14 research outputs found
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A novel DCL2-dependent miRNA pathway in tomato affects susceptibility to RNA viruses.
Tomato Dicer-like2 (slDCL2) is a key component of resistance pathways against potato virus X (PVX) and tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). It is also required for production of endogenous small RNAs, including miR6026 and other noncanonical microRNAs (miRNAs). The slDCL2 mRNAs are targets of these slDCL2-dependent RNAs in a feedback loop that was disrupted by target mimic RNAs of miR6026. In lines expressing these RNAs, there was correspondingly enhanced resistance against PVX and TMV. These findings illustrate a novel miRNA pathway in plants and a crop protection strategy in which miRNA target mimicry elevates expression of defense-related mRNAs
Intermolecular CT excitons enable nanosecond excited-state lifetimes in NIR-absorbing non-fullerene acceptors for efficient organic solar cells
State-of-the-art Y6-type molecular acceptors exhibit nanosecond excited-state
lifetimes despite their low optical gaps (~1.4 eV), thus allowing organic solar
cells (OSCs) to achieve highly efficient charge generation with extended
near-infrared (NIR) absorption range (up to ~1000 nm). However, the precise
molecular-level mechanism that enables low-energy excited states in Y6-type
acceptors to achieve nanosecond lifetimes has remained elusive. Here, we
demonstrate that the distinct packing of Y6 molecules in film leads to a strong
intermolecular charge-transfer (iCT) character of the lowest excited state in
Y6 aggregates, which is absent in other low-gap acceptors such as ITIC. Due to
strong electronic couplings between the adjacent Y6 molecules, the iCT-exciton
energies are greatly reduced by up to ~0.25 eV with respect to excitons formed
in separated molecules. Importantly, despite their low energies, the iCT
excitons have reduced non-adiabatic electron-vibration couplings with the
electronic ground state, thus suppressing non-radiative recombination and
allowing Y6 to overcome the well-known energy gap law. Our results reveal the
fundamental relationship between molecular packing and nanosecond excited-state
lifetimes in NIR-absorbing Y6-type acceptors underlying the outstanding
performance of Y6-based OSCs
Presence of tumour capsule on contrast-enhanced CT is associated with improved outcomes of stereotactic body radiation therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma patients
Purpose Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is a novel local therapy for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While effective, there is currently noreliable radiological marker to guide patient selection. In this study, we investigated the prognostic value of capsule appearanceon contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) for patients undergoing SBRT. Materials and Methods Between 2006 and 2017, 156 consecutive patients with Child-Pugh score class A/B and HCC ≥5cm that underwent SBRT were retrospectively analysed. Baseline triple-phase CTs of the abdomen were reviewed for the presence of capsule appearances and correlated with objective response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), and pattern of treatment failure. Results Capsule appearance on CT was present in 83 (53.2%) patients.It was associated with improved ORR by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST) (60.2% vs 24.7%; p<0.001) andModified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours(mRECIST) (ORR 78.3% vs 34.2%; p<0.001). The presence of a capsule was also associated with superior 2-year local control (89.1% vs. 51.4%; p<0.001) and 2-year OS (34.1% vs. 14.8%, p<0.01). Hepatic out-field failure was the dominant mode of progression, which was less common in patients with intact capsule (54.2% vs. 60.3%, p=0.01). Conclusion Capsule appearance on CT could potentially be a non-invasive prognostic marker for selecting HCC patients undergoing SBRT. Larger cohort is warranted to validate our findings
Antisense-oligonucleotide-mediated perturbation of long non-coding RNA reveals functional features in stem cells and across cell types
Decomposition of Organometal Halide Perovskite Films on Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles
Solution processed zinc oxide (ZnO)
nanoparticles (NPs) with excellent
electron transport properties and a low-temperature process is a viable
candidate to replace titanium dioxide (TiO<sub>2</sub>) as electron
transport layer to develop high-efficiency perovskite solar cells
on flexible substrates. However, the number of reported high-performance
perovskite solar cells using ZnO-NPs is still limited. Here we report
a detailed investigation on the chemistry and crystal growth of CH<sub>3</sub>NH<sub>3</sub>PbI<sub>3</sub> perovskite on ZnO-NP thin films.
We find that the perovskite films would severely decompose into PbI<sub>2</sub> upon thermal annealing on the bare ZnO-NP surface. X-ray
photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results show that the hydroxide groups
on the ZnO-NP surface accelerate the decomposition of the perovskite
films. To reduce the decomposition, we introduce a buffer layer in
between the ZnO-NPs and perovskite layers. We find that a commonly
used buffer layer with small molecule [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid
methyl ester (PC<sub>61</sub>BM) can slow down but cannot completely
avoid the decomposition. On the other hand, a polymeric buffer layer
using polyÂ(ethylenimine) (PEI) can effectively separate the ZnO-NPs
and perovskite, which allows larger crystal formation with thermal
annealing. The power conversion efficiencies of perovskite photovoltaic
cells are significantly increased from 6.4% to 10.2% by replacing
PC<sub>61</sub>BM with PEI as the buffer layer
Initial Prostate Health Index (phi) and phi density predicts future risk of clinically significant prostate cancer in men with initial negative prostate biopsy: a 6-year follow-up study
Background: Men with elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and initial negative prostate biopsy may have risk of prostate cancer (PCa) in the future. The role of Prostate Health Index (phi) in determining future PCa risk has not been studied before. This study aims to investigate the role of initial phi and phi density in predicting future PCa risk in men with initial negative biopsy. Methods: Five hundred sixty nine men with PSA 4–10 ng/mL were recruited between 2008 and 2015 for prostate biopsy with prior phi. Electronic clinical record of men with initial negative biopsy was reviewed. Patients and follow-up doctors were blinded to phi. Kaplan–Meier curves were used to analyze the PCa-free survival in different baseline phi and phi density groups. Results: Four hundred sixty-one men with complete follow-up data were included. Median follow-up is 77 months. PCa and HGPCa was diagnosed in 8.2% (38/461) and 4.8% (22/461) of cohort respectively. A higher baseline phi value was associated with PCa (p = 0.003) and HGPCa (p < 0.001). HGPCa was diagnosed in 0.6% (1/163) of phi < 25, 4.6% (9/195) of phi 25–34.9, and 11.7% (12/103) of phi ≥ 35 (p < 0.001). HGPCa was diagnosed in 0% (0/109) and 21.0% (13/62) with phi density of <0.4 and ≥1.2, respectively, (p < 0.001). Kaplan–Meier curves showed phi and phi density predicted PCa and HGPCa diagnoses (log-rank test, all p ≤ 0.002). Conclusions: Initial phi or phi density predicted 6-year risk of PCa in men with initial negative prostate biopsy. Men with higher phi (≥35) or phi density (≥1.2) need closer follow-up and repeated investigation, while men with lower phi (<25) or phi density (<0.4) could have less frequent follow-up
The Role of Barium Swallow Pharyngoesophagography in the Management of the Globus Pharyngeus: Our Ten Years Local Experience of Asian Population
Development of a Novel, Genome Subtraction-Derived, SARS-CoV-2-Specific COVID-19-nsp2 Real-Time RT-PCR Assay and Its Evaluation Using Clinical Specimens
The pandemic novel coronavirus infection, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), has affected at least 190 countries or territories, with 465,915 confirmed cases and 21,031 deaths. In a containment-based strategy, rapid, sensitive and specific testing is important in epidemiological control and clinical management. Using 96 SARS-CoV-2 and 104 non-SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus genomes and our in-house program, GolayMetaMiner, four specific regions longer than 50 nucleotides in the SARS-CoV-2 genome were identified. Primers were designed to target the longest and previously untargeted nsp2 region and optimized as a probe-free real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. The new COVID-19-nsp2 assay had a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.8 TCID50/mL and did not amplify other human-pathogenic coronaviruses and respiratory viruses. Assay reproducibility in terms of cycle threshold (Cp) values was satisfactory, with the total imprecision (% CV) values well below 5%. Evaluation of the new assay using 59 clinical specimens from 14 confirmed cases showed 100% concordance with our previously developed COVID-19-RdRp/Hel reference assay. A rapid, sensitive, SARS-CoV-2-specific real-time RT-PCR assay, COVID-19-nsp2, was developed