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Receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) is a critical regulator of cell death and inflammation, but its relevance for human disease pathogenesis remains elusive. Studies of monogenic disorders might provide critical insights into disease mechanisms and therapeutic targeting of RIPK1 for common diseases. Here, we report on eight patients from six unrelated pedigrees with biallelic loss-of-function mutations in RIPK1 presenting with primary immunodeficiency and/or intestinal inflammation. Mutations in RIPK1 were associated with reduced NF-κB activity, defective differentiation of T and B cells, increased inflammasome activity, and impaired response to TNFR1-mediated cell death in intestinal epithelial cells. The characterization of RIPK1-deficient patients highlights the essential role of RIPK1 in controlling human immune and intestinal homeostasis, and might have critical implications for therapies targeting RIPK1.

Oleic acid (OA) modified zinc-blende cadmium selenium nanocrystals (NCs) with different diameters, 3-5 nm, have been prepared. We find that the morphology and fluorescent properties of the samples are related to the preparation conditions such as the chain-length and concentration of the cadmium precursor as well as the concentration of OA. The hybrid solar cells based on the obtained spherical CdSe NCs as an acceptor and Poly(2-methoxy-5-(2'-ethylhexoxy)-p-phenylenevinylene) (MEH-PPV) as a donor show an energy conversion efficiency (ECE) as high as 0.85%, three times higher than that reported before for spherical CdSe NCs/conjugated polymer hybrid solar cells. When poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) is used as the donor phase instead of MEH-PPV, the energy conversion efficiency increases up to 1.08%. The solar cell based on CdSe NCs/conjugated polymer has the potential to open up new production technologies for hybrid solar cells based on semiconductor NCs.

Multiarmed CdS nanorods have been used as the electron acceptors to fabricate efficient hybrid solar cells. It was demonstrated that when pyridine was used as a solvent for spin coating an active layer consisting of MEH-PPV/CdS blend instead of chlorobenzene, short-circuit current of the device can typically be increased by six times. The FTIR transmission spectrum shows that pyridine replaces the surfactant (HDA) molecules attached to the nanocrystals' surface after posttreatment of CdS nanorods by refluxing in pyridine. Transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, current-voltage characteristics, photocurrent action spectra measurements, and photoluminescence quenching were used to characterize MEH-PPV/CdS blend spin-coated from pyridine solution. Thermal treatment of the blend films can further enhance the short-circuit current in the device. Best device performance was achieved with a power conversion efficiency of 1.17% under AM1.5 illumination (100 mW cm -2 ), significantly higher than that reported so far for MEH-PPV/CdS hybrid devices.

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Although titanium is the most commonly used dental implant material, its biological aging directly leads to a lower rate of osseointegration. The aim of this study is to treat aged titanium disc surfaces using low-temperature argon–oxygen plasma (LTAOP) to obtain a more hydrophilic surface in order to enhance biological activities of osteoblasts on dental implant materials. In this study, smooth-machined titanium (SM Ti) and sandblasted and acid-etched titanium (SLA Ti) substrates were used. Aged titanium discs (SM and SLA Ti) were activated by LTAOP and the surface properties were analyzed. Osteoblasts were then seeded onto the aged and LTAOP-treated surfaces. Cell morphology, viability, and features of osteogenesis were examined. We showed that after the LTAOP treatment, the surfaces of both SM and SLA titanium substrates become more hydrophilic with a larger active oxygen species composition, whereas no obvious morphological changes were observed. Osteoblasts were found to be attached and stretched well on the surfaces of LTAOP treatment specimens. Moreover, the proliferation and osteocalcin secretion of osteoblasts on the plasma-activated titanium samples were superior to the untreated counterparts. LTAOP activation can enhance the attachment, proliferation, and mineralization of osteoblasts on the surfaces of the aged titanium substrates. This research provides a new strategy to modify the surface of titanium dental implants for improved biological functions.

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