Delayed Effect of Anisaldehyde on Feeding Behavior and Reproduction of Adult Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) 1

ABSTRACT Anisaldehyde may be useful as a spatial repellent against Aedes albopictus, and it could play a major role in new repellent technology for mosquito management. This study characterized the delayed effects of anisaldehyde on Ae. albopictus adult host-seeking behavior, feeding behavior, and reproduction. Anisaldehyde was applied as a fumigant (0.25 mg/cm 3 ) during different developmental stages of the mosquito (larvae from 1 st instar to pupation, larvae from 1 st instar to adult emergence, pupae, and two-day-old adults). Except when treated as pupae, the resulting adult females (at 5 days of age) exhibited significantly lower host-seeking capability and lower repeated-feeding rates than untreated females. Anisaldehyde treatments also significantly reduced the number of eggs and hatchability, and this chemical prolonged the gonotrophic cycle and egg development. These results showed that anisaldehyde acted as a spatial repellent, where it not only reduced hostseeking capability, but also greatly reduced vectoring capacity and reproduction potential, which is significant for mosquito control and disease prevention

Emulsion-directed liquid/liquid interfacial fabrication of lanthanide ion-doped block copolymer composite thin films

An emulsion-directed assembly and adsorption approach has been used to fabricate composite films of polystyrene-b-poly(acryl acid)-b-polystyrene (PS-b-PAA-b-PS) and Eu and La ions at the planar liquid/liquid interface of the polymer DMF/chloroform (1:1, v/v) mixed solution (lower phase) and aqueous solutions of the corresponding salts (upper phase). The lower phase gradually transformed to a water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion via spontaneous emulsification due to the "ouzo effect". Polymer molecules and the metal ions assembled around emulsion droplets that adsorbed at the planar liquid/liquid interface at last, resulting in formation of composite films. The film morphologies and structures depend on Ln ions: polymer/Eu composite films were foam films composed of microcapsules ranging in size from several hundreds of nanometers to micrometers, while polymer/La composite films were composed of hollow spheres several tens of nanometers in size. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra revealed that the coordination modes of carboxyl groups to Eu and La were bridging bidentate and ionic, respectively, in the two types of composites. These results indicate that stable microcapsules can be fabricated around droplets for polymer/Eu systems, while microcapsules of polymer/La are unstable. This leads to different film morphologies and structures. Compositions of these films were characterized using energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In addition, foam films of polymer/Eu/2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) were fabricated using this approach, and their photoluminescence properties were investigated

Highly differential count of circulating and tumor infiltrating immune cells in patients with non-HCV/non-HBV hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND Liver transplantation and liver resection are curative options for early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The outcome is in part depended on the immunological response to the malignancy. In this study, we aimed to identify immunological profiles of non-HCV/non-HBV HCC patients. METHODS Thirty-nine immune cell subsets were measured with multicolor flow cytometry. This immunophenotyping was performed in peripheral blood (PB) and tumor specimens of 10 HCC resection patients and 10 healthy donors. The signatures of the highly differential leukocyte count (hDIF) were analyzed using multidimensional techniques. Functional capability was measured using intracellular IFN-γ staining (Trial Registration DRKS00013567). RESULTS The hDIF showed activation (subsets of T-, B-, NK- and dendritic cells) and suppression (subsets of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and T- and B-regulatory cells) of the antitumor response. Principal component analysis of PB and tumor infiltrating leukocytes (TIL) illustrated an antitumor activating gradient. TILs showed functional capability by secreting IFN-γ but did not kill HCC cells. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, the measurement of the hDIF shows distinct differences in immune reactions against non-HBV/non-HCV HCC and illustrates an immunosuppressive gradient toward peripheral blood. TRIAL REGISTRATION DRKS00013567

Perivascular Tumor-Infiltrating Leukocyte Scoring for Prognosis of Resected Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients

Liver resection is a curative treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Tumor-infiltrating leukocytes (TILs) are important players in predicting HCC recurrence. However, the invasive margin could not be confirmed as relevant for HCC. The migration of immune cells into HCC may originate from intratumoral vessels. No previous study has examined perivascular (PV) infiltration. Tumors from 60 patients were examined. Immunohistochemistry was performed against CD3, CD8, CD20, and CD66b. TILs were counted in the PV regions using an algorithm for quantification of the tumor immune stroma (QTiS). The results were correlated with overall (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), clinical parameters, and laboratory values. PV infiltration of TILs was predominant in resected HCC. Higher PV infiltration of CD3(+) (p = 0.016) and CD8(+) (p = 0.028) independently predicted better OS and DFS, respectively. CD20(+) showed a trend towards better DFS (p = 0.076). Scoring of CD3(+), CD8(+), and CD20(+) independently predicted OS and DFS (p < 0.01). The amount of perivascular-infiltrating CD3(+) cells is an independent predictor of better OS, and CD8(+) cells independently predict prolonged DFS. Our novel perivascular infiltration scoring (PVIS) can independently predict both DFS and OS in resected HCC patients

Electrochemical Characteristics of Vitamin K 3 Incorporated in Carbon Nanotubes-Chitosan Hybrid Films and the Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Dopamine

The electrochemical characteristics of vitamin K 3 ͑denoted VK 3 ͒ incorporated in acid-treated multiwalled carbon nanotubes ͑MWNTs͒-chitosan ͑CHIT͒ hybrid films in phosphate buffer solutions were determined and the electrocatalytic oxidation of dopamine ͑DA͒ was investigated. It was shown that the adsorbility of VK 3 on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode was greatly enhanced by CHIT and MWNTs. Cyclic voltammetric measurements revealed that the redox peak currents of VK 3 increased dramatically with the addition of MWNTs. The apparent charge-transfer rate constant k s and transfer coefficient ␣ for electron transfer between the electrode surface and immobilized VK 3 in MWNTs-CHIT hybrid films and in MWNT films were calculated as 21.4 s −1 , 0.49 and 3.2 s −1 , 0.47, respectively. The electrocatalytic oxidation of DA evaluated by cyclic voltammetric measurements indicates that VK 3 -MWNTs-CHIT hybrid film modified electrodes have good electrocatalytic property to DA. The differential pulse voltammograms were used to detect the DA concentration. A linear relationship between steady-state current and DA concentration was obtained over the range of 2-100 mol/L with a detection limit of 0.18 mol/L. Vitamin K is a generic term for a group of fat-soluble vitamins consisting of 2-methyl-1,4-naphthaquinone. 1 It not only plays an important role in oxidative phosphorylation 2-5 but also acts as effective electron carriers and electron-transfer agents 4-7 in cellular respiration. As a synthetic quinone derivative of naphthalene, 8 similar to many other quinones, vitamin K 3 ͑menadione, VK 3 ͒ can be reduced electrochemically to be a potential mediator. For example, the reduced VK 3 is a potential catalyst for the reduction of oxygen 9 and is reported as the most promising mediator for the electron transfer between the diaphorase ͑DI͒ and the electrode. Because of the unique electrical properties, high chemical stability, and high surface-to-volume ratio, the carbon nanotubes ͑CNTs͒ have been widely studied for the past years to improve the electric conductivities arising from the graphite structure of CNTs. 14-16 Electrochemical studies suggested that CNTs promote certain types of electron-transfer reactions, 17 minimize surface fouling, and enhance electrocatalytic activity. The solubility of CNTs in most common polar and apolar solvents is so low that functionalized CNTs with various kinds of materials have attracted a lot of attention. 18-20 For example, CNTs incorporated into Chitosan ͑CHIT͒ can be used in the aspect of electrochemical sensing applications. As a biopolymer matrix, CHIT also integrate some redox mediators into themselves to facilitate electron-transfer processes in electrochemical devices such as sensors, biosensors, and biological fuel cells and reactors. CNTs can be incorporated into CHIT by being solubilized in an aqueous solution of CHIT to form a coating film on the surfaces of glassy carbon ͑GC͒ electrodes, Dopamine ͑DA͒ has been studied by many researchers. DA is one of the most important neurotransmitters. It plays a significant role in the functioning of central nervous, renal, and hormonal systems. In the present paper, we incorporated acid-treated multiwalled carbon nanotubes ͑MWNTs͒ and VK 3 into the CHIT biopolymer matrix to form hybrid films. Acid-treated MWNTs were easily dispersed in ethanol. The high surface-to-volume ratio and unique electrical properties of CNTs allow a high amount of VK 3 incorporation and enable a significant durability. VK 3 incorporated in this hybrid film exhibited stable and well-defined redox peaks on the voltammograms, which makes it possible that the unmodified VK 3 can be used as a mediator or catalyst for some types of reactions such as electrocatalytic oxidation of DA in phosphate buffer solution. Experimental Reagents and materials.-MWNTs ͑Ն95% purity͒ were obtained from Shenzhen Nanotech Port Co., Ltd. ͑Shenzhen, China͒. CHIT ͑Qingdao, deacetylation Ն95%͒, VK 3 , and DA were purchased from Shanghai Reagent Factory. All other reagents used were of analytical grade. The deionized water was distilled three times before use. Acid-treated MWNTs/ethanol suspension of 0.14 mg/mL and VK 3 in ethanol stock solution of 5 ϫ 10 −2 mol/L were prepared. CHIT stock ethanol solution was obtained by using ethanol to dilute the CHIT solution ͑0.5 wt %, CHIT was dissolved in acetic acid͒ to 0.05 wt %. Instrumentation.-Electrochemical measurements were performed using a two-compartment, three-electrode cell with a modified GC working electrode, a Pt wire auxiliary electrode, and a saturated calomel electrode ͑SCE͒ reference electrode. Cyclic voltammetric measurements were recorded using a computercontrolled LK98 electrochemical analyzer ͑Tianjin, China͒. Transmission electron microscope ͑TEM͒ images were taken with a JEOL 100cx II ͑Japan͒ at an accelerating voltage of 100 kV. Scanning electron microscope ͑SEM͒ images of the surface configuration of VK 3 -MWNTs-CHIT hybrid films on a GC disk were taken with a field-emission SEM ͑JMS-6700 SEM͒. Modification of the GC electrodes.-The clean surfaces of GC electrodes ͑4 mm diameter͒ were made with VK 3 -MWNTs-CHIT hybrid films. Before modification with hybrid films, the surfaces of the GC electrodes were polished well with fine emery paper, alumina ͑0.05 m͒ slurry, and then sonicated in doubly distilled water.

Transient self-assembly driven by chemical fuels

Self-assembly has been extensively studied in chemistry, physics, biology, and materials engineering and has become an important “bottom-up” approach in creating intriguing structures for different applications. Using dissipative self-assembly to construct fuel-dependent, energy-consuming, and dynamic nonequilibrium systems is important for developing intelligent life-like materials. Furthermore, dissipative self-assembly has become a research hotspot in materials chemistry, biomedical science, environmental chemistry, and physical chemistry. An in-depth understanding of the process and mechanism provides useful insights to the researchers for developing materials using dissipative self-assembly and also helps guide future innovation in material fabrication. This critical review comprehensively analyzes various chemical fuel input and energy consumption mechanisms, supported by numerous illustrative examples. Versatile transient assemblies, including gels, vesicles, micelles, and nanoparticle aggregates, have been systematically studied in our and other laboratories. The relationship between the molecular structure of precursors and temporal assemblies in dissipative self-assemblies is discussed from the perspective of physical chemistry. Using dissipative self-assembly methods to construct functional assemblies provides important implications for constructing high-energy, nonequilibrium, and intelligent functional materials