Fast and Quantitative Electrical Detection of Iodine Based on a Polymer of Intrinsic Microporosity

Rapid, sensitive, and high-fidelity detection of toxic radioiodine species is of great importance for first responder activities in case of nuclear accidents. Robust active materials that enable concise device processing and direct online electrical detection of vaporous iodine under ambient conditions are promising and urgently required. Here, we explore the use of a polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM-1) as the sensing layer to directly detect the real-time iodine vapor using the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique. Good solubility of PIM-1 makes it easy for thin film fabrication, while the intrinsic microporosity endows the sensor with strong signal amplification capability. The sensor exhibits marked electrical responses to iodine vapor, with high chemical selectivity (>105× over air, methanol, ethanol, and water), fast response (60 s at room temperature), as well as remarkable resistance change (107× at 30 °C for 5 min). The I2 adsorptive sensing is reversible by simple heating in the air enabling the sensor to be used for at least five cycles. In addition, the resistance change is linearly related to the iodine vapor concentration in the whole range tested, making it useful not only for the qualitative detection of iodine leakage but also for quantification. The report here demonstrates that merging EIS and PIMs can be a useful tool for the electrical sensing of gaseous toxins in the environment

A three-dimensional transient mixed hybrid finite element model for superabsorbent polymers with straindependent permeability

A hydrogel is a cross-linked polymer network with water as solvent. Industrially widely used superabsorbent polymers (SAP) are partially neutralized sodium polyacrylate hydrogel. The extremely large degree of swelling is one of the most distinctive characteristics of such hydrogels, as the volume increase can be about 30 times its original volume when exposed to the physiological solution. The large deformation resulting from the swelling demands a careful numerical treatment. In this work, we present a biphasic continuum-level swelling model using mixed hybrid finite element method (MHFEM) in three dimensions. The hydraulic permeability is highly dependent on swelling ratio, resulting in values that are orders of magnitude apart from each other. The property of local mass conservation of MHFEM contributes to a more accurate calculation of the deformation as the permeability across the swelling gel in a transient state is highly non-uniform. We show that the proposed model is able to simulate the free swelling of a random-shaped gel and squeezing of fluid out of a swollen gel. At last, we make use of the proposed numerical model to study the onset of surface instability in transient swelling

Comparing mixed hybrid finite element method with standard FEM in swelling simulations involving extremely large deformations

Swelling involving (extremely) large deformations simulations have wide range of applications in biomedicine, tissue engineering and hygienic product design. Typically, standard FEM is used in which deformations and chemical potential are chosen to be the prime variables. On the other hand, mixed hybrid finite element method (MHFEM) featuring an additional independent variable field flux possesses local mass conservation property. Such a property has shown its success in Darcy’s type equations with heterogeneous permeability. In this work, we perform a full-round comparison between MHFEM and FEM in solving swelling problems involving large deformations. Specifically, based on the permeability distributions, the problems fall into three categories: constant permeability, strain-dependent permeability and permeability with a discontinuous interface. For each category, we compare the two methods in aspects like solution convergence robustness, deformation, chemical potential and flux field accuracy and computational cost. We conclude that MHFEM outperforms standard FEM in terms of solution convergence robustness and the accuracy of all three fields when a swelling problem involves discontinuous interface in permeability

Image1_Elevated Expression of Gamma-Glutamyl Hydrolase Is Associated With Poor Prognosis and Altered Immune Signature in Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma.JPEG

Uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) is a common malignant tumor of the female reproductive system with poor prognosis in advanced, recurrent, and metastatic cases. Identification of reliable molecular markers will help in the development of clinical strategies for early detection, diagnosis, and intervention. Gamma-glutamyl hydrolase (GGH) is a key enzyme in folate metabolism pathway. High expression of GGH is associated with severe clinicopathological features and poor prognosis of several cancers. High GGH expression is also related to cell resistance to antifolate drugs such as methotrexate. In this study we focused on the prognostic value of immunohistochemical GGH expression level in UCEC tissue and RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas to establish associations with clinical features and outcomes. Further, we conducted comprehensive bioinformatics analyses to identify and functionally annotate differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with UCEC upregulation and assessed the effects of upregulation on immune infiltration. Both GGH mRNA and protein expression levels were elevated in tumor tissues, and higher expression was significantly associated with advanced clinicopathological features and poor prognosis by univariate analysis. Further multivariate analysis identified elevated GGH expression as an independent risk factor for poor outcome. Nomograms including GGH expression yielded a c-index for disease-specific survival prediction of 0.884 (95% confidence interval: 0.861–0.907). A total of 520 DEGs (111 upregulated and 409 downregulated) were identified between high and low GGH expression groups. Analysis using Gene ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway, Gene set enrichment analysis, and protein‒protein interaction indicated significant associations of altered GGH expression with cell proliferation, immune response, and the occurrence and development of UCEC tumors. Finally, GGH expression level was associated with high Th2 cell and low natural killer CD56bright cell infiltration. Collectively, these findings indicate that GGH drives UCEC progression and could be a useful biomarker for survival prediction as well as a therapeutic target.</p

Supplemental Material - The design, development and usability testing of a smartphone-based mobile system for management of children’s oral health

Supplemental Material for The design, development and usability testing of a smartphone-based mobile system for management of children’s oral health by Chao Zhang, Longkuan Ran, Zhaowu Chai, Cong Yu and Jinlin Song in Health Informatics Journal</p

Polymer-Induced Perylene Probe Excimer Formation and Selective Sensing of DNA Methyltransferase Activity through the Monomer–Excimer Transition

A new label-free strategy for sensitive fluorometric biosensing based on perylene probe monomer–excimer transition has been developed. A negatively charged perylene probe (compound 1) was used. Compound 1 shows strong monomer fluorescence in an aqueous buffer solution. A cationic polymer could induce aggregation of compound 1 through noncovalent interactions. Compound 1 monomer emission was quenched, and meanwhile strong excimer emission was observed. Upon addition of a single-stranded DNA (an anionic polymer), strong electrostatic attractive interactions between the cationic polymer and the DNA weakened the binding of aggregates of compound 1 to the polycation. Compound 1 monomers were released, and excimer–monomer emission transition was detected. This observation formed the basis for DNA methyltransferase (MTase) activity detection. When the 3′-OH terminus of a duplex DNA was removed, the DNA strands could not be elongated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT), and little restoration of compound 1 monomer emission was detected. However, in the presence of MTase and endonuclease, the DNA could be specifically methylated and then cleaved into single-stranded fragments. The DNA fragments contained newly generated 3′-OH termini, which could be elongated by TdT. An excimer–monomer transition signal could then be detected. Simple, sensitive, selective, and inexpensive sensing of DNA methylation was therefore established

Image3_Elevated Expression of Gamma-Glutamyl Hydrolase Is Associated With Poor Prognosis and Altered Immune Signature in Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma.JPEG

Uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) is a common malignant tumor of the female reproductive system with poor prognosis in advanced, recurrent, and metastatic cases. Identification of reliable molecular markers will help in the development of clinical strategies for early detection, diagnosis, and intervention. Gamma-glutamyl hydrolase (GGH) is a key enzyme in folate metabolism pathway. High expression of GGH is associated with severe clinicopathological features and poor prognosis of several cancers. High GGH expression is also related to cell resistance to antifolate drugs such as methotrexate. In this study we focused on the prognostic value of immunohistochemical GGH expression level in UCEC tissue and RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas to establish associations with clinical features and outcomes. Further, we conducted comprehensive bioinformatics analyses to identify and functionally annotate differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with UCEC upregulation and assessed the effects of upregulation on immune infiltration. Both GGH mRNA and protein expression levels were elevated in tumor tissues, and higher expression was significantly associated with advanced clinicopathological features and poor prognosis by univariate analysis. Further multivariate analysis identified elevated GGH expression as an independent risk factor for poor outcome. Nomograms including GGH expression yielded a c-index for disease-specific survival prediction of 0.884 (95% confidence interval: 0.861–0.907). A total of 520 DEGs (111 upregulated and 409 downregulated) were identified between high and low GGH expression groups. Analysis using Gene ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway, Gene set enrichment analysis, and protein‒protein interaction indicated significant associations of altered GGH expression with cell proliferation, immune response, and the occurrence and development of UCEC tumors. Finally, GGH expression level was associated with high Th2 cell and low natural killer CD56bright cell infiltration. Collectively, these findings indicate that GGH drives UCEC progression and could be a useful biomarker for survival prediction as well as a therapeutic target.</p

Data_Sheet_1_DNA Methylation-Related circRNA_0116449 Is Involved in Lipid Peroxidation in Traumatic Brain Injury.PDF

Circular ribonucleic acid (circRNA) has a critical effect in central nervous diseases; however, the exact role of circRNAs in human traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains elusive. Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, can modify the mRNA level of genes without changing their related DNA sequence in response to brain insults. We hypothesized that DNA methylation-related circRNAs may be implicated in the mechanisms of TBI. The methylation-related circ_0116449 was identified from differential methylation positions and shown to reduce the neuronal loss and lipid markers. Mechanical study indicated that circ_0116449 functions as a miR-142-3p sponge and increases the expression of its target gene: NR1D2, together with NR1D1 and RORA to suppress lipid peroxidation both in vitro and in vivo. Our study suggests that DNA methylation-related circ_0116449 may be a novel target for regulating lipid metabolism in TBI.</p

Supplemental Material - The design, development and usability testing of a smartphone-based mobile system for management of children’s oral health

Supplemental Material for The design, development and usability testing of a smartphone-based mobile system for management of children’s oral health by Chao Zhang, Longkuan Ran, Zhaowu Chai, Cong Yu and Jinlin Song in Health Informatics Journal</p

Image2_Elevated Expression of Gamma-Glutamyl Hydrolase Is Associated With Poor Prognosis and Altered Immune Signature in Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma.TIF

Uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) is a common malignant tumor of the female reproductive system with poor prognosis in advanced, recurrent, and metastatic cases. Identification of reliable molecular markers will help in the development of clinical strategies for early detection, diagnosis, and intervention. Gamma-glutamyl hydrolase (GGH) is a key enzyme in folate metabolism pathway. High expression of GGH is associated with severe clinicopathological features and poor prognosis of several cancers. High GGH expression is also related to cell resistance to antifolate drugs such as methotrexate. In this study we focused on the prognostic value of immunohistochemical GGH expression level in UCEC tissue and RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas to establish associations with clinical features and outcomes. Further, we conducted comprehensive bioinformatics analyses to identify and functionally annotate differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with UCEC upregulation and assessed the effects of upregulation on immune infiltration. Both GGH mRNA and protein expression levels were elevated in tumor tissues, and higher expression was significantly associated with advanced clinicopathological features and poor prognosis by univariate analysis. Further multivariate analysis identified elevated GGH expression as an independent risk factor for poor outcome. Nomograms including GGH expression yielded a c-index for disease-specific survival prediction of 0.884 (95% confidence interval: 0.861–0.907). A total of 520 DEGs (111 upregulated and 409 downregulated) were identified between high and low GGH expression groups. Analysis using Gene ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway, Gene set enrichment analysis, and protein‒protein interaction indicated significant associations of altered GGH expression with cell proliferation, immune response, and the occurrence and development of UCEC tumors. Finally, GGH expression level was associated with high Th2 cell and low natural killer CD56bright cell infiltration. Collectively, these findings indicate that GGH drives UCEC progression and could be a useful biomarker for survival prediction as well as a therapeutic target.</p