An effective sequence characterized amplified region‐PCR method derived from restriction site‐amplified polymorphism for the identification of female Schistosoma japonicum of zoonotic significance

In the present study, restriction site‐amplified polymorphism (RSAP) markers were used to examine the genetic variability of Schistosoma japonicum isolates from different endemic provinces in mainland China. Of the 45 pairs of primers screened, 10 RSAP markers showed a clear banding pattern with good resolution; however, only six exhibited a polymorphism among different isolates. Among six RSAP markers, one pair of primers (R8+R10) was able to differentiate male and female parasites, and amplified one constant specific band for female S. japonicum isolates. The specific band was recovered, re‐amplified and sequenced, and a sequence of 162 bp was obtained. Based on this sequence, a pair of specific primers was designed and used to develop sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR)‐PCR assay for identification and differentiation of female S. japonicum isolates. The SCAR‐PCR assay allowed the specific identification of female S. japonicum, with no amplicons being amplified from male S. japonicum, Fasciola hepatica, Clonorchis sinensis, S. mansoni (male and female parasite). DNA sequencing confirmed the identity of the amplified products. The minimum amount of DNA detectable using SCAR‐PCR assay was 0.3 ng for female S. japonicum. The SCAR‐PCR was able to differentiate effectively the male and female S. japonicum worms collected from 12 geographical origins in eight endemic provinces, the gender of which was known based on the morphological and biological features. These results showed that SCAR‐PCR provides an effective tool for the sex differentiation studies of S. japonicum, identification of female S. japonicum, diagnosis and epidemiological survey of S. japonicum infections in animals and human.     

An automated instrument for human STR identification: design, characterization, and experimental validation

The microfluidic integration of an entire DNA analysis workflow on a fully integrated miniaturized instrument is reported using lab‐on‐a‐chip automation to perform DNA fingerprinting compatible with CODIS standard relevant to the forensic community. The instrument aims to improve the cost, duration, and ease of use to perform a “sample‐to‐profile” analysis with no need for human intervention. The present publication describes the operation of the three major components of the system: the electronic control components, the microfluidic cartridge and CE microchip, and the optical excitation/detection module. Experimental details are given to characterize the level of performance, stability, reliability, accuracy, and sensitivity of the prototype system. A typical temperature profile from a PCR amplification process and an electropherogram of a commercial size standard (GeneScan 500?, Applied Biosystems) separation are shown to assess the relevance of the instrument to forensic applications. Finally, we present a profile from an automated integrated run where lysed cells from a buccal swab were introduced in the system and no further human intervention was required to complete the analysis.     

Efficient synthesis of natural polyphenolic stilbenes: resveratrol, piceatannol and oxyresveratrol

The practical synthesis of important natural polyphenolic stilbenes, including resveratrol, piceatannol and oxyresveratrol, through Perkin methodology is described. Starting from 3,5-dihydoxyacetophenone (1), the common intermediate 3,5-dimethoxyphenylacetic acid (3) can be obtained via methylation and Willgerodt-Kindler reaction. Perkin condensations between (3) and substituted phenylaldehydes 4 furnished E-2,3-diarylacrylic acids 5, followed by decarboxylation in Cu/quinoline giving stilbene intermediates 6 which bear the Z-configuration. Finally, through a simultaneous demethylation/isomerization process in AlI?/CH?CN system, the target compounds 7a-c can be obtained respectively in good to high overall yields. The synthetic method proved to be more concise, trans-specific, mild, economical and commonly applicable.     

Cyano and Isocyano-substituted Tetraphenylethylene with AIE Behavior and Mechanoresponsive Behavior

Dual-functional materials with AIE behavior and mech-anoresponsive behavior have attracted considerable attention due to their promising applications in mechano...     

Syntheses,Structural Characterization and Thermoanalysis of Transition-Metal Compounds Derived from 3,5-Dinitropyridone

Abstract  

Nine metal compounds of Mn(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) derived from dinitropyridone ligands (3,5-dinitropyrid-2-one, 2HDNP; 3,5-dinitropyrid-4-one, 4HDNP and 3,5-dinitropyrid-4-one-N- hydroxide, 4HDNPO) were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR and partly by TG-DSC. Three of which were further structurally characterized by X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis. The structures of the three compounds, Mn(4DNP)₂(H₂O)₄, 4, Zn(4DNPO)₂(H₂O)₄, 8, and Cd(4DNPO)₂(H₂O)₄, 9, crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n and Z = 2, with a = 8.9281(9), b = 9.1053(9), c = 10.6881(11) Å, β = 97.9840(10)° for 4; a = 8.4154(7), b = 9.9806(8), c = 10.5695(8) Å, β = 97.3500(10)° for 8; a = 8.5072(7), b = 10.2254(8), c = 10.5075(8) Å, β = 96.6500(10)° for 9. All three complexes are octahedral consisting of four equatorial water molecules, and two nitrogen or oxygen donor ligands (DNP or DNPO). The abundant hydrogen-bonding and π-π stacking interactions seem to contribute to stabilization of the crystal structures of the compounds. The TG-DTG results revealed that the complexes showed a weight loss sequence corresponding to all coordinated water molecules, nitro groups, the breaking of the pyridine rings and finally the formation of metal oxides.     

Observations of the Effect of Confined Space on Fluorescence and Diffusion Properties of Molecules in Single Conical Nanopore Channels

In this work, we investigated the fluorescence emission spectra and diffusion properties of dye molecules confined in different positions of conical nanopore channels using a laser scanning confocal fluorescence microscope. The results showed that a red shift of the emission spectra is observed from the tip section to the bottom section and the diffusion rate is slower in the channel than that in bulk solution, indicating a single conical nanopore channel can be used as a convenient tool for investigating the effect of confined space on the behaviors of molecules.     

Impulsive synchronization seeking in general complex delayed dynamical networks

The present paper investigates the issues of impulsive synchronization seeking in general complex delayed dynamical networks with nonsymmetrical coupling. By establishing the extended Halanay differential inequality on impulsive delayed dynamical systems, some simple yet generic sufficient conditions for global exponential synchronization of the impulsive controlled delayed dynamical networks are derived analytically. Compared with some existing works, the distinctive features of these sufficient conditions indicate two aspects: on the one hand, these sufficient conditions can provide an effective impulsive control scheme to synchronize an arbitrary given delayed dynamical network to a desired synchronization state even if the original given network may be asynchronous itself. On the other hand, the controlled synchronization state can be selected as a weighted average of all the states in the network for the purpose of practical control strategy, which reveals the contributions and influences of various nodes in synchronization seeking processes of the dynamical networks. It is shown that impulses play an important role in making the delayed dynamical networks globally exponentially synchronized. Furthermore, the results are applied to a typical nearest-neighbor unidirectional time-delay coupled networks composed of chaotic FHN neuron oscillators, and numerical simulations are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control methodology.     

与$\zeta(2k 1)$函数有关的两类快速收敛级数

Values of new series sum（（（2n-1）!ζ（2n））/（2n ＋ 2k）!）α2n from n=1 to ∞,sum（（（2n-1）!ζ（2n））/（2n＋2k ＋1）!）β2n from n=1 to ∞ are given concerning ζ（2k ＋ 1）,where k is a positive integer,α can be taken as 1,1/2,1/3,2/3,1/4,3/4,1/6,5/6 and β can be taken as 1,1/2.Some previous results are included as special cases in the present paper and new series converges more rapidly than those exsiting results for α = 1/3,or α = 1/4,or α = 1/6.     

Multiscale molecular dynamics using the matched interface and boundary method

The Poisson-Boltzmann (PB) equation is an established multiscale model for electrostatic analysis of biomolecules and other dielectric systems. PB based molecular dynamics (MD) approach has a potential to tackle large biological systems. Obstacles that hinder the current development of PB based MD methods are concerns in accuracy, stability, efficiency and reliability. The presence of complex solvent-solute interface, geometric singularities and charge singularities leads to challenges in the numerical solution of the PB equation and electrostatic force evaluation in PB based MD methods. Recently, the matched interface and boundary (MIB) method has been utilized to develop the first second order accurate PB solver that is numerically stable in dealing with discontinuous dielectric coefficients, complex geometric singularities and singular source charges. The present work develops the PB based MD approach using the MIB method. New formulation of electrostatic forces is derived to allow the use of sharp molecular surfaces. Accurate reaction field forces are obtained by directly differentiating the electrostatic potential. Dielectric boundary forces are evaluated at the solvent-solute interface using an accurate Cartesian-grid surface integration method. The electrostatic forces located at reentrant surfaces are appropriately assigned to related atoms. Extensive numerical tests are carried out to validate the accuracy and stability of the present electrostatic force calculation. The new PB based MD method is implemented in conjunction with the AMBER package. MIB based MD simulations of biomolecules are demonstrated via a few example systems.