Oxygen-Doped Zinc Nitride as a High-Mobility Nitride-Based Semiconductor

While many types of transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) have been developed, nitride-based transparent conductors remain rare. We examined the properties of zinc nitride doped with oxygen (Zn₃N_2–<i>x</i>O_<i>x</i>) as a potential nitride-based transparent conductor. Electron density on the order of 10²⁰ cm^–3 was achieved by heavy oxygen doping. A minimal resistivity (ρ) of 6.2 × 10^–4 Ω cm, comparable to those of TCOs, was observed for <i>x</i> = 0.19. Notably, the Zn₃N_1.81O_0.19 films had high electron mobility of 85 cm² V^–1 s^–1, 2–3 times larger than the values for TCOs. Detailed analyses of mobility revealed that the electron transport was governed by ionized impurity scattering, and the dominant scattering center was substitutional oxygen. The contributions of additional scattering mechanisms were relatively minor. These findings explain the high observed mobility in Zn₃N_2–<i>x</i>O_<i>x</i> films. Contrary to our expectations, visible transmittance of Zn₃N_2–<i>x</i>O_<i>x</i> films was below 40%. X-ray photoelectron spectrometry suggested the existence of self-interstitial nitrogen (N_I) in Zn₃N_2–<i>x</i>O_<i>x</i> films. Low transmittance was attributable to optical absorption by electron transitions between the in-gap state originated from N_I bonded to lattice nitrogen (N_N) and the band states. These results suggest that, when the formation of N_N–N_I bond is suppressed, Zn₃N_2–<i>x</i>O_<i>x</i> can be a high-mobility transparent conductor

Glutathione S-transferase P1 suppresses iNOS protein stability in RAW264.7 macrophage-like cells after LPS stimulation

<div><p>Glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) is a ubiquitous expressed protein which plays an important role in the detoxification and xenobiotics metabolism. Previous studies showed that GSTP1 was upregulated by the LPS stimulation in RAW264.7 macrophage-like cells and GSTP1 overexpression downregulated lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. Here we show that GSTP1 physically associates with the oxygenase domain of iNOS by the G-site domain and decreases the protein level of iNOS dimer. Both overexpression and RNA interference (RNAi) experiments indicate that GSTP1 downregulates iNOS protein level and increases S-nitrosylation and ubiquitination of iNOS. The Y7F mutant type of GSTP1 physically associates with iNOS, but shows no effect on iNOS protein content, iNOS S-nitrosylation, and changes in iNOS from dimer to monomer, suggesting the importance of enzyme activity of GSTP1 in regulating iNOS S-nitrosylation and stability. GSTM1, another member of GSTs shows no significant effect on regulation of iNOS. In conclusion, our study reveals the novel role of GSTP1 in regulation of iNOS by affecting S-nitrosylation, dimerization, and stability, which provides a new insight for analyzing the regulation of iNOS and the anti-inflammatory effects of GSTP1.</p></div

Table_1_Gender differences in cognitive improvements after two months of atypical antipsychotic treatment in first episode schizophrenia.docx

AimsThis study aims to explore the gender differences in cognitive improvements after two months of atypical antipsychotic treatment in first episode schizophrenia (FES).Methods82 patients with FES, including 50 male patients and 32 female patients, were enrolled in the present study. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) were respectively conducted to evaluate the clinical symptoms and cognitive function of patients with FES at baseline and after treatment. Repeated measure ANOVA was performed to compare gender differences in cognitive domains scores between baseline and 2-month follow-up. Stepwise liner regression model was performed to explore the effect factors of cognitive improvements in patients.ResultsThere was no significant difference in age of onset, education years, PANSS scores, duration of untreated psychosis and Olanzapine equivalent doses between male and female patients (all p > 0.05). In the comparisons of cognition function, male patients exhibited better performance in social cognition compared with female patients at baseline (t = 3.20, p ConclusionsOur findings revealed gender differences of cognitive improvements in patients with FES after 2-month treatment. It provides new evidence for gender differences in cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia, and also provides preliminary clues for further individualized cognitive intervention strategies.</p

Video1_Case Report: Giant left atrial cystic tumor: myxoma or intracardiac blood cyst?.mp4

BackgroundPrimary cardiac tumors are uncommon, with the majority being benign myxomas. Cystic myxoma, a particularly rare type of benign cardiac tumor, demands cautious differential diagnosis from other cardiac tumors.Case summaryA 43-year-old male patient presenting with intermittent dyspnea was referred to our department for surgical evaluation. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) unveiled an intra-left atrial cyst, which was subsequently found to be blood-filled during a video-assisted microinvasive heart surgery. Pathological examination depicted a cyst wall filled with small stellate and fat spindle cells, along with a mucoid matrix, indicating a diagnosis of cystic myxoma.ConclusionsWe herein presented a rare case of an adult patient with cystic myxoma, initially misdiagnosed as an intracardiac blood cyst (CBC) prior to surgery, and ultimately verified via pathological findings.</p

Datasheet2_Case Report: Giant left atrial cystic tumor: myxoma or intracardiac blood cyst?.pdf

BackgroundPrimary cardiac tumors are uncommon, with the majority being benign myxomas. Cystic myxoma, a particularly rare type of benign cardiac tumor, demands cautious differential diagnosis from other cardiac tumors.Case summaryA 43-year-old male patient presenting with intermittent dyspnea was referred to our department for surgical evaluation. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) unveiled an intra-left atrial cyst, which was subsequently found to be blood-filled during a video-assisted microinvasive heart surgery. Pathological examination depicted a cyst wall filled with small stellate and fat spindle cells, along with a mucoid matrix, indicating a diagnosis of cystic myxoma.ConclusionsWe herein presented a rare case of an adult patient with cystic myxoma, initially misdiagnosed as an intracardiac blood cyst (CBC) prior to surgery, and ultimately verified via pathological findings.</p

HSP70 overexpression inhibited IL-1β-induced production of iNOS.

<p>HeLa cells were transfected with pcDNA3.0 (−) or pcDNA3.0-Flag-HSP70 (+) for 48 h and then stimulated with or without IL-1β (10 ng/ml) plus CHX (1 µg/ml) for 4 h. Cells lysates were prepared and subjected to immunoblotting to measure protein level of iNOS. Antibody against Flag-tag was used to show the overexpression of HSP70 and equal loading protein was confirmed by GAPDH.</p

Inducible HSP70 antagonized IL-1β-induced cytotoxic effect on HeLa cells and improved the cell survival.

<p>(A) HeLa cells were stimulated with IL-1β (10 ng/ml) for indicated times, HSP70, HSP27, HSP90, and β-actin levels were determined by Western blotting. (B) HeLa cells were transfected with pcDNA3.0 (−) or pcDNA3.0-Flag-HSP70 (+). After 48 h, cells with either baseline level of or overexpression of HSP70 were exposed to IL-1β(10 ng/ml) or CHX (1 µg/ml) or both for 24 h. Cell viability was subsequently detected by CCK8 assay as described in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0050059#s2" target="_blank">Material and Methods</a>. Cell viability is shown relative to the untreated control. The experiment was independently repeated for three times and data were shown as mean ± SD; bars: SD. Significant difference was determined by student’s <i>t</i>-test comparing HSP70 transfected cells with vector transfected control exposed to both IL-1β and CHX, * <i>P</i><0.05.</p

Inducible HSP70 modulated IL-1β-induced activation of TAK1-NF-κB cascades, but not of TAK1-MAPKs.

<p>(A) HeLa cells were transfected with pcDNA3.0 (−) or pcDNA3.0-Flag-HSP70 (+) for 48 h and then stimulated with IL-1β (10 ng/ml) for indicated times. Cell lysates were prepared and subjected to immunoblotting with anti-IκBα, anti-phospho-p38 (p-p38, Thr180/Tyr182), and anti-phospho-JNK (p-JNK, Thr183/Tyr185) antibodies, respectively, to reveal the activation of NF-κB and MAPKs. Total cellular TAK1, p38, and JNK protein levels in cell lysates were also determined by immunoblotting with specific antibody respectively. (B) HeLa cells were either non-transfected (control) or transfected with pRNA-U6.1/neo vector or pRNA-U6.1/neo-HSP70i construct. After 48 h transfection, cells were exposed to IL-1β (10 ng/ml) for 12 h and cell lysates were subjected to immunoblotting with anti-HSP70 antibody to determine the efficiency of RNAi, GAPDH was used as an internal control. (C) HeLa cells were transfected with either pRNA-U6.1/neo vector or pRNA-U6.1/neo-HSP70i construct. After 48 h transfection, cells were stimulated with IL-1β (10 ng/ml) for indicated times. immunoblotting with anti-IκBα, anti-phospho-p38 (p-p38, Thr180/Tyr182), and anti-phospho-JNK (p-JNK, Thr183/Tyr185) antibodies, respectively, to reveal the activation of NF-κB and MAPKs. Total cellular TAK1, p38, and JNK protein levels in cell lysates were also determined by immunoblotting with specific antibody respectively. Equal loading protein was confirmed by GAPDH.</p

HSP70 destabilized TAK1 at protein level via proteasome pathway.

<p>(A) HeLa cells were exposed to a mild heat shock (42°C for 30 min) followed by recovery at 37°C for indicated time periods. Total RNA was isolated and TAK1 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR using primers indicated in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0050059#s2" target="_blank">Material and Methods</a>. β-actin was used as control. (B) HeLa cells were transfected with pcDNA3.0-Flag-HSP70 (+) or pcDNA3.0 (−). After 48 h, cells were treated with 1 µg/ml cycloheximide (CHX) and harvested at indicated time points. TAK1 protein levels were determined by Western blotting, GAPDH was used as loading control, and antibody against Flag-tag was used to show the overexpression of HSP70. (C) HeLa cells were transfected with pcDNA3.0-Flag-HSP70 (+) or pcDNA3.0 (−). After 48 h, cells were treated with a proteasome inhibitor MG-132 at indicated concentrations for 6 h. Cells were collected and subjected to immunoblot analysis with TAK1 antibody. Equal loading protein was confirmed by immunoblotting with anti-GAPDH antibody.</p

Increased expression level of HSP70 upon heat shock reduced TAK1 protein level and the association between HSP90 and TAK1.

<p>HeLa cells were either untreated (control) or exposed to a mild heat shock (42°C for 30 min) followed by recovery at 37°C for indicated time periods. Cell lysates were prepared and subjected to immunoblotting with indicated antibodies or immunoprecipitation with TAK1 antibody. The immunopellets were analyzed by immunoblotting with HSP90 antibody. Equal loading protein was confirmed by GAPDH. The numbers below each Western blot represent relative expression level normalized to GAPDH, which were determined based on the intensity of band. These experiments were independently repeated for three times, and the representative blots were shown.</p