Sensitive electrochemical determination of α-fetoprotein using a glassy carbon electrode modified with in-situ grown gold nanoparticles,graphene oxide and MWCNTs acting as signal amplifiers

The authors describe an electrochemical immunoassay for α-fetoprotein (α-FP) using a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with a nanocomposite made from gold nanoparticles, graphene oxide and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (AuNPs/GO-MWCNTs) and acting as a signal amplification matrix. The nanocomposite was synthesized in a one-pot redox reaction between GO and HAuCl₄ without using an additional reductant. The stepwise assembly of the immunoelectrode was characterized by means of cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The interaction of antigen and antibody on the surface of the electrode creates a barrier for electrons and causes retarded electron transfer, this resulting in decreased signals in differential pulse voltammetry of hexacyanoferrate which is added as an electrochemical probe. Using this strategy and by working at a potential of 0.2 V (vs. SCE), a wide analytical range (0.01 - 100 ng∙mL‾¹) is covered. The correlation coefficient is 0.9929, and the limit of detection is as low as 3 pg∙mL‾¹ at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. This electrochemical immunoassay combines the specificity of an immunological detection scheme with the sensitivity of an electrode modified with AuNPs and GO-MWCNTs.

Schematic illustration of the fabrication procedure of the immunosensor

     

Iron Catalyzed Isomerization of α-Alkyl Styrenes to Access Trisubstituted Alkenes

Stereoselective isomerization of α-alkyl styrenes is accomplished using a new iron catalyst supported by phosphine-pyridine-oxazoline (PPO) ligand.The protocol ...     

The duality between Morrey spaces and its pre-dual spaces characterized by heat kernel

Let L be an elliptic operator, we give arguments about the duality estimate between Morrey spaces and its pre-dual spaces characterized by the heat kernel associated to L that is given in [6],[8].     

蒙特卡罗模拟四极阱中原子的参变激发

在中性原子的磁囚禁实验中,磁阱线圈的电流噪声会激发磁阱中的原子运动,势必对原子团的温度和寿命产生不可忽视的影响。对于非简谐阱,这种激发具有能量选择特性,它又取决于电流噪声的频谱分布。选择了实验中常用的四极阱为研究对象,用直接模拟蒙特卡罗方法来模拟四极阱中原子运动的参变激发现象,得到了原子温度与原子数损失随激发频率的变化关系,并进一步计算了两个共振峰处原子温度随调制时间和调制深度的变化曲线。此外,还研究了弹性碰撞速率对参变激发过程中原子温度上升的影响。这些结果对四极阱参变激发的实验有较好的参考价值。     

Molecular functions and therapeutic applications of exosomal noncoding RNAs in cancer

Cancer is one of the most difficult diseases in human society. Therefore, it is urgent for us to understand its pathogenesis and improve the cure rate. Exosomes are nanoscale membrane vesicles formed by a variety of cells through endocytosis. As a new means of intercellular information exchange, exosomes have attracted much attention. Noncoding RNAs exist in various cell compartments and participate in a variety of cellular reactions; in particular, they can be detected in exosomes bound to lipoproteins and free circulating molecules. Increasing evidence has suggested the potential roles of exosomal noncoding RNAs in the progression of tumors. Herein, we present a comprehensive update on the biological functions of exosomal noncoding RNAs in the development of cancer. Specifically, we mainly focus on the effects of exosomal noncoding RNAs, including microRNAs, circular RNAs, long noncoding RNAs, small nuclear RNAs, and small nucleolar RNAs, on tumor growth, metastasis, angiogenesis, and chemoresistance. Moreover, we outline the current clinical implications concerning exosomal noncoding RNAs in cancer treatment.Subject terms: Cancer, Non-coding RNAs     

H2S和H2S+的振动光谱和电子能谱计算

本文基于MOLPRO软件包使用从头算方法计算了星际分子H₂S及其阳离子H₂S⁺的势能面及光电子能谱.首先,在(U)CCSD/cc-pVQZ理论水平下获取了H₂S沿法线坐标展开的势能面,势能面直观描述了不同振动模式耦合对分子能量变化的影响,S-H键的非对称伸缩振动和面内弯曲振动共同作用使得系统势能变化范围明显变大.振动多组态相互作用方法被用来计算非谐振动频率和振动光谱,计算结果显示,倍频和组合频之间出现了强烈的费米共振,使得相应波段处的红外强度显著增强.最后,使用拉曼波函数和收缩不变Krylov子空间方法首次计算了H₂SΧ¹A₁→H₂S⁺ X²B₁的光电子能谱.此项研究有助于进一步理解星际分子的内部结构,并为实验研究及星际观测提供参考.     

基于深度学习的两分量BEC中量子相变点的识别

识别物质的相变是物理学研究中一个重要问题.本文采用了一种混淆标签方案的卷积神经网络算法来识别两分量玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚(BEC)中量子相变点,通过计算神经网络输出的准确率,得到W型性能曲线,此性能曲线中间的极大值对应着量子相变的临界点.研究结果表明,深度学习得到的量子相变点与解析计算值吻合度较高.此混淆标签方案的深度学习研究方法可以应用到存在两种相的相变体系.     

掺杂对2H-MoTe2光电特性影响的第一性原理研究

MoTe₂是一种非空间反演对称性半导体,由线性偏振光照射,在无偏压条件下可以直接产生光电流,但是非常微弱.掺杂可以改变电子能带结构和降低空间反演对称性,从而有效的增强光电流.本文基于非平衡格林函数-密度泛函理论,采用第一性原理,计算了本征、Nb掺杂、Ti掺杂和W掺杂2H-MoTe₂的能带结构、透射谱和光电流.能带结构表明：Nb掺杂使半导体2H-MoTe₂能带穿越费米能级,转变为金属特性;Ti和W掺杂减小了2H-MoTe₂的带隙,能带没有穿越费米能级,依然为半导体.掺杂都降低2H-MoTe₂的反演对称对称性,从本征的D_3h转变为C_s.从而在线偏振光的照射下可以有效的提高2H-MoTe₂的光电流.同时,发现掺杂可以提高单层2H-MoTe₂在低光子能量下的消光比,如Nb和Ti掺杂单层2H-MoTe₂分别在光子能量1.1 eV和1.2 eV处取得39.48和28.48的高消光比...     

Identification of Biomarker Volatile Organic Compounds Released by Three Stored-Grain Insect Pests in Wheat

Monitoring and early detection of stored-grain insect infestation is essential to implement timely and effective pest management decisions to protect stored grains. We report a reliable analytical procedure based on headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) to assess stored-grain infestation through the detection of volatile compounds emitted by insects. Four different fibre coatings were assessed; 85 µm CAR/PDMS had optimal efficiency in the extraction of analytes from wheat. The headspace profiles of volatile compounds produced by Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius), and Sitophilus granarius (Linnaeus), either alone or with wheat, were compared with those of non-infested wheat grains. Qualitative analysis of chromatograms showed the presence of different volatile compound profiles in wheat with pest infestation compared with the wheat controls. Wheat-specific and insect-specific volatile compounds were identified, including the aggregation pheromones, dominicalure-1 and dominicalure-2, from R. dominica, and benzoquinones homologs from T. castaneum. For the first time, the presence of 3-hydroxy-2-butanone was reported from S. granarius, which might function as an alarm pheromone. These identified candidate biomarker compounds can be utilized in insect surveillance and monitoring in stored grain to safeguard our grain products in future.