Search

A series of nitro-derivatives of pyrrole were designed by replacing the hydrogen atoms on the pyrrole ring with nitro system. In order to investigate the thermodynamic and kinetic stability of thes...

In this study, the genomes of three Plutella xylostella granulovirus (PlxyGV) isolates, PlxyGV-W and PlxyGV-Wn from near Wuhan and PlxyGV-B from near Beijing, China were completely sequenced and comparatively analyzed to investigate genetic stability and diversity of PlxyGV. PlxyGV-W, PlxyGV-B and PlxyGV-Wn consist of 100,941bp, 100,972bp and 100,999bp in length with G + C compositions of 40.71–40.73%, respectively, and share nucleotide sequence identities of 99.5–99.8%. The three individual isolates contain 118 putative protein-encoding ORFs in common. PlxyGV-W, PlxyGV-B and PlxyGV-Wn have ten, nineteen and six nonsynonymous intra isolate nucleotide polymorphisms (NPs) in six, fourteen and five ORFs, respectively, including homologs of five DNA replication/late expression factors and two per os infectivity factors. There are seventeen nonsynonymous inter isolate NPs in seven ORFs between PlxyGV-W and PlxyGV-B, seventy three nonsynonymous NPs in forty seven ORFs between PlxyGV-W and PlxyGV-Wn, seventy seven nonsynonymous NPs in forty six ORFs between PlxyGV-B and PlxyGV-Wn. Alignment of the genome sequences of nine PlxyGV isolates sequenced up to date shows that the sequence homogeneity between the genomes are over 99.4%, with the exception of the genome of PlxyGV-SA from South Africa, which shares a sequence identity of 98.6–98.7% with the other ones. No events of gene gain/loss or translocations were observed. These results suggest that PlxyGV genome is fairly stable in nature. In addition, the transcription start sites and polyadenylation sites of thirteen PlxyGV-specific ORFs, conserved in all PlxyGV isolates, were identified by RACE analysis using mRNAs purified from larvae infected by PlxyGV-Wn, proving the PlxyGV-specific ORFs are all genuine genes.

High-energy-density compounds are designed successively by substituting the hydrogen atoms of 1H-pyrazole by the nitro group. The thermal stabilities are explored by the calculations of the heat of...

The employment of the stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) based proteomic analysis as a guidance tool for investigation of cellular response of a multifunctional nanodelivery system has been described for cancer therapy. The multifunctional nanodelivery system in this study was based on an estrogen anchored multimodal nanomicelle (NPG). The key components of the multifunctional nanomicelle consist: I²-cyclodextrin conjugated estrone (CDE1), an escort molecule; polymeric BH3 mimetic, a proapoptotic BcL-2 inhibitor; and the mitotic catastrophe agent paclitaxel. They were assembled into the nanomicelle by multiple weak interactions including hydrophobic/hydrophilic interaction and host-guest recognition. The resulting nanomicelle exhibited unimodal morphology with average size of 170 nm with sustained release. It was found that the nanoparticle exhibits excellent anti-tumor activities for the treatment of breast adenocarcinoma with exceptional targeting efficacy both in MCF-7 tumor bearing mice. NPG as a new drug delivery system demonstrated several merits such as the increased drug uptake in breast tumor tissue, low toxicity, potent tumor growth retardation and metastasis inhibition, as well as potential clinical practicality without compromising liver, kidney and immune function and ameliorating the conventional chemotherapeutics induced phlebitis in breast tumor bearing nude mice model. The systematic SILAC based proteomics study and the subsequent validation revealed that the synergistic induction of mitotic catastrophe through enhanced G2/M phase arrest and PI3K/Akt/mTOR mediated autophagy, account for the exceedingly potent anti-tumor activity of this convergent nanomicelle. Additionally, the verification of the top upregulated gene from the proteomics profiling revealed that the overexpression of zinc finger protein 350 (ZNF350/ZBRK1) is associated with the enhanced antitumor effect induced by NPG.KEYWORDS:Â Drug targeting, Estrogen Receptor, Proteomics, Paclitaxel, Gossypol, SynergismÂ

In this study, Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus ac75 was functionally characterized. Ac75 has homologs in all sequenced genomes of alphabaculoviruses, betabaculoviruses, and gammabaculoviruses. It was determined to encode a protein that is associated with the nucleocapsid of budded virus and with both envelope and nucleocapsids of occlusion-derived virus. Sf9 cells transfected by an ac75-knockout bacmid resulted in the infection being restricted to single cells. No budded virus were detected although viral DNA replication and late gene expression were unaffected. Electron microscopy revealed that the virogenic stroma, nucleocapsids and occlusion bodies appeared normal in the cells transfected by an ac75-knockout bacmid. However, the nucleocapsids were unenveloped, the occlusion bodies did not contain any virions or nucleocapsids, and no nucleocapsids were found outside the nucleus or spanning the nuclear membrane. In addition, de novo intranuclear membrane microvesicles that are the precursor of occlusion-derived virus envelopes were absent in the nuclei of transfected cells. Confocal microscopy showed that AC75 protein appeared in the cytoplasm as early as 6 hours post infection. It localized to the ring zone at the periphery of the nucleus from 15 to 24 hours post infection and demonstrated light blocky cloud-like distribution in the center of the nucleus. AC75 was found to co-immunoprecipitate with BV and ODV associated envelope protein ODV-E25. The data from this study suggest that ac75 is essential for induction of the intranuclear membrane microvesicles, it appears to be required for the intranuclear envelopment of nucleocapsids, and is also essential for egress of nucleocapsids from the nuclei, in infected cells.

To investigate the function of Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) gp16, multiple gp16-knockout and repair mutants were constructed and characterized. No obvious difference in productivity of budded virus, DNA synthesis, late gene expression and morphogenesis was observed between gp16-knockout and repair viruses, but gp16 deletion resulted in six hours of lengthening in ST50 to the third instar Spodoptera exigua larvae in bioassays. GP16 was fractionated mainly in the light membrane fraction, by subcellular fractionation. A GP16-EGFP fusion protein was predominantly localized close around the nuclear membrane in infected cells, being coincident with formation of the vesicles associated with the nuclear membrane, which hosted nucleocapsids released from the nucleus. These data suggest that gp16 is not required for viral replication, but may be involved in membrane trafficking associated with the envelopment/de-envelopment of budded viruses when they cross over the nuclear membrane and pass through cytoplasm.

Homologous regions (hrs) contained in genomes of baculoviruses have been shown to function as origins of viral DNA replication in alphabaculoviruses and betabaculoviruses, and as enhancers for early gene expression in alphabaculoviruses. The hr sequences of betabaculoviruses differ substantially from the ones of alphabaculoviruses. The enhancing property of betabaculovirus hrs has not been reported. In this study, transient assays were performed to investigate the effects of Plutella xylostella granulovirus (PlxyGV) hr1 on early gene expression of the virus. It was shown that hr1 stimulated reporter gene expression from the promoters of four early genes – ie1, dnapol, lef1, and lef9 – independent of additional viral gene expression. The PlxyGV ie1 was shown to repress reporter gene expression from all four early gene promoters in a Trichoplusia ni cell line, both in the presence and absence of hr.

A simple strategy to fabricate flexible dye-sensitized solar cells involves the use of photoanodes based on TiO2 nanotube (TNT) arrays with rear illumination. The TNT films (tube length ∼35 μm) were produced via anodization, and sensitized with N719 dye for photovoltaic characterization. Pt counter electrodes of two types were used: a conventional FTO/glass substrate for a device of rigid type and an ITO/PEN substrate for a device of flexible type. These DSSC devices were fabricated into either a single-cell structure (active area 3.6×0.5 cm2) or a parallel module containing three single cells (total active area 5.4 cm2). The flexible devices exhibit remarkable performance with efficiencies η=5.40% (single cell) and 4.77% (parallel module) of power conversion, which outperformed their rigid counterparts with η=4.87% (single cell) and 4.50% (parallel model) under standard one-sun irradiation. The flexible device had a greater efficiency of conversion of incident photons to current and a broader spectral range than the rigid device; a thinner electrolyte layer for the flexible device than for the rigid device is a key factor to improve the light-harvesting ability for the TNT-DSSC device with rear illumination. Measurements of electrochemical impedance spectra show excellent catalytic activity and superior diffusion characteristics for the flexible device. This technique thus provides a new option to construct flexible photovoltaic devices with large-scale, light-weight, and cost-effective advantages for imminent applications in consumer electronics.

A simple electrodeposition approach has been developed to fabricate Pt and Cu nanostructures via inorganic salt and surfactant to control the shape, size, and distribution of the nanomaterials. The Pt thin film fabricated by cyclic electrodeposition approach reveals low Pt loading amount and high electrocatalytic ability for the reduction reaction of tri-iodide ions indicating a great potential for the application of dye-sensitized solar cell as an efficient counter electrode.

Density functional theory (DFT) was used to study the heat of formation (HOFs), electronic structure, energetic properties and thermal stability for a series of purine derivatives with difluoroamino groups. The isodesmic reaction method was employed to calculate the HOFs of the energies obtained from electronic structure calculations. Results indicated that the position of difluoroamino groups could influence the values of HOFs. The bond dissociation energies and bond orders of the weakest bonds were analyzed to investigate the thermal stability of the purine derivatives. Furthermore, the detonation velocities and pressure were evaluated by using the Kamlet–Jacobs equations based on the theoretical densities and detonation heat ( Q ). The cylinder wall velocities ( V ¯ ) were also calculated using the simplified calculational method. Compared with the conventional explosives, two purine derivatives may be regarded as the potential candidates for practical HEDCs.

As part of a search for high energy density materials (HEDMs), a series of purine derivatives with nitro groups were designed computationally. The relationship between the structures and the performances of these polynitropurines was studied. Density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-311G** level was employed to evaluate the heats of formation (HOFs) of the polynitropurines by designing an isodesmic reaction method. Results indicated that the HOFs were influenced by the number and positions of substituent groups. Detonation properties were evaluated using the Kamlet-Jacobs equations, based on the theoretical densities and heats of formation of the polynitropurines. The relative stabilities of the polynitropurines were studied via the pyrolysis mechanism and the UB3LYP/6-311G** method. Homolysis of the ring-NO2 bond is predicted to be the initial step in the thermal decomposition of these purine derivatives. Considering their detonation properties and relative stabilities, the tetranitropurine (D1) derivatives may be regarded as potential candidates for practical HEDCs. These results may provide useful information for further investigations.

This paper reports on the microstructure of anodic titanium oxide (TiO 2 ) and its use in a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) device. When voltages of 60 V were applied to titanium foil for 2 hr under 0.25 wt% NH 4 F+ 2 vol% H 2 O+C 2 H 4 (OH) 2 , TiO 2 with a nanotube structure was formed. The film, which had a large surface area, was used as an electron transport film in the DSSC. The DSSC device had a short-circuit current density ( J sc ) of 12.52 mA cm −2 , a fill factor (FF) of 0.65, an open-voltage ( V oc ) of 0.77 V, and a photocurrent efficiency of 6.3% under 100% AM 1.5 light. The internal impedance values under 100%, 64%, 11%, and 0% (dark) AM 1.5 light intensities were measured and simulated using the electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique. The impedance characteristics of the DSSC device were simulated using inductors, resistors, and capacitors. The Ti/TiO 2 , TiO 2 /Electrolyte, electrolyte, and electrolyte/(Pt/ITO) interfaces were simulated using an RC parallel circuit, and the bulk materials, such as the Ti, ITO and conducting wire, were simulated using a series of resistors and inductors. The impedance of the bulk materials was simulated using L 0 + R 0 + R b , the impedance of the working electrode was simulated using ( C 1 // R 1 )//( R a +( C 2 // R 2 ), the electrolyte was simulated using C 3 //R 3 , and the counter electrode was simulated using C 4 //R 4 .

Within Baculoviridae, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of replication in betabaculoviruses, despite extensive studies in alphabaculoviruses. In this study, the promoters of nine late genes of the betabaculovirus Plutella xylostella granulovirus (PlxyGV) were cloned into a transient expression vector and the alphabaculovirus Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) genome, and compared with homologous late gene promoters of AcMNPV in Sf9 cells. In transient expression assays, all PlxyGV late promoters were activated in cells transfected with the individual reporter plasmids together with an AcMNPV bacmid. In infected cells, reporter gene expression levels with the promoters of PlxyGV e18 and AcMNPV vp39 and gp41 were significantly higher than those of the corresponding AcMNPV or PlxyGV promoters, which had fewer late promoter motifs. Observed expression levels were lower for the PlxyGV p6.9, pk1, gran, p10a, and p10b promoters than for the corresponding AcMNPV promoters, despite equal numbers of late promoter motifs, indicating that species-specific elements contained in some late promoters were favored by the native viral RNA polymerases for optimal transcription. The 8-nt sequence TAAATAAG encompassing the ATAAG motif was conserved in the AcMNPV polh, p10, and pk1 promoters. The 5-nt sequence CAATT located 4 or 5 nt upstream of the T/ATAAG motif was conserved in the promoters of PlxyGV gran, p10c, and pk1. The results of this study demonstrated that PlxyGV late gene promoters could be effectively activated by the RNA polymerase from AcMNPV, implying that late gene expression systems are regulated by similar mechanisms in alphabaculoviruses and betabaculoviruses. [Image: see text] ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: Supplementary material is available for this article at 10.1007/s12250-015-3675-3 and is accessible for authorized users.

We review systematically the kinetic characterisation of electron transport and charge recombination in dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSC) using both temporally resolved and frequency-domain techniques. For the temporally resolved approach, charge extraction (CE), transient-photocurrent decay (TCD) and transient-photovoltage decay (TVD) methods are introduced in detail; for the frequency-domain approach, techniques involving electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), intensity-modulated photocurrent spectroscopy (IMPS) and intensity-modulated photovoltage spectroscopy (IMVS) are presented in detail. The TCD and TVD data are obtained under short-circuit and open-circuit conditions, respectively, and the electron diffusion coefficients and electron lifetimes are extracted from fitting the decay curves accordingly; the IMPS/IMVS results are the counterparts of the TCD/TVD results in the frequency domain. Even though the EIS results are readily acquired, an accurate interpretation of the data requires an ap...

A series of ethylene oxide derivations, C2OH4–n (NO2) n (x = 1–4), has been designed computationally. We calculated the heats of formation (HOFs), bond dissociation energy (BDE), and explosive performances (detonation velocity and detonation pressure) of the title compounds by using density functional theory with 6-311G** basis set. The results show that most of ethylene oxide derivations have positive HOFs values except I. All the calculated BDE and the bond dissociation energies without zero-point energy corrections (BDE0) are larger than 200 kJ mol−1, which indicate that all the ethylene oxide derivations have good thermal stabilities. The explosive performances of most of ethylene oxide derivations would rank up with cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX). The results have not only shown that these compounds may be used as high energy density compounds, but also provide some useful information for further syntheses.

The derivatives of purine are designed through substituting the hydrogen atoms on it for nitro and amino functional groups. Geometries and frequency are analyzed at the B3LYP/6-31 G** level of density functional theory (DFT). Heats of formation (HOF), bond dissociation energy (BDE) and detonation parameters (detonation velocity and detonation pressure) are obtained in detail at the same level. It is found that the BDE values of all derivatives are over 120KJ·mol-1, and have high positive heats of formation. These derivatives possess excellent detonation properties, for B1, B2, and C, the detonation velocity are 9.58, 9.57, and 9.90 km·s-1, and the detonation pressure are 43.40, 46.05, and 46.37 Gpa, respectively, the detonation performances are better than cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) and cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine (HMX). Hence, the derivations of purine may be promising well-behaved high energy density materials.

The singlet and triplet excited states of hydrogen cyanide have been computed by using the complete active space self-consistent field and completed active space second order perturbation methods with the atomic natural orbital (ANO-L) basis set. Through calculations of vertical excitation energies, we have probed the transitions from ground state to valence excited states, and further extensions to the Rydberg states are achieved by adding 1s1p1d Rydberg orbitals into the ANO-L basis set. Four singlet and nine triplet excited states have been optimized. The computed adiabatic energies and the vertical transition energies agree well with the available experimental data and the inconsistencies with the available theoretical reports are discussed in detail.

We report morphologic characterization of the anodic titanium oxide (ATO) films with highly-ordered titania (Ti0 2 ) nanotube (NT) arrays grown perpendicularly to a titanium (Ti) foil. The length of the ATO arrays was controlled by various electrolytes and anodic periods at a constant applied voltage. In order to enhance the pathways for electron percolation, the ATO film was annealed in an air furnace, forming anatase TiO 2 . After TiCl 4 post-treatment to enhance the ruthenium-based dye loading on the ATO surface, the optimized ATO arrays were used as a photoanode in a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The best performance of the NT-DSSC device was achieved with a NH 4 F-based ATO film at length of 15 μm, giving J sc = 12.15 mA cm -2 , V oc = 0.74 V, FF = 0.69, and η = 6.2% under backside illumination.

Porphyrins with phenylethynyl links of varied length (PE1-PE4) were sensitized on vertically oriented, anodic titanium-oxide (ATO) nanotube arrays for application as dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The efficiency of power conversion decreased systematically from the dye with a short link to the dye with a long link. We measured the efficiency of conversion of incident photons to current (IPCE), the photocurrent decay of the devices, and steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectra of the thin-film samples to understand how the cell performance depends on the length of the link. Measurements of femtosecond fluorescence confirmed that the efficiency of electron injection depended on length because of dye aggregation that significantly increased the rate of aggregate-induced energy transfer for porphyrins with a long link. The rate of electron injection depended on the length of the link with an attenuation factor beta approximately 0.1 A(-1). Resonant energy transfer (RET) kinetics of porphyrins sensitized on anodic aluminium-oxide (AAO) nanotube arrays were performed with picosecond time-correlated single-photon counting and four molecular densities for each porphyrin. The kinetic data of PE1 and PE2 are described satisfactorily according to a Förster model, whereas those of PE3 and PE4 conform to a Dexter formula. A formation of clusters is proposed to rationalize the observed density-dependent kinetics for the RET of porphyrins on semiconductor films.

Medermycin, a polyketide antibiotic, possesses strong bioactivity against a variety of tumors through a novel mechanism and is structurally featured with a pyran ring containing two chiral centers (3S and 15R). By far the biosynthetic origin of such enantiomerical conformations still remains obscure. In the present study, we reported the functional characterization of a proposed ketoreductase Med-ORF12 encoded by medermycin biosynthetic cluster and revealed its involvement in the stereochemical control at C3 center of medermycin. Firstly, bioinformatics analysis of Med-ORF12 suggested that it belongs to a group of stereospecific ketoreductases. Next, a Med-ORF12-deficient mutant was obtained and LC/MS measurements demonstrated that medermycin production was completely abolished in this mutant. Meanwhile, it was found that two shunt products were accumulated at the absence of Med-ORF12. Finally, the reintroduction of Med-ORF12 into this mutant could restore the production of medermycin. In a conclusion, these data supported that Med-ORF12 is essential for the biosynthesis of medermycin and performs its role as a stereospecifc ketoreductase in the tailoring steps of medermycin biosynthetic pathway.

A family of well-defined prophyrin wires, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-N-ethylpyridyl)porphyrin salts [H 2 TEPyP 4+ .A] (A = 2CdI 4 2- 1; 6I - 2; 4I - 3), has been synthesized by hydrothermal methods and was structurally characterized by X-ray single-crystal diffraction. Controlling the packing of π-π stacking backbones was achieved by means of adjusting the counterbalanced anions: tetragonal packing for 1 and 2; hexagonal-like for 3. The optical properties related to the packing structures were studied by solid-state diffuse reflectance spectra. The blue-shift of Soret band demonstrated the H-aggregate form in the porphyrin wires.

Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus orf132 (named ac132 ) has homologs in all genome-sequenced group I nucleopolyhedroviruses. Its role in the viral replication cycle is unknown. In this study, ac132 was shown to express a protein of around 28 kDa, which was determined to be associated with the nucleocapsids of both occlusion-derived virus and budded virus. Confocal microscopy showed that AC132 protein appeared in central region of the nucleus as early as 12 h postinfection with the virus. It formed a ring zone at the periphery of the nucleus by 24 h postinfection. To investigate its role in virus replication, ac132 was deleted from the viral genome by using a bacmid system. In the Sf9 cell culture transfected by the ac132 knockout bacmid, infection was restricted to single cells, and the titer of infectious budded virus was reduced to an undetectable level. However, viral DNA replication and the expression of late genes vp39 and odv-e25 and a reporter gene under the control of the very late gene p10 promoter were unaffected. Electron microscopy showed that nucleocapsids, virions, and occlusion bodies were synthesized in the cells transfected by an ac132 knockout bacmid, but the formation of the virogenic stroma and occlusion bodies was delayed, the numbers of enveloped nucleocapsids were reduced, and the occlusion bodies contained mainly singly enveloped nucleocapsids. AC132 was found to interact with envelope protein ODV-E18 and the viral DNA-binding protein P6.9. The data from this study suggest that ac132 possibly plays an important role in the assembly and envelopment of nucleocapsids. IMPORTANCE To our knowledge, this is the first report on a functional analysis of ac132 . The data presented here demonstrate that ac132 is required for production of the budded virus and multiply enveloped occlusion-derived virus of Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus. This article reveals unique phenotypic changes induced by ac132 deletion on the virus and multiple new findings on ac132 .

This study was performed to investigate the effects of different regions of the Autographa califor nica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus envelope protein E25 on its trafficking into nucleus and nuclear localization in host cells and on virus replication. Fourteen recombinant bacmids, each containing an e25 mutant with substitution or insertion of egfp, in the absence or presence of the native e25, were constructed and used to transfect Sf9 cells. The E25-EGFP fusion proteins and native E25 expressed in the cells transfect ed with individual recombinant bacmid were traced by autofluorescence from EGFP or by immuno-fluorescence assays. Confocal microscopy revealed that the E25-EGFP fusion protein with the N-domain (2-45aa) of E25 substituted by EGFP only distributed in the cytoplasm in transfected cells; and the fusion protein with EGFP inserted at the laa/2aa site of E25 completely remained outside of the nucleus and resided along the nuclear membrane. The E25-EGFPs with 46-118aa of E25 substituted by EGFP or with EGFP inserted at the 118aa/119aa site were present outside, across from the nuclear membrane or in nuclear plasm in dot-like shapes. The fusion proteins with the C-domain substituted by EGFP or with EGFP inserted at the site of 45/46aa or at the C-terminal formed a condensed ring or spread throughout the nucleus, in a similar manner to the E25 distributed in the cells transfected by the e25-knockout repair bacmid. These results prove that the N-terminal domain is critical for nuclear transportation of E25 and possibly to its position on the cytoplasm membrane as well; and the sequence downstream of the N-terminal domain also affects trafficking and nuclear localization of the protein. In cells transfected with bacmids containing both the native e25 and individual e25-egfp mutants, the E25-EGFP fusion proteins co-localized with E25 individually, showing similar patterns of subcellular localization as E25 mutants in the absence of native E25 in most cases, suggesting that the E25 likely exists and functions as dimmers or polymers. Production of infectious BV was dramatically reduced and even completely eliminated in most cases, either in the absence or presence of the native e25.

There are no stable permissive cell lines available for in vitro replication of PlxyGV. In this study, several PlxyGV bacmids containing egfp and plasmids expressing the luciferase gene (luc) were constructed and used to transfect insect cell lines from Plutella xylostella, Trichoplusia ni (Hi5), and Spodoptera frugiperda. Fluorescence was observed only in the cells transfected with a bacmid with egfp driven by a PlxyGV ie1 promoter, but not by a PlxyGV vp39 or granulin promoter. In transient assays, various levels of LUC activity were detected in the cells transfected with individual reporter plasmids containing the luc driven by the promoters of PlxyGV early genes ie1, exon0, dnapol, lef1, lef9, and orf105, suggesting that the PlxyGV early genes could be activated in the cells independent of virus infection. The addition of a PlxyGV bacmid in the transfections activated luc expression from the promoters of PlxyGV late genes vp39 and granulin only at minimum levels, and caused significant reduction in luc expression from the early promoters, may be due to apoptosis triggered by the PlxyGV bacmid. PlxyGV reporter bacmids containing Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) genes p35 or p35 and ie1 or p35, ie1 and gp64 expressed LUC from a PlxyGV vp39 promoter at levels of 2.6, 8.3, and 23 times higher than those produced by the basic PlxyGV reporter bacmid, respectively, in transfected Hi5 cells. Green fluorescence was present in the cultures of all three cell lines transfected by a PlxyGV bacmid containing egfp with a vp39 promoter and AcMNPV ie1, p35, and gp64 with their native promoters. The fluorescence was also observed in the culture of Hi5 cells inoculated with the supernatant from the transfection. These results suggest that AcMNPV p35 could rescue late gene expression, and the ie1, p35, and gp64 may cooperatively rescue replication of PlxyGV in the cells.

Nature has chosen chlorophylls in plants as antennae to harvest light for the conversion of solar energy in complicated photosynthetic processes. Inspired by natural photosynthesis, scientists utilized artificial chlorophylls – the porphyrins – as efficient centres to harvest light for solar cells sensitized with a porphyrin (PSSC). After the first example appeared in 1993 of a porphyrin of type copper chlorophyll as a photosensitizer for PSSC that achieved a power conversion efficiency of 2.6%, no significant advance of PSSC was reported until 2005; beta-linked zinc porphyrins were then reported to show promising device performances with a benchmark efficiency of 7.1% reported in 2007. Meso-linked zinc porphyrin sensitizers in the first series with a push–pull framework appeared in 2009; the best cell performed comparably to that of a N3-based device, and a benchmark 11% was reported for a porphyrin sensitizer of this type in 2010. With a structural design involving long alkoxyl chains to envelop the porphyrin core to suppress the dye aggregation for a push–pull zinc porphyrin, the PSSC achieved a record 12.3% in 2011 with co-sensitization of an organic dye and a cobalt-based electrolyte. The best PSSC system exhibited a panchromatic feature for light harvesting covering the visible spectral region to 700 nm, giving opportunities to many other porphyrins, such as fused and dimeric porphyrins, with near-infrared absorption spectral features, together with the approach of molecular co-sensitization, to enhance the device performance of PSSC. According to this historical trend for the development of prospective porphyrin sensitizers used in PSSC, we review systematically the progress of porphyrins of varied kinds, and their derivatives, applied in PSSC with a focus on reports during 2007–2012 from the point of view of molecular design correlated with photovoltaic performance.

The baculovirus-induced actin polymerization is mainly associated with the virus nucleocapsid protein P78/83, which is homologous with WASP proteins that can activate Arp2/3 complex and induce the actin polymerization. In order to explore the role of Arp2/3 complex in the baculovirus replication, the P40 subunit of Arp2/3 complex from Sf9 (Spodoptera frugiperda 9) cell line was cloned and characterized. Immunofluorescent microscopy assay indicated that P40 was recruited to the inner-side of nuclear membrane during virus infection, which was in accordance with nuclear F-actin distribution in virus-infected cells as documented in our previous research, suggesting P40 could be used to track Arp2/3 complex subcellular distribution changes during virus infection. In addition, co-immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated that P40 interacted with P78/83 only in virus-infected cells, suggesting that actin polymerization induced by P78/83-Arp2/3 complex during baculovirus infection was regulated by some unidentified virus factors.

Plutella xylostella granulovirus (PlxyGV) contains homologs of 15 Autographa californica MNPV (AcMNPV) late expression factor (lef) genes. The prospective products of 14 PlxyGV lef genes (ie-0 is not included) share 13%-53% amino acid similarity with their corresponding homologs of AcMNPV, among which LEF-9, LEF-8 and P47, three subunits of the virus-encoded RNA polymerase, share 49%, 53% and 46% sequence identity, respectively. In this study, an established transient expression system was used to test the ability of the PlxyGV LEFs to activate an AcMNPV vp39 promoter-driven reporter gene in SF9 cells. It was shown that PlxyGV le f-2 replaced the corresponding AcMNPV gene and exhibited partial activity in the context of the remaining set of AcMNPV le fs. PlxyGV LEF-2 was found to contain additional 100aa and 70aa at the C-terminus in comparison with the LEF-2 of other GVs and lepidopteran NPVs respectively.

Nature has chosen chlorophylls in plants as antennae to harvest light for the conversion of solar energy in complicated photosynthetic processes. Inspired by natural photosynthesis, scientists utilized artificial chlorophylls – the porphyrins – as efficient centres to harvest light for solar cells sensitized with a porphyrin (PSSC). After the first example appeared in 1993 of a porphyrin of type copper chlorophyll as a photosensitizer for PSSC that achieved a power conversion efficiency of 2.6%, no significant advance of PSSC was reported until 2005; beta-linked zinc porphyrins were then reported to show promising device performances with a benchmark efficiency of 7.1% reported in 2007. Meso-linked zinc porphyrin sensitizers in the first series with a push–pull framework appeared in 2009; the best cell performed comparably to that of a N3-based device, and a benchmark 11% was reported for a porphyrin sensitizer of this type in 2010. With a structural design involving long alkoxyl chains to envelop the porphyrin core to suppress the dye aggregation for a push–pull zinc porphyrin, the PSSC achieved a record 12.3% in 2011 with co-sensitization of an organic dye and a cobalt-based electrolyte. The best PSSC system exhibited a panchromatic feature for light harvesting covering the visible spectral region to 700 nm, giving opportunities to many other porphyrins, such as fused and dimeric porphyrins, with near-infrared absorption spectral features, together with the approach of molecular co-sensitization, to enhance the device performance of PSSC. According to this historical trend for the development of prospective porphyrin sensitizers used in PSSC, we review systematically the progress of porphyrins of varied kinds, and their derivatives, applied in PSSC with a focus on reports during 2007–2012 from the point of view of molecular design correlated with photovoltaic performance.

Based on DFT-B3LYP/6-311G** method, the molecular geometric structures of polynitramineprismanes are fully optimized. The detonation performances, energy gaps, strain energies, as well as their stability were investigated to look for high energy density compounds (HEDCs). Our results show that all polynitramineprismanes have high and positive heat of formation. To construct the relationship between stabilities and structures, energy gaps and bond dissociation energies are calculated, and these results show that the energy gaps of prismane derivatives are much higher than that of TATB (0.1630). In addition, the C-C bonds on cage are confirmed as trigger bond in explosive reaction. All polynitramineprismanes have large strain energies, and the strain energies of all compounds are slightly smaller than prismane, which indicated that the strain energies were somewhat released compared to prismane. Considering the quantitative criteria of HEDCs, hexanitramineprismane is a good candidate of high energy compounds.

Based on fully optimized geometric structures at DFT-B3LYP/6-311G** level, we calculated electronic structures, heats of formation, strain energies, bond dissociation energies and detonation performance (detonation velocity and detonation pressure) for a series of polynitraminecubanes. Our results have shown that energy gaps of cubane derivatives are much higher than that of triaminotrinitrobenzene (TATB), which means that cubane derivatives may be more sensitive than TATB. Polynitraminecubanes have high and positive heats of formation, and a good linear relationship between heats of formation and nitramine group numbers was presented. As the number of nitramine groups in the molecule increases, the enthalpies of combustion values are increasingly negative, but the specific enthalpy of combustion values decreases. It is found that all cubane derivatives have high strain energies, which are affected by the number and position of nitramine group. The calculated bond dissociation energies of C-NHNO(2) and C-C bond show that the C-C bond should be the trigger bond in the pyrolysis process. It is found that detonation velocity (D), detonation pressure (P) and molecule density (ρ) have good linear relationship with substituented group numbers. Heptanitraminecubane and octanitraminecubane have good detonation performance over 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetraazacyclooctane (HMX), and they can be regarded as potential candidates of high energy density compounds (HEDCs). The results have not only shown that these compounds may be used as HEDCs, but also provide some useful information for further investigation.

Protein-protein interactions between viruses and hosts are common during viral infection and replication. In this study, a cDNA library from larvae of Plutella xylostella was constructed and used for screening of genes encoding proteins interacting with Plutella xylostella granulovirus (PlxyGV) proteins. Two cDNA clones containing genes encoding proteins interacting with PlxyGV PP31 were identified by yeast two-hybrid assays. Sequence analysis showed that the genes encoded homologues of receptor for activated protein C kinase (RACK) and methionine aminopeptidase 2 (MetAP2), respectively. The P. xylostella rack gene and the PlxyGV pp31 was expressed in an E. coli strain to produce proteins fused with a 6-His or a GST tag. It was shown that the rack was expressed as a 38kD peptide as prospected. The 38kD His-tagged peptide was co-purified with GST-PP31 by GST-bind resin in GST-pulldown assays, confirming interaction between the PlxyGV PP31 and the RACK protein of P. xylostella.

A series of polynitroprismanes, C6H6−n (NO2) n (n = 1–6) intended for use as high energy density compounds (HEDCs) were designed computationally. Their electronic structures, heats of formation, interactions between nitro groups, specific enthalpies of combustion, bond dissociation energies, and explosive performances (detonation velocities and detonation pressures) were calculated using density functional theory (DFT) with the 6-311 G** basis set. The results showed that all of the polynitroprismanes had high positive heats of formation that increased with the number of substitutions for the prismane derivatives, while the specific enthalpy of combustion decreased as the number of nitro groups increased. In addition, the range of enthalpy of combustion reducing is getting smaller. Interactions between ortho (vicinal) groups deviate from the group additivity rule and decrease as the number of nitro groups increases. In terms of thermodynamic stability, all of the polynitroprismanes had higher bond dissociation energies (BDEs) than RDX and HMX. Detonation velocities and detonation pressures were estimated using modified Kamlet–Jacobs equations based on the heat of detonation (Q) and the theoretical density of the molecule (ρ). It was found that ρ, D, and P are strongly linearly related to the number of nitro groups. Taking both their energetic properties and thermal stabilities into account, pentanitroprismane and hexanitroprismane are potential candidate HEDCs.

The photovoltaic performance and charge recombination characteristics of porphyrin-based dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) devices have been investigated using the impedance spectroscopy (IS) technique. The IS results provide key information related to the device performance for a highly efficient porphyrin dye (YD2), a reference porphyrin dye (YD0), and a commercial ruthenium dye (N719). The DSC devices constructed using YD2 and N719 dyes reach similar internal power conversion efficiencies (7.41% vs 7.54%) due to the higher injection of the YD2 dye that is compromised by a lower photovoltage. In addition, both YD2 and N719 dyes exhibit the same charge-transfer resistance, indicating that the recombination rates of both dyes are very similar. The diarylamino group plays a key role to repel the triiodide ions from the titania surface so that the charge recombination of YD2 is less significant compared with that of YD0.

To compare the efficacy, time to disease progression (TTP), overall survival (OS) and toxicity of FOLFOX6 and TLF regimens for advanced gastric cancer.The clinical data of 81 chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced gastric cancer were analyzed. Of the 81 patients, 41 were treated with FOLFOX6 regimen and 40 with TLF regimen. The patients in FOLFOX6 group received intravenous infusion of L-OHP(100 mg/m2) at day 1, bolus injection of 5-FU (400 mg/m2) at day 1, and continuous intravenous infusion of 5-FU (1200 mg/m2/d) for 22 h at days 1-2, each treatment cycle lasting 14 days. The patients in TCF group received TAX (90 mg/m2) at day 1, bolus injection of 5-FU (400 mg/m2) at days 1-2, and continuous intravenous infusion of 5-FU (400 mg/m2/d) for 22 h at days 1-2, and each treatment cycle also lasted 14 days.The objective response rates were 48.8% in FOLFOX6 group and 50.0% in TLF group (P=0.962). The median TTP in the two groups was 6.30 months and 6.50 months (P=0.958), with median survival time of 9.80 months and 10.70 months (P=0.578), respectively. The most frequent adverse events were nausea, vomiting and hematologic toxicities. The incidences of grade III-IV leucopenia and neutropenia were lower in FOLFOX6 group than in TLF group, but the difference was not statistically significant (12.2% vs 30.0%, P=0.112; 14.6% vs 32.5%, P=0.126). Three patients in FOLFOX6 group developed intestinal obstruction during the chemotherapy.Both FOLFOX6 and TLF regimens are effective in treating advanced gastric cancer and the toxicities can be tolerated.

The magnetic characteristics of the molecular magnet ${[{\mathrm{Fe}}^{II}(\ensuremath{\Delta}){\mathrm{Fe}}^{II}(\ensuremath{\Lambda}){(\mathrm{ox})}_{2}{(\text{Phen})}_{2}]}_{n}$, having chemical formula ${\mathrm{C}}_{28}{\mathrm{H}}_{16}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}{\mathrm{N}}_{4}{\mathrm{O}}_{8}$ for unity, has been studied by magnetization, neutron diffraction, and field-dependent specific heat-measurements. In the high-temperature regime $(Tg{T}_{m})$, the one-dimensional Ising chain model with alternate Land\'e factors is applied to describe its quasiferrimagnetic behavior as temperature approaches ${T}_{m}$. In the low-temperature region $(Tl{T}_{m})$, the increase of interchain interactions gives rise to long-range magnetic ordering as indicated by an anomaly in specific heat. Furthermore, an intrinsic antiparallel alignment of spins with a net ferrimagnetic structure is deduced from neutron diffraction study. The field-dependent $\ensuremath{\lambda}$-type anomaly of specific heat indicates that applying a magnetic field raises magnetic ordering temperature. An additional small anomaly in specific heat is also seen below ${T}_{m}$, which could be due to the zero-field splitting caused by the internal crystal field.