Porous SiO₂ Hollow Spheres as a Solar Reflective Pigment for Coatings

This study starts with the synthesis of silica hollow spheres (HSs) by utilizing in situ synthesized polystyrene (PS) microspheres as the template for the deposition of a silica (SiO₂) shell, followed by a slow gasification step in air to remove the PS core. The size of HS and the thickness of the porous SiO₂ shell are tuned by varying the synthesis conditions of the PS latex and those of the sol–gel deposition, respectively. Various HS powder samples are characterized by ultraviolet–visible–near infrared (UV–vis–NIR) spectroscopy to determine their diffuse reflectance. Furthermore, they are used as the filler in an acrylic polymer matrix for the measurement of solar reflectivity on a solar spectrum reflectometer. It turns out that both cavity size and the structure of the SiO₂ shell are influential in the reflection of NIR and UV–vis light, respectively. In addition, this study examines the effect on solar reflectivity of a selected metal oxide with a SiO₂ HS. In conclusion, the cavity size of the HS has a strong impact on the reflectivity to NIR light whereas the shell itself affects the reflection of UV-blue light

Differential Regulation of TLR Signaling on the Induction of Antiviral Interferons in Human Intestinal Epithelial Cells Infected with Enterovirus 71

<div><p>Enterovirus 71 (EV71) causes hand-foot-and-mouth disease, which can lead to fatal neurological complications in young children and infants. Few gastrointestinal symptoms are observed clinically, suggesting the presence of a unique immunity to EV71 in the gut. We reported a robust induction of interferons (IFNs) in human intestinal epithelial cells (HT-29), which was suppressed in other types such as RD and HeLa cells. The underlying mechanism for the apparent difference remains obscure. In this study we report that in EV71-infected HT-29 cells, TLR/TRIF signaling was essential to IFN induction; viral replication increased and the induction of IFN-α, -β, -ω, -κ, and -ε decreased markedly in TRIF-silenced HT-29 cells. Importantly, TRIF was degraded by viral 3C^pro in RD cells, but resisted cleavage, and IRF3 was activated and translocated into the nucleus in HT-29 cells. Taken together, our data suggest that IFNs were induced differentially in human HT-29 cells through an intact TLR/TRIF signaling, which differs from other cell types and may be implicated in viral pathogenesis in EV71 infection.</p></div

Degradation of TRIF by viral 3C^pro in RD but not in HT-29 cells.

<p><b>A.</b> RD and HT-29 cells were transfected with a plasmid expressing HA-3C for 24 hrs, and then the cells were fixed and incubated with anti-HA and anti-TRIF antibodies, which were followed by staining with conjugated secondary antibodies and DAPI, before being subjected to laser scanning microscopy in an Olympus confocal microscope. <b>B</b>. RD cells and HT-29 cells were transfected with a plasmid expressing HA-3C for 36 hrs. Cell lysates were collected and used for western blot analysis to determine the protein levels of TRIF and 3C^pro. GAPDH was detected as a loading control.</p

Direct Synthesis of Few-Layer F‑Doped Graphene Foam and Its Lithium/Potassium Storage Properties

Heteroatom-doped graphene is considered a potential electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) systems are possible alternatives due to the comparatively higher abundance. Here, a practical solid-state method is described for the preparation of few-layer F-doped graphene foam (FFGF) with thickness of about 4 nm and high surface area (874 m²g^–1). As anode material for LIBs, FFGF exhibits 800 mAh·g^–1 after 50 cycles at a current density of 100 mA·g^–1 and 555 mAh·g^–1 after 100 cycles at 200 mA·g^–1 as well as remarkable rate capability. FFGF also shows 165.9 mAh·g^–1 at 500 mA·g^–1 for 200 cycles for PIBs. Research suggests that the multiple synergistic effects of the F-modification, high surface area, and mesoporous membrane structures endow the ions and electrons throughout the electrode matrix with fast transportation as well as offering sufficient active sites for lithium and potassium storage, resulting in excellent electrochemical performance. Furthermore, the insights obtained will be of benefit to the design of reasonable electrode materials for alkali metal ion batteries

Regulation of RLR signaling in HT-29 and RD cells.

<p>HT-29 <b>(A)</b> and RD cells <b>(B)</b> were infected with EV71 and the cell lysates were prepared at indicated time points, and subsequently subjected to SDS-PAGE and western blot analysis for detecting levels of proteins in RLR signaling pathway.</p

Porous Titania Nanosheet/Nanoparticle Hybrids as Photoanodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Porous titania nanohybrids (NHs) were successfully prepared by hybridizing the exfoliated titania nanosheets with anatase TiO₂ nanoparticles. Various characterizations revealed that the titania NHs as photoanodes play a trifunctional role (light harvesting, dye adsorption, and electron transfer) in improving the efficiency (η) of the dye-sensitized solar cells. The optimized photoanode consisting layered NHs demonstrated a high overall conversion efficiency of 10.1%, remarkably enhanced by 29.5% compared to that (7.8%) obtained from the benchmark P25 nanoparticles under the same testing conditions

Silence of TRIF reduced the induction of IFNs in EV71-infected HT-29 cells.

<p><b>A</b>. HT-29-CTL and HT-29-TRIF cells were infected with EV71 with an m.o.i. of 2, and total RNA were prepared 12, 24, and 36 hrs p.i. for realtime RT-PCR with primers specific for various IFNs (IFN-α, β, ω, ε, κ, λ1, λ2, and λ3). <b>B</b> Cultural supernatants were collected for measuring protein levels of IFN-β by ELISA assay.</p

Differential regulation of TLR signaling in HT-29 and RD cells.

<p>HT-29 and RD cells were infected with EV71 at an m.o.i. of 2, and cell lysates were prepared at 12, 24, and 36 hrs p.i. for SDS-PAGE and western blot analysis with specific antibodies. <b>A</b> and <b>C</b>: HT-29 cells; <b>B</b> and <b>D</b>: RD cells. RD cells were also treated with poly (I:C) for 4 hrs and the lysates were used as a positive control for detecting the phosphorylated TAK1 and IRF3.</p

Silence of TRIF facilitated EV71 infection in HT-29 cells.

<p><b>A</b>. Knockdown of TRIF in HT-29 cells. Total RNA was extracted from HT-29-CTL and HT-29-TRIF cells. TRIF mRNA transcripts were measured by realtime RT-PCR with primers for TRIF (top). Cell lysates from HT-29-CTL and HT-29-TRIF were prepared for SDS-PAGE and western blot analysis with anti-TRIF antibody (bottom). <b>B</b>. Cell viability of lentivirus-infected HT-29 cells as measured by the MTT assay. <b>C</b>. Increased viral VP1 gene expression in TRIF-silenced HT-29. HT-29-CTL and HT-29-TRIF cells were infected with EV71 with an m.o.i. of 2, and total RNA were prepared at 12, 24, and 36 hrs p.i. for RT-PCR with specific primers for viral VP1 gene. <b>D</b>. EV71 viral replication decreased in TRIF-silenced HT-29 cells. HT-29-CTL and HT-29-TRIF cells were infected with EV71 and the supernatants were collected at 12, 24, and 36 hrs for infectious viral titration at Vero cells in a standard TCID₅₀ assay.</p

Activation and translocation of IRF3 in HT-29 but not in RD cells.

<p><b>A.</b> HT-29 cells and RD cells infected with or without EV71 and the cells were fixed at 24 hrs p.i. The fixed cells were incubated with anti-EV71 VP1 and anti-IRF3 antibodies, followed by staining with conjugated secondary antibodies and DAPI, before being subjected to confocal laser scanning microscopy. <b>B</b>. RD cells were infected with EV71 for 24 hrs or stimulated with 50 μg poly (I:C) /ml for 4 hrs at 37°C. Unstimulated and uninfected cells were used as controls. Cell lysates and nuclear extracts were prepared and subjected to SDS-PAGE and western blots assays with specific antibodies.</p