Evolution of the edge states and corner states in a multilayer honeycomb valley-Hall topological metamaterial

The valley-Hall effect provides topological protection to a broad class of defects in valley-Hall photonic topological metamaterials. Unveiling precisely how such protection is achieved and its implications in practical implementations is paramount to move from fundamental science to applications. To this end, we investigate a honeycomb valley-Hall topological metamaterial and monitor the evolution of the topological valley-Hall edge states and higher-order corner states under different perturbation δR. The evolutions of the edge states of the armchair and zigzag interfaces are demonstrated, respectively. By adjusting the geometric parameters and introducing disturbances to break the inversion symmetry, we achieve the edge states with different modes including the conventional crossed edge state and the specific gapped edge state. It is found that the edge states of topological valley kinking will gradually separate with the increase of δR, and finally a complete gap between the edge states appears. The gap has rarely been reported previously in topological materials fabricated by printed circuit board technology. In addition, the higher-order topological corner states can also be observed in the proposed topological metamaterial. The higher-order topological phase is theoretically characterized by nontrivial bulk polarization and the Wannier centers. Our results show that the corner state localization becomes stronger with the increase of δR. It is expected that our results will provide a platform for the realization of optical topological insulators

Application of FTIR-PAS in Rapid Assessment of Rice Quality under Climate Change Conditions

Fourier transform infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy (FTIR-PAS), versus attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRIFT), was firstly applied in quick assessment of rice quality in response to rising CO2/temperature instead of conventional time-consuming chemical methods. The influences of elevated CO2 and higher temperature were identified using FTIR-PAS spectra by principal component analysis (PCA). Variations in the rice functional groups are crucial indicators for rice identification, and the ratio of the intensities of two selected spectral bands was used for correlation analysis with starch, protein, and lipid content, and the ratios all showed a positive linear correlation (R2 = 0.9103, R2 = 0.9580, and R2 = 0.9246, respectively). Subsequently, changes in nutritional components under future environmental conditions that encompass higher CO2 and temperature were evaluated, which demonstrated the potential of FTIR-PAS to detect the responses of rice to climate change, providing a valuable technique for agricultural production and food security

Application of FTIR-PAS in Rapid Assessment of Rice Quality under Climate Change Conditions

Fourier transform infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy (FTIR-PAS), versus attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRIFT), was firstly applied in quick assessment of rice quality in response to rising CO2/temperature instead of conventional time-consuming chemical methods. The influences of elevated CO2 and higher temperature were identified using FTIR-PAS spectra by principal component analysis (PCA). Variations in the rice functional groups are crucial indicators for rice identification, and the ratio of the intensities of two selected spectral bands was used for correlation analysis with starch, protein, and lipid content, and the ratios all showed a positive linear correlation (R2 = 0.9103, R2 = 0.9580, and R2 = 0.9246, respectively). Subsequently, changes in nutritional components under future environmental conditions that encompass higher CO2 and temperature were evaluated, which demonstrated the potential of FTIR-PAS to detect the responses of rice to climate change, providing a valuable technique for agricultural production and food security

Human chorionic gonadotropin β induces migration and invasion via activating ERK1/2 and MMP-2 in human prostate cancer DU145 cells.

We previously demonstrated that human chorionic gonadotropin β (hCGβ) induced migration and invasion in human prostate cancer cells. However, the involved molecular mechanisms are unclear. Here, we established a stable prostate cancer cell line overexpressing hCGβ and tested hCGβ-triggered signaling pathways causing cell migration and invasion. ELISA showed that the hCGβ amount secreted into medium increased with culture time after the hCGβ-transfected cells were incubated for 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 h. More, hCGβ standards promoted MAPK (ERK1/2) phosphorylation and increased MMP-2 expression and activity in both dose- and time-dependent manners in hCGβ non-transfected cells. In addition, hCGβ promoted ERK1/2 phosphorylation and increased MMP-2 expression and activity significantly in hCGβ transfected DU145 cells. Whereas ERK1/2 blocker PD98059 (25 µM) significantly downregulated phosphorylated ERK1/2 and MMP-2. Particularly, hCGβ promoted cell migration and invasion, yet the PD98059 diminished the hCGβ-induced cell motility under those conditions. These results indicated that hCGβ induced cell motility via promoting ERK1/2 phosphorylation and MMP-2 upregulation in human prostate cancer DU145 cells

Sulforaphane inhibits invasion via activating ERK1/2 signaling in human glioblastoma U87MG and U373MG cells.

Glioblastoma has highly invasive potential, which might result in poor prognosis and therapeutic failure. Hence, the key we study is to find effective therapies to repress migration and invasion. Sulforaphane (SFN) was demonstrated to inhibit cell growth in a variety of tumors. Here, we will further investigate whether SFN inhibits migration and invasion and find the possible mechanisms in human glioblastoma U87MG and U373MG cells.First, the optimal time and dose of SFN for migration and invasion study were determined via cell viability and cell morphological assay. Further, scratch assay and transwell invasion assay were employed to investigate the effect of SFN on migration and invasion. Meanwhile, Western blots were used to detect the molecular linkage among invasion related proteins phosphorylated ERK1/2, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and CD44v6. Furthermore, Gelatin zymography was performed to detect the inhibition of MMP-2 activation. In addition, ERK1/2 blocker PD98059 (25 µM) was integrated to find the link between activated ERK1/2 and invasion, MMP-2 and CD44v6.The results showed that SFN (20 µM) remarkably reduced the formation of cell pseudopodia, indicating that SFN might inhibit cell motility. As expected, scratch assay and transwell invasion assay showed that SFN inhibited glioblastoma cell migration and invasion. Western blot and Gelatin zymography showed that SFN phosphorylated ERK1/2 in a sustained way, which contributed to the downregulated MMP-2 expression and activity, and the upregulated CD44v6 expression. These molecular interactions resulted in the inhibition of cell invasion.SFN inhibited migration and invasion processes. Furthermore, SFN inhibited invasion via activating ERK1/2 in a sustained way. The accumulated ERK1/2 activation downregulated MMP-2 expression and decreased its activity and upregulated CD44v6. SFN might be a potential therapeutic agent by activating ERK1/2 signaling against human glioblastoma

HCG detection in the culture medium via ELISA.

<p>Data showed that there was hCGβ secreted into cell medium. Furthermore, the level of hCGβ secreted into medium increased with time after the hCGβ transfected cells were incubated for 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 h.</p

HCGβ increased MMP-2 activity via ERK1/2.

<p>We collected the conditional medium from the above treatment was for geltin zymography assay as the Methods. The results showed that hCGβ increased MMP-2 activity and PD98059 reduced those effects. *, indicates <i>P<0.05</i> versus control. Data were shown as means ± SEM from three separate tests. The lower panel of gel pictures showed an equal loading that a parallel SDS gel was run to test β-actin via Western blot.</p

Enhanced Interface Compatibility by Ionic Dendritic Molecules To Achieve Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells

Poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) represents a promising hole transport material for emerging perovskite solar cells (PSCs) due to its appealing merits of high thermal stability and appropriate hydrophobicity. Nonetheless, large energy losses at the P3HT/perovskite interface lead to unsatisfied efficiency and stability of the devices. Herein, two ionic dendritic molecules, 3,3′-(2,7-bis(3,6-bis(bis(4-methoxyphenyl)amino)-9H-carbazol-9-yl)-9H-fluorene-9,9-diyl)bis(N,N,N-trimethylpropan-1-aminium) iodide and 3,3′-(2,7-bis(bis(4-(bis(4-methoxyphenyl)amino)phenyl)amino)-9H-fluorene-9,9-diyl)bis(N,N,N-trimethylpropan-1-aminium) iodide, namely, MPA-Cz-FAI and MPA-PA-FAI, are rationally designed as the interlayer to enhance interfacial compatibility. The dendritic backbone with conjugated structure endows the hole transport layer with high conductivity, derived from the more ordered microstructure with larger crystallization and higher connectivity of domain zones. Besides, a better energy level alignment is established between P3HT and perovskite, which enhances the charge extraction and transport yield. In addition, the peripheral methoxy groups enable effective defect passivation at the interface to suppress nonradiative recombination and the quaternary ammonium iodide serving as side chains enable efficient interfacial hole extraction contributing to enhanced charge collection yield. As a result, the dopant-free P3HT-based PSCs modified with MPA-Cz-PAI deliver a champion efficiency of 19.7%, significantly higher than that of the control devices (15.4%). More encouragingly, the unencapsulated devices demonstrate competitive environmental stability by retaining over 85% of its initial efficiency after 1500 h of storage under humid conditions (70% relative humidity). This work provides an effective molecular design strategy for interface engineering, envisaging a bright prospect for the further development of efficient and stable perovskite solar cells

Effect of freezing on recombinant hepatitis E vaccine

Studies have revealed that vaccines are more often exposed to sub-zero temperatures during cold chain transportation than what was previously known. Such exposure might be detrimental to the potency of temperature-sensitive vaccines. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of exposure to freezing on the physicochemical properties and biological activities of recombinant hepatitis E (rHE) vaccine. Changes in rHE vaccine due to freezing temperatures were analyzed with regard to sedimentation rate, antigenicity, and antibody affinity and potency. The freezing temperature of rHE was measured, then rHE vaccine was exposed to freezing temperatures below −10°C.Significant increase of sedimentation rate was noted, according to shake test and massed precipitates. In addition, the binding affinity of rHE vaccine to six specific monoclonal antibodies was significantly reduced and the in vivo potency for eliciting a protective IgG response was also partially lost, especially for anti-HEV neutralizing antibodies. Altogether, our work indicates that exposure of rHE vaccine to a temperature below −10°C results in the loss of structural integrity and biological potency of rHE vaccine

Seroepidemiology of coxsackievirus B5 in infants and children in Jiangsu province, China

Coxsackievirus B5 (CV-B5) is associated with various human diseases such as viral encephalitis, aseptic meningitis, paralysis, herpangina, and hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). However, there is currently no effective vaccine against CV-B5.The seroepidemiologic characteristics of CV-B5 remained unknown. A cohort study was carried out in 176 participants aged 6–35 months from January 2012 to January 2014. The serum samples were collected and tested for CV-B5 neutralizing antibodies (NtAbs) four times during these two years. The confirmed enterovirus cases were recorded through the surveillance system, and their throat or rectal swabs were collected for pathogen detection. According to the changes of CV-B5 NtAbs, two CV-B5 epidemics were detected among these participants during the two-year follow-up. Sixty-seven cases out of all participants had seroconversion in CV-B5 NtAbs. During the first epidemic from March 2012 to September 2012, CV-B5 seropositivity rate increased significantly (6.8%, 12/176 vs. 21.6%, 38/176, P = 0.000). The seroconversion rate and geometric mean fold-increase (GMFI) were 18.2% (32/176) and 55.7, respectively; During the second epidemic from September 2012 to January 2014, CV-B5 seropositivity rate also increased (21.6%, 38/176 vs. 38.6%, 68/176, P = 0.000), and the seroconversion rate and GMFI were 19.9% (35/176) and 46.5, respectively. Only one case had CV-B5 associated HFMD during the two-year follow-up, and CV-B5 from the throat swab isolate was GI.D3 subtype, which belonged to the major pandemic strain in mainland China. CV-B5 infection was common in infants and children in Jiangsu province, China. Therefore, it's necessary to strengthen the surveillance on CV-B5 and to understand the epidemic characteristics of CV-B5 infection