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Stable aluminosilicate zeolites with extra-large pores open through rings of more than 12 tetrahedra are in demand to process molecules larger than those currently manageable. However, until very recently, they proved elusive. Here we report a new strategy based on an interchain expansion design concept that yields thermally and hydrothermally stable silicates by expansion of a one dimensional (1D) silicate chain with an intercalated silylating agent that separates and connects the chains. As a result, new types of zeolites zeolites with extra-large pores delimited by 20, 16, and 16 Si tetrahedra along the three crystallographic directions, respectively, are obtained. The as-made inter-chain expanded zeolite contains dangling Si-CH3 groups that by calcination connect to each other resulting in a true, fully connected 3D zeolite framework with a very low density, just slightly above that of water. Additionally, it features triple four ring units never seen before in any type of zeolite. Ti can be introduced in this zeolite to obtain a catalyst active in the liquid-phase oxidation of bulky alkenes that shows promise in the industrially relevant clean production of propylene oxide using cumene hydroperoxide as an oxidant.

Metal (Fe) and nonmetal (P) were used to modify TiO2, and then, several functional groups such as P-O, P=O, Fe-O, and -OH were introduced on its surface to enhance the adsorption capacity for Cd(II), which could reach 121 mg/g. According to the experimental analysis of adsorption performance, chemical adsorption dominates the adsorption process, and the adsorption capacity increases with increasing temperature within a certain range. The results of competitive adsorption experiments showed that both Pb(II) and Cu(II) affect the adsorption of Cd(II) and that the adsorption order of P-Fe-TiO2 for heavy metal ions is Pb II > Cd II > Cu II . We further investigated the adsorption mechanism of P-Fe-TiO2 for Cd(II) and the reasons for the difference in competitive adsorption and used DFT calculations to confirm the experimental results. In the analysis of binding energy and frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs), we confirmed that charge transfer occurred during the adsorption process, so chemical reactions occurred. The binding energy of P-Fe-TiO2 and Pb(II) is the largest. The results of the competitive adsorption experiment also confirmed that the adsorbent has the greatest effect on Pb. Mulliken analysis was used to identify the best binding site on the adsorbent. The results of electrostatic potential, total potential, and differential charge analysis further prove the conclusions described above.

Systemic therapy is the current standard of care for unresectable advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most malignant form of liver cancer. Clinical practice guideline for HCC includes the management of the second-line immunotherapies after patients become unresponsive to first-line targeted therapies using tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), which is expected to generate optimal therapeutic effect due to the distinct mechanism of action between TKIs and immunotherapies. However, evidence from clinical trials suggests that the response to immunotherapy following TKI treatment is often compromised in TKI-resistant HCC as compared with treatment-naïve HCC, indicating a potential cross-resistance to immunotherapy, which impedes the optimal therapeutic effect of the second-line immunotherapies. In the present study, we first explored the therapeutic effect of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in TKI-resistant HCC and successfully validated the putative cross-resistance to immunotherapy after TKI treatment. We further observed that TKI-resistant HCC exhibits an immune-evasive microenvironment, characterized by decreased CD8+ T cell and dendritic cell infiltration. This is potentially caused by the intratumoral activation of receptor tyrosine kinase AXL and its downstream target PDPK1 which protect TKI-resistant HCC cells from mitochondrial oxidative stress and the cytosolic leakage of mitochondrial DNA, which subsequently suppresses cGAS-STING together with its downstream interferon pathways and immunogenic cell death. Genetic manipulation of AXL and PDPK1 in TKI-resistant HCC cells abrogated the protective effect and thus activated the immunogenic responses. Blockade of AXL with a selective inhibitor BGB324 re-sensitized TKI-resistant HCC to anti-PD-1 treatment. The current findings suggest that targeting AXL/PDPK1 signaling axis might overcome cross-resistance to second-line immunotherapy for HCC patients who progress on TKI treatment. Citation Format: Yunong Xie, Bosheng Huang, Huajian Yu, Jia-Jian Loh, Rainbow Wing-Hei Leung, Terence Lee, Stephanie Ma, Man Tong. Resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitor confers an immunosuppressive microenvironment and cross-resistance to immunotherapy through AXL/PDPK1 axis in liver cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 395.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive disease with a poor clinical outcome. Understanding the mechanisms that drive cancer stemness, which we now know is the root cause of therapy failure and tumor recurrence, is fundamental for designing improved therapeutic strategies. The aim of this study is to identify molecular players specific to CD133+ HCC to better design drugs that can precisely interfere with cancer stem cells (CSCs) but not normal stem cell function. Transcriptome profiling of epithelial-specific ‘normal’ CD133+ cells isolated from fetal and regenerating liver against ‘HCC’ CD133+ cells isolated from proto-oncogene driven and inflammation-associated HCC revealed preferential overexpression of SERPINA12 in HCC but not fetal and regenerating liver cells. SERPINA12 upregulation in HCC is tightly associated with aggressive clinical and stemness features, including survival, tumor stage, cirrhosis, and stemness signatures related to embryonic stem cells, oncogenic dedifferentiation and undifferentiated HCC status. Enrichment of SERPINA12 in HCC is mediated by promoter binding of the well-recognized β-catenin effector TCF7L2 to drive SERPINA12 transcriptional activity. Functional characterization identified a unique and novel role of endogenous SERPINA12 in promoting self-renewal, therapy resistance and metastatic abilities. Mechanistically, SERPINA12 functioned through binding to GRP78, resulting in a hyperactivated AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling cascade, forming a positive feed-forward loop. Intravenous administration of rAVV8-shSERPINA12 sensitized HCC cells to sorafenib and impeded the CSC subset in an immunocompetent HCC mouse model. Collectively, our findings revealed that SERPINA12 is preferentially overexpressed in epithelial HCC CD133+ cells and is a key contributor to HCC initiation and progression by driving an AKT/β-catenin feed-forward loop. Citation Format: Huajian Yu, Lei Zhou, Jane Ho-Chun Loong, Ka-Hei Lam, Tin-Lok Wong, Kai-Yu Ng, Man Tong, Victor WS Ma, Yanyan Wang, Xiang Zhang, Terence K Lee, Jing-Ping Yun, Jun Yu, Stephanie Ma. SERPINA12 promotes the tumorigenic capacity of hepatocellular carcinoma stem cells through hyperactivation of AKT/β-catenin signaling [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 2433.

The thermal transport behavior of single crystal LiNbO3 and LiTaO3 is crucially important in the application of laser devices, however, the underlying sciences of thermal conductivity of both crystals are still unknown. In present study, we explore the origin of different thermal conductivity between LiNbO3 and LiTaO3 based on first-principle calculation. We find that the remarkable contribution of optical phonon branches to the total thermal conductivity stems from the high phonon group velocity at high frequency range (500-900 cm-1), and the anisotropic behavior of thermal conductivity can be regarded as the different value of phonon velocity along c- and a-axis at the low frequency range (0-400 cm-1). As the decisive factor in thermal conductivity, the results of phonon lifetime indicate that large value of acoustic phonon relaxation time in LiTaO3 are responsible for the higher thermal conductivity compared to LiNbO3. The phonon-phonon scattering rates of three acoustic phonon branches reveal that more scattering channels are existed throughout the Brillouin zone for LiNbO3 than that of LiTaO3. Additionally, the unusually large phonon scattering rate of high-lying LA branch along the Γ-F direction indicates more emission channels of LiNbO3, which is considered as another origin of the different phonon anharmonicity and thermal conductivity between LiNbO3 and LiTaO3.

(Ca1-x Eux )WO4 (x = 0-21 mol%) phosphors were prepared using the classical solid-state reaction method. The influence of Eu3+ ion doping on lattice structure was observed using powder X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Furthermore, under this influence, the luminescence properties of all samples were analyzed. The results clearly illustrated that the element europium was successfully incorporated into the CaWO4 lattice with a scheelite structure in the form of a Eu3+ ion, which introduced a slight lattice distortion into the CaWO4 matrix. These lattice distortions had no effect on phase purity, but had regular effects on the intrinsic luminescence of the matrix and the f-f excitation transitions of Eu3+ activators. When the Eu3+ concentration was increased to 21 mol%, a local luminescence centre of [WO4 ]2- groups was detected in the matrix and manifested as the decay curves of [WO4 ]2- groups and luminescence changed from single exponential to double exponential fitting. Furthermore, the excitation transitions of Eu3+ between different energy levels (such as 7 F0 →5 L6 , 7 F0 →5 D2 ) also produced interesting changes. Based on analysis of photoluminescence spectra and the chromaticity coordinates in this study, it could be verified that the nonreversing energy transfer of [WO4 ]2- →Eu3+ was efficient and incomplete.

La–Ti codoped BiFeO3 (BLXFTO, X = 0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.075) thin films have been prepared successfully on ITO/glass substrates by a sol–gel method. The effects of multi-element co-doping on the structure and electrical properties of BFO thin film were studied. It is proved that a certain amount of doping content can promote the development of (110) orientation. All the films show well-saturated P–E hysteresis loop, simultaneously with high-rectangular. Most importantly, the larger 2Pr and lower coercive force field of the BLXFTO (X = 0.05) film were around 131 μC/cm2 and 280 kV/cm, respectively.

KTa0.63Nb0.37O3 (KTN) and Fe doped KTa0.63Nb0.37O3 particles have been synthesized by the mixed solvothermal method at 200 °C for 24 h. The influence of Fe-doping on the phase structure and micro-m...

Dy3+ -doped Y3 Al5 O12 phosphors were prepared at a relatively low temperature using molten salt synthesis. The phase of the prepared Dy3+ -doped Y3 Al5 O12 phosphors was confirmed using X-ray powder diffraction. Results indicated that Dy3+ doping did not change the Y3 Al5 O12 phase. Following excitation at 352 nm, emission spectra of the Dy3+ -doped Y3 Al5 O12 phosphors consisted of blue, yellow, and red emission bands. The influence of Dy3+ concentration and excitation wavelength on emission was investigated. The ratio of yellow light to blue light varied with change in Dy3+ doping concentration, due to changes in the structure around Dy3+ . Emission intensities also changed when the excitation wavelength was changed. This variation is luminescence generated a system for tunable white light for Dy3+ -doped Y3 Al5 O12 phosphors.

Objective: Bone metastasis from patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma (LAC) is a very serious complication. To better understand the molecular mechanism, our current study sheds light on identification of hub genes mediating bone metastatic spread by combining bioinformatic analysis with functional verification. Methods: First, we downloaded a lung adenocarcinoma dataset ({"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE76194","term_id":"76194"}}GSE76194) from Gene Expression Omnibus, analyzed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) through Limma package in R software and constructed a protein-protein interaction network. Based on that preliminary data, we further performed modular and topological analysis using Cystoscope to obtain biological connected genes. Through literature searching and performing mRNA expression analysis on the other independent public dataset ({"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE10799","term_id":"10799"}}GSE10799), we finally focused on TBX2. Functional effects of TBX2 were performed in tumorigenicity assays including migration and invasion assays, cell proliferation assay, and cell cycle assay. In addition, mechanically, we found enriched pathways related to bone metastasis using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and validated our results by western blot. Result: A total of 1132 significant genes were sorted initially. We selected common significant genes (log FC>2; p

TEMPO-NaDCC-oxidized cellulose (TNOCS) with a large surface area and an abundance of carboxyl groups was used to remove heavy metal ions (Cd, Cu and Pb) and their organic acid complexes [HM-OAs] (OAs, i.e., citric acid (CA), propionic acid (PA)), and then reveal the adsorption behaviors. Take Cd and CA for example, the results showed that some of Cd ions was firstly adsorbed on TNOCS, and then the existence of [Cd-CA−] complexes formed a coordination structure with preloaded Cd ions to serve as a bridge for combining TNOCS and [Cd-CA]. Moreover, adsorption energies and molecular orbital distributions indicated that the adsorption capacity of [Cd-CA] was better than that of Cd alone. In addition, the electron density, deformation charge and Mulliken charge distribution were confirmed that the electron transfer direction was from carboxyl groups to cadmium, whether it was cadmium ions or complexed cadmium.

An electro-optic modulation system was adopted for measuring the quadratic electro-optic coefficient of KTN crystal. Theoretical analysis and experimental results verified the feasibility of this method. The quadratic electro-optic coefficient of a KTN crystal chip, which has a Curie temperature of 0 °C, was measured using this system in the temperature range of 2 °C to 18 °C (Tc = 0 °C). The influences of temperature, AC voltage and frequency on the quadratic electro-optic coefficient were discussed. It was found that the relaxation effect of PNRs (polar nano-regions) played an important role in the determination of the quadratic electro-optic coefficient of KTN crystal.

TEMPO-NaDCC-oxidized cellulose (TNOCS) with a large surface area and an abundance of carboxyl groups was used to remove heavy metal ions (Cd, Cu, and Pb) and their organic acid complexes [HM-OAs] (OAs, i.e., citric acid (CA) and propionic acid (PA)), and then reveal their adsorption behaviors. Taking Cd and CA as examples, the results showed that some of Cd ions were first adsorbed onto TNOCS, and then, the existence of [Cd-CA

Tb2.96−xCe0.04GdxAl5O12 phosphors were synthesized through solid-state reactions. The influence of Gd3+ on the luminescence was investigated. Under the excitation at 460 nm, Tb2.96Ce0.04Al5O12 shows the characteristic emission band of Ce3+ with a peak wavelength at about 554 nm. After co-doping Gd3+ into Tb2.96Ce0.04Al5O12, the peak wavelength of the Ce3+ emission band shifts to longer wavelengths, which is induced by the increasing crystal field splitting. However, the Ce3+ emission intensity also decreases because the substitution of Tb3+ with Gd3+ causes lattice deformation and generates numerous structural and chemical defects. By comparing the light parameters of white light-emitting diodes (WLEDs) containing Y2.96Ce0.04Al5O12, Tb2.96Ce0.04Al5O12 and Tb2.81Ce0.04Gd0.15Al5O12 phosphors, we can find that the WLED containing the Tb2.81Ce0.04Gd0.15Al5O12 phosphor generates warmer light than the WLEDs containing Y2.96Ce0.04Al5O12 and Tb2.96Ce0.04Al5O12 phosphors. Moreover, the WLEDs fabricated by integrating a blue LED chip and Ce3+/Gd3+-co-doped Tb3Al5O12 phosphors show outstanding colour stability when driven under different currents.

CuFeS2, CuFeS1.8Se0.2, CuFeS1.6Se0.4 and CuFeS1.4Se0.6 nanoparticles were synthesized by a solvothermal method at 190 °C for 30 h. The obtained samples were tested by XRD, FTIR, BET, SEM and DRUVS, which explore the influence of Se-doping on grain size, structure, morphology and energy gap. Results show that the synthetic particles are nano-scale of chalcopyrite and with the increase of Se-doping content in CuFeS2, the grain size increases and the lattice parameters make a difference accordingly. Pore structure exists in CuFeS2 and CuFeS2−xSex, but their pore diameter and volume are tiny. Chalcopyrite nanoparticles with tetragonal phase are well-crystallized and the particle dispersion is improved after Se-doping. The band gap of CuFeS2 can be adjusted by Se-doping.

Background Growing evidence indicates that high phosphoserine phosphatase (PSPH) expression is associated with tumor prognosis in many types of cancers. However, the role of PSPH in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of PSPH in NSCLC. Methods One hundred forty-three patients with histologically confirmed NSCLC who underwent surgery were included. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot were used to assess PSPH expression in paired tumor and corresponding adjacent non-tumorous tissues. The role of PSPH in invasion and cell growth was investigated in vitro. Results Compared to adjacent normal lung tissues, PSPH messenger RNA and protein levels were significantly higher in NSCLC tissues, and the PSPH expression level was positively related to clinical stage, metastasis, and recurrence. High PSPH expression was predictive of poor overall survival. A549 cells transfected with small interfering-PSPH showed inhibited cell migration, invasion, and proliferation. We further demonstrated that PSPH might promote the invasive capabilities of NSCLC cells through the AKT/AMPK signaling pathway. Conclusion Our results indicate that PSPH may act as a putative oncogene in NSCLC, and may be a vital molecular marker for the metastasis and proliferation of NSCLC cells by regulating the AKT/AMPK signaling pathway.

Thermal conductivity is an important physical parameter for the application of nonlinear optical single crystal materials. The underlying science of thermal transport behavior is not well establish...

Amidoxime-chelating cellulose (ACCS) was obtained through comprehensive modification, i.e. alkalization, etherification, amination and chelating; then, the adsorption of cadmium(II) was investigated by batch experiments, characterization, computational theoretical calculations and molecular dynamics simulations. Isothermal adsorption showed that the Freundlich equation described the adsorption data well at pH 5.0 and 7.0, whereas the Langmuir model was in good accordance at pH 1.0 and 3.0. As confirmed, ACCS exhibited the best Cd(II) adsorption capacity (134.13 mg g−1) at pH 5.0 and even retained considerable adsorption performance under extremely acidic conditions. Additionally, it maintained excellent adsorbability and little weight loss after 5 cycles. Further, the adsorption structure of 2662 type ACCS was determined by quantum molecular (QM) and molecular orbital (MO) investigations. On the basis of this structure, the amidoxime group (–C(NH2)NOH) was proved to be key in the adsorption process by Mulliken charge analysis and molecular dynamics simulations. Furthermore, the binding energy values clearly indicated that Cd(II) favors binding with C–NH2 over CN–OH in the amidoxime group. In summary, our interpretation of the overall adsorption mechanism was well quantified by efficient calculations and simulations.

Increasing evidence has confirmed that deubiquitinating enzymes play an important role in lung cancer progression. In the current study, we investigated the expression profile of deubiquitinating enzymes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues and identified OTUB2 as an upregulated deubiquitinating enzyme. The role of OTUB2 in NSCLC is unknown. Methods: Quantitative, real-time PCR and Western blot were used to detect OTUB2 and U2AF2 expression in NSCLC tissues. The correlations between OTUB2 and U2AF2 expression and clinicopathologic features were then analyzed. We used In vitro Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) , colony formation , and trans-well invasion assays to investigate the function of OTUB2 and U2AF2 in tumorigenesis. The regulation of glycolysis by OTUB2 and U2AF2 was assessed by determining the extracellular acid ratio, glucose consumption, and lactate production. The mechanism of OTUB2 was explored through co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry analyses. A xenograft model was also used to study the tumorigenesis role of OTUB2 In vivo. Results: OTUB2 expression was significantly upregulated in primary NSCLC tissues and greatly associated with metastasis, advanced tumor stages, poor survival, and recurrence. In NSCLC cell lines, OTUB2 promoted cell growth, colony formation, migration, and invasive activities. Mechanistic investigations showed that OTUB2 stimulated the Warburg effect and induced the activation of the serine/threonine kinase/mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase (AKT/mTOR) pathway in different NSCLC cells. More importantly, OTUB2 promoted NSCLC progression, which was largely dependent on the direct binding to and deubiquitination of U2AF2, at least in NSCLC cells. U2AF2 expression was also significantly upregulated in primary NSCLC tissues and dramatically associated with metastasis, advanced tumor stages, poor survival, and recurrence. Importantly, a positive correlation between the protein expression of OTUB2 and U2AF2 in NSCLC tissues was found. In vivo experiments indicated that OTUB2 promoted xenograft tumor growth of NSCLC cell. In addition, our results suggest that high expression of OTUB2, U2AF2 and PGK1 is significantly associated with worse prognosis in NSCLC patients. Conclusion: Taken together, the present study provides the first evidence that OTUB2 acts as a pivotal driver in NSCLC tumorigenesis by stabilizing U2AF2 and activating the AKT/mTOR pathway and the Warburg effect. It may serve as a new potential prognostic indicator and therapeutic target in NSCLC.

2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) was oxidized to produce TEMPO-oxidized cellulose (TOCS) with a nanofunctionalized surface and abundant carboxyl groups. In a batch experiment, three pH values (2, 5 and 7), three modes (single, binary and multiple systems), and systems with inorganic and organic materials were applied to explore the adsorption of coexisting metals and antibiotics on TOCS. The adsorption capacity of TOCS was substantially influenced by these factors, and the adsorption behaviors were also different in these systems. In general, the coordination behaviors and electrostatic attraction between Cd(II) and carboxyl groups were identified as the mechanism employed by the single system, while hydrophobic interactions, π interactions, hydrogen bonding and pore filling contributed to the adsorption of sulfonamides (SAs) on TOCS in the binary system. The bridging effect was determined to be the key mechanism; i.e., most Cd(II) and SAs in the form of [SA-Cd] complexes interacted with carboxyl groups, especially in the presence of high concentrations of Cd(II) and SAs. These adsorption behaviors were determined quantitatively by performing density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In addition, TOCS showed excellent adsorption capacity in a more complex interference system, and the maximum adsorption capacity was 5.83 mg/g.

In this work, Bi3+-doped, Mn4+-doped, and Bi3+/Mn4+ co-doped SrLaGa3O7 (SLGO) phosphors were synthesized by solid-state reactions. Crystal structures, composition and optical properties of these phosphors were studied. Phase purity of SLGO: Bi3+/Mn4+ phosphor was characterized by X-ray diffraction. Elements of SLGO: Bi3+/Mn4+ phosphors were revealed by XPS measurements. Absorptive abilities of the synthesized phosphors were characterized by UV–vis absorption measurements. The UV–vis absorption and excitation spectra showed that the phosphors can be excited by ultraviolet and near ultraviolet light. Upon the excitation at 365 nm, SLGO: Bi3+ and SLGO: Mn4+ phosphors showed cyan and deep red emission, respectively. Energy transfer from Bi3+ to Mn4+ occurred in SLGO: Bi3+/Mn4+ phosphors. The Bi3+→Mn4+ energy transfer process was revealed by luminescence spectra and fluorescence decay curves. The emission of SLGO: Bi3+/Mn4+ phosphors could be tuned by changing excitation wavelength and Bi3+/Mn4+ doping concentrations. Under the excitation at 365 nm, warm white light was generated by SLGO: 0.005Bi3+/0.002Mn4+ phosphor, which has the CIE coordinates of (0.3697, 0.2864) and the correlated color temperature of 3295 K. Under the excitation at 360 nm, SLGO: 0.005Bi3+/0.0015Mn4+ phosphor showed warm white light with the CIE coordinates of (0.3447, 0.2616) and the correlated color temperature of 4309 K. The values of activation energy were 0.2698 eV (465 nm) and 0.4283 eV (714 nm) for SLGO: 0.005Bi3+, 0.0015Mn4+ phosphor. The above results implied that SLGO: Bi3+/Mn4+ phosphors have potential applications in warm WLED lighting.

Potassium tantalate niobate KTa1-xNbxO3 (KTN) single crystals with different x values (x = 0, 0.25, 0.37 and 0.45) were grown by a top-seeded growth solution method in a KTa1-xNbxO3 solid-solution system. The crystalline structure, optical and dielectric properties were investigated experimentally using X-ray diffraction, spectrophotometer and LCR meter, respectively. The compositions were measured by electron probe microanalysis. The band gap energy was calculated based on the optical transmittance spectra. The XRD results indicated that the single crystals exhibited cubic structure (x ≤ 0.37) and tetragonal phase (x = 0.45) at room temperature. The absorption properties demonstrated that the absorption coefficients and the band gap energy decreased with the increasing Nb component. The dielectric results indicated that the Curie point increased depending on the increasing Nb component.

Thiourea zinc sulfate (ZTS) crystal is a nonlinear optical material that has excellent performance, but the growth of ZTS crystal with high quality and large size is difficult. In this work, we calculated the dropping curve of temperature in ZTS crystal growth and used the aqueous solution slow-cooling method to grow pure, Se doped and As doped crystals. After the doping of Se/As, the external morphology and lattice parameters changed, and the cell volume increased slightly. The decomposition temperature and hardness of Se/As doped crystals increase, indicating that thermostability and machinability are improved. The light transmittance of pure ZTS crystal is well and Se doped crystal is better, but As doped crystal is worse. The nonlinear optical property of ZTS crystal was studied by the powder frequency-doubling experiment.

KTa 0.63 Nb 0.37 O 3 and Cu doped KTa 0.63 Nb 0.37 O 3 nanocrystallines were synthesized using a solvothermal method at 200 °C for 24 h. The obtained samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy, which investigate the influence of Cu-doping on grain size and microstructure. Results show that the synthetic nanocrystallines are cubic morphology and well-crystallized. Copper dopant amount is better to be controlled under 1.0 mol% to prevent impurities. KTa 0.63 Nb 0.37 O 3 nanoparticle size increases and particle dispersity is improved after Cu-doping.

Single crystals of Sr2Mg(BO3)2 (SMBO) were grown by Kyropoulos method. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis, transmission spectrum, thermal properties, band structure, density of states and charge distribution as well as Raman spectra of SMBO were described. The as-grown SMBO crystals show wide transparency range with UV cut-off below 180 nm. A direct band gap of 4.66 eV was obtained from the calculated electronic structure results. The calculated band structure and density of states results indicated the top valence band is determined by O 2p states whereas the low conduction band mainly consists of Sr 5s states. Twelve Raman peaks were observed in the experimental spectrum, fewer than the number predicted by the site group analysis. Raman peaks of SMBO were assigned combining first-principle calculation and site group analysis results. The strongest peak at 917 cm−1 in the experimental spectrum is assigned to symmetric stretching mode A1′(ν1) of free BO3 units. SMBO is a potential Raman crystal which can be used in deep UV laser frequency conversion.

CdSiP2 is an outstanding mid-infrared nonlinear optical crystal material with high thermal conductivity. However, the microscopic physics behind its thermal transport behavior is still unclear. In this study, we have investigated the source of the thermal conductivity of CdSiP2 based on anharmonicity lattice dynamics (ALD) and the first-principle calculation. The results are well accordance with the experimental measurement in a wide temperature range. Based on our results, the acoustic phonon lifetime of CdSiP2 is higher than that of the thermoelectric and semiconducting materials reported in previous studies, which is induced by the low lattice anharmonicity demonstrated by CdSiP2. The mode-dependent thermal conductivity is obtained with the contribution of optical phonons being significant (27%) above 300 K; this is mainly due to the high phonon group velocity and relatively long phonon lifetime of low-energy optical phonons (80–200 cm−1). A high lifetime of acoustic phonons and remarkable contribution of low-energy optical phonons can be responsible for the high thermal conductivity of CdSiP2.

In view of the characteristics of heavy metal and antibiotic compound pollution in the Pearl River Basin in Guangzhou. More scientifically modified cellulose, named HVUC, is characterized by multiple hydrophilic groups, long chains and large space and displays highly efficient adsorption of both Cd and sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) and good adaptability in a wide pH range and at high ion strength. Furthermore, the coadsorption mechanism was elaborated from multiple angles. Multiple adsorption experiments explained the competition and synergy effect in the adsorption process. The electrostatic potential maps indicated that HVUC had advantageous adsorption sites for both Cd and SMZ and that electrostatic interactions had the greatest impact on the adsorption of Cd and SMZ. The electron density and differential charge density images proved that Cd more easily overlapped electron clouds and transferred electrons with HVUC and that SMZ- and could act as a bridge for SMZ-. The equilibrium configuration indicated that the formation of Cd-SMZ- complexes led to the bending and folding of SMZ-, which was not conducive to overall adsorption when SMZ- was close to HVUC and could lead to the release of SMZ- when Cd was close to HVUC, which confirmed the proposed mechanism of complexation-decomplexation-complexation.

Er3+/Yb3+-doped SrLaGa3O7 fluorescent powders were successfully synthesized by solid-state reaction and normal sintering method. This work presents the structural and luminescent properties of SrLaGa3O7:Er3+/Yb3+ (SLGO: Er3+/Yb3+) fluorescent powders. The X-ray diffraction technique revealed that no impurity peaks are detected in the synthesized fluorescent powders even for Yb3+ concentration as high as 10 mol%. The XPS spectra revealed the electron orbits of different elements and the elemental compositions of the samples. The luminescence measurements demonstrated that the SLGO:Er3+/Yb3+ fluorescent powders produced green and red emission bands, which are associated to Er3+ transitions. The green emission bands centered at 547 nm and the red emission band are in the 652–678 nm regions. The maximum emission was observed for 8 mol% of Yb3+. Meanwhile, the effects of Yb3+ on energy-transfer process have also been elucidated. The optical response of these fluorescent powders was obtain by absorbance spectroscopy in the UV–Vis rang to determine the effect of Er3+ cation on the absorbance band of the SLGO. The CIE diagram showed a good match with yellowish green emissions. With the increase of Yb3+ ions doping concentration, the color coordinates gradually move towards yellow right.

A series of YAG:Ce 3+ /Eu 3+ , YAG:Ce 3+ /Eu 3+ /Bi 3+ and YAG:Ce 3+ /Gd 3+ phosphors were synthesized by a co-precipitation method. The results suggest that all of phosphors have the cubic phase and nearly spherical morphology. However, the red emission can be produced by codoping Eu 3+ and Eu 3+ /Bi 3+ ions in YAG:Ce 3+ , and the codoped Gd 3+ ions can induce the red-shift of Ce 3+ emission. These results suggest that the Eu 3+ , Eu 3+ /Bi 3+ and Gd 3+ ions can be used to decrease the correlated color temperature and increase the color-rendering index of white light-emitting diodes based on InGaN blue chip and YAG:Ce 3+ phosphors.

Background KH-type splicing regulatory protein (KHSRP) plays an important role in cancer invasion, but the relevant mechanism is not well known. In the present study, we investigated the function and potential molecular mechanism of KHSRP in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) metastasis and elucidated its clinical significance. Methods Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation and the SWATH™ approach were combined with nanoliquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis to identify metastasis-associated nucleoproteins in NSCLC. Real-time PCR and Western blot were used to screen for metastasis-associated candidate molecules. Gene knockdown and overexpression were used to investigate their functions and molecular mechanisms in lung cancer cells. Coimmunoprecipitation (Co-IP) experiments were performed to identify the interactions between candidate molecules and their interacting proteins. Gene expression and its association with multiple clinicopathologic characteristics were analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot in human lung cancer specimens. Results KHSRP was identified as a metastasis-associated candidate molecule. In NSCLC cell lines, knockdown of KHSRP significantly reduced lung cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and in vivo, whereas overexpression of KHSRP did the opposite. Mechanistically, the protein heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C (C1/C2) (HNRNPC) was identified to interact with KHSRP using Co-IP experiments. In NSCLC cell lines, overexpression of HNRNPC significantly promoted lung cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and in vivo. KHSRP and HNRNPC may induce human lung cancer cell invasion and metastasis by activating the IFN-α-JAK-STAT1 signaling pathway. Drastically higher expression levels of KHSRP and HNRNPC were observed in lung cancer tissues compared to those in adjacent noncancerous tissues. Increased KHSRP and HNRNPC expression was significantly associated with advanced tumor stages and metastasis (both lymph node and distant). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that patients with high KHSRP and HNRNPC expression levels were predicted to have the shortest survival times and to have a poor prognosis. Conclusions KHSRP plays an important role in NSCLC metastasis and may serve as a potential prognostic marker and novel therapeutic target for lung cancer metastasis treatment.

Thermal conductivity is an important physical parameter for the application of nonlinear optical single crystal materials. The underlying science of thermal transport behavior is not well established both experimentally and theoretically. In the present work, we have studied the microscopic picture of lattice thermal conductivity of ZnXP

Background and aims Embryonic stem-cell-related transcription factors are central to the establishment and maintenance of stemness and pluripotency, and their altered expression plays key roles in tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a malignancy with no effective treatment. Here, we report on the embryonic stem cell marker, reduced expression 1 (REX1; also known as zinc finger protein 42), to be selectively down-regulated in HCC tumors. Approach and results Deficiency of REX1 in HCC was attributed to a combination of hypermethylation at its promoter as well as histone modification by methylation and acetylation. Clinically, hypermethylation of REX1 was closely associated with neoplastic transition and advanced tumor stage in humans. Functionally, silencing of REX1 potentiated the tumor-initiating and metastasis potential of HCC cell lines and xenografted tumors. Lentivirus-mediated Rex1 ablation in liver of male immunocompetent mice with HCC, induced by hydrodynamic tail vein injection of proto-oncogenes, enhanced HCC development. Transcriptome profiling studies revealed REX1 deficiency in HCC cells to be enriched with genes implicated in focal adhesion and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. From this lead, we subsequently found REX1 to bind to the promoter region of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 (MKK6), thereby obstructing its transcription, resulting in altered p38 MAPK signaling. Conclusions Our work describes a critical repressive function of REX1 in maintenance of HCC cells by regulating MKK6 binding and p38 MAPK signaling. REX1 deficiency induced enhancement of p38 MAPK signaling, leading to F-actin reorganization and activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2-mediated oxidative stress response, which collectively contributed to enhanced stemness and metastatic capabilities of HCC cells.

Additional file 1: Figure S1. Bioinformatics was used to analyze the cellular components, molecular functions and biological processes. Figure S2. Nuclear proteins were verified by qRT-PCR and western blot analysis. Figure S3. The in vitro migration and invasion abilities of cells transfected with siRNAs of KHSRP, PSIP1 and VASP were evaluated. Figure S4. Thirty-six pairs of cancerous and noncancerous fresh tissues from NSCLC patients were analyzed by Western blot. Figure S5. The expression of KHSRP and HNRNPC in various network databases. Figure S6. A total of 75 pairs of cancerous and noncancerous fresh tissues from NSCLC patients were analyzed by immunohistochemistry analysis. Figure S7. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to explore the roles of KHSRP and HNRNPC in predicting cancer prognosis. Table S1. Primer sequences for real-time PCR used in the study. Table S2. Primer sequences for siRNA used in the study. Table S3. The 52 up-regulated differential expression proteins identified by iTraq and SWATHTMtwo proteomics methods. Table S4. The 64 down-regulated differential expression proteins identified by iTraq and SWATHTMtwo proteomics methods.

The metastable zone width and induction period of ZTS solution have been measured to investigate the influence of H3PO4 on solution stability, and it could be improved by adding phosphoric acid. Pure and H3PO4 doped ZTS crystals have been successfully grown using the slow-cooling method in aqueous solution. Several crystal samples were characterized by XRD, FTIR, TG, DTA, DTG, UV-VIS and SHG. The results show that some changes have taken place on external morphology and internal structure after H3PO4-doping. Thermostability, light transmittance and SHG efficiency of ZTS crystals are also affected by H3PO4, and all of them become better than undoped crystal, which are meaningful for practical applications of crystals.

A new self-assembled cellulose (SACS) containing multi-functional amine, carboxyl and hydroxyl groups was successfully obtained through etherification, cross-linking and grafting processes. Then, the adsorption of sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) and Cd(II) onto SACS at pH values of 3, 5.7 and 7.5 was systematically investigated by batch experiments of single, sequential and binary systems, characterization and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The presence of Cd(II) decreased the adsorption of SMZ because of hydrophilic site competition, while SMZ inversely increased the adsorption of Cd(II), which was attributed to bridging and especially to electrostatic shielding effects; moreover, both the inhibitory and synergistic effects were more obvious in the binary system and at a pH of 7.5. There was a dynamic balance between the inhibitory and synergistic effects that depended on the system, pH value and concentration ratio. DFT results further indicated that SMZ– more easily coordinated with Cd(II) at sulfonyl oxygen and nitrogen sites, and the cationic bridge of Cd(II) with SMZ– mainly occurred in the sequential system. Moreover, a complexation–decomplexation–complexation balance of SMZ– and Cd(II) probably occurred in the binary system.

KTaO3 and KNbO3, two typical perovskite ferroelectric crystal materials with identical cubic structure at high temperature, undergoes totally different phase transition path. The underlying mechanism is explored by comparing their phonon anharmonic behavior based on first-principle calculation. The results of Gruneisen parameters indicate larger phonon anharmonicity of KNbO3 than that of KTaO3, which leads to structural unstable of KNbO3. Different with previous studies of soft mode theory, apparent phonon anharmonicity of both crystals are stemmed not from the center, but the corner and boundary of the first Brillouin zone. In order to essentially understand the difference in the anharmonic behavior of phonons, the chemical bond strength of these two perovskite materials was analyzed by ELF. The results show that due to the stronger covalent properties of Ta-O bond, it will cause weak phonon anharmonicity, and ultimately lead to high phonon relaxation time and low Gruneisen parameters of KTaO3. The weakly ionic Nb-O bond give rise to the obvious phonon anharmonic behavior and lattice instability of KNbO3, resulting in a series of temperature-dependent phase transitions.