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SnO2 quantum dots (QDs) are potential materials for deep ultraviolet (DUV) light emitting devices. In this study, we report the temperature and excitation power-dependent exciton luminescence from SnO2 QDs. The exciton emission exhibits anomalous blue shift, accompanied with band width reduction with increasing temperature and excitation power above 300K. The anomalous temperature dependences of the peak energy and band width are well interpreted by the strongly localized carrier thermal hopping process and Gaussian shape of band tails states, respectively. The localized wells and band tails at conduction minimum are considered to be induced by the surface oxygen defects and local potential fluctuation in SnO2 QDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have great effects on the progression of cervical cancer (CC). This study aimed to investigate the role of miR-195-5p in CC and to explain the regulatory mechanism between ARL2 and miR-195-5p. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Quantitative Real-Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect miR-195-5p levels in CC tissues and cell lines. Transwell assays for cell migration and invasion were also performed. A luciferase reporter assay was used to detect the direct target of miR-195-5p. The protein levels of ARL2 were measured by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: In CC tissues and cell lines, miR-195-5p expression was decreased. Downregulation of miR-195-5p was associated with higher FIGO stage, deep stromal invasion, and lymph node metastasis. Moreover, over-expression of miR-195-5p inhibited cell migration and invasion in CC. Furthermore, it was observed that miR-195-5p directly targeted ARL2, which affected the suppressive effect of miR-195-5p in CC. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-195-5p inhibited cell migration and invasion in CC by suppressing ARL2 expression. The miR-195/ARL2 axis may provide a pathway for cell metastasis in CC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to uncover the biological functions of the feedback loop tripartite motif-containing 24 (TRIM24)/ Forkhead Box M1 (FOXM1) in the pathological progression of ovarian cancer (OC) and the underlying mechanism. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expression levels of TRIM24 and FOXM1 in OC tissues and cells were determined by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). The potential correlation between TRIM24 level and clinical indexes of OC patients was analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier curves were depicted for evaluating the prognostic potentials of TRIM24 and FOXM1 in OC patients. The regulatory effects of TRIM24 and FOXM1 on proliferative, migratory, and invasive capacities of SKOV3 and OVCAR3 cells were assessed through functional experiments. The rescue experiments were performed to clarify the feedback loop TRIM24/FOXM1 in influencing the progression of OC. RESULTS: TRIM24 was upregulated in OC tissues and cells. The high level of TRIM24 was linked to higher rates of lymphatic and distant metastasis and worse survival in OC patients. The silence of TRIM24 attenuated proliferative, migratory, and invasive capacities of SKOV3 and OVCAR3 cells. FOXM1 level was negatively regulated by TRIM24, which was downregulated in OC. The low level of FOXM1 predicted worse survival in OC patients. Besides, the rescue experiments demonstrated that the feedback loop TRIM24/FOXM1 aggravated the malignant progression of OC. CONCLUSIONS: TRIM24 is upregulated in OC tissues, and closely linked to the occurrence of lymphatic and distant metastasis. Through negatively regulating FOXM1 level, TRIM24 aggravates the progression of OC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to article "MiR-195-5p inhibits the cell migration and invasion of cervical carcinoma through suppressing ARL2" published in a previous issue of the periodical is presented.

An enhanced mid-infrared absorption in Ag nanoparticles-decorated TiO2 microflowers was reported. It was found that the mid-infrared absorption of the Ag/TiO2 complex depends strongly on the content and size of Ag nanoparticles, the higher the Ag nanoparticles content, the stronger the infrared absorption. The average reflectivity in the entire mid-infrared region of the microflowers drops from 57.6% to 10.5% after Ag nanoparticles decoration. Reversible modulated midinfrared absorption properties were found in the Ag/TiO2 complexes upon alternative illumination of visible and UV light due to the photoinduced interfacial electron transfer between TiO2 semiconductor and Ag nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the effects and mechanisms of Dendrobium nobile Lindl. alkaloids (DNLA) on myocardial lipid metabolism during ischemia-reperfusion in dogs undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Methods: Twenty-four healthy hybrid dogs, half male and half female, were randomly divided into sham group, model group, solvent control group and treatment group (DNLA, 6 mg/kg) ( n= 6), all of which were established with CPB. Except for the sham group, the aorta of the other groups was occluded for 60 min and then reopened. The uptake rate of free fatty acids, the concentration of long-chain acyl coenzyme A (LCACoA), mRNA and protein expression of fatty acid translocase enzyme/CD36 (FAT/CD36) in myocardial tissue and the cardiac function indexes were measured at 4 time points: before cardiopulmonary bypass (T1), 15 min (T2), 60 min (T3), and 90 min (T4) after reperfusion in each group. Results: Before CPB, there were no statistically significant differences in the uptake rate of free fatty acids, the concentration of LCACoA and mRNA expression of FAT/CD36 in myocardial tissue in each group ( P> 0.05). After the opening of the aorta, the above indexes in model group [(35.8±4.7)%, (8.55±1.51) nmol/g, 3.23±0.68] and treatment group [(27.4±2.7)%, (6.10±1.38) nmol/g, 2.20±0.56] were higher than those in sham group [(19.6±3.9)%, (4.16±0.81)nmol/g, 1.19±0.52], which were the highest at T2, and then gradually decreased (all P< 0.05). Compared with the model group, the increase of above indicators in the treatment group was significantly lower at T2 (all P< 0.05). Before CPB, there was no statistically significant differences in cardiac function indexes [left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and±dp/dtmax] among the groups ( P> 0.05). After the aorta was opened, the above indexes in model group [(76.5±9.1) mmHg, (31.1±2.9) mmHg, (1.2±0.4) mmHg/ms, (-0.9±0.1) mmHg/ms] and treatment group [(92.9±8.7) mmHg, (25.3±3.6) mmHg, (1.8±0.4) mmHg/ms, (-1.3±0.1) mmHg/ms] were lower than those in sham group [(165.5±12.9) mmHg, (6.5±0.5) mmHg, (3.3±0.6) mmHg/ms, (-2.9±0.3) mmHg/ms] (all P< 0.05), but the impairment degree of cardiac function indicators in treatment group was significantly lower than that those in model group (all P< 0.05). Conclusion: During CPB in dogs, DNLA can inhibit the abnormal expression of FAT/CD36, decrease the uptake of free fatty acids, and reduce the abnormal accumulation of LCACoA in myocardium,thereby alleviating the myocardial injury after ischemia-reperfusion.

Objective: Ovarian cancer (OC) is still the third leading cause of death in reproductive system malignancies. In OC, the biological function of microRNA-202-5p (miR-202-5p) is unknown. Our current research mainly focuses on miR-202-5p in the OC progression., Patients and Methods: MiR-202-5p was determined to be down-regulated in OC by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and colony formation assay were recruited to access the ability of miR-202-5p on cell proliferation. Cell migration and invasion were determined by transwell assay and Matrigel assay. Dual-Luciferase reporter assay was recruited, and it validated that HOXB2 was a downstream target of miR-202-5p. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) hallmark genes and HOXB2 expression level were examined by Western blotting., Results: MiR-202-5p was down-expressed in OC. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve indicated that miR-202-5p was positively related to HOXB2. MiR-202-5p over-expression led to a higher 5-year survival rate. Up-regulated miR-202-5p inhibited cell proliferation and metastasis in vitro. HOXB2 was a downstream target of miR-202-5p., Conclusions: We verified that miR-202-5p suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in OC via regulating HOXB2. Our findings provide new insights into the underlying mechanism of OC progression and may be useful in finding biomarkers and therapeutic targets of OC.

Objective: To observe the distribution of occupational activity disorders of extremely severe mass burn patients in recovery period after injury. Methods: From December 2014 to December 2015, 65 extremely severe burn patients conforming to the inclusion criteria involved in August 2 Kunshan factory aluminum dust explosion accident were admitted to Kunshan Rehabilitation Hospital. They received comprehensive rehabilitation treatment after burns, including wearing pressure clothes, ultrasound treatment, semiconductor laser and red light irradiation, motor function training, and so on. Over 2 years after injury, a cross-sectional survey was conducted on the patients' occupational activity disorders. Modified Barthel index (MBI) was used to assess the degree of activities of daily living (ADL) disorder of patients and to grade the independent level of completing each item of MBI, and then the independent level of patients completing self-care MBI items (bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, going to the toilet, urine control, and stool control) was compared with that of mobility items (going up and down stairs, bed and chair transfer, and walking). The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) was used to assess the distribution of occupational activity disorders of patients. The distribution of the five most serious occupational activity disorders was counted, then the frequency and probability of which with frequency greater than or equal to 16 times were calculated. Data were processed with Pearson Chi-square test. Results: Over 2 years after injury, the MBI score of patients was (76±22) points, and the ADL of 83.08% (54/65) patients reached completely self-care or light ADL disorder level. The MBI items arranged according to the completing independent level of patients from high to low were urine control/stool control, walking, bed and chair transfer, going up and down stairs, going to the toilet, eating, grooming, dressing, and bathing. The independent level of patients completing self-care MBI items was lower than that of mobility items ( χ (2)=62.298, P <0.001). Over 2 years after injury, the five most serious occupational activity disorders in COPM dimension were mainly concentrated in the self-care dimension, accounting for 55.38% (180/325), followed by 22.46% (73/325) of production activities and 22.15% (72/325) of recreational activities, and the centrally distributed item was the personal self-care item under self-care dimension, accounting for 42.46% (138/325). Over 2 years after injury, the five most serious occupational activity disorders with frequency greater than or equal to 16 times were dressing and undressing, bathing, perineal cleaning, wearing pressure clothes, caring for children, visiting relatives and friends, 31, 25, 16, 17, 18, and 22 times respectively, with a probability of 47.69%, 38.46%, 24.62%, 26.15%, 27.69%, and 33.85% respectively. Conclusions: Over 2 years after injury, most of the patients with extremely severe burns caused by the aluminum dust explosion were completely or basically self-care in their daily life. The disorder of self-care ADL was more serious than that of mobility, and the disorder of individual self-care activity was still the most serious occupational activity disorder of patients in this stage. Clinical trial registration: Chinese clinical trial registry, ChiCTR-OOC-16009188.

Double-ReO 3 -type structure compound NaSbF 6 undergoes a low-temperature rhombohedral to high-temperature cubic phase between 303 and 323 K, as revealed by temperature-dependent X-ray diffractions. Although many double-ReO 3 -type fluorides exhibit either low thermal expansion or negative thermal expansion (NTE), NaSbF 6 exhibits positive thermal expansion (PTE) with a large volumetric coefficient of thermal expansion, α v = 62 ppm/K, in its cubic phase. Raman spectroscopy reveals that the low-frequency transverse vibration of fluorine atoms is stiffened in NaSbF 6 , compared with the typical NTE compound CaZrF 6 with the same structure. The related weak contraction associated with the polyhedral rocking would be overcome by the notable elongation of the Na-F bond length on heating, thus leading to the large volumetric PTE. Unlike ScF 3 and CaZrF 6 which are insulators with a wide band gap, a relative small band gap of 3.76 eV was observed in NaSbF 6 . The small band gap can be attributed to the hybridization between the Sb 5s and F 2p orbitals.

The study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of high-resolution ultrasonography (HR-US) in the detection of anterior disc displacement (ADD) of the temporomandibular joint. Relevant trials reported in MEDLINE, the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, and Embase were identified. A manual search was also performed. The quality of retrieved data was evaluated using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS) criteria. Data were extracted and cross-checked, and a statistically rigorous meta-analysis was performed using a hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic model (HSROC). The clinical utility of results was assessed using Fagan nomograms (Bayes theory). All data were evaluated using Stata software. A total 11 studies including 1096 subjects were included in the analysis; all reported the utility of HR-US for the diagnosis of ADD with reduction (ADDWR) and without reduction (ADDWoR). For ADDWR, the weighted sensitivity and specificity were 0.83 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.78-0.88) and 0.85 (95% CI 0.76-0.92) respectively. The lambda value was 3.41 (95% CI 2.37-4.46) and the Fagan nomogram pre-test probability 58%, with a positive likelihood ratio (LR) of 6.01. The positive post-test probability was 89%, with a negative LR of 0.20. The negative post-test probability was 21%. The positive increase in diagnostic utility was 31% and the negative decrement in that value 37%. For ADDWoR, the weighted sensitivity and specificity values were 0.72 (95% CI 0.59-0.81) and 0.90 (95% CI 0.86-0.93), respectively. The lambda value was 3.69 (95% CI 2.39-4.99) and the Fagan nomogram pre-test probability 38%, with a positive LR of 7.00. The positive post-test probability was 82%, with a negative LR of 0.32. The negative post-test probability was 16%. The increase in diagnostic utility was 44% and the negative decrement in that value 22%. HR-US delivers acceptable performance when used to diagnose ADD, being superior for the detection of ADDWoR than ADDWR, and exhibiting a lower negative diagnostic value in the detection of ADDWoR than ADDWR. HR-US may serve as a new method for the rapid diagnosis of ADD. The method has the advantages of simplicity and low cost. Given the uncertainty in some of the estimated values, more high-quality studies are needed to assess that diagnostic efficacy., (Copyright © 2015 International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Fe(II)-doped TiO2 spherical shell catalyst was synthesized by one-pot hydrothermal method. The photocatalytic removal of Cr(VI) from plating wastewater under sunlight of the catalyst was demonstrated. It was found that the removal effectiveness of about 99.99% for initial Cr(VI) concentration of 102.3 ppm and 99.01% for 153.4 ppm under 3h sunlight irradiation is realized. The Fe(II) ions serve not only as reducing agents for reducing the Cr(VI) to Cr(III) but also as an intermedium of a two-step reduction, in which the TiO2 photoreduces the Fe(II) ions to Fe atoms firstly, and then the Fe atoms reduce the Cr(VI) to Cr(III). The improved photocatalytic activity of the catalyst is considered due to the synergistic effect of a multi reducing process by Fe(II) doping. The extended optical response and effectively utilization of sunlight of the special spherical-shell-like morphology also contribute to the enhanced photocatalytic activity., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)