Chitosan/Ce(IV) redox polymerization‐based amplification for detection of DNA point mutation

Polymerization‐based signal amplification, a technique developed for use in rapid diagnostic tests, hinges on the ability to localize initiators as a function of interfacial binding events. We report here a new DNA detection method in which polymer growth in redox‐polymerization is used as a means to amplify detection signals. The introduction of biotin‐labeled chitosan (biotin‐CS) with highly dense amino groups into the polymerization amplification as macromolecular reducing agent, beneficially simplifies amplification operation, as well as, provides a large amount of initiation points to improve the sensitivity of detection. DNA hybridization, SA and biotin binding reactions led to the attachment of CS on a solid surface where specific DNA sequences were located. With the addition of the mixture containing monomer AM, crosslinker PEGDA and oxidant CAN onto the CS location, the growth of polymer films was triggered to render the corresponding spots readily distinguishable to the naked eye. Direct visualization of 0.21 fmol target DNA molecules of interest was demonstrated. Non‐small cell lung cancer p53 sequence was further selected as a proof‐of‐principle to detect DNA point mutation. The proposed method exhibited an efficient amplification performance for molecule detection, and paved a new way for visual diagnosis of biomolecules. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 1929–1937     

Estimator of a change point in single index models

This paper considers the problem of change point in single index models. In order to obtain asymptotically valid confidence intervals for the estimation of the change point, the convergence rate and asymptotic distribution of the change point estimate is studied. Some simulation results are presented which show that the numerical performance of our estimator is satisfactory.     

Solventless Formation of G‐Quartet Complexes Based on Alkali and Alkaline Earth Salts on Au(111)

Template cations have been extensively employed in the formation, stabilization and regulation of structural polymorphism of G‐quadruplex structures in vitro. However, the direct addition of salts onto solid surfaces, especially under ultra‐high‐vacuum (UHV) conditions, to explore the feasibility and universality of the formation of G‐quartet complexes in a solventless environment has not been reported. By combining UHV‐STM imaging and DFT calculations, we have shown that three different G‐quartet‐M (M: Na/K/Ca) complexes can be obtained on Au(111) using alkali and alkaline earth salts as reactants. We have also identified the driving forces (intra‐quartet hydrogen bonding and electrostatic ionic bonding) for the formation of these complexes and quantified the interactions involved. Our results demonstrate a novel route to fabricate G‐quartet‐related complexes on solid surfaces, providing an alternative feasible way to bring metal elements to surfaces for constructing metal–organic systems.     

Two new chalcones from Shuteria sinensis

Two new chalcones, 2′,3,4,4′-tetrahydroxy-2-prenylchalcone (1) and 3-methoxy-2′,4,4′-trihydroxy-2-prenylchalcone (2), together with two known compounds, munsericin (3) and 3,4-dihydroxylonchocarpin (4), were isolated from the ethanol extract of the whole plant of Shuteria sinensis. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic analysis methods, such as 1D and 2D NMR, along with HR-MS data. Glucose metabolism activity of four compounds was tested, compounds 3 and 4 showed effect on the glucose consumption of insulin-resistant HepG2 cells.     

Antibacterial alkaloids from Artabotrys crassifolius Hook.f. & Thomson

Chloroform extract of bark of Artabotrys crassifolius Hook.f. & Thomson exhibited antibacterial activities against both American Type Culture Collection and clinical bacterial strains in vitro with zones of inhibition ranging from 7 to 14 mm. Further analysis of this extract yielded artabotrine, liridine, lysicamine and atherospermidine. Artabotrine displayed a broad array of antibacterial activity mostly against Gram-positive bacteria with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 1.25 μg/mL to 5 μg/mL. Of note, artabotrine, liridine and lysicamine are bactericidal against Gram-negative extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella with MIC values equal 2.5, 2.5 and 10 μg/mL, respectively, and minimum bactericidal concentrations values equal to 2.5, 5 and 20 μg/mL.     

Study of the Function of G‐Rich Aptamers Selected for Lung Adenocarcinoma

Guanine (G)‐rich oligonucleotides have attracted considerable interest as therapeutic agents. Two G‐rich aptamers were selected against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)‐transfected A549 cells, and their G‐rich domains (S13 and S50) were identified to account for the binding of parental aptamers. Circular dichroism (CD) spectra showed that S13 and S50 bound to their targets by forming parallel quadruplexes. Their binding, internalization, and antiproliferation activity in cancer and noncancer cells were investigated by flow cytometry and 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐5‐(3‐carboxymethoxyphenyl)‐2‐(4‐sulfophenyl)‐2H‐tetrazolium (MTS) assay, and compared with those of nucleolin‐binding AS1411 and thrombin‐binding aptamer. The two truncated aptamers (S13 and S50) have good binding and internalization in cancer cells and noncancer cells; however, only S50, similar to AS1411, shows potent antiproliferation against cancer cells. Our data suggest that tumor‐selective antiproliferation of G‐rich oligonucleotides does not directly depend on the binding of the G‐rich aptamer to cells.     

Salting-in/Salting-out Mechanism of Carbon Dioxide in Aqueous Electrolyte Solutions

The solvation of carbon dioxide in sea water plays an important role in the carbon circle and the world climate. The salting-out/salting-in mechanism of CO₂ in electrolyte solutions still remains elusive at molecule level. The ability of ion salting-out/salting-in CO₂ in electrolyte solution follows Hofmeister Series and the change of water mobility induced by salts can be predicted by the viscosity B-coefficients. In this work, the chemical potential of carbon dioxide and the dynamic properties of water in aqueous NaCl, KF and NaClO₄ solutions are calculated and analyzed. According to the viscosity B-coefficients, NaClO₄ (0.012) should salt out the carbon dioxide relative to in pure water, but the opposite effect is observed for it. Our simulation results suggest that the salting-in effect of NaClO₄ is due to the strongly direct anion-CO₂ interaction. The inconsistency between Hofmeister Series and the viscosity B-coefficient suggests that it is not always right to indicate whether a salt belongs to salting-in or salting-out just from these properties of the salt solution in the absence of solute.     

Tubular structured bacterial cellulose-based nitrite sensor: preparation and environmental application

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a polysaccharide with tubular structure and can be produced by various species of bacteria particularly Acetobacter xylinum. It...     

High-Fidelity,Narcissistic Self-Sorting in the Synthesis of Organometallic Assemblies from Poly-NHC Ligands

Highly selective, narcissistic self-sorting has been observed in the one-pot synthesis of three organometallic molecular cylinders of type [M₃{L-(NHC)₃}₂](PF₆)₃ (M=Ag⁺, Au⁺; L=1,3,5-benzene, triphenylamine, or 1,3,5-triphenylbenzene) from L-(NHC)₃ and silver(I) or gold(I) ions. The molecular cylinders contain only one type of tris-NHC ligand with no crossover products detectable. Transmetalation of the tris-NHC ligands from Ag⁺ to Au⁺ in a one-pot reaction with retention of the supramolecular structures is also demonstrated. High-fidelity self-sorting was also observed in the one-pot reaction of benzene-bridged tris-NHC and tetrakis-NHC ligands with Ag₂O. This study for the first time extends narcissistic self-sorting in metal–ligand interactions from Werner-type complexes to organometallic derivatives.     

一类新的(2n-1)点二重动态逼近细分

利用正弦函数构造了一类新的带有形状参数ω的(2n-1)点二重动态逼近细分格式.从理论上分析了随n值变化时这类细分格式的C~k连续性和支集长度;算法的一个特色是随着细分格式中参数ω的取值不同,相应生成的极限曲线的表现张力也有所不同,而且这一类算法所对应的静态算法涵盖了Chaikin,Hormann,Dyn,Daniel和Hassan的算法.文末附出大量数值实例,在给定相同的初始控制顶点,且极限曲线达到同一连续性的前提下和现有几种算法做了比较,数值实例表明这类算法生成的极限曲线更加饱满,表现力更强.