Developmental validation of the AGCU 21+1 STR kit: A novel multiplex assay for forensic application

In this study, we describe the developmental validation assay performed on a novel designed STR multiplex system, AGCU 21+1 STR kit. This kit contains a sex‐determining locus amelogenin and 21 noncombined DNA index system STR loci, that are, D6S474, D12ATA63, D22S1045, D10S1248, D1S1677, D11S4463, D1S1627, D3S4529, D2S441, D6S1017, D4S2408, D19S433, D17S1301, D1GATA113, D18S853, D20S482, D14S1434, D9S1122, D2S1776, D10S1435, and D5S2500. The 21+1 kit was validated by a series of tests including optimized PCR conditions, sensitivity, precision and accuracy, stutter ratio, DNA mixture, inhibitors, and species specificity according to the revised validation guidelines issued by the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM). Our results in this study show that the kit is a useful tool for forensic application.     

Massively parallel sequencing of STRs using a 29-plex panel reveals stutter sequence characteristics

Massively parallel sequencing of forensic STRs simultaneously provides length-based genotypes and core repeat sequences as well as flanking sequence variations. Here, we report primer sequences and concentrations of a next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based in-house panel covering 28 autosomal STR loci (CSF1PO, D1GATA113, D1S1627, D1S1656, D1S1677, D2S441, D2S1776, D3S3053, D5S818, D6S474, D6S1017, D6S1043, D8S1179, D9S2157, D10S1435, D11S4463, D13S317, D14S1434, D16S539, D18S51, D18S853, D20S482, D20S1082, D22S1045, FGA, TH01, TPOX, and vWA) and the sex determinant locus Amelogenin. Preliminary evaluation experiments showed that the panel yielded intralocus- and interlocus-balanced sequencing data with a sensitivity as low as 62.5 pg input DNA. A total of 203 individuals from Yunnan Bai population were sequenced with this panel. Comparative forensic genetic analyses showed that sequence-based matching probability of this 29-plex panel reached 2.37 × 10⁻²⁹, which was 23 times lower than the length-based data. Compound stutter sequences of eight STRs were compared with parental alleles. For seven loci, repeat motif insertions or deletions occurred in the longest uninterrupted repeat sequences (LUS). However, LUS and non-LUS stutters co-existed in the locus D6S474 with different sequencing depth ratios. These results supplemented our current knowledge of forensic STR stutters, and provided a sound basis for DNA mixture deconvolution.     

丙二烯分子的模糊对称性

利用作者提出的探讨分子及其轨道模糊对称性的方法分析了丙二烯在内旋转过程中模糊对称性特征. 考虑到此过程中经历不同状态所属的对称点群, 即D2h、D2d与D2. 利用包含这些点群中所有元素的最小点群D4h进行分析. 将D4h中的元素分为四组: (i) G0——包含在D2点群中的元素, 也是所有上述点群中都存在的元素; (ii) G1——包含在D2h点群中, 但不包含在D2d点群中的元素; (iii) G2——包含在D2d点群中, 但不包含在D2h点群中的元素; (iv) G3——包含在D4h点群中, 但不包含在D2h与D2d点群中的元素. 分别分析在内旋转过程中各个分子轨道(MO)相应每一组元素的隶属函数的共性变化规律性.     

Distribution of the cationic state over the chlorophyll pair of the photosystem II reaction center

The reaction center chlorophylls a (Chla) of photosystem II (PSII) are composed of six Chla molecules including the special pair Chla P(D1)/P(D2) harbored by the D1/D2 heterodimer. They serve as the ultimate electron abstractors for water oxidation in the oxygen-evolving Mn(4)CaO(5) cluster. Using the PSII crystal structure analyzed at 1.9 ? resolution, the redox potentials of P(D1)/P(D2) for one-electron oxidation (E(m)) were calculated by considering all PSII subunits and the protonation pattern of all titratable residues. The E(m)(Chla) values were calculated to be 1015-1132 mV for P(D1) and 1141-1201 mV for P(D2), depending on the protonation state of the Mn(4)CaO(5) cluster. The results showed that E(m)(P(D1)) was lower than E(m)(P(D2)), favoring localization of the charge of the cationic state more on P(D1). The P(D1)(?+)/P(D2)(?+) charge ratio determined by the large-scale QM/MM calculations with the explicit PSII protein environment yielded a P(D1)(?+)/P(D2)(?+) ratio of ~80/~20, which was found to be due to the asymmetry in electrostatic characters of several conserved D1/D2 residue pairs that cause the E(m)(P(D1))/E(m)(P(D2)) difference, e.g., D1-Asn181/D2-Arg180, D1-Asn298/D2-Arg294, D1-Asp61/D2-His61, D1-Glu189/D2-Phe188, and D1-Asp170/D2-Phe169. The larger P(D1)(?+) population than P(D2)(?+) appears to be an inevitable fate of the intact PSII that possesses water oxidation activity.     

Recombination analysis of autosomal short tandem repeats in Chinese Han families

Recombination fractions between forensic STRs can be extrapolated from the International HapMap Project, but the concordance between recombination fractions predicated from genetic maps and derived from observation of STR transmissions in families is still ambiguous for autosomal STRs because of limited family studies. Therefore, the main goal of this study is to compare recombination fractions estimated by pedigree analysis with those derived from HapMap phase SNP data. Genotypes of nine autosomal STR pairs (TPOX‐D2S1772, D5S818‐CSF1PO, D7S3048‐D7S820, D8S1132‐D8S1179, TH01‐D11S2368, vWA‐D12S391, D13S325‐D13S317, D18S51‐D18S1364, and D21S11‐PentaD) from 207 two‐generation families with two to five children (the number of families with five, four, three, and two children was 2, 3, 20, and 182, respectively) were used to analyze the recombination. The linkage analysis showed that significant linkage was observed at six STR pairs (D5S818‐CSF1PO, D8S1132‐D8S1179, TH01‐D11S2368, vWA‐D12S391, D13S325‐D13S317, and D18S51‐D18S1364) with genetic distances <36.22 cM in HapMap. Their recombination fractions calculated from family data were very close to those derived from HapMap. However, three STR pairs of TPOX‐D2S1772, D7S3048‐D7S820, and D21S11‐PentaD showed no significant linkage with genetic distances from 43.38 to 91.49 cM. Our results indicate that recombination fractions extrapolated from HapMap can provide a substitute if empirical data are unavailable for the linkage STR pair with a genetic distance spanned <36.22 cM.     

Development and validation of a forensic six-dye multiplex assay with 29 STR loci

This paper describes the development and validation of a novel 31-locus, six-dye STR multiplex system, which is designed to meet the needs of the rapidly growing Chinese forensic database. This new assay combines 20 extended-CODIS core loci (D3S1358, D5S818, TPOX, CSF1PO, TH01, vWA, D7S820, D21S11, D8S1179, D18S51, D16S539, D13S317, FGA, D1S1656, D2S441, D2S1338, D10S1248, D12S391, D19S433, and D22S1045), nine highly polymorphic loci in Chinese Han population (D3S3045, D6S1043, D6S477, D8S1132, D10S1435, D15S659, D19S253, Penta D, and Penta E), and two gender determining markers, amelogenin and Y-Indel, which could amplify DNA from extracts, as well as direct amplification from substrates. To demonstrate the suitability for forensic applications, this system was validated by precision and accuracy evaluation, concordance tests, case sample tests, sensitivity, species specificity, stability, stutter calculation, and DNA mixtures, according to the guidelines described by the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM) and regulations published by the China Ministry of Public Security. The validation results indicate the robustness and reliability of this new system, and it could be a potentially helpful tool for human identification and paternity testing in the Chinese population, as well as facilitating global forensic DNA data sharing.     

二维相关振动光谱技术

从发展历史、计算方程、性质规则等方面系统地介绍了近年来发展起来的二维相关光谱技术.结合各种常见的一维振动光谱, 如红外、拉曼、荧光、近红外-红外等光谱举例阐述了二维振动光谱的优势及其普适性.介绍了在广义二维相关光谱理论上最新延伸发展起来的二维样品-样品相关技术和二维杂化相关技术的基本理论, 并将之与传统的二维变量-变量相关技术(广义二维相关光谱)进行了比较.     

The dopamine D1–D2DR complex in the rat spinal cord promotes neuropathic pain by increasing neuronal excitability after chronic constriction injury

Dopamine D1 receptor (D1DR) and D2 receptor (D2DR) are closely associated with pain modulation, but their exact effects on neuropathic pain and the underlying mechanisms remain to be identified. Our research revealed that intrathecal administration of D1DR and D2DR antagonists inhibited D1–D2DR complex formation and ameliorated mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity in chronic constriction injury (CCI) rats. The D1–D2DR complex was formed in the rat spinal cord, and the antinociceptive effects of D1DR and D2DR antagonists could be reversed by D1DR, D2DR, and D1–D2DR agonists. Gαq, PLC, and IP3 inhibitors also alleviated CCI-induced neuropathic pain. D1DR, D2DR, and D1–D2DR complex agonists all increased the intracellular calcium concentration in primary cultured spinal neurons, and this increase could be reversed by D1DR, D2DR antagonists and Gαq, IP3, PLC inhibitors. D1DR and D2DR antagonists significantly reduced the expression of p-PKC γ, p-CaMKII, p-CREB, and p-MAPKs. Levo-corydalmine (l-CDL), a monomeric compound in Corydalis yanhusuo W.T. Wang, was found to obviously suppress the formation of the spinal D1–D2DR complex to alleviate neuropathic pain in CCI rats and to decrease the intracellular calcium concentration in spinal neurons. l-CDL-induced inhibition of p-PKC γ, p-MAPKs, p-CREB, and p-CaMKII was also reversed by D1DR, D2DR, and D1–D2DR complex agonists. In conclusion, these results indicate that D1DR and D2DR form a complex and in turn couple with the Gαq protein to increase neuronal excitability via PKC γ, CaMKII, MAPK, and CREB signaling in the spinal cords of CCI rats; thus, they may serve as potential drug targets for neuropathic pain therapy.Subject terms: Molecular neuroscience, Cellular neuroscience     

Low-Dimensional Organic Tin Bromide Perovskites and Their Photoinduced Structural Transformation

Hybrid organic–inorganic metal halide perovskites possess exceptional structural tunability, with three- (3D), two- (2D), one- (1D), and zero-dimensional (0D) structures on the molecular level all possible. While remarkable progress has been realized in perovskite research in recent years, the focus has been mainly on 3D and 2D structures, with 1D and 0D structures significantly underexplored. The synthesis and characterization of a series of low-dimensional organic tin bromide perovskites with 1D and 0D structures is reported. Using the same organic and inorganic components, but at different ratios and reaction conditions, both 1D (C₄N₂H₁₄)SnBr₄ and 0D (C₄N₂H₁₄Br)₄SnBr₆ can be prepared in high yields. Moreover, photoinduced structural transformation from 1D to 0D was investigated experimentally and theoretically in which photodissociation of 1D metal halide chains followed by structural reorganization leads to the formation of a more thermodynamically stable 0D structure.     

The structure of some α, β-unsaturated sulfur compounds from dipole moment data

Summary Measurements have been made of the dipole moments of the following , -unsaturated organic sulfur compounds: vinylethylsulfide (1.38 D), vinylbutylsulfide (1.40 D), vinylphenylsulfide (1.27 D), vinylethylsulfoxide (3.80 D), vinylbutylsulfoxide (3.78 D), vinylphenylsulfoxide (3.83 D), divinylsulfone (4.41 D), vinylethylsulfone (4.43 D), vinylbutylsulfone (4.45 D), 1,2-diethylsulfonylethylene, cis-(2.69 D) and trans- (1.36 D)-isomers and 1,4-dibutylsulfonylbutadiene-1,3-cis-trans-(5.19 D), cis-cis-(4.11 D) and trans-trans-(4.19 D)-isomers. Some conclusions are drawn as to the structure of the compounds investigated.     

食品中维生素D与25-羟基维生素D检测技术及含量分布研究进展

维生素D是一种对于维持人体健康具有重要作用的脂溶性维生素,25-羟基维生素D是其在人体内循环和存储的主要形式。食品中维生素D和25-羟基维生素D前处理的通常采用碱皂化、有机溶剂提取、固相萃取或者半制备色谱净化;其测定方法多为放射免疫法和液相色谱法。液相色谱串联质谱凭借高灵敏度和高准确度,目前在食品中维生素D和25-羟基维生素D测定中发挥重要作用。近年来二维液相色谱和超高效超临界流体色谱由于其强大的分离能力,在食品中维生素D和25-羟基维生素D的分析中表现出强大的潜力。该文综述了近年来食品中维生素D和25-羟基维生素D的检测方法及二者在动物食品和植物食品中的含量分布研究,以期为建立适合不同食物样品的测定方法,指导居民合理膳食,进行膳食摄入量评估等研究工作提供参考。     

Validation of the Microreader 28A ID System: A 6-dye multiplex amplification assay for forensic application

The Microreader 28A ID System is a new 28-plex genotyping system with 6-dye multiplex amplification, which allows the simultaneous amplification of all 20 Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) core loci (CSF1PO, D3S1358, D5S818, D7S820, D8S1179, D13S317, D16S539, D18S51, D21S11, FGA, TH01, TPOX, vWA, D1S1656, D2S441, D2S1338, D10S1248, D12S391, D19S433, D22S1045), plus five extended STRs loci (D6S1043, Penta D, Penta E, DYS391, SE33), 2 Y-Indels (Rs2032678, Rs771783753), and the amelogenin loci. This system can be used for forensic analyses, such as personal identification, kinship testing, scientific research, database applications, and other aspects of human genetic identification. The validation of the Microreader 28A ID System followed the “Validation Guidelines for DNA Analysis Methods (2016)” described by the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods and the regulations published by the China Ministry of Public Security. Our tests included PCR-based studies, sensitivity study, precision and accuracy evaluation, stutter percentage and heterozygous peak height ratio, inhibitor tests, species specificity, and population studies. The validation results suggest that the Microreader 28A ID system is a robust and reliable amplification kit for personal identification, kinship testing, and forensic database applications.     

Solid-state polymerization studies of conjugated diacetylenes deca-2,8-diene-4,6-diyne-1,10-diol and derivatives

The title diacetylenic compound (D3) and its derivatives dibenzoate (D3B), dinitrobenzoate (D3mNB), ditosylate (D3PTS), and diurethane (D3PU) were synthesized and their solid-state reactivity examined under irradiation and thermal stimulation. D3, D3B, and D3PTS crystallized in reactive phases. The thermal and irradiation polymerization behavior of D3 and D3B was examined further by time-conversion curves.     

Low‐Dimensional Organic Tin Bromide Perovskites and Their Photoinduced Structural Transformation

Hybrid organic–inorganic metal halide perovskites possess exceptional structural tunability, with three‐ (3D), two‐ (2D), one‐ (1D), and zero‐dimensional (0D) structures on the molecular level all possible. While remarkable progress has been realized in perovskite research in recent years, the focus has been mainly on 3D and 2D structures, with 1D and 0D structures significantly underexplored. The synthesis and characterization of a series of low‐dimensional organic tin bromide perovskites with 1D and 0D structures is reported. Using the same organic and inorganic components, but at different ratios and reaction conditions, both 1D (C₄N₂H₁₄)SnBr₄ and 0D (C₄N₂H₁₄Br)₄SnBr₆ can be prepared in high yields. Moreover, photoinduced structural transformation from 1D to 0D was investigated experimentally and theoretically in which photodissociation of 1D metal halide chains followed by structural reorganization leads to the formation of a more thermodynamically stable 0D structure.     

3D bioprinted cancer cells are more tolerant to serum starvation than 2D cells due to autophagy

Cancer is a global issue and a serious threat to human health, one approach to treatment is starvation therapy. Recently, three-dimensional (3D) bioprinted tumor tissue models have been developed; however, whether 3D bioprinted models are good for in vitro study of starvation therapy is unclear. In this study, we studied the state of cells with serum-free medium in both 3D bioprinted scaffold and 2D cell cultures and found that 3D bioprinted cancer cells (3D cells) were more tolerant to serum starvation than 2D cells in terms of cell viability, cell proliferation, and M2 macrophage polarization. Moreover, the ratio of LC3II/I, an index of autophagy, increased much more in 3D cells, and 3D cells showed more autophagosomes than 2D cells after serum starvation, which indicated that the autophagy levels were higher in 3D cells. These results suggested that 3D cells are more tolerant to serum starvation than 2D cells, and autophagy may play an important role in this process.     

Cross-diffusion in a water-in-oil microemulsion loaded with malonic acid or ferroin. Taylor dispersion method for four-component systems

We describe an improved Taylor dispersion method for four-component systems, which we apply to measure the main- and cross-diffusion coefficients in an Aerosol OT water-in-oil microemulsion loaded with one of the reactants of the Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction, water(1)/AOT(2)/R(3)/octane(4) system, where R is malonic acid or ferroin. With [H(2)O]/[AOT] = 11.8 and volume droplet fraction phi d = 0.18, when the microemulsion is below the percolation transition, the cross-diffusion coefficients D(13) and D(23) are large and positive ( D(13)/ D(33) congruent with 14, D(23)/ D(33) congruent with 3) for malonic acid and large and negative for ferroin ( D(13)/ D(33) congruent with -112, D(23)/ D(33) congruent with -30) while coefficients D(31) and D(32) are small and negative for malonic acid ( D(31)/ D(33) congruent with -0.01, D(32)/ D(33) congruent with -0.14) and small and positive for ferroin ( D(31)/ D(33) congruent with 5 x 10(-4), D(32)/ D(33) congruent with 8 x 10(-3)). These data represent the first direct determination of cross-diffusion effects in a pattern-forming system and of the full matrix of diffusion coefficients for a four-component system. The results should provide a basis for modeling pattern formation in the BZ-AOT system.     

C40异构体的结构和稳定性的理论研究

利用Gaussian98程序,采用密度泛函(DFT)方法中的B3LYP,选用6-31G基组对富勒烯(Fullerene)C40的6种异构体[D5d,Td,D2h,C3v,D2(Ⅰ),D2(Ⅱ)]进行了几何构型优化,其中,对于Td对称性的C40由于易发生Jahn-Teller畸变,则降低其对称性为D2d,再进行优化.对它们的平衡几何和电子结构进行了比较具体的分析,同时,根据计算得到的总能量推断出这6种异构体的稳定性顺序是D2(Ⅰ)>D5d>Td>C3v>D2h>D2(Ⅱ).     

A review on two-dimensional (2D) and 2D-3D multidimensional perovskite solar cells: Perovskites structures,stability, and photovoltaic performances

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) fabricated with two-dimensional (2D) halide and 2D-3D mixed-halide materials are remarkable for their optoelectronic properties. The 2D perovskite structures are extremely stable but show limited charge transport and large bandgap for solar cell applications. To overcome these challenges, multidimensional 2D-3D perovskite materials are used to maintain simultaneously, a long-term stability, and high performance. In this review, we discuss the recent progress and the advantages of 2D and 2D-3D perovskite materials as absorber for solar cell applications. First, we discuss the structure and the unique properties of 2D and multidimensional 2D-3D perovskites materials. Second, the stability of 2D and 2D-3D mixed perovskites and the perspects of PSCs are hashed out.     

Syntheses,Characterization, and Fluorescence Properties of Four Coordination Polymers based on Double Betaine Ligands

Four novel In³⁺ and Cd²⁺ based 1D coordination compounds constructed by double betaine ligands were synthesized and characterized structurally and optically. They assemble into 3D supra‐molecular architectures via different stacking or entanglement of 1D zigzag shaped chains, in which C–H ··· Cl and C–H ··· O hydrogen bonding interactions play a dramatic impact. Compound 1 displays a 1D + 1D → 3D four‐connect lvt net with 4² · 8⁴ topology. Compound 2 assembles into a 3D architecture by inclined stacking of the adjacent zigzag chains. Compound 3 displays a 2D + 2D → 3D inclined polycatenation based on the resulting 2D (6, 3) layers that constructed by 1D chains. Compound 4 displays a 3D supra‐molecular architecture based on 1D chains, which were connected via the hydrogen bonding. Meanwhile, four compounds emit in the range of visible region owing to the intra‐ligand π*→π and/or π*→n electron transition induced florescence.     

Photostability via sloped conical intersections: a computational study of the excited states of the naphthalene radical cation

On the basis of an extensive ab initio electronic structure study of the ground and excited-state potential energy surfaces of the naphthalene radical cation (N*+), we propose a mechanism for its ultrafast nonradiative relaxation from the second excited state (D2) down to the ground state (D0), which could explain the experimentally observed photostability [Zhao, L.; Lian, R.; Shkrob I. A.; Crowell, R. A.; Pommeret, S.; Chronister, E. L.; Liu, A. D.; Trifunac, A. D. J. Phys. Chem. A., 2004, 108, 25]. The proposed photophysical relaxation pathway involves internal conversion from the D2 state down to the D0 state via two consecutive, accessible, sloped conical intersections (CIs). The two crossings, D0/D1 and D1/D2, are characterized at the complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) level. At this level of theory, the D0/D1 crossing is energetically readily accessible, while the D1/D2 CI appears too high in energy to be involved in internal conversion. However, the inclusion of dynamic correlation effects, via single point CASPT2 calculations including excitations out of the valence pi- and sigma-orbitals, lowers the D0 and D2 state energies with respect to D1. Extrapolations at the CASPT2 level predict that the D1/D2 crossing is then significantly lower in energy than with CASSCF indicating that with a higher-level treatment of dynamic correlation it may be energetically accessible following vertical excitation to D2. N*+ is proposed as one of the species contributing to a series of diffuse infrared absorption bands originating from interstellar clouds. Understanding the mechanism for photostability in the gas phase, therefore, has important consequences for astrophysics.