Progress in DNA Aptamers as Recognition Components for Protein Functional Regulation

Proteins play a central role in all domains of life, and precise regulation of their activity is essential for understanding the related biological processes and therapeutic functions. Nucleic acid aptamers, the molecular recognition components derived from systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment(SELEX), can specifically identify proteins with antibody-like recognition characteristics and help to regulate their activity. This minireview covers the SELEX-based selection of protein-binding aptamers, membrane protein analytical techniques based on aptamer-mediated target recognition, aptamer-mediated functional regulation of proteins, including membrane receptors and non-membrane proteins(thrombin as a model), as well as the potential challenges and prospects regarding aptamer-mediated protein manipulation, aiming to supply some useful information for researchers in this field.     

A facile approach to fabricate and embed multifunctional nano ZnO into soap matrix and liquid cleansing products for enhanced antibacterial and photostability for health and hygiene applications

This research demonstrates, a facile approach to fabricate the nano ZnO system in an unique combination of surfactant-polyol-assembly (SPA) acting as a caging agent restricting the ZnO crystallite size in nano-regime. This SPA is suitable for health and hygiene products and such optimized technique is among the very few researches exploring the impact of embedding low concentrations of nano ZnO system into the matrix of sodium salt of long chain fatty acids (soap bar) and liquid cleansing personal care products. The fabricated nano ZnO in SPA and infused products were systematically characterized using various advanced and appropriate techniques. The hexagonal wurtzite structure of nano ZnO-SPA is evaluated based on XRD pattern which also exhibit an average crystallite size as 20.18 nm and high specific surface area as 52.99 m²/g. The SEM-supported morphological assessment confirms the formation of agglomerates of ultrafine ZnO rods and spherical particles. Novel nano ZnO having wideband gap energy (3.66 eV) embedded in soap bar act as a UV-blocker preventing the oxidation of unsaturated long chain fatty acids. Soap bar without ZnO experienced degradation and reduction in whiteness to 17.85% whereas 2.5 mg/g nano ZnO infused soap shows the reduction to 7.9% which clearly reflects the increased photostability of soap bar. The antibacterial efficacy of nano ZnO-SPA and infused products are investigated against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) by Zone of Inhibition (ZOI) and European standard EN:1276. Infused products exhibited high antibacterial efficacy up to 4.43 log reduction equivalent to >99.99% germ kill.     

Pattern transition and regulation in a subthalamopallidal network under electromagnetic effect

Although the significant roles of magnetic induction and electromagnetic radiation in the neural system have been widely studied, their influence on Parkinson's disease (PD) has yet to be well explored. By virtue of the magnetic flux variable, this paper studies the transition of firing patterns induced by magnetic induction and the regulation effect of external magnetic radiation on the firing activities of the subthalamopallidal network in basal ganglia. We find: (i) The network reproduces five typical waveforms corresponding to the severity of symptoms: weak cluster, episodic, continuous cluster, episodic, and continuous wave. (ii) Magnetic induction is a double-edged sword for the treatment of PD. Although the increase of magnetic coefficient may lead the physiological firing activity to transfer to pathological firing activity, it also can regulate the pathological intensity firing activity with excessive β-band power transferring to the physiological firing pattern with weak β-band power. (iii) External magnetic radiation could inhibit continuous tremulous firing and β-band power of subthalamic nucleus (STN), which means the severity of symptoms weakened. Especially, the bi-parameter plane of the regulation region shows that a short pulse period of magnetic radiation and a medium level of pulse percentage can well regulate pathological oscillation. This work helps to understand the firing activity of the subthalamopallidal network under electromagnetic effect. It may also provide insights into the mechanisms behind the electromagnetic therapy of PD-related firing activity.     

人教版高中化学教科书“研究与实践”栏目分析与实施策略*

对人教版高中化学教科书新设计的“研究与实践”栏目的主题内容、功能价值进行分析,就如何充分发挥该栏目的教学功能和价值,发展学生的化学学科核心素养,提出了创设教学情境线索、开发为研究性学习课题、开发为校本选修课程、开发为STEM课程等实施策略。     

Simultaneous determination of 75 abuse drugs including amphetamines,benzodiazepines, cocaine,opioids, piperazines,zolpidem and metabolites in human hair samples using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

A liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric method for the simultaneous determination of 75 abuse drugs and metabolites, including 19 benzodiazepines, 19 amphetamines, two opiates, eight opioids, cocaine, lysergic acid diethylamide, zolpidem, three piperazines and 21 metabolites in human hair samples, was developed and validated. Ten‐milligram hair samples were decontaminated, pulverized using a ball mill, extracted with 1 mL of methanol spiked with 28 deuterated internal standards in an ultrasonic bath for 60 min at 50°C, and purified with Q‐sep dispersive solid‐phase extraction tubes. The purified extracts were evaporated to dryness and the residue was dissolved in 0.1 mL of 10% methanol. The 75 analytes were analyzed on an Acquity HSS T3 column using gradient elution of methanol and 0.1% formic acid and quantified in multiple reaction monitoring mode with positive electrospray ionization. Calibration curves were linear (r ≥ 0.9951) from the lower limit of quantitation (2–200 pg/mg depending on the drug) to 2000 pg/mg. The coefficients of variation and accuracy for intra‐ and inter‐assay analysis at three QC levels were 4.3–12.9% and 89.2–109.1%, respectively. The overall mean recovery ranged from 87.1 to 105.3%. This method was successfully applied to the analysis of 11 forensic hair samples obtained from drug abusers.     

Molecular QTAIM Topology Is Sensitive to Relativistic Corrections

The topology of the molecular electron density of benzene dithiol gold cluster complex Au₄−S−C₆H₄−S′−Au′₄ changed when relativistic corrections were made and the structure was close to a minimum of the Born–Oppenheimer energy surface. Specifically, new bond paths between hydrogen atoms on the benzene ring and gold atoms appeared, indicating that there is a favorable interaction between these atoms at the relativistic level. This is consistent with the observation that gold becomes a better electron acceptor when relativistic corrections are applied. In addition to relativistic effects, here, we establish the sensitivity of molecular topology to basis sets and convergence thresholds for geometry optimization.     

In vitro anticomplementary activity and quality evaluation of dried blossoms of Inula nervosa Wall. from different geographical origins

Blossoms of Inula nervosa Wall. (BINW) are traditionally used as an analgesic and antitussive in China. In this study, in vitro anticomplementary activities of crude extract from BINW in 21 batches and of extracts of four monomeric compounds were evaluated by the classical pathway. The effect of the region of origin on the quality of BINW was evaluated by fingerprint analysis for the first time. Furthermore, chemometric methods including similarity analysis and principal component analysis were employed to evaluate the quality of BINW. The nine major monomeric compounds were quantitated by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography. All nine analytes demonstrated excellent linearity with recoveries ranging from 97.25% to 102.76%. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.07–12.20 μg/mL and 0.22–40.27 μg/mL, respectively. Results indicate that different regions of origin have a significant effect on the quality of BINW. Fingerprint analysis in combination with chemometrics and multi‐ingredient determination is an efficient and reliable approach for quality evaluation. The BINW samples from Yunnan had the highest ratio of 1,5‐dicaffeoylquinic acid and thymol; they also exhibited significantly higher anticomplementary activity than those from three other areas. This study successfully established a rapid and efficient method to evaluate the quality and biological activity of BINW.