A novel efficient medium for chromogenic catalysis of tetramethylbenzidine with horseradish peroxidase

The traditional surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Emim][BF₄]) have been combined to create a novel efficient medium for chromogenic catalysis of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine with horseradish peroxidase in presence of H₂O₂. The results have shown the [Emim][BF₄] in the mediums can promote the rate of formation of the blue chromogen, the SDS is responsible for the stabilization of the blue chromogen due to the electrostatic attraction between positively charged blue chromogen and the negatively charged surfactant. The SDS/[Emim][BF₄] combination not only enhance catalytic activity of HRP remarkably but also stabilize the blue chromogen formed in the HRP oxidation of the substrate TMB compared to the conventional medium. Based on the superior combination of SDS and [Emim][BF₄], the colorimetric assay for detecting HRP activity and H₂O₂ concentration was established. This work demonstrates a novel efficient medium for chromogenic catalysis with potential applications in biosensors and clinical diagnosis.     

The invariant of the stiffness filter function with the weight filter function of the power function form

Based on the independent, continuous and mapping (ICM) method and homogenization method, a research model is constructed to propose and deduce a theorem and corollary from the invariant between the weight filter function and the corresponding stiffness filter function of the form of power function. The efficiency in searching for optimum solution will be raised via the choice of rational filter functions, so the above mentioned results are very important to the further study of structural topology optimization.     

Carbon-Based Materials as Lithium Hosts for Lithium Batteries

Lithium (Li) metal has attracted significant attention in areas that range from basic research to various commercial applications due to its high theoretical specific capacity (3860 mA h g⁻¹) and low electrochemical potential (−3.04 vs. standard hydrogen electrode). However, dendrites often form on the surfaces of Li metal anodes during cycling and thus lead to battery failure and, in some cases, raise safety concerns. To overcome this problem, a variety of approaches that vary the electrolyte, membrane, and/or anode have been proposed. Among these efforts, the use of three-dimensional frameworks as Li hosts, which can homogenize and minimize the current density at the anode surface, is an effective approach to suppress the formation of Li dendrites. Herein, we describe the development of using carbon-based materials as Li hosts. While these materials can be fabricated into a variety of porous structures, they have a number of intrinsic advantages including low costs, high specific surface areas, high electrical conductivities, and wide electrochemical stabilities. After briefly summarizing the formation mechanisms of Li dendrites, various methods for controlling structural and surface chemistry will be described for different types of carbon-based materials from the viewpoint of improving their performance as Li hosts. Finally, we provide perspective on the future development of Li host materials needed to meet the requirements for their use in flexible and wearable devices and other contemporary energy storage techniques.     

A continuum model for intermittent deformation of single crystal micropillars

Strain bursts are often observed during compression tests of single crystal micropillars. In this work, we formulate a new continuum model that accounts for the strain bursts within the framework of crystal plasticity. The strain bursts are separated from the loading stage (nearly elastic loading) by introducing a dimensionless constant in the continuum model, and are detected by load serrations. The boundary conditions in the context of micropillar compression are studied and they are shown to be changing and unpredictable as plastic deformation proceeds. To evaluate the validity of our model, finite element simulations of the uniaxial compression tests on nickel micropillars are performed. Our simulations produce clearly visible strain bursts during the plastic flow and the produced intermittent flows are comparable with the experimental observations. For the bulk crystal, a series of strain bursts is identified in the course of plastic flow, despite an apparently smooth stress–strain response. We also show that the intermittent flow is intensified in the micrometer-scale due to both increasing numbers of the successive strain bursts and increasing amplitude of the strain burst, when the specimen size decreases. Finally, we show that the occurrences of the strain bursts are always associated with negative values of the second-order work.     

A monocular pose measurement method of a translation-only one-dimensional object without scene information

A monocular method to measure the pose of a translation-only one-dimensional (1D) object containing at least two known characteristic points is presented. The position of any other point on the 1D object can be located after the pose measurement. Scene information is not needed to apply the method. If the distance between the characteristic points is unknown, there is a scale factor between the object's real positions and the measurement results. The method can also be used to measure the pose and shape parameters of a parallelogram, prism or cylinder object.     

Two novel d10 transition metal complexes based on 1H‐benzimidazole‐5,6‐dicarboxylic acid: Synthesis,structure and multifunctional luminescence detection

Two new coordination complexes based on benzimidazole dicarboxylic acid, Zn(Hbidc)?H₂O ( 1 ) and Cd(Hbidc)(H₂O) ( 2 ), have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. The complexes were characterized using elemental analysis, infrared and UV–visible spectroscopies, powder X‐ray diffraction, thermogravimetry and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Structural analyses showed that the crystal structures of 1 and 2 are different, due to the various modes of linking of the benzimidazole dicarboxylic acid. Complex 1 has a two‐dimensional network structure and 2 has a three‐dimensional network structure. In addition, we studied the performance of the fluorescence response of two complexes. Results showed that the complexes can be used as chemical sensors for multifunctional testing, such as for UO₂²⁺, xanthine and Fe³⁺ ions. Even if the concentration is very low, they could also be detected, showing that coordination complexes 1 and 2 have very high fluorescence sensitivity. The detection limit for UO₂²⁺ is 5.42 nM ( 1 ) and 0.02 nM ( 2 ), that for xanthine is 1.37 nM ( 1 ) and 0.28 nM ( 2 ), and that for Fe³⁺ ions is 0.76 nM ( 1 ) and 0.62 nM ( 2 ).     

Periodic Solutions of Third-order Differential Equations with Finite Delay in Vector-valued Functional Spaces

In this paper, we study the well-posedness of the third-order differential equation with finite delay(P_3): αu'"(t) + u"(t) = Au(t) + Bu'(t) + Fut +f(t)(t ∈ T := [0,2π]) with periodic boundary conditions u(0) = u(2π), u'(0) = u"(2π),u"(0)=u"(2π) in periodic Lebesgue-Bochner spaces Lp(T;X) and periodic Besov spaces B_(p,q)~s(T;X), where A and B are closed linear operators on a Banach space X satisfying D(A) ∩ D(B) ≠ {0}, α≠ 0 is a fixed constant and F is a bounded linear operator from Lp([-2π, 0]; X)(resp. Bp,qs([-2π, 0]; X)) into X, ut is given by ut(s) = u(t + s) when s ∈ [-2π,0]. Necessary and sufficient conditions for the Lp-well-posedness(resp. B_(p,q)~s-well-posedness)of(P_3) are given in the above two function spaces. We also give concrete examples that our abstract results may be applied.     

N-Doped Graphdiyne Coating for Dendrite-Free Lithium Metal Batteries

Nonuniform nucleation is one of the major reasons for the dendric growth of metallic lithium, which leads to intractable problems in the efficiency, reversibility, and safety in Li-based batteries. To improve the deposition of metallic Li on Cu substrates, herein, a freestanding current collector (NGDY@CuNW) is formed by coating pyridinic nitrogen-doped graphdiyne (NGDY) nanofilms on 3D Cu nanowires (CuNWs). Theoretical predictions reveal that the introduction of nitrogen atoms in the 2D GDY can enhance the binding energy between the Li atom and GDY, therefore improving the lithiophilicity on the surface for uniform lithium nucleation and deposition. Accordingly, the deposited metallic Li on the NGDY@CuNW electrode exhibits a dendrite-free morphology, resulting in significant improvements in terms of the reversibility with a high coulombic efficiency (CE) and a long lifespan at high current density. Our research provides an efficient method to control the surface property of Cu, which also will be instructive for other metal batteries.     

Green Tea Versus Traditional Korean Teas: Antibacterial/Antifungal or Both?

The feasibility of utilizing the antimicrobial activity of naturally available teas was studied. Eleven teas including 2 green teas and 9 other traditional Korean mixed teas were tested for their antimicrobial properties. Antibacterial and antifungal properties were assessed. The results showed that green teas possessed significant antifungal and antibacterial properties, while most of the mixed teas showed some amount of antifungal activity and almost insignificant antibacterial properties. Confocal microscopic imaging revealed mycelial damage as well as attack on sporophores rather than spores/spore germination to be the reason behind the antifungal activity. EGCG was identified as the crucial catechin for antimicrobial activity. The study confirmed that green tea had a clear edge over the traditional mixed teas when it comes to antimicrobial activity.     

NIR light and enzyme dual stimuli‐responsive amphiphilic diblock copolymer assemblies

Using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and macromolecular azo coupling reaction, both o‐nitrobenzyl (ONB) group and azobenzene group were efficiently incorporated into the center of the amphiphilic diblock copolymer chain. The prepared diblock copolymer was well characterized by UV–vis, ¹H NMR, and GPC methods. Self‐assembly of the amphiphilic copolymer in selected solvents can result in uniform self‐assembly aggregates. In the presence of external stimuli [upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs)/NIR light or enzyme], the amphiphilic diblock copolymer chain could be broken by the cleavage of ONB or azobenzene group, which would lead to the disruption of the self‐assembly aggregates. This photo‐ and enzyme‐triggered disruption process was proved by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and GPC method. Fluorescence emission spectra measurements indicated that the release of Nile red, a hydrophobic dye, encapsulated by the self‐assembly aggregates, could be successfully realized under the NIR light and enzyme stimuli. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 2450–2457