Ultrasensitive amperometric determination of PSA based on a signal amplification strategy using nanoflowers composed of single-strand DNA modified fullerene and Methylene Blue,and an improved surface-initiated enzymatic polymerization

The authors describe a signal amplification strategy for highly sensitive detection of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA). This is accomplished by a combination of two methods, viz. (a) improved surface-initiated enzymatic polymerization (SIEP), and (b) the use of nanoflowers prepared from C₆₀ fullerene and Methylene Blue (C₆₀/MB) modified with a long single-strand DNA. C₆₀/MB acts as a novel electrochemical indicator. The C₆₀/MB nanoflowers improve the load of MB and promote the electron transfer. The integration of the SIEP technique and the C₆₀/MB nanomaterial also results in improved loading of MB on the nucleic acid. Ultimately, dual cascade signal amplification is accomplished. The biosensor was constructed as follows: (a) Gold nanospheres were modified with antibody 2 (Ab₂) and a thiolated oligonucleotide (referred to as S₀). (2) S₀ is then extended by the SIEP reaction. (3) The redox indicator C₆₀/MB is then connected to the extended guanine-rich ssDNA which then yields the amperometric signal. (4) A sandwich immunoassay is performed by capturing the nanoprobe oy type Ab₂-Au-S₀ on the gold electrode modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and protein A. Current is measured by using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The synergic effect of the biofunctional nanomaterial and the signal amplification strategy greatly improves the performance of this immunoassay. Under optimized conditions and at a working voltage of typically ?0.18 V (vs Ag/AgCl), the assay has a linear range that extends from 15 pg·mL^?1 to 8 ng·mL^?1 of PSA. The detection limit is as low as 1.7 pg·mL^?1 (at an S/N ratio of 3). In our perception, this dual amplification scheme has a wide scope in that it may become applicable to numerous other immunoassays.

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Graphical abstract C₆₀/Methylene blue nanoflowers, a novel electrochemical indicator, connect with the long single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) extended by the improved surface-initiated enzymatic polymerization method. This amplification strategy is utilized to construct a sandwich prostate-specific antigen (PSA) immunosensor.

     

Non-enzymatic sensing of hydrogen peroxide using a glassy carbon electrode modified with the layered MoS<Subscript>2</Subscript>-reduced graphene oxide and Prussian Blue

The authors describe an electrochemical sensor for hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). It was constructed by consecutive, selective modification of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) with Prussian Blue (PB), layered molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂), and reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The properties of the modified GCE were characterized via high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The electrochemical properties of the electrode were studied using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The sensor exhibits excellent electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of hydrogen peroxide in comparison to GCEs modified with MoS₂-rGO or PB only. Response is linear in the 0.3 μM to 1.15 mM H₂O₂ concentration range at a working analytical voltage of 0.1 V, with a 0.14 μM detection limit. The electrochemical sensitivity is 2883.5 μA·μM^?1·cm^?2, and response is fast (<10 s). The sensor is selective, stable and reproducible. This is attributed to the efficient electron transport properties of the MoS₂-rGO composite and the high loading with PB.

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Graphic abstract Prussian Blue nanoparticles were deposited on MoS₂-rGO modified glassy carbon electrode by electrochemical method. This sensor was used for the detection of H₂O₂ in tap water and river water.

     

Hexagram-like CoS-MoS<Subscript>2</Subscript> composites with enhanced activity for hydrogen evolution reaction

Hexagram-like CoS-MoS₂ composites were prepared on indium tin oxide (ITO) conductive glasses via cyclic voltammetry electrodeposition using Co(NO₃)₂ and (NH₄)₂MoS₂ as precursors and tested for application in hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The structure of CoS-MoS₂ composites was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectrum (XPS). Electrochemical characterizations indicate that CoS-MoS₂ composites exhibit more excellent catalytic activity and stability than MoS₂. Compared with pure MoS₂, the hexagram-like CoS-MoS₂ composites with increased specific surface area improved the density of exposed active sites, and the Co binding S edges in CoS-MoS₂ composites promote the number of highly catalytic edge sites and decreased the binding energy △G _H. Moreover, the effects of different substrates on the CoS-MoS₂ composites were also investigated. Our further understanding of this highly active hydrogen evolution catalyst can facilitate the development of economical electrochemical hydrogen production systems.     

Synergic Enhancement of High-density Polyethylene through Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylene and Multi-flow Vibration Injection Molding: A Facile Fabrication with Potential Industrial Prospects

General-purpose plastics with high strength and toughness have been in great demand for structural engineering applications. To achieve the reinforcement and broaden the application scope of high-density polyethylene(HDPE), multi-flow vibration injection molding(MFVIM) and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene(UHMWPE) are synergistically employed in this work. Herein, the MFVIM has better shear layer control ability and higher fabrication advantage for complex parts than other analogous novel injection molding technologies reported.The reinforcing effect of various filling times and UHMWPE contents as well as the corresponding microstructure evolution are investigated.When 5 wt% UHMWPE is added, MFVIM process with six flow times thickens the shear layer to the whole thickness. The tensile strength and modulus increase to 2.14 and 1.39 times, respectively, compared to neat HDPE on the premise of remaining 70% impact strength. Structural characterizations indicate that the enhancement is attributed to the improvement of shish-kebab content and lamellae compactness, as well as related to the corresponding size distributions of undissolved UHMWPE particles. This novel injection molding technology with great industrial prospects provides a facile and effective strategy to broaden the engineering applications of HDPE materials. Besides, excessive UHMWPE may impair the synergistic enhancement effect, which is also reasonably explained.     

弹性地基梁振动特性的近似分析方法

文中介绍了用模态摄动法分析复杂情况下弹性地基梁动力特性的近似方法。这一方法中可考虑纵向钢筋以及变地基弹性系数对弹性地基梁振动特性的影响，通过算例说明了这一方法的有效性。     

DYNAMIC SIMULATION ANALYSIS OF CAPTURE AND BUFFER SYSTEM BASED ON CLAW-TYPE DOCKING MECHANISM

现有在轨服务的对接机构由于其尺寸大、结构复杂、对接目标单一等局限性因素,无法很好地为后续我国探月工程任务提供有力支撑,且受限于运载能力,对接机构的轻量化也是必不可少的一项环节.为研究可服务于未来月球空间站以及载人登月等高轨道任务的对接机构,设计了一种新型抱爪式对接机构,其采用异体同构周边式构型,可以实现主/被动飞行器之间的互换.利用 V 型槽与爪钩等结构部件实现飞行器对接过程中的捕获以 及能量消耗功能,从而实现两飞行器之间的稳固联接.该对接机构具备尺寸小、重量轻、结构简单、功能易实现等优势. 对其捕获缓冲系统进行了动力学分析,计算了缓冲元器件的参数对其捕获性能的影响,在 ADAMS 完成了数字虚拟样机的建立,结合实际两种典型的对接初始条件工况进行了仿真研究.研究结果表明,两种工况下的对接过程能量消耗满足设计要求,能够以较小的 V 型槽的碰撞力完成捕获,结果证明了捕获缓冲系统的可行性以及该构型对接机构具备较好实现任务的能力.     

Electrogenerated Fe(I) Porphyrins: Efficient Electrocatalysts for Reductive Dechlorination of DDT in N,N′‐Dimethylformamide

Two iron(I) porphyrins were electrogenerated and then utilized as catalysts for the reductive dechlorination of 1,1‐bis(4‐chlorophenyl)‐2,2,2‐trichloroethane (DDT) in N,N′‐dimethylformamide. No reaction is observed between DDT and the Fe(III) or Fe(II) forms of the porphyrin, but the electrogenerated Fe(I) porphyrin efficiently catalyzes the electroreduction of DDT to give (1,1‐bis(4‐chlorophenyl)‐2,2‐dichloroethane) DDD, (1,1‐bis(4‐chlorophenyl)‐2,2‐dichloroethylene) DDE and (1,1‐bis(4‐chlorophenyl)‐2‐dichloroethane) DDMU as determined by GC‐MS analysis. The reductive dechlorination was monitored by electrochemistry, controlled potential electrolysis and spectroelectrochemistry and a mechanism for the reaction involving the reduced porphyrins and DDT is proposed. Comparisons are also made between the catalytic properties of metalloporphyrins containing iron, cobalt and manganese central metal ions under the same solution conditions.     

Avoiding Self-Reversed D Lines in Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy of Trace-Level Sodium in Soil

Journal of Applied Spectroscopy - Self-reversed sodium D lines in laser-induced plasmas generated from soil samples with a sodium trace concentration of 42.3 ppm was examined using laser-induced...     

Size-Exclusion Chromatography of Asphaltenes: An Experimental Comparison of Commonly Used Approaches

Asphaltenes, the heaviest and most polar fraction of crude oil, are responsible for the clogging of oil pipelines and of underground reservoir rocks. Asphaltenes are defined as a solubility class (toluene- or benzene-soluble, n-alkane insoluble), and a consensus is still lacking on the molar mass (M) averages, distribution, and range of these materials. Size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) is among the most widely employed methods for characterizing the M averages and distributions of both natural and synthetic polymers and, as such, has seen widespread application in the study of asphaltenes. SEC analysis of asphaltenes presents a number of challenges, however, some inherent to all low-M materials and some unique to these particular analytes. Here, we have experimentally compared several of the most commonly used approaches to SEC of asphaltenes, in hope of both demonstrating the influence of experimental conditions upon the results obtained as well as to determine optimal conditions of analysis. In the end, while the former goal was met, the latter one remains an open challenge in the field.