An Optical Sensing Platform for Beta-Glucosidase Activity Using Protein-Inorganic Hybrid Nanoflowers

In this work, a convenient and dual-signal readout optical sensing platform for the sensitively and selectively determination of beta-glucosidase (β-Glu) activity was reported using protein-inorganic hybrid nanoflowers [BSA-Cu₃(PO₄)₂·3H₂O] possessing peroxidase-mimicking activity. The nanoflowers (NFs) were facilely synthesized through a self-assembled synthesis strategy at room temperature. The as-prepared NFs could catalytically convert the colorless and non-fluorescent Amplex Red into colored and highly fluorescent resorufin in the presence of hydrogen peroxide via electron transfer process. β-Glu could hydrolyze cyanogenic glycoside, using amygdalin (Amy) as a model, into cyanide ions (CN^?), which can subsequently efficiently suppress the catalytic activity of NFs, accompanied with the fluorescence decrease and the color fading. The concentration of CN^? was controlled by β-Glu-triggered enzymatic reaction of Amy. Thus, a sensing system was established for fluorescent and visual determination of β-Glu activity. Under the optimum conditions, the present fluorescent and visual bimodal sensing platform exhibited good sensitivity for β-Glu activity assay with a detection limit of 0.33 U·L^?1. The sensing platform was further applied to determinate β-Glu in real samples and satisfactory results were attained. Additionally, the optical sensing system can potentially be a promising candidate for β-Glu inhibitors screening.

     

InSb芯片碎裂与迸溅金点的关系

批量生产中经常发生的锑化铟(InSb)芯片碎裂问题制约着InSb红外焦平面探测器(IRFPAs)成品率的提升.经分析认为:低周期液氮冲击下发生在器件边沿区域的InSb芯片破碎与该区域中迸溅金点的存在有关.为从理论上明晰迸溅金点对InSb芯片局部碎裂的影响,本文建立了包含迸溅金点的InSb IRFPAs结构模型,分析了迸溅金点的存在对应力分布的影响.在此基础上,在应力集中处预置不同长度的初始裂纹用以描述InSb晶片中的位错,以能量释放率为判据,探究InSb芯片碎裂与迸溅金点和位错线长短的关系.结论如下:1)迸溅金点的存在对InSb芯片碎裂的影响是局部的,在迸溅金点与InSb芯片接触区域的两侧会形成两个应力集中点; 2)环绕预置裂纹的能量释放率会随着预置裂纹长度的增加而加速增大,当预置裂纹长度接近InSb芯片上表面时,能量释放率近乎指数增加,并在预置裂纹贯穿InSb芯片时达到最大值; 3)迸溅金点引起的InSb芯片破碎属于Ⅰ型断裂失效模式,在多周期液氮冲击中,位错线在应力集中效应的驱使下逐步扩展,直至贯穿InSb芯片,最终形成宏观碎裂失效现象.     

基于相同参数抛物镜面旋转阵列的太阳能槽式聚光器聚焦特性研究

针对吉林一号某轻型空间遥感相机的任务需求，以碳纤维复合材料的薄壁筒与桁架杆一体式成型为设计思路，基于拓扑优化、尺寸优化以及铺层优化设计了一种高稳定性的次镜支撑结构。工程分析和实验结果表明一体式碳纤维次镜支撑结构具有较好的结构稳定性，整体质量仅为1.3 kg,其在轨成像质量良好，这进一步验证了一体式碳纤维次镜支撑结构的可靠性和设计方法的正确性。     

Modified Burgers-Reimschuessel model for moisture-sensitive polymers

Viscoelastic properties of moisture-sensitive polymers can be significantly affected by moisture in the ambient environment, resulting in drastic changes in the properties as the absorbed moisture content increases. In this article, a simple yet important modification to the Reimschuessel model is introduced by considering both plasticization and anti-plasticization induced by water molecules. The proposed model is validated against the results of four different polymers obtained by Onogi et al., which demonstrates its capability of describing the available data. This model can be used to estimate the performance and service life of products produced using moisture-sensitive polymers. It also reveals that small amounts of diffused moisture might have a stiffening effect on the mechanical properties of hydrophilic polymers.     

单斜ZnP2负极材料的锂化机理及性能

过渡金属磷化物电位低且比容量高, 是有发展前景的锂离子电池(LIBs)负极材料. 其中, ZnP₂属于双活性负极材料, Zn与P都能与Li⁺发生反应, 储Li⁺性能更具有竞争力. 但是, 对于ZnP₂的锂化机理及产物尚不明确. 采用第一性原理计算和电化学测试方法研究了ZnP₂的电子性质和电化学性能, 通过理论计算和实验测试相结合阐述了ZnP₂的锂化机制. 首先, 以密度泛函理论(DFT)计算揭示了ZnP₂的锂化机理、Li⁺扩散路径、势垒和理论比容量(1477 mAh/g). 其次, 通过直流电弧等离子体法及固相烧结法合成ZnP₂, 并测试其首圈放电曲线, 显示放电容量为1439 mAh/g, 与理论计算结果相近. 此外, 薄膜X射线衍射(XRD)检测最终产物成分为LiZn和Li₃P, 与DFT计算结果一致.     

Optimization of an Alkaline Hydrolysis Preparation of Capilliposide-A from Lysimachia capillipes Hemsl. Using Response Surface Methodology Coupled with HPLC-ELSD Analysis

Capilliposide-A, a rare secondary saponin found in Lysimachia capillipes, has been reported to exhibit good biological activities. However, it is difficult to obtain a sufficient of capilliposide-A for further research through column chromatography and chemical synthesis. The aim of this work was to establish an efficient approach for the convenient preparation of this steroid saponin based on alkaline hydrolysis. The hydrolysis conditions were optimized by response surface methodology after a preliminary investigation of the affecting factors by single-factor experiments. Under the optimal conditions, the macroporous resin that adsorbed capilliposide-B and capilliposide-C was hydrolyzed in an 8% (w/v) NaOH solution at 35 °C for 65 h, and the yield of capilliposide-A was 68.90%. The results demonstrated that this newly developed approach is efficient for the preparation of capilliposide-A, and this approach is also crucial for further development and clinical applications.

     

One-pot synthesis of CuO/TiO2 nanocomposites for improved photocatalytic hydrogenation of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol under direct sunlight

The excellent photocatalytic hydrogenation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) with NaBH₄ in the aqueous medium is still a big challenge. Herein, we report a facile one-pot evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) method to synthesize a series of CuO/TiO₂ nanocomposites. The as-synthesized CuO/TiO₂ photocatalysts exhibit remarkable catalytic activity under direct sunlight in selective hydrogenation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) due to the synergistic interaction of guest copper nanoparticles with host titanium dioxide (TiO₂) species. Especially, 5 wt% CuO/TiO₂ nanocomposite revealed superior reaction rate constant (k) value (0.306 min⁻¹) when compared to 3 wt% CuO/TiO₂ (0.192 min⁻¹) and 7 wt% CuO/TiO₂ (0.240 min⁻¹). Moreover, several characterization techniques (XRD, TEM, N₂ adsorption–desorption isotherm, DRS, and XPS) were executed to deeply investigate the effect of copper content on the bulk and interfacial properties of the catalysts. The characterization results proved that the superior photocatalytic hydrogenation over 5 wt% CuO/TiO₂ catalyst can be ascribed to moderate CuO loading as well as even dispersion of CuO species on the surface of active TiO₂ host, which can largely improve the light absorption ability within visible light region. Besides, the 5 wt% CuO/TiO₂ catalyst exhibits remarkable recyclability and durability, retaining its superior activity (above 95%) up to several repeating cycles, proving its practical applicability for hydrogenation reactions at domestic and industrial levels.     

980 nm Photobiomodulation Promotes Osteo/Odontogenic Differentiation of the Stem Cells from Human Exfoliated Deciduous Teeth Via the Cross talk Between BMP/Smad and Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathways

Increasing evidence suggests stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs) serve as desirable sources of dentin regeneration. Photobiomodulation (PBM) has shown great potential in enhancing the proliferation and osteogenesis of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMMSCs). However, the specific role of PBM in odontogenic differentiation of SHEDs is little know, and we further investigated potential mechanism of PBM osteo/odontogenisis. A 980 nm diode laser with different energy densities of (0.5, 5, 10 J cm⁻²) in a 100-mW continuous wave was used for irradiation every 24 h. Osteo/odontogenic differentiation of SHEDs was achieved by performing alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alizarin red staining (ARS) and osteo/odontogenic markers were also evaluated by qRT-PCR and western blotting. Additionally, western blot and immunohistochemical staining were performed to evaluate the levels of BMP/Smad and Wnt/β-catenin signaling-related proteins. We found that PBM at 5 J cm⁻¹ increased mineral deposition and upregulated the expression of related osteo/odontogenic markers along with the elevated expression of β-catenin and phosphorylation level of Smad1/5/9. Furthermore, Wnt signaling inhibition using DKK1 and BMP signaling inhibition using noggin inhibited PBM-induced osteo/odontogenic marker expression when used individually or jointly. In conclusion, PBM induces the osteo/odontogenic differentiation of SHEDs through cross talk between BMP/Smad and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways.