We have succeeded in the growth of europium (Eu)-doped GaN layer grown by organometallic vapor-phase epitaxy (OMVPE) and demonstrated the first low-voltage operation of current-injected red emission from a p-type/Eu-doped/n-type GaN light-emitting diode (LED) at room temperature. The bright red emission was obtained with an applied voltage as low as 3 V under normal lighting conditions. At a dc current of 20 mA, the output power, integrated over the 5D0–7F2 transition in Eu3+ ions (around 621 nm), was 1.3 µW. This result suggests a novel way to realize GaN-based red LEDs and monolithic devices comprising red, green and blue GaN-based LEDs.

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Objective To investigate whether leucine‐rich α2‐glycoprotein (LRG) could be a biomarker for disease activity during interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) blockade treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods In 59 RA patients who were treated with tocilizumab for 24 weeks, serum LRG levels were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. RA disease activity was evaluated by the Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to examine the diagnostic performance of LRG and other biomarkers. In monkeys with experimental autoimmune arthritis, swollen joint counts, joint pathologic changes, and blood levels of C‐reactive protein (CRP) and LRG were evaluated after treatment with anti–IL‐6 receptor antibody. Results Among tocilizumab‐treated RA patients, those with active disease (CDAI >2.8) had significantly higher serum LRG levels compared to those whose disease was in remission. ROC curve analysis suggested that the LRG level was more useful than the CRP or matrix metalloproteinase 3 level or the erythrocyte sedimentation rate in discriminating between remission and active disease during therapy with tocilizumab. In monkeys treated with IL‐6 blockade, joint scores were more closely correlated with LRG levels than with CRP levels. Histologic analysis of joints revealed that LRG levels correlated significantly with granulomatous tissue formation, cartilage degeneration, and bone destruction in IL‐6 blockade–treated monkeys with low levels of CRP. Conclusion Under conditions of IL‐6 inhibition, LRG was more useful than other biomarkers in discriminating between active and inactive disease in human RA and in detecting joint inflammation in experimental arthritis. LRG may serve as a convenient biomarker for RA disease activity during IL‐6 blockade treatment.

We investigated the luminescence properties of Eu-doped GaN (GaN:Eu) grown by atmospheric-pressure organometallic vapor phase epitaxy. The GaN:Eu exhibited radiant red emission due to the intra-4f shell transition of Eu3+ ions at room temperature. The intensity of the dominant peak was about 4 times higher than that in the sample grown at 10 kPa, even though the Eu concentration was only half that of the 10 kPa sample. This was mainly caused by the enhancement of the energy transfer from the GaN host to Eu ions. The enhanced energy transfer resulted in improved luminescence properties of a GaN:Eu light-emitting diode.

ObjectivesMultiomics study was conducted to elucidate the crucial molecular mechanisms of primary Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) pathology.MethodsWe generated multiple data set from well-defined patients with SS, which includes whole-blood transcriptomes, serum proteomes and peripheral immunophenotyping. Based on our newly generated data, we performed an extensive bioinformatic investigation.ResultsOur integrative analysis identified SS gene signatures (SGS) dysregulated in widespread omics layers, including epigenomes, mRNAs and proteins. SGS predominantly involved the interferon signature and ADAMs substrates. Besides, SGS was significantly overlapped with SS-causing genes indicated by a genome-wide association study and expression trait loci analyses. Combining the molecular signatures with immunophenotypic profiles revealed that cytotoxic CD8 ­T cells­ were associated with SGS. Further, we observed the activation of SGS in cytotoxic CD8 T cells isolated from patients with SS.ConclusionsOur multiomics investigation identified gene signatures deeply associated with SS pathology and showed the involvement of cytotoxic CD8 T cells. These integrative relations across multiple layers will facilitate our understanding of SS at the system level.

We investigated the photoluminescence properties of Eu,Mg-codoped GaN grown by organometallic vapor phase epitaxy. Some emission due to intra-4f shell transition of 5D0-7F2 in Eu3+ ions in a center with Eu and Mg was observed together with typical Eu emission. The peak intensity of the Eu-Mg emission was about five times higher than that of the typical Eu emission. The Eu-Mg emission exhibited a maximum at around 180 K, while the typical Eu emission intensity decreased monotonically with increasing temperature. It was found that only one type of Eu-Mg center contributed to the enhanced intensity up to 180 K.

BackgroundIn this study, we sought to identify definitive biomarkers associated with disease activity in primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS).MethodsSerum protein concentrations in pSS patients and healthy controls (HCs) were comprehensively screened using high-throughput proteomic analysis, and differentially expressed proteins were extracted. Correlation between differentially expressed proteins and European League Against Rheumatism Sjögren’s Syndrome Disease Activity Index (ESSDAI) scores was analyzed and disease activity-associated biomarkers were identified. These biomarkers were validated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in a separate pSS cohort.ResultsThe serum concentrations of 1100 proteins were compared between 30 pSS patients and 30 HCs, with 82 differentially expressed proteins identified as pSS-associated proteins. Of these 82 proteins, 9 were identified as disease activity-associated biomarkers. These nine biomarkers underwent validation by ELISA in a separate pSS validation cohort (n = 58), with five proteins (CXCL13, TNF-R2, CD48, B-cell activating factor (BAFF), and PD-L2) subsequently being confirmed as candidate biomarkers. Of these five candidate biomarkers, CXCL13 exhibited the most significant correlation with the lymphadenopathy, glandular, and pulmonary domains of the ESSDAI. CXCL13, TNF-R2 and CD48 exhibited a positive correlation with the biological domain of the ESSDAI. TNF-R2 exhibited the most negative correlation with uptake in the submandibular gland on technetium 99m-pertechnetate salivary gland scintigraphy.ConclusionsOur approach successfully identified serum biomarkers associated with disease activity in pSS patients. These markers might be potential therapeutic targets in pSS patients.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13075-016-1006-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Eu-doped GaN was grown by organometallic vapor phase epitaxy at temperatures from 900 to 1100 °C. Eu incorporation is influenced by temperature with the highest concentration found for growth at 1000 °C. In all samples, Eu is incorporated entirely on substitutional Ga sites with a slight displacement which is highest (∼0.2 Å) in the sample grown at 900 °C and mainly directed along the c-axis. The major optical Eu3+ centers are identical for in situ doped and ion-implanted samples after high temperature and pressure annealing. The dominant Eu3+ luminescence lines are attributed to isolated, substitutional Eu.