Effects of native β-D-glucan and three β-D-glucan phosphates, GP-2, GP-4, and GP-5, on TNF-α (A) and IL-6 (B) production by RAW264.7 cells.

<p>RAW264.7 cells were treated as <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0103494#pone-0103494-g005" target="_blank">Fig. 5</a>. After incubation, the TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations in the supernatant were detected using commercial kits. The data represent the means ± SD. *<i>p</i><0.05, **<i>p</i><0.01 compared with control. Each point represents the average of three independent experiments.</p

Effects of native β-D-glucan and three β-D-glucan phosphates, GP-2, GP-4, and GP-5, on cell proliferation (A) and neutral red uptake (B) of RAW264.7 cells. RAW264.7 cells were treated with NG or GP (50, 100, and 500 µg/mL) or LPS (10, 100, and 1000 ng/mL) in different concentrations as described in the Materials and Methods.

<p>After incubation, the viability of RAW264.7 cells was measured by an MTT assay, and the A₅₇₀ value was recorded, whereas the amount of neutral red uptake was detected by the A₅₄₀ value. The data represent the means ± SD. *<i>p</i><0.05, **<i>p</i><0.01 compared with control. Each point represents the average of three independent experiments.</p

³¹P NMR spectra of insoluble β-D-glucan particles NG, β-D-glucan phosphate GP-2 prepared by planetary ball milling, and sodium hexametaphosphate (NaPO₃)₆ milled alone.

<p>³¹P NMR spectra of insoluble β-D-glucan particles NG, β-D-glucan phosphate GP-2 prepared by planetary ball milling, and sodium hexametaphosphate (NaPO₃)₆ milled alone.</p

β-D-glucan phosphates prepared under different operation conditions.

a<p>weight ratio of β-D-glucan : sodium hexametaphosphate [(NaPO₃)₆].</p><p>ND not detected.</p

FTIR spectra of insoluble β-D-glucan particles NG and soluble β-D-glucan phosphate GP-2 and GP-4 prepared by planetary ball milling.

<p>FTIR spectra of insoluble β-D-glucan particles NG and soluble β-D-glucan phosphate GP-2 and GP-4 prepared by planetary ball milling.</p

Distribution of DON in wheat kernel and milling fractions after ozone treatment.

<p>Values with different letters are significantly different (P < 0.05).</p

Enhanced Optoelectronic Performance on the (110) Lattice Plane of an MAPbBr₃ Single Crystal

Hybrid organic–inorganic lead halide perovskites have attracted significant attention due to their impressive optoelectronic properties. MAPbX₃ (MA= CH₃NH₃⁺, X= Cl, Br or I), the most popular member of this family, has been recognized as an important next-generation optoelectronic materials contender, and remarkable progress has been achieved in both thin films and single crystals. However, the lack of optimizations in energy harvest, transportation, carrier extraction, and process compatibility is hindering their future development. In this study, a triangle prism MAPbBr₃ single crystal exposing (100) and (110) crystallographic planes was successfully synthesized, and the optoelectronic performances of these two lattice planes were systematically explored by employing a planar metal–semiconductor–metal (MSM) device. Compared to the device fabricated on the (100) plane, a 153.33% enhancement of responsivity was achieved under 10 μW irradiation and 10 V bias on the (110) plane. Finally, possible mechanism for such an enhancement was discussed based on the different defect migration behaviors of (100) and (110) planes

Structure and Properties of Aqueous Methylcellulose Gels by Small-Angle Neutron Scattering

Cold, semidilute, aqueous solutions of methylcellulose (MC) are known to undergo thermoreversible gelation when warmed. This study focuses on two MC materials with much different gelation performance (gel temperature and hot gel modulus) even though they have similar metrics of their coarse-grained chemical structure (degree-of-methylether substitution and molecular weight distribution). Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments were conducted to probe the structure of the aqueous MC materials at pre- and postgel temperatures. One material (MC1, higher gel temperature) exhibited a single <i>almost</i> temperature-insensitive gel characteristic length scale (ζ_c = 1090 ± 50 Å) at postgelation temperatures. This length scale is thought to be the gel blob size between network junctions. It also coincides with the length scale between entanglement sites measured with rheology studies at pregel temperatures. The other material (MC2, lower gel temperature) exhibited two distinct length scales at all temperatures. The larger length scale decreased as temperature increased. Its value (ζ_c1 = 1046 ± 19 Å) at the lowest pregel temperature was indistinguishable from that measured for MC1, and reached a limiting value (ζ_c1 = 450 ± 19 Å) at high temperature. The smaller length scale (ζ_c2 = 120 to 240 Å) increased slightly as temperature increased, but remained on the order of the chain persistence length (130 Å) measured at pregel temperatures. The smaller blob size (ζ_c1) of MC2 suggests a higher bond energy or a stiffer connectivity between network junctions. Moreover, the number density of these blobs, at the same reduced temperature with respect to the gel temperature, is orders of magnitude higher for the MC2 gels. Presumably, the smaller gel length scale and higher number density lead to higher hot gel modulus for the low gel temperature material

Gelation, Phase Separation, and Fibril Formation in Aqueous Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose Solutions

The thermoresponsive behavior of a hydroxy­propyl­methyl­cellulose (HPMC) sample in aqueous solutions has been studied by a powerful combination of characterization tools, including rheology, turbidimetry, cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryoTEM), light scattering, small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Consistent with prior literature, solutions with concentrations ranging from 0.3 to 3 wt % exhibit a sharp drop in the dynamic viscoelastic moduli <i>G</i>′ and <i>G</i>″ upon heating near 57 °C. The drop in moduli is accompanied by an abrupt increase in turbidity. All the evidence is consistent with this corresponding to liquid–liquid phase separation, leading to polymer-rich droplets in a polymer-depleted matrix. Upon further heating, the moduli increase, and <i>G</i>′ exceeds <i>G</i>″, corresponding to gelation. CryoTEM in dilute solutions reveals that HPMC forms fibrils at the same temperature range where the moduli increase. SANS and SAXS confirm the appearance of fibrils over a range of concentration, and that their average diameter is ca. 18 nm; thus gelation is attributable to formation of a sample-spanning network of fibrils. These results are compared in detail with the closely related and well-studied methylcellulose (MC). The HPMC fibrils are generally shorter, more flexible, and contain more water than with MC, and the resulting gel at high temperatures has a much lower modulus. In addition to the differences in fibril structure, the key distinction between HPMC and MC is that the former undergoes liquid–liquid phase separation prior to forming fibrils and associated gelation, whereas the latter forms fibrils first. These results and their interpretation are compared with the prior literature, in light of the relatively recent discovery of the propensity of MC and HPMC to self-assemble into fibrils on heating

Determination of Particle Size Distributions, Molecular Weight Distributions, Swelling, Conformation, and Morphology of Dilute Suspensions of Cross-Linked Polymeric Nanoparticles via Size-Exclusion Chromatography/Differential Viscometry

Size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), coupled with differential viscometry detection (SEC/DV), is applied to the dilute suspension characterization of solvent-swollen cross-linked polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs). Cross-linked, unimolecular polymeric nanoparticles in the 5–50 nm weight-average diameter (<i>d</i>_w) range were prepared by batch and semibatch microemulsion polymerization techniques and isolated. SEC and SEC/DV characterization techniques yield, based on the principle of universal calibration, a wealth of information regarding the structural attributes of PNPs, including apparent and absolute molecular weight distributions, apparent and absolute molecular weight averages, peak and weight-average particle diameters, particle size distributions in both the solvent-swollen and solvent-free states, particle conformation (shape), and an estimate of the volumetric swell factor. These structural parameters are critical to understanding PNP performance, and all are obtained in a single rapid chromatographic experiment, when conducted under conditions where universal calibration applies. Particle sizes determined under such conditions are in excellent agreement with those obtained by dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, hydrodynamic chromatography, and SEC/static light scattering (SEC/SLS). In addition, Mark–Houwink exponents of approximately zero were found across the molecular weight and size distribution of many of these tightly cross-linked PNPs, which is consistent with a spherical particle conformation in these dilute suspensions. The SEC/DV methods are especially valuable to characterize the diameter, volume swell factor, and suspension conformation of small (4–5 nm <i>d</i>_w) PNPs