Electronic structures and optical properties of ZnO, SnO2 and In2O3 are investigated by using a first-principles calculation method based on the density functional theory. The dielectric functions dominated by electron interband transitions are analyzed in terms of the calculated electronic band structures and charge density distributions are analyzed to clarify the chemical bonding and electrical conduction characteristics. The calculated results elucidate the similarities and disparities among these materials and also provide a guideline for manufacturing optoelectronic devices with as large a transparent region as possible.

Previous studies have shown that secretory IgA (sIgA) was critically involved in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) immune responses. Toll-like receptors (TLRs), especially TLR4 which participates in mucosal immunity, may be involved in the pathogenesis of IgAN. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether sIgA and TLR4 interact to mediate kidney damage in IgAN patients. IgAN patients with positive sIgA deposition in renal tissues were screened by immunofluorescence assay. Patient salivary sIgA (P-sIgA) was collected and purified by jacalin affinity chromatography. Salivary sIgA from healthy volunteers was used as a control (N-sIgA). Expression of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1 were detected in the mesangial area of IgAN patients by immunohistochemistry, the expression levels in patients with positive sIgA deposition were higher than that with negative sIgA deposition. Human renal mesangial cells (HRMCs) were cultured in vitro, flow cytometry showed that P-sIgA bound HRMCs significantly better than N-sIgA. HRMCs were cultured in the presence of sIgA (400 μg/ mL) for 24 h, compared with cells cultured with N-sIgA, HRMCs cultured in vitro with P-sIgA showed enhanced expression of TLR4, increased secretion of TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1, and increased expression of MyD88/NF-κB. TLR4 shRNA silencing and NF-κB inhibition both reduced the ability of HRMCs to synthesize TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1. Our results indicate that sIgA may induce high expression of TLR4 in HRMCs and further activate downstream signalling pathways, prompting HRMCs to secrete multiple cytokines and thereby mediating kidney damage in IgAN patients.

This work aims to understand the cluster size deviation from the prediction by an existing scaling law for conical nozzles. The dimensions of cluster jet at different heights above a nozzle along the direction of gas flow are measured. This study indicates that the dimension of cluster jet is underestimated in the existing scaling law and this under-estimation leads to the over-estimation of the equivalent diameter of conical nozzle. Thus the underestimation of the dimension of cluster jet may be one of possible factors responsible for the cluster size deviation (the degree of the deviation depends on details of cluster jet)

The Ni and Y co-doping effect on the structural stabilities and dehydrogenation properties of destabilized MgH2 was studied by first-principles calculations.