Nanoscale Au-ZnO heterostructure developed by atomic layer deposition towards amperometric H2O2 detection

Nanoscale Au-ZnO heterostructures were fabricated on 4-in. SiO2/Si wafers by the atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique. Developed Au-ZnO heterostructures after post-deposition annealing at 250 degrees C were tested for amperometric hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) detection. The surface morphology and nanostructure of Au-ZnO heterostructures were examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), etc. Additionally, the electrochemical behavior of Au-ZnO heterostructures towards H2O2 sensing under various conditions is assessed by chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results showed that ALD-fabricated Au-ZnO heterostructures exhibited one of the highest sensitivities of 0.53 mu A mu M(-1)cm(-2), the widest linear H2O2 detection range of 1.0 mu M-120mM, a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.78 mu M, excellent selectivity under the normal operation conditions, and great long-term stability. Utilization of the ALD deposition method opens up a unique opportunity for the improvement of the various capabilities of the devices based on Au-ZnO heterostructures for amperometric detection of different chemicals

Temporal genetic diversity of Schistosoma japonicum in two endemic sites in China revealed by microsatellite markers

Background: Schistosomiasis is one of the neglected tropical diseases. The causative agent of schistosomiasis in China, Schistosoma japonicum, has long been a major public health problem. An understanding of fundamental evolutionary and genetic processes in this species has major implications for its control and elimination. Intensive control efforts have greatly reduced the incidence of schistosomiasis in China, but little is known about the genetic consequences of these efforts. Methods: To investigate this, we sampled twice (years 2003 and 2011) from two endemic regions where populations of S. japonicum had persisted despite control efforts and genotyped these samples using ten microsatellite markers. Our main hypothesis was that parasite genetic diversity would be greatly reduced across this time period. Conclusions: There was no apparent reduction in allelic diversity, and a non-significant reduction in clonal diversity in these parasite populations between 2003 and 2011. We did, however, detect temporal genetic differentiation among the samples. Such a significant temporal genetic variation of S. japonicum populations has not been reported before

Effects of Material Emotional Valence on the Time Course of Massive Repetition Priming

Learning through repetition is a fundamental form and also an effective method of language learning critical for achieving proficient and automatic language use. Massive repetition priming as a common research paradigm taps into the dynamic processes involved in repetition learning. Research with this paradigm has so far used only emotionally neutral materials and ignored emotional factors, which seems inappropriate given the well-documented impact of emotion on cognitive processing. The present study used massive repetition priming to investigate whether the emotional valence of learning materials affects implicit language learning. Participants read a list of Chinese words and made speeded perceptual judgments about the spatial configuration of the two characters in a word. Each word was repeated 15 times in the whole learning session. There were three types of words, negative, positive, or neutral in their emotional valence, presented in separate blocks. Although similar levels of asymptotic performance were reached for different valence conditions showing comparable total effects of learning, learning of the positive words was found to be associated with fewer plateaus of shorter durations and to reach saturation earlier, compared with neutral and negative words. The results showed for the first time that the emotional valence of learning materials has significant effects on the time course of learning so that positive materials are learned faster and more efficiently, relative to negative and neutral materials. The study indicates the importance to explicitly consider the role of emotional factors in implicit language learning research

The Effect of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticle Surface Charge on Antigen Cross-Presentation.

Magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) have been explored for different kinds of applications in biomedicine, mechanics, and information. Here, we explored the synthetic SPIO NPs as an adjuvant on antigen cross-presentation ability by enhancing the intracellular delivery of antigens into antigen presenting cells (APCs). Particles with different chemical modifications and surface charges were used to study the mechanism of action of antigen delivery. Specifically, two types of magnetic NPs, γF

The relationship between childhood trauma and Internet gaming disorder among college students: A structural equation model

open access journalBackground The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms of Internet gaming disorder (IGD) and the associated interaction effects of childhood trauma, depression and anxiety in college students. Methods Participants were enrolled full-time as freshmen at a University in the Hunan province, China. All participants reported their socio-demographic characteristics and undertook a standardized assessment on childhood trauma, anxiety, depression and IGD. The effect of childhood trauma on university students' internet gaming behaviour mediated by anxiety and depression was analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM) using R 3.6.1. Results In total, 922 freshmen participated in the study, with an approximately even male-to-female ratio. A mediation model with anxiety and depression as the mediators between childhood trauma and internet gaming behaviour allowing anxiety and depression to be correlated was tested using SEM. The SEM analysis revealed that a standardised total effect of childhood trauma on Internet gaming was 0.18, (Z = 5.60, 95% CI [0.02, 0.05], P < 0.001), with the direct effects of childhood trauma on Internet gaming being 0.11 (Z = 3.41, 95% CI [0.01, 0.03], P = 0.001), and the indirect effects being 0.02 (Z = 2.32, 95% CI [0.00, 0.01], P = 0.020) in the pathway of childhood trauma-depression-internet gaming; and 0.05 (Z = 3.67, 95% CI [0.00, 0.02], P < 0.001) in the pathway of childhood trauma-anxiety-Internet gaming. In addition, the two mediators anxiety and depression were significantly correlated (r = 0.50, Z = 13.54, 95% CI [3.50, 5.05], P < 0.001). Conclusions The study revealed that childhood trauma had a significant impact on adolescents' Internet gaming behaviours among college students. Anxiety and depression both significantly mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and internet gaming and augmented its negative influence. Discussion of the need to understand the subtypes of childhood traumatic experience in relationship to addictive behaviours is included

Candidate Regulators of Dyslipidemia in Chromosome 1 Substitution Lines Using Liver Co-Expression Profiling Analysis

Dyslipidemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Although many genetic factors have been unveiled, a large fraction of the phenotypic variance still needs further investigation. Chromosome 1 (Chr 1) harbors multiple gene loci that regulate blood lipid levels, and identifying functional genes in these loci has proved challenging. We constructed a mouse population, Chr 1 substitution lines (C1SLs), where only Chr 1 differs from the recipient strain C57BL/6J (B6), while the remaining chromosomes are unchanged. Therefore, any phenotypic variance between C1SLs and B6 can be attributed to the differences in Chr 1. In this study, we assayed plasma lipid and glucose levels in 13 C1SLs and their recipient strain B6. Through weighted gene co-expression network analysis of liver transcriptome and "guilty-by-association" study, eight associated modules of plasma lipid and glucose were identified. Further joint analysis of human genome wide association studies revealed 48 candidate genes. In addition, 38 genes located on Chr 1 were also uncovered, and 13 of which have been functionally validated in mouse models. These results suggest that C1SLs are ideal mouse models to identify functional genes on Chr 1 associated with complex traits, like dyslipidemia, by using gene co-expression network analysis

Anti-Tumor Effect of Rutin on Human Neuroblastoma Cell Lines through Inducing G2/M Cell Cycle Arrest and Promoting Apoptosis

Aims. To further investigate the antineuroblastoma effect of rutin which is a type of flavonoid. Methods. The antiproliferation of rutin in human neuroblastoma cells LAN-5 were detected by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Chemotaxis of LAN-5 cells was assessed using transwell migration chambers and scratch wound migration assay. The cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner was measured by flow cytometric and fluorescent microscopy analyses. The apoptosis-related proteins BAX and BCL2 as well as MYCN mRNA express were determined by RT-PCR analysis. Secreted TNF-α level were determined using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Results. Rutin significantly inhibited the growth of LAN-5 cells and chemotactic ability. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that rutin induced G2/M arrest in the cell cycle progression and induced cell apoptosis. The RT-PCR showed that rutin could decrease BCL2 expression and BCL2/BAX ratio. In the meantime, the MYCN mRNA level and the secretion of TNF-α were inhibited. Conclusion. These results suggest that rutin produces obvious antineuroblastoma effects via induced G2/M arrest in the cell cycle progression and induced cell apoptosis as well as regulating the expression of gene related to apoptosis and so on. It supports the viability of developing rutin as a novel therapeutic prodrug for neuroblastoma treatment, as well as providing a new path on anticancer effect of Chinese traditional drug

Protective effect of grifolin against brain injury in an acute cerebral ischemia rat model

Purpose: To evaluate the protective effects of grifolin against brain injury in an acute cerebral ischemia rat model.Methods: Rats were assigned to five groups: control, negative control, and grifolin (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) treated groups, which received the drug for 2 weeks. All the animals were sacrificed at the end of the protocol, and tissue homogenates were prepared from isolated brain tissue. Glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide (NO), as oxidative stress indicators, were determined for the tissue homogenates of the ischemic rats. Inflammatory mediators (cytokines and nuclear factor kappa B p65, NF κB), DNA damage, and ATP and caspase 3 levels in the tissue homogenates were also assessed.Results: Treatment with grifolin increased SOD and GPX significantly and decreased MDA and NO levels in tissue homogenates of the cerebral ischemic rats compared with those in the negative control group (p &lt; 0.05). Treatment with grifolin also attenuated the altered levels of inflammatory mediators (cytokines and NF-κB), caspase 3, and ATP levels in the tissue homogenate of cerebral ischemic rats (p &lt; 0.05). The results of comet assay on the tissue homogenate suggest that treatment with grifolin reduced or prevented damage.Conclusions: The results show that treatment with grifolin protects against neuronal damage in acute cerebral ischemic rats via its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties.Keywords: Neuroprotection, Cerebral ischemia, Brain injury, DNA, Grifolin, Anti oxidan