Cell-penetrating quantum dots based on multivalent and endosome-disrupting surface coatings

We report the development of cell-penetrating quantum dots (QDs) based on the use of multivalent and endosome-disrupting (endosomolytic) surface coatings. Hyperbranched copolymer ligands such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) grafted polyethylenimine (PEI-g-PEG) are found to encapsulate and solubilize luminescent quantum dots through direct ligand-exchange reactions. Because of the positive charges and a "proton sponge effect" associated with multivalent amine groups, this class of ligand-exchanged QDs is able to penetrate cell membranes and is also able to disrupt endosomal organelles in living cells. The grafted PEG segment is essential for reducing the cytotoxicity of PEI as well as for improving the overall nanoparticle stability and biocompatibility. In comparison with previous QDs encapsulated with amphiphilic polymers, the cell-penetrating QDs are smaller in size and are considerably more stable in acidic environments. Cellular uptake and imaging studies reveal that the number of PEG grafts per PEI molecule has a pronounced effect on the intracellular pathways of internalized QDs. In particular, QDs coated with PEI-g-PEG2 are rapidly internalized by endocytosis, and are initially stored in vesicles, followed by slow endosomal escape and release into the cytoplasm. These insights are important toward the design and development of nanoparticle agents for intracellular imaging and therapeutic applications.     

Microfluidics: from dynamic lattices to periodic arrays of polymer disks

We used coupling of flow and geometric confinement to assemble emulsion droplets in two-dimensional gliding lattices with a high degree of order and symmetry. Highly monodisperse discoid droplets with circular shapes were generated in a microfluidic flow-focusing device. Originally, close-packed lattices formed from these circular discoid droplets. Progressive confinement led to the gradual deformation of the circular disks: first, they elongated in the direction parallel to the direction of flow and then transformed into hexagons. Assembly driven by the combination of flow and confinement also allowed for the formation of lattices from droplets with a bimodal size distribution. We used photopolymerization of the monomer droplets to trap the lattice structure in the solid state and produce highly periodic arrays of solid polymer disks.     

Conversion of carbohydrates into furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural using furfuryl alcohol resin-based solid acid as catalyst

Cellulose - A furfuryl alcohol resin-based solid acid (SC-FAR-800) was prepared and applied in the conversion of carbohydrates into furan platform compounds in microwave. The results showed that...     

Self-assembly of bis-[1]rotaxanes based on diverse thiourea-bridged mono-functionalized dipillar[5]arenes

Journal of Inclusion Phenomena and Macrocyclic Chemistry - The condensation reaction of mono-amido-functionalized pillar[5]arenes with tere- and iso-phthaloyl diisothiocyanates in acetone under...     

Synthesis,Adsorptive, and Photocatalytic Properties of Carbon Nanotubes/TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Nanocomposite Photocatalysts

The carbon nanotubes/TiO₂ (CNTs/TiO₂) composite photocatalysts composed of TiO₂ nanoparticles and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were prepared by a facile hydrothermal method. The photocatalysts were characterized by a range of analytical techniques including X-ray powder diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscope, thermal gravimetric analysis and UV–Vis optical absorption spectra, etc. The amount of TiO₂ nanoparticles growing on CNTs could be tuned by adjusting the dosage of precursor in the reaction solution. Both the adsorptivity and photocatalytic activities of pure CNTs, pure TiO₂, and the CNTs/TiO₂ nanocomposites were tested by the removal of methylene blue from water in dark and under a simulated sunlight, respectively. By comparison, the improved photocatalytic activity of the CNTs/TiO₂ nanocomposite is mainly due to that the CNTs can disperse the active component of TiO₂ nanoparticles, provide a larger the specific surface area, as well as act as an electron sink to accelerate the separation of the photogenerated charges.     

用扫描电镜和能谱仪进行金矿鉴定的研究

运用扫描电子显微镜（ＳＥＭ）及Ｘ射线能谱仪（ＥＤＸ）进行金矿鉴定的实验研究，结果表明，本法比较直观、简便，可以确定金的存在形式及生成环境，并鉴定金矿物的种类     

Coexistence states of a three-species cooperating model with diffusion

In this article, a Lotka--Volterra three-species time-periodic mutualism model with diffusion is investigated. Some sufficient conditions for the existence and estimates of coexistence states are established. Meanwhile, with the assistance of functional analysis methods, some sufficient or necessary results for the existence of positive steady state of the model are presented. Our approach to the discussion is mainly based on the skill of sub- and super-solutions for a general reaction--diffusion system.     

Permanence and stability in multi-species non-autonomous Lotka–Volterra competitive systems with delays and feedback controls

In this paper, we consider a multi-species Lotka–Volterra type competitive system with delays and feedback controls. A general criteria on the permanence is established, which is described by integral form and independent of feedback controls. By constructing suitable Lyapunov functionals, a set of easily verifiable sufficient conditions are derived for global stability of any positive solution to the model.     

Numerical solution procedures for the morning commute problem

This paper discusses solution techniques for the morning commute problem that is formulated as a discrete variational inequality (VI). Various heuristics have been proposed to solve this problem, mostly because the analytical properties of the path travel time function have not yet been well understood. Two groups of “non-heuristic” algorithms for general VIs, namely projection-type algorithms and ascent direction algorithms, were examined. In particular, a new ascent direction method is introduced and implemented with a heuristic line search procedure. The performance of these algorithms are compared on simple instances of the morning commute problem. The implications of numerical results are discussed.     

带常利率的Erlang(2)风险模型的罚金折现期望函数

The purpose of this paper is to consider the expected value of a discounted penalty due at ruin in the Erlang（2） risk process under constant interest force. An integro-differential equation satisfied by the expected value and a second-order differential equation for the Laplace transform of the expected value are derived. In addition, the paper will present the recursive algorithm for the joint distribution of the surplus immediately before ruin and the deficit at ruin. Finally, by the differential equation, the defective renewal equation and the explicit expression for the expected value are given in the interest-free case.