored during the heating process. It was shown that gasification in the mixture media occurs much more rapidly than carbonate decomposition at elevated temperatures, even for low concentrations of CO₂. It was also shown that the loading of carbonates to carbon significantly affects the global gasification reaction; it increased the reaction rate by an order of magnitude and decreased its activation energy. Based on the experimental observations, a simplified reaction model of gasification was suggested for the anode media of a DCFC, regarding carbonate-catalysed and metal-catalysed pathways of Boudouard reactions.     

Assessment of different fixation protocols on the presence of membrane-bound vesicles in Caco-2 cells: A multidimensional view by means of correlative light and 3-D transmission electron microscopy

Herein, we present a comparative analysis of a variety of chemical and physical fixation protocols for the specific visualisation of the membrane-bound vesicles (MBVs) in the Caco-2 colorectal cancer (CRC) cell line. In so doing, we validated the applicability of specific specimen preparation protocols for the preservation and contrasting of membrane-associated vesicles. Next, by employing the best respective chemical (GOT) and physical (SHPF) fixation methods for the application of transmission electron tomography and modelling we were able to characterise MBVs in three-dimensions and at the nanometer scale. In the second part of this study, we employ a correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) approach in order to determine which vesicular compartments are implicated in the uptake of FITC-BSA as a model protein drug. In so doing, we provide a solid foundation for future studies investigating chemotherapeutic drug uptake, transport and fate in cancer cell lines.     

Measurement of the temperature dependence of line mixing and pressure broadening parameters between 296 and 90 K in the ν3 band of CH4 and their influence on atmospheric methane retrievals

We measured the temperature dependence of the nitrogen broadening, narrowing and line-mixing coefficients of four lines of the P9 manifold in the ν₃ band of ¹²CH₄ for atmospheric purposes. The data were collected using our tunable diode laser (TDL) spectrometer with active wavenumber control coupled to a newly developed cold Herriott cell with a path length of 5.37 m and a temperature uniformity of better than 0.01 K along the cell. We recorded and analyzed spectra recorded at sample temperatures between 90 K and room temperature. We have investigated the influence of our new results in the inversion model used to retrieve methane profiles from atmospheric spectra; our new results make it possible to retrieve significantly more precise methane profiles. The atmospheric spectra we utilized were obtained by several of us with a balloon-born Fourier Transform infrared experiment in a limb configuration. Differences up to 7% on the retrieved volume mixing ratio were found compared to an inversion model using only HITRAN04 spectroscopic parameters.     

Qualitative and quantitative differences in the absorption spectra of electron-irradiated reflective coatings based on mixtures of BaTio3 powder with ZrO2 micro- or nanopowder of different concentrations

The effect of the concentration and size (micro- or nanoparticles) of zirconium dioxide powders, heated in mixtures with barium titanate powder, on the radiation resistance of reflecting coatings on their basis is analyzed during accelerated electron irradiation. It is shown that nanoparticles provide increased radiation resistance of the coatings compared to microparticles.