Roles of Sulfur Sources in the Formation of Alloyed Cu_2–<i>x</i>S_<i>y</i>Se_1–<i>y</i> Nanocrystals: Controllable Synthesis and Tuning of Plasmonic Resonance Absorption

Ternary alloyed Cu_2–<i>x</i>S_<i>y</i>Se_1–<i>y</i> nanocrystals (NCs) were synthesized by using a simple and phosphine-free colloidal approach, in which sulfur powder and 1-dodecanethiol (DDT) were used as sulfur sources. In both cases, the crystal phase transformed from cubic berzelianite to monoclinic djurleite structure together with the morphology evolution from quasi-triangular to spherical or discal with an increase of sulfur content. Accordingly, the near-infrared (NIR) localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) absorption of the as-obtained sulfur-rich NCs exhibited obvious red-shift of wavelength and widening of absorption width. When the sulfur powder was chosen as sulfur sources, the LSPR wavelength of the as-obtained alloyed Cu_2–<i>x</i>S_<i>y</i>Se_1–<i>y</i> NCs could be tuned from 975 to 1230 nm with a decrease of selenium content in the NCs. In contrast, the region of the red-shift could be up to 1250 nm for the alloyed NCs synthesized by incorporation of different DDT dosage into the reaction system. The different sulfur sources and the electron donating effects of the DDT as a ligand played an important role in the LSPR absorption tuning. This deduction could be testified by the post-treating the quasi-triangular Cu_2–<i>x</i>Se NCs with DDT under different temperatures and over different reaction time, which exhibited a red-shift of LSPR wavelength up to 450 nm due to coordination of DDT to Cu atoms on the NC surface while incorporating some sulfur anions into the lattice. This study offers a convenient tool for tuning the LSPR absorption of copper chalcogenide NCs and makes them for application in biological and optoelectronic fields

Anti-PHB autoantibodies induced in IgG4-RD patients.

<p>(A) The prevalence of autoantibodies against human PHB in sera from patients was observed. ELISA was used to detect the reactivity of serum IgG4 against recombinant human PHB protein. The anti-PHB antibodies were detected in 65 of 89 RA patients (73%), 4 of 30 SjS patients (13.3%) and 1 of 70 healthy donors (1.4%). The reactivity of anti-PHB antibodies was significantly higher than HC (***<i>P</i><0.0001). (B) The patients with IgG4-RD were then divided into the following confirmed subtypes: AIP, definite autoimmune pancreatitis (25/34, 73.5%); MD, Mikulicz’s disease (8/15, 53.3%); RPF, retroperitoneal fibrosis (6/11, 54.5%); MIX, affect multiply organs (26/29, 89.7%).</p

Verification of prohibitin.

<p>(A) The cloning, expression and purification of recombinant PHB protein. M, protein markers; lane 1, cell extracts of pET-28a (+)-PHB/BL21 after IPTG induction for 6 hour at 37°C; lane 2, cell extracts of pET-28a (+)-PHB/BL21 before IPTG induction; lane 3, cell extracts of pET-28a (+)-BL21 after IPTG induction. lane 4, cell extracts of BL21 after IPTG induction. (B) Western blot using purified PHB protein showed that only the sera from patients with IgG4-RD (lane 1) rather than HC (lane 2) contain antibodies against a 30 kDa cellular protein. (C) The expressed protein was purified and further identified by MS, which revealed its identity as PHB. (D) PHB protein was also identified in immunoprecipitates; lane 1, supernatant of immunoprecipitation; lane 2, immunoprecipitates; lane 3, control sample (the purified rhPHB). (E) The protein band on lane 2 was excised and identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF MS, which again revealed its identity as PHB.</p

Shape-Controlled Synthesis of PbS Nanocrystals via a Simple One-Step Process

A one-step colloidal process was adopted to prepare face-centered-cubic PbS nanocrystals with different shapes such as octahedral, starlike, cubic, truncated octahedral, and truncated cubic. The features of this approach avoid the presynthesis of any organometallic precursor and the injection of a toxic phosphine agent. A layered intermediate compound (lead thiolate) forms in the initial stage of the reaction, which effectively acts as the precursor to decompose into the PbS nanocrystals. The size and shape of the PbS nanocrystals can be easily controlled by varying the reaction time, the reactant concentrations, the reaction temperatures, and the amount of surfactants. In particular, additional surfactants other than dodecanethiol, such as oleylamine, oleic acid, and octadecene, play an important role in the shape control of the products. The possible formation mechanism for the PbS nanocrystals with various shapes is presented on the basis of the different growth directions of the nanocrystals with the assistance of the different surfactants. This method provides a facile, low-cost, highly reproducible process for the synthesis of PbS nanocrystals that may have potential applications in the fabrication of photovoltaic devices and photodetectors

Immunofluorescence analysis.

<p>(A-D) Immunofluorescence was performed on HT-29 by confocal laser microscopy, then compared with other cells including EA.hy926, HEK 293 and HepG2. Total cell fluorescence was analyzed by Image J software and significant differences were found between HT-29 and three other cell lines (<i>p</i><0.0001), indicating positive reactions in HT-29 cells with IgG4-RD sera. (E-F) Control samples including SjS and HC were then tested on HT-29 cells, and the sera of patients with SjS were found to have a weaker specific reaction and no positive signal on HC.</p

Identification of target antigen.

<p>(A) The value of cell fluorescence was analyzed by Image J software. *** indicates <i>P</i><0.0001. (B) Five of 20 patients with IgG4-RD presenting relatively higher optical density values on ELISA for HT-29 cell were selected for Western blotting. (C) Western blotting of HT-29 cell extracts with the sera from 5 IgG4-RD patients showed a positive band with a molecular weight of approximately 30 kDa in 3 patients but not in healthy controls. (D) Immunoprecipitation was performed by incubating the extracts of HT-29 with IgG4-RD patient sera and an approximately 30 kDa protein band reacted with antibodies from IgG4-RD patients.</p

Facile One-Step Synthesis and Transformation of Cu(I)-Doped Zinc Sulfide Nanocrystals to Cu_1.94S–ZnS Heterostructured Nanocrystals

A facile one-pot heating process without any injection has been developed to synthesize different Cu–Zn–S-based nanocrystals. The composition of the products evolves from Cu­(I)-doped ZnS (ZnS:Cu­(I)) nanocrystals into heterostructured nanocrystals consisting of monoclinic Cu_1.94S and wurtzite ZnS just by controlling the molar ratios of zinc acetylacetonate (Zn­(acac)₂) to copper acetylacetonate (Cu­(acac)₂) in the mixture of <i>n</i>-dodecanethiol (DDT) and 1-octadecene (ODE). Accompanying the composition transformation, the crystal phase of ZnS is changed from cubic zinc blende to hexagonal wurtzite. Depending on the synthetic parameters including the reaction time, temperature, and the feeding ratios of Zn/Cu precursors, the morphology of the as-obtained heterostructured nanocrystals can be controlled in the forms of taper-like, matchstick-like, tadpole-like, or rod-like. Interestingly, when the molar ratio of Cu­(acac)₂ to Zn­(acac)₂ is increased to 9:1, the crystal phase of the products is transformed from monoclinic Cu_1.94S to the mixed phase composed of cubic Cu_1.8S and tetragonal Cu_1.81S as the reaction time is further prolonged. The crystal-phase transformation results in the morphological change from quasi-spherical to rice shape due to the incorporation of Zn ions into the Cu_1.94S matrix. This method provides a simple but highly reproducible approach for synthesis of Cu­(I)-doped nanocrystals and heterostructured nanocrystals, which are potentially useful in the fabrication of optoelectronic devices

Microbes isolated from rock salt drill core sample from the depth of 800 m.

<p>(A) The whole cell protein analysis of the isolates by SDS-PAGE. The numbers refer to strains YI80-1 to YI80-8. Molecular mass markers are shown on left. (B) Light microscopy pictures of the isolates in late stationary phase. The scale bar in YI80-1 represents 10 µm, and is applicable to all pictures. (C) Phenotypic characteristics of the isolates.</p

Crystal samples from 800 m visualized by light microscopy.

<p>(A) A salt crystal chiseled off from the surface sterilized isolation sample. (B) A magnification of a subsection of (A), showing liquid inclusions inside the crystal. (C) Cubic liquid inclusions. Bars represent 0.5 mm in A and C, and 0.1 mm in B.</p

Archaeal strains isolated in this study.

<p>Archaeal strains isolated in this study.</p