674 research outputs found
Association between decreased serum TBIL concentration and immediate memory impairment in schizophrenia patients
© 2019, The Author(s). Cognitive impairment is a core feature of schizophrenia (SCH). In addition to the toxic effect of Bilirubin (BIL), it has antioxidant properties that were associated with the psychopathology and cognitive impairment of psychiatric disorders. The aim of this study was to examine the correlation of serum total BIL (TBIL) concentration with cognitive impairment in SCH patients. We recruited 34 SCH patients and 119 healthy controls (HCs) in this case-control design. Cognition was assessed using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Serum TBIL concentration was measured using the immunoturbidimetric method. Serum TBIL concentration was significantly decreased in SCH patients compared to HCs after adjusting for age, gender, and education. Serum TBIL concentration in SCH patients was also positively correlated with the RBANS immediate memory score. Further stepwise multiple regression analysis confirmed the positive association between serum TBIL concentration and immediate memory score in SCH patients. Our findings supported that the decline in serum TBIL concentration was associated with the immediate memory impairment and psychopathology of SCH
Electrocatalytic oxidation of ethanol and ethylene glycol on cubic, octahedral and rhombic dodecahedral palladium nanocrystals
Cubic, octahedral and rhombic dodecahedral Pd nanocrystals were synthesized and examined as nanocatalysts for electro-oxidation of ethanol and ethylene glycol. Combined electrochemical measurements and density functional theory calculations reveal that nanofacet-dependent affinity and reactivity of OHads and COads are closely linked to the C2 alcohol oxidation activities, with the highest reactivity found on the Pd nanocubes bounded by {100} facets
A Search for Double-peaked narrow emission line Galaxies and AGNs in the LAMOST DR1
LAMOST has released more than two million spectra, which provide the
opportunity to search for double-peaked narrow emission line (NEL) galaxies and
AGNs. The double-peaked narrow-line profiles can be well modeled by two
velocity components, respectively blueshifted and redshifted with respect to
the systemic recession velocity. This paper presents 20 double-peaked NEL
galaxies and AGNs found from LAMOST DR1 using a search method based on
multi-gaussian fit of the narrow emission lines. Among them, 10 have already
been published by other authors, either listed as genuine double-peaked NEL
objects or as asymmetric NEL objects, the remaining 10 being first discoveries.
We discuss some possible origins for double-peaked narrow-line features, as
interaction between jet and narrow line regions, interaction with companion
galaxies and black hole binaries. Spatially resolved optical imaging and/or
follow-up observations in other spectral bands are needed to further discuss
the physical mechanisms at work.Comment: 17 pages, 5figures, 4 tables, accepted by RA
RNA Interference inhibits Hepatitis B Virus of different genotypes in Vitro and in Vivo
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection increases the risk of liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) can be a potential new tool for HBV therapy. Given the high heterogeneity of HBV strains and the sensitivity towards sequences changes of siRNA, finding a potent siRNA inhibitor against the conservative site on the HBV genome is essential to ensure a therapeutic application.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Forty short hairpin RNA (shRNA) expression plasmids were constructed to target conserved regions among nine HBV genotypes. HBV 1.3-fold genome plasmids carrying various genotypes were co-transfected with shRNA plasmids into either Huh7 cells or mice. The levels of various viral markers were examined to assess the anti-HBV efficacy of siRNA. Four (B245, B376, B1581 and B1789) were found with the ability to potently inhibit HBV RNA, DNA, surface antigen (HBsAg), e antigen (HBeAg) and core antigen (HBcAg) expression in HBV genotypes A, B, C, D and I (a newly identified genotype) in Huh7 cells and in mice. No unusual cytotoxicity or off-target effects were noted.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Such siRNA suggests an alternate way of inhibiting various HBV genotypes in vitro and in vivo, promising advances in the treatment of HBV.</p
The Hidden Nematic Fluctuations in the Triclinic (Ca0.85La0.15)10(Pt3As8)(Fe2As2)5 Superconductor Revealed by Ultrafast Optical Spectroscopy
We reported the quasiparticle relaxation dynamics of an optimally doped
triclinic iron-based superconductor
(CaLa)(PtAs)(FeAs) with bulk
= 30 K using polarized ultrafast optical pump-probe spectroscopy. Our results
reveal anisotropic transient reflectivity induced by nematic fluctuations
develops below 120 K and persists in the superconducting
states. Measurements under high pump fluence reveal three distinct, coherent
phonon modes at frequencies of 1.6, 3.5, and 4.7 THz, corresponding to
, , and modes, respectively. The high-frequency
mode corresponds to the -axis polarized vibrations of FeAs
planes with a nominal electron-phonon coupling constant
0.139 0.02. Our findings suggest that the superconductivity and
nematic state are compatible but competitive at low temperatures, and the
phonons play an important role in the formation of Cooper pairs in
(CaLa)(PtAs)(FeAs).Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures and Supplemental Material
Nesting-driven antiferromagnetic order in Kondo lattice CePd5Al2
We investigated the electronic structure of the antiferromagnetic Kondo
lattice CePd5Al2 using high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission
spectroscopy. The experimentally determined band structure of the conduction
electrons is predominated by the Pd 4d character. It contains multiple hole and
electron Fermi pockets, in good agreement with density functional theory
calculations. The Fermi surface is folded over Q0 = (0, 0, 1), manifested by
Fermi surface reconstruction and band folding. Our results suggest that Fermi
surface nesting drives the formation of antiferromagnetic order in CePd5Al2.Comment: 6 pages,3 figur
Dirac semimetal PdTe2 temperature-dependent quasiparticle dynamics and electron-phonon coupling
Dirac semimetal PdTe2 single-crystal temperature-dependent ultrafast carrier
and phonon dynamics were studied using ultrafast optical pump-probe
spectroscopy. Two distinct carrier and coherent phonons relaxation processes
were identified in the 5 K - 300 K range. Quantitative analysis revealed a fast
relaxation process ({\tau}_f) occurring on a subpicosecond time scale which
originated from electron-phonon thermalization. This was followed by a slower
relaxation process ({\tau}_s) with a time scale of ~ 7-9.5 ps which originated
from phonon-assisted electron-hole recombination. Two significant vibrational
modes resolved at all measured temperatures and corresponded to Te atoms
in-plane (E_g), and out-of-plane (A_1g), motion. As temperature increased both
phonon modes softened markedly. A_1g mode frequency monotonically decreased as
temperature increased. Its damping rate remained virtually unchanged. As
expected, E_g decreased uniformly as temperatures rose. At temperatures above
80 K, there was insignificant change. Test results suggested that pure
dephasing played an important role in the relaxation processes. PdTe2 phonon is
thought responsible for its superconductive properties. Examining phonons
behavior should improve the understanding of its complex superconductivity.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure
S1PR1 regulates ovarian cancer cell senescence through the PDK1-LATS1/2-YAP pathway
Cell senescence deters the activation of various oncogenes. Induction of senescence is, therefore, a potentially effective strategy to interfere with vital processes in tumor cells. Sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1) has been implicated in various cancer types, including ovarian cancer. The mechanism by which S1PR1 regulates ovarian cancer cell senescence is currently elusive. In this study, we demonstrate that S1PR1 was highly expressed in human ovarian cancer tissues and cell lines. S1PR1 deletion inhibited the proliferation and migration of ovarian cancer cells. S1PR1 deletion promoted ovarian cancer cell senescence and sensitized ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin chemotherapy. Exposure of ovarian cancer cells to sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) increased the expression of 3-phosphatidylinositol-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1), decreased the expression of large tumor suppressor 1/2 (LATS1/2), and induced phosphorylation of Yes-associated protein (p-YAP). Opposite results were obtained in S1PR1 knockout cells following pharmacological inhibition. After silencing LATS1/2 in S1PR1-deficient ovarian cancer cells, senescence was suppressed and S1PR1 expression was increased concomitantly with YAP expression. Transcriptional regulation of S1PR1 by YAP was confirmed by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Accordingly, the S1PR1-PDK1-LATS1/2-YAP pathway regulates ovarian cancer cell senescence and does so through a YAP-mediated feedback loop. S1PR1 constitutes a druggable target for the induction of senescence in ovarian cancer cells. Pharmacological intervention in the S1PR1-PDK1-LATS1/2-YAP signaling axis may augment the efficacy of standard chemotherapy.</p
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