Concurrent Detection of Protein Adsorption on Mixed Nanoparticles by Differential Centrifugal Sedimentation

In mixtures of nanoparticles of various sizes or compositions, monitoring protein partitioning on their surfaces provides important information about particle–protein interactions during competitive adsorption. Utilizing the size‐resolving capability of differential centrifugal sedimentation, the adsorption of bovine serum albumin on multisize gold nanoparticles with diameters ranging from 20 to 100 nm or gold, silver, and silica nanoparticles with similar diameter can be concurrently observed. This method can be used to gain insight into nanoparticle–protein interactions based on analyses of curvature and relative abundance.     

A Compact-Intracavity Frequency-Doubling Nd:YAG Laser with 1.3 W Dual-Wavelength (659.6 nm/669.4 nm) Light Output

Terahertz wave radiation has important applications in medical instrumentation, optical communication, and so on. In this paper, we demonstrate a dual-wavelength (659.6 nm/669.4 nm) light output of a compact intracavity frequency-doubling Nd:YAG laser. We achieve a maximum output power of 1.3 W at central wavelengths of 659.6 and 669.4 nm with linewidths of 57 and 74 pm, respectively. The power instability at the maximum output power is less than 1%, and the beam quality is 1.5. This dual-wavelength laser provides a potential source for generating a coherent terahertz wave radiation of 6.46 THz by the nonlinear optical difference frequency method.     

Co-delivery of doxorubicin and AS1411 aptamer by poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-amino esters) polymeric micelles for targeted cancer therapy

Recently, targeted drug delivery systems (TDDS) have offered a great potential and benefits towards the anti-tumor drug delivery. In this work, we designed the TDDS using a biocompatible poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(β-amino esters) amphiphilic block copolymer (PEG-PAEs) synthesized by Michael addition polymerization for combinatorial therapy. Further, the chemotherapeutic agents’ doxorubicin (DOX) and AS1411 DNA aptamer (Apt) are encapsulated in the PEG-PAEs NPs (PDANs) for co-delivery therapeutics. PDANs have shown the monodisperse spherical shape, smooth surface with a net positive charge (average diameter—183.1 ± 27.2 nm, zeta potential—31.2 ± 6.3 mV), and good colloidal stability (critical micelle concentration of PEG-PAEs is about 6.3 μg/mL). The pH-sensitive PAEs endowed PDANs both pH-triggered drug release characteristics and enhanced endo/lysosomal escape ability, thus improving the localization and cytotoxicity of DOX. AS1411 Apt conjugated PDANs precisely targeted nucleolin and their uptake correlates to a significant activity enhancement only in tumor cells (MCF-7) but not in normal cells (MCF-10A). Thus, PDANs can be a very promising targeted drug delivery platform for effective breast cancer therapy.

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Graphical abstract Scheme 1 Schematic illustration of the preparation and cellular uptake of targeted co-delivery system

     

Fundamental modes in waveguide pipe twisted by saturated double-well potential

We study fundamental modes trapped in a rotating ring with a saturated nonlinear double-well potential. This model, which is based on the nonlinear Schrödinger equation, can be constructed in a twisted waveguide pipe in terms of light propagation, or in a Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC) loaded into a toroidal trap under a combination of a rotating π-out-of-phase linear potential and nonlinear pseudopotential induced by means of a rotating optical field and the Feshbach resonance. Three types of fundamental modes are identified in this model, one symmetric and the other two asymmetric. The shape and stability of the modes and the transitions between different modes are investigated in the first rotational Brillouin zone. A similar model used a Kerr medium to build its nonlinear potential, but we replace it with a saturated nonlinear medium. The model exhibits not only symmetry breaking, but also symmetry recovery. A specific type of unstable asymmetric mode is also found, and the evolution of the unstable asymmetric mode features Josephson oscillation between two linear wells. By considering the model as a configuration of a BEC system, the ground state mode is identified among these three types, which characterize a specific distribution of the BEC atoms around the trap.     

Z箍缩驱动聚变-裂变混合堆氚燃料循环系统氚盘存量与氚自持初步分析

为研究氚自持条件,建立了Z-FFR氚分析模型,基于理论方程和氚平均滞留时间方法进行计算,得到稳态运行时排灰气处理系统、氚增殖提取系统、同位素分离系统、水去氚化系统的氚质量流分别为52.30,25.40,81.30,3.60 g/day,对应的氚盘存量为52.30,25.40,8.13,1.80 g。同时以氚质量流推导出氚自持判断条件,分析了设计参数能够满足氚自持要求,同时获得了燃烧效率、氚增殖率、提取效率与氚自持的互补关系,三者作为关键参数相互依存,于临界值、设计值、理想值之间分析了氚的自持情况。     

New achievements from CE-3 mission

正The Chang'E-3(CE-3)mission began with a smooth countdown and flawless launch on the Long March 3B rocket from the Xichang satellite launch center at 01:30 CST on December 2,2013.It landed on the northeastern Imbrium basin(340.49°E,44.12°N)at 21:11 CST on December 14,2013,and the Yutu rover was deployed from the lander the next morning at 04:35.The lander was equipped with a number of remote-sensing     

Multiple charge ion beam generation with a 2.45 GHz electron cyclotron resonance ion source

<正>Multiple charge ions (MCIs) are necessary for increasing the output energy of particles in accelerators. In general, MCI beams are largely produced by electron beam ion source (EBIS) [1], laser ion source (LIS) [2], or high-frequency (mostly 5 GHz) electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source [3]. Among these, only ECR ion source can operate in the continuous wave (CW) mode, while EBIS and LIS only support pulses. In addition, ECR ion source with lower frequency (mostly 2.45 GHz) are required primarily for generating single charge state ions, because the corresponding ECR field (875 Gs) is not sufficiently strong for MCI generation [4].     

Recent progress in econophysics: Chaos,leverage, and business cycles as revealed by agent-based modeling and human experiments

Agent-based modeling and controlled human experiments serve as two fundamental research methods in the field of econophysics. Agent-based modeling has been in development for over 20 years, but how to design virtual agents with high levels of human-like “intelligence” remains a challenge. On the other hand, experimental econophysics is an emerging field; however, there is a lack of experience and paradigms related to the field. Here, we review some of the most recent research results obtained through the use of these two methods concerning financial problems such as chaos, leverage, and business cycles. We also review the principles behind assessments of agents’ intelligence levels, and some relevant designs for human experiments. The main theme of this review is to show that by combining theory, agent-based modeling, and controlled human experiments, one can garner more reliable and credible results on account of a better verification of theory; accordingly, this way, a wider range of economic and financial problems and phenomena can be studied.     

Synthesis of hierarchical Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>FeP<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript> spheres with high electrochemical performance via spray drying

Hierarchical Na₂FeP₂O₇ spheres with nanoparticles were successfully fabricated by a facile spray drying method. A relatively low drying temperature was introduced in order to form a carbon layer on the surface. As a cathode material for sodium-ion batteries, it delivered a reversible capacity of 84.4 mAh g^?1 at 0.1 C and showed excellent cycling and rate performance (64.7 mAh g^?1 at 5 C). Furthermore, a full sodium battery was fabricated using SP-Na₂FeP₂O₇ as the cathode and hard carbon as the anode, suffering almost no capacity loss after 400 cycles at 1 C. Due to its superior electrochemical property and the low materials cost, Na₂FeP₂O₇ is becoming a promising cathode material for large-scale energy storage systems.