A Far-Red Emitting Fluorescent Chemogenetic Reporter for In Vivo Molecular Imaging

Far-red emitting fluorescent labels are highly desirable for spectral multiplexing and deep tissue imaging. Here, we describe the generation of frFAST (far-red Fluorescence Activating and absorption Shifting Tag), a 14-kDa monomeric protein that forms a bright far-red fluorescent assembly with (4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)allylidene rhodanine (HPAR-3OM). As HPAR-3OM is essentially non-fluorescent in solution and in cells, frFAST can be imaged with high contrast in presence of free HPAR-3OM, which allowed the rapid and efficient imaging of frFAST fusions in live cells, zebrafish embryo/larvae, and chicken embryos. Beyond enabling the genetic encoding of far-red fluorescence, frFAST allowed the design of a far-red chemogenetic reporter of protein–protein interactions, demonstrating its great potential for the design of innovative far-red emitting biosensors.     

Fabrication of red-emitting CaAlSiN3: Eu2+ through phosphor-in-glass approach for application in rear combination lamp

In this study, the red-emitting phosphor-in-glass (PiG) using the CaAlSiN₃: Eu²⁺ (CASN) phosphor is reported for the first time. The CASN: Eu²⁺ PiG samples with a maximum luminous flux of 25.1–29.4 for l minute at laser power of 1 W/mm² was obtained using a low-temperature glass frit and GPS furnace. Despite the increase in the phosphor from 15 to 25 wt%, the PiG produced at low temperature of 380 °C showed robust properties. Finally, the red PiG module designed for rear lamp applications maintains over 90% lumens for a minute at 350 mA and achieves an intense red light having a color temperature of 4589 K.     

Development of a new catalytic and sustainable methodology for the synthesis of benzodiazepine triazole scaffold using magnetically separable CuFe2O4@MIL-101(Cr) nano-catalyst in aqueous medium

Magnetically retrieval CuFe₂O₄@MIL-101(Cr) metal–organic framework was successfully prepared from easily available starting materials and characterized using various spectroscopic and analytical techniques such as powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, transmission electron microscopy, elemental mapping, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, vibrating sample magnetometer, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. The catalyst was then used in the synthesis of benzodiazepines containing a triazole moiety in water. The advantages of this protocol include high yields, reusability of the catalyst, and gram-scale synthesis.     

Comparative absorption kinetics of seven active ingredients of Eucommia ulmoides extracts by intestinal in situ circulatory perfusion in normal and spontaneous hypertensive rats

Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. (E. ulmoides) is a valuable and nourishing medicinal herb in China that has been used in the treatment of hypertension. Given the fact that most traditional Chinese medicine is mainly used to treat disease, investigating the pharmacokinetics of traditional Chinese medicines in the pathological state is more useful than that in the normal state. However, the differences in the absorption kinetics of active ingredients of E. ulmoides extract between pathological and physiological conditions have not been reported. Therefore, in this study, the rat intestinal in situ circulatory perfusion model was used to investigate the differences in absorption kinetics of seven active ingredients of E. ulmoides extract in normal and spontaneously hypertensive rats, namely, genipinic acid, protocatechuic acid, neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, (+)-pinoresinol di-O-β-D -glucopyranoside and (+)-pinoresinol 4′-O-β-D -glucopyranoside. Our results indicate that the pathological state of spontaneous hypertension may change the absorption of active components of E. ulmoides extracts, and these findings may provide a reference for improving the rational use of E. ulmoides in the clinic.     

What is the form of muscimol from fly agaric mushroom (Amanita muscaria) in water? An insight from NMR experiment supported by molecular modeling

The biologically active alkaloid muscimol is present in fly agaric mushroom (Amanita muscaria), and its structure and action is related to human neurotransmitter _γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The current study reports on determination of muscimol form present in water solution using multinuclear ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments supported by density functional theory molecular modeling. The structures of three forms of free muscimol molecule both in the gas phase and in the presence of water solvent, modeled by polarized continuous model, and nuclear magnetic isotropic shieldings, the corresponding chemical shifts, and indirect spin–spin coupling constants were calculated. Several J-couplings observed in proton and carbon NMR spectra, not available before, are reported. The obtained experimental spectra, supported by theoretical calculations, favor the zwitterion form of muscimol in water. This structure differs from NH isomer, previously determined in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution. In addition, positions of signals C3 and C5 are reversed in both solvents.     

相对性区域创新指数与经济周期挖掘

提出了一类新的相对性区域创新指数,并采用世界专利申请数据对其进行了具体计算.基于区域创新同经济发展水平之间的超线性关系,该指数消除了经济发展水平对创新能力的影响,可以实现对不同发展水平的经济体之间进行有效的创新能力横纵对比.该创新指数尽管极其简单,却揭示出一系列迥异于传统认知的现象,例如中国大陆地区的技术创新能力在1980年代就已经位居世界前列.采用该指数,不但可以在较高水平上解释世界各国的经济增长,还发现它同经济增长率之间的相关性存在一个20年的经济周期.这些结果显示,该指数作为一个单一性指标,以极小的数据依赖就实现了较高程度的解释性,不但重新定位了世界各经济体的创新能力,对深入理解创新同经济发展之间的关系提供了新的角度,而且暗示着这类相对性经济指标的发展潜力与应用空间.     

Study of blood collection and sample preparation for analysis of vitamin D and its metabolites by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

The analysis of vitamin D status, with special emphasis on 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, is gaining interest in clinical studies due to the classical and non-classical effects attributed to this prohormone. In this research, the influence of the two steps preceding determination (viz. sample collection and preparation) on the quantitative analysis of vitamin D and its more important metabolites has been studied. Two preparation approaches, deproteination and solid-phase extraction (SPE), have been evaluated in terms of sensitivity to delimit their application, thus establishing that detection of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D cannot be addressed by protein precipitation. Concerning sample collection, serum and plasma reported high accuracy (above 83.3%) for vitamin D and metabolites, while precision, expressed as relative standard deviation, was below 12.9% for all analytes in both samples. Statistical analysis revealed that serum and plasma provided similar physiological levels for vitamin D₃, 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ and 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃, while significantly different levels were obtained for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃, always higher in plasma than in serum. Sample collection and treatment have proved to be significant in the analysis of vitamin D and its relevant metabolites.