New approach for natural products screening by real-time monitoring of hemoglobin hydrolysis using quartz crystal microbalance

The hemoglobin (Hb) released from erythrocytes is a primary nutritive component for many blood-feeding parasites. The aspartic protease cathepsin D is a hemoglobinase that is involved in the Hb degradation process and is considered an interesting target for chemotherapy intervention. However, traditional enzymatic assays for studying Hb degradation utilize spectrophotometric techniques, which do not allow real-time monitoring and can present serious interference problems. Herein, we describe a biosensor using simple approach for the real-time monitoring of Hb hydrolysis as well as an efficient screening method for natural products as enzymatic inhibitors using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) technique. Hemoglobin was anchored on the quartz crystal surface using mixed self-assembled monolayers. The addition of the enzyme caused a mass change (frequency shift) due to Hb hydrolysis, which was monitored in real time. From the frequency change patterns of the Hb-functionalized QCM, we evaluated the enzymatic reaction by determining the kinetic parameters of product formation (k_cat). The QCM enzymatic assay using immobilized human Hb was shown to be an excellent approach for screening possible inhibitors in complex mixtures, opening up a new avenue for the discovery of novel inhibitors.     

Optofluidic microsystem with quasi-3 dimensional gold plasmonic nanostructure arrays for online sensitive and reproducible SERS detection

Practical applications of chemical and biological detections through surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) require high reproducibility, sensitivity, and efficiency, along with low-cost, straightforward fabrication. In this work, we integrated a poly-(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) chip with quasi-3D gold plasmonic nanostructure arrays (Q3D-PNAs), which serve as SERS-active substrates, into an optofluidic microsystem for online sensitive and reproducible SERS detections. The Q3D-PNA PDMS chip was fabricated through soft lithography to ensure both precision and low-cost fabrication. The optimal dimension of the Q3D-PNA in PDMS was designed using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) electromagnetic simulations with a simulated enhancement factor (EF) of 1.6 × 10⁶. The real-time monitoring capability of the SERS-based optofluidic microsystem was investigated by kinetic on/off experiments through alternatively flowing Rhodamine 6G (R6G) and ethanol in the microfluidic channel. A switch-off time of ∼2 min at a flow rate of 0.3 mL min⁻¹ was demonstrated. When applied to the detection of low concentration malathion, the SERS-based optofluidic microsystem with Q3D-PNAs showed high reproducibility, significantly improved efficiency and higher detection sensitivity via increasing the flow rate. The optofluidic microsystem presented in this paper offers a simple and low-cost approach for online, label-free chemical and biological analysis and sensing with high sensitivity, reproducibility, efficiency, and molecular specificity.     

In-line monitoring flow in an extruder die by rheo-optics

A new modular slit die with optical windows in two different positions and three pressure transducers flush-mounted along the wall was built and coupled to the exit of a twin-screw extruder. Thus, the birefringence and the pressure drop of polystyrene were monitored inline during extrusion. Two experimental procedures were tested: steady-state and cessation of extruder feeding. The latter proved to be very useful in the case of polystyrene since the ratio between the birefringence and the pressure drop can be quantified for a wide range of steady-state conditions with a single experiment. In fact, down to relatively lower values of pressure drop, the birefringence proved to be a function of shear stress at the wall only, depending neither on the initial feeding rate nor on the aspect ratio of the slit die, for W/h down to 5, at least.     

北五味子对糖尿病脑病大鼠脑中神经活性物质含量影响的在线微透析-高效液相色谱-串联质谱联用分析

采用在线微透析-高效液相色谱-串联质谱联用方法,测定了糖尿病脑病大鼠大脑海马区的8种脑递质的含量,从脑中神经活性物质的角度研究五味子改善学习记忆能力的作用机制.实验结果表明,经五味子治疗后,痴呆大鼠脑透析液中的谷氨酸(Glu)、丝氨酸(Ser)、多巴胺(DA)及5-羟色胺(5-HT)的含量显著降低(P0.05),牛磺酸(Tau)及乙酰胆碱(Ach)的含量显著升高(P0.01),天冬氨酸(Asp)和γ-氨基丁酸(GABA)的含量有降低趋势(P0.05),8种神经活性物质的水平均向正常水平发生了调节.此结果说明五味子可能通过调节糖尿病大鼠大脑中神经活性物质的含量发挥保护中枢神经系统的作用,从而改善糖尿病脑病大鼠的学习记忆能力.Morris水迷宫实验结果表明,五味子水提物可以明显缩短糖尿病脑病大鼠的逃避潜伏期,增加穿越目标区域次数及中心区域(%)(P0.05).     

Monitoring of Endogenous Hydrogen Sulfide in Living Cells Using Surface‐Enhanced Raman Scattering

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) has emerged as an important gasotransmitter in diverse physiological processes, although many aspects of its roles remain unclear, partly owing to a lack of robust analytical methods. Herein we report a novel surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanosensor, 4‐acetamidobenzenesulfonyl azide‐functionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs/4‐AA), for detecting the endogenous H₂S in living cells. The detection is accomplished with SERS spectrum changes of AuNPs/4‐AA resulting from the reaction of H₂S with 4‐AA on AuNPs. The SERS nanosensor exhibits high selectivity toward H₂S. Furthermore, AuNPs/4‐AA responds to H₂S within 1 min with a 0.1 μM level of sensitivity. In particular, our SERS method can be utilized to monitor the endogenous H₂S generated in living glioma cells, demonstrating its great promise in studies of pathophysiological pathways involving H₂S.     

GPS技术在金川露天矿边坡变形监测中的应用

本文结合金川露天矿边坡变形GPS监测研究，主要论述监测基点的选择，基点WGS-84坐标的确定，变形监测网的布设，GPS数据采集、处理和质量，坐标转换的实施等，给出反演推出的若干四等三角点及其它控制点的变形数据，这些数据和造成变形的物理成因符合得很好，最后概括出GPS技术应用于变形观测的若干优点。     

智能结构中光纤智能夹层力学特性的实验研究

根据光纤自诊断系统模块化、集成化要求,制作出光纤智能夹层,它可以铺设于复合材料结构表面或埋入复合材料结构内部。对智能夹层试件的轴向拉伸试验和层间拉伸试验表明,光纤智能夹层的埋入对复合材料结构的强度性能无显著影响,可以埋入复合材料结构内部并实施健康监测。试验还表明,在一定应变范围内,单膜交错光纤中光强—应变之间具有良好的线性关系,可以在埋入复合材料之前进行标定。     

Assessing the Ability of an Online Environment to Facilitate the Critical Features of Teacher Professional Development

Providing teachers effective professional development (PD) is an ongoing challenge in the field of education. Emergence of technological innovations in the form of computer‐based asynchronous and synchronous communication has provided new opportunities to improve and expand teacher PD opportunities beyond the physical walls of a school. The purpose of this meta‐analysis is to examine the ability of online learning environments to facilitate the critical features of teacher PD identified in Desimone (2009) as content focus, active learning, coherence, duration, and collective participation. Analysis of the 20 empirical studies sought to reveal the purpose of the study, methodologies utilized, and major findings. Multiple studies indicated the ability of an online environment to engage teachers in active learning, collective participation, and content‐focused learning activities. Additionally, the results of this meta‐analysis revealed a lack of empirical studies that have examined the ability of online teacher PD to support the critical features of coherence and duration. Findings of this research have implications for a future research agenda and policy considerations related to online teacher PD initiatives.     

基于扩展DALI总线的智能照明系统设计

针对大型商业照明场合存在的如组网不便、照明效果单一,能源利用率底的问题,设计了一套基于扩展DALI总线的商业智能照明系统,以实现系统的大面积组网和集中控制,获得丰富的照明效果,实现系统的绿色环保运行。测试系统搭建完成后,实现了管理人员对系统的集中管理和远程监控;系统可按照工作日程表、时间表自动运行;具有分区、分组、单灯、场景等多种控制方式,控制灵活,能达到较好的照明效果和节能要求,可满足多种商业照明需求。     

石化厂区有毒气体泄漏在线监测平台的构建

针对石化厂区在生产过程中可能发生有毒气体泄露带来的生产安全问题,构建了石化厂区有毒气体在线监测平台。该平台是由PC监控中心、网络监控中心、ARM便携式终端、安卓手机客户端组成。实现对石化厂区中有毒气体及环境参数的实时、在线监测和预警,使生产管理人员掌握石化厂区的有毒气体实时动态信息,对可能引发危险事故的因素及时排除,把危险控制在始发阶段,以实现化工生产的安全、持续、高效进行。测试结果表明该平台能实现所设计的各项功能,并具有良好的稳定性、安全性和实用性。