A marker method for the solution of the damped Burgers' equation

A new method for the solution of the damped Burgers' equation is described. The marker method relies on the definition of a convective field associated with the underlying partial differential equation; the information about the approximate solution is associated with the response of an ensemble of markers to this convective field. Some key aspects of the method, such as the selection of the shape function and the initial loading, are discussed in some details. The marker method is applicable to a general class of nonlinear dispersive partial differential equations. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2006     

Cytochrome-c detection

Following a myocardial infarction (MI) cells die or are damaged and their contents leak into the blood circulation, resulting in elevated serum levels of various enzymes, proteins, and organic molecules. Over the past few decades, it has become standard practice to employ the detection of these elevated substances as markers for the confirmation of MIs and to monitor MI patients’ response to treatment. Although it has previously been shown that cytochrome-c, a small respiratory protein, is among those elevated, the lack of a suitable detection system has prevented its routine use in the diagnosis of MIs. We present a preliminary study in which chemiluminescence was employed to detect elevated levels of cytochrome-c in the serum of MI patients. The technique, which is specific for c-type proteins, is approx 30 times more sensitive than the traditional Coomassie blue stain and can detect as little as 0.03 μg of protein. It also has potential for diagnostic use in other diseases that are characterized by mitochondrial damage.     

Electrochemical Evaluation of the Interaction between Avidin and Biotin at Biotinylated Polypyrrole Electrode Using a Redox Marker

The interaction between avidin and biotin was evaluated electrochemically by monitoring the change in the electrode response of redox markers. Biotin was immobilized on the electrode surface by means of the electrochemical polymerization of biotinylated pyrrole and pyrrole. When avidin was introduced onto the biotinylated polypyrrole electrode surface, the large change in the electrode response of the redox marker was detected. The fact that the change in the electrode response of a marker ion could be attributed to the electrostatic interaction between avidin on the electrode surface and the redox marker ion present in a solution was verified by replacing avidin with NutrAvidin. At a pH lower than the isoelectric point of avidin, the electrode response of ferrocyanide as an anionic marker ion increased linearly within the range of 5.0×10^?9 ?3.0×10^?8 M avidin. The relative standard deviation at 1.5×10^?8 M avidin was about 5.4% (n=5). The detection of biotin was also performed using a competitive reaction between biotin in solution and biotin that had been immobilized on the electrode surface in the form of the biotinylated polypyrrole.     

Determination of pyrethroid metabolites in human urine by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Summary An analytical method for the simultaneous determination of the pyrethroid metabolites cis and trans-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid, cis 3-(2,2-dibromovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid, 3-phenoxybenzoic acid and 4-fluoro-3-phenoxybenzoic acid in human urine samples is described. The urine is subjected to acid-induced hydrolysis followed by exhaustive solvent extraction, covering both conjugated and free acids, followed by a common derivatisation step yielding the corresponding methyl esters. Quantitation was by diastereomeric, capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. It appears that 4-fluoro-3-phenoxybenzoic acid is a characteristic urinary marker for cyfluthrin exposure. The limits of determination are 0.5–1.0 g L^–1 urine depending on the metabolites concerned. The applicability of the method was tested on urine samples from pest control operators exposed occupationally to cypermethrin and cyfluthrin.     

Use of a Dual-Marker Form of Analysis to Estimate Binding Constants Between Receptors and Ligands by Affinity Capillary Electrophoresis

This work describes the use of a dual-standard analysis approach termed the time-average ratio (TAR) in affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE) to estimate binding constants of receptors to ligands. In this form of analysis the TAR is the migration time of the receptor divided by the average of the sum of the migration times of two non-interacting standards. This change in TAR as a function of the concentration of ligand yields a value for the binding constant. This concept is demonstrated using three model systems: carbonic anhydrase B (CAB, EC 4.2.1.1) and arylsulfonamides, vancomycin (Van) and ristocetin (Rist) from Streptomyces orientalis and Nocardia lurida, respectively, and d-Ala- d-Ala terminus peptides. Three ACE techniques are used to examine the three systems: standard ACE, flow-through partial-filling ACE (FTPFACE), and on-column derivatization coupled to ACE. The findings described here demonstrate that ACE data analyzed using the TAR form of analysis yield binding constants between receptors and ligands comparable to those estimated using other ACE forms of analysis. A comparison to three other forms of analysis is described.     

The intersection marker method for 3D interface tracking of deformable surfaces in finite volumes

Currently, the majority of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes use the finite volume method to spatially discretise the computational domain, sometimes as an array of cubic control volumes. The Finite volume method works well with single‐phase flow simulations, but two‐phase flow simulations are more challenging because of the need to track the surface interface traversing and deforming within the 3D grid. Surface area and volume fraction details of each interface cell must be accurately accounted for, in order to calculate for the momentum exchange and rates of heat and mass transfer across the interface. To attain a higher accuracy in two‐phase flow CFD calculations, the intersection marker (ISM) method is developed. The ISM method is a hybrid Lagrangian–Eulerian front‐tracking algorithm that can model an arbitrary 3D surface within an array of cubic control volumes. The ISM method has a cell‐by‐cell remeshing capability that is volume conservative and is suitable for the tracking of complex interface deformation in transient two‐phase CFD simulations. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

In Situ Correlations Between Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) and Pah Metabolizing System Activities in Mussels and Fish in the Mediterranean Sea: Preliminary Results

Abstract

Biochemical indices based on enzymatic activities have been determined in fish and mussels sampled in various different coastal locations in the Mediterranean Sea. Preliminary results show a good agreement between biochemical measurements in marine organisms and chemical analyses of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons present in sediments. The results obtained suggest the use of biochemical indices for application in chemical contaminant biomonitoring.     

Identification of four cornua by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography with time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry coupled with principal component analysis

An ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry method coupled with principal component analysis was developed and applied to the identification of Cornu Antelopis, Cornu Bubali, Cornu Naemorhedi, and Cornu Bovis. The data obtained from the trypsin‐digested samples were subjected to principal component analysis to classify these four cornua. Additionally, marker peptides of the cornua were determined by orthogonal partial least‐squares discriminant analysis, and fragmentation tandem mass spectra of these marker peptides were evaluated. The results from this study indicate that the proposed method is reliable, and it has been successfully applied to the identification of variants of cornua commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine.     

丹荷颗粒治疗高脂血症质量标志物发现研究

为寻找丹荷颗粒治疗高脂血症的质量标志物,该研究基于丹荷颗粒体内成分分析结果,采用Cytoscape软件构建高脂血症-共有靶点-丹荷颗粒体内成分作用网络,利用DAVID及String数据库分别对共有靶点进行生物过程、通路富集及网络拓扑分析,明确丹荷颗粒降脂作用关键靶点及成分,再建立油酸诱导的HepG2细胞脂质堆积模型验证关键成分的降脂药效,最后结合相关成分在制剂中的含量、稳定性、特征性综合确定质量标志物。结果发现,丹荷颗粒体内成分作用于CES1、ADORA2A、ADORA1、APOB、LDLR、PPARA、PPARG、INSR、ESR2、ESR1共10个高脂血症疾病靶点,主要参与脂质代谢过程以及PPAR、cAMP信号通路,其中LDLR、PPARA、PPARG可能是关键靶点,而网络中与关键靶点直接作用的成分为白藜芦醇、柚皮素。白藜芦醇和柚皮素均可降低油酸诱导的HepG2细胞内脂滴数量,改善细胞脂质堆积严重程度,并显著降低细胞内甘油三酯含量,可能为关键成分;鉴于入体成分白藜芦醇和柚皮素来源于制剂中虎杖苷及柚皮苷,且制剂中虎杖苷及柚皮苷特征明显、含量丰富、稳定,故虎杖苷及柚皮苷可作为丹荷颗粒治疗高脂血症的质量标志物。该研究为丹荷颗粒质量标准的建立提供了合理的候选质控指标。     

Discussion of the protein characterization techniques used in the identification of membrane protein targets corresponding to tumor cell aptamers

Aptamer is an oligonucleotide chain with specific binding ability to protein and other targets,which is widely used in ma ny fields.Because of its ability to screen the premise of unknown targets,it can be used to discover some novel tumor markers,i.e.,membrane proteins that are specifically highly expressed on the surface of tumor cells.Tumor markers can be used in many fields such as early diagnosis and treatment,and a new type of tumor marker proved to be effective can significantly improve the therapeutic effect of such tumors.However,further characterization of newly acquired membrane proteins is essential for their clinical use as tumor markers.This review first briefly introduced the process of obtaining novel tumor markers from nucleic acid aptamers.Next,the commonly used protein characterization methods could be used as a technical means to identify membrane protein targets corresponding to tumor cell aptamers,to clarify the principles,advantages and disadvantages of various means,and to analyze the most suitable situations for various experimental methods.Finally,the outlook was made and the characterization methods that should be used in such experiments were summarized.