Sensitive colorimetric assays for α-glucosidase activity and inhibitor screening based on unmodified gold nanoparticles

A colorimetric sensor has been developed in this work to sensitively detect α-glucosidase activity and screen α-glucosidase inhibitors (AGIs) utilizing unmodified gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The sensing strategy is based on triple-catalytic reaction triggered by α-glucosidase. In the presence of α-glucosidase, aggregation of AuNPs is prohibited due to the oxidation of cysteine to cystine in the system. However, with addition of AGIs, cysteine induced aggregation of AuNPs occurs. Thus, a new method for α-glucosidase activity detection and AGIs screening is developed by measuring the UV–vis absorption or visually distinguishing. A well linear relation is presented in a range of 0.0025–0.05 U mL⁻¹. The detection limit is found to be 0.001 U mL⁻¹ for α-glucosidase assay, which is one order of magnitude lower than other reports. The IC₅₀ values of four kinds of inhibitors observed with this method are in accordance with other reports. The using of unmodified AuNPs in this work avoids the complicated and time-consuming modification procedure. This simple and efficient colorimetric method can also be extended to other enzymes assays.     

In-site mineralization of amorphous calcium carbonate particles: A facile and efficient approach to fabricate poly(l-lactic acid) based hybrids

The aim of this investigation is to obtain a polymer-based hybrid material with biodegradability, biocompatibility, and good mechanical properties and this object was realized via. in-situ introduction of the unmodified calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) into a poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) matrix. As verified by the measurements from scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), the hybrid films which possesses a uniform dispersion of calcium carbonate CaCO₃ in nano-meter scale, mechanically robustness and thermal stability could be fabricated by a mineralization-alike process. For example, the storage modulus increases from 441 MPa of neat PLLA to 1034 MPa of hybrid film containing 2% (w/w) CaCO₃. In addition, the hybrid films display a significant improvement in its UV-exposure resistance.     

Identification and cloning of molecular markers for UV-B tolerant gene in wild sugarcane (Saccharum spontaneum L.)

Previously we have selected wild sugarcane (Saccharum spontaneum L.) sterile lines that are tolerant or susceptible to UV-B radiation based on response index (RI) in a field screening test. The RI was established according to plant height, tiller number, leaf index, total biomass and brix under enhanced ultraviolet-B (UV-B, 280-310 nm) radiation. In this experiment, molecular markers linked to the UV-B tolerant and susceptible genes were identified and cloned. RAPD (Randomly amplified polymorphic DNAs) assay using 100 arbitrary primers followed by clustering analysis separated the tolerant and susceptible lines into two groups at the genetic distance of 0.380. The UV-B tolerant and susceptible gene pools were constructed and compared using the Bulked Segregate Analysis (BSA) approach. Of the 100 arbitrary RAPD primers, primer OPR16 produced polymorphic DNA banding patterns from both gene pools. The OPR16-1200 bp DNA fragment was only amplified from the tolerant lines and the OPR16-800 bp from the susceptible ones. These two PCR fragments were cloned onto T-vector. DNA sequence alignment analysis determined that 42% homology existed between the reverse and forward sequences of the OPR16-1200 bp clone, and 36% homology between the forward sequences of the OPR16-800 bp and OPR16-1200 bp clones. The two DNA clones were determined to be linked to the UV-B tolerant and susceptible genes, and they can be used to develop molecular markers for the associated traits.     

Structural, magnetic and dielectric properties of Sc modified (1 − y)BiFeO3–yBaTiO3 ceramics

In this study, the bulk ceramics with general formula (1 − y)BiFe_1−xSc_xO₃–yBaTiO₃ (x = 0.1–0.3, y = 0.1–0.3 mol%) were prepared by the traditional solid-state method. Their structural, magnetic, dielectric properties were investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that all samples crystallized in pure perovskite structure. The structural phase transition from R3c to Pm-3m occurred when the amount of BaTiO₃ exceeded 20 mol%. The room temperature M–H curves were obtained and scandium doping could decrease the magnetic coercive field. Thus the soft magnetic property of prepared solid solutions could be improved. Frequency dependence of dielectric constant and loss were studied. The results indicated that addition of an appropriate amount of scandium could reduce the dielectric loss. The dielectric losses of 0.7BiFe_1−xSc_xO₃–0.3BaTiO₃ (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3) at 1 kHz were 0.104, 0.094, 0.043 and 0.057 respectively.     

光纤系统在手绘图形面积检测中的应用研究

本文介绍了一种实时记录手绘图形边界轨迹和确定其包围面积的ＣＣＤ检测系统。该系统采用光纤探头为光笔，手持光笔描绘边界对比较差的图形，以面阵ＣＣＤ作为探测器件，实时记录下光笔描绘的轨迹。设计出恰当的计算方法，在图形边界轨迹描绘的同时，计算出图形面积。整个测试过程具有速度快、自动化程度高等特点。光笔和定位精度可达到１０μｍ的量级。将此系统应用于汽车前窗冰层融化速度的检测，具有明显的实用价值。     

Solid state reactions of nitrogenous heterocyclic compounds (I) —Solid state reactions of 3-methyl-1-phenyl-5-pyrazolone with carbonyl compounds

The solid state reaction of 3-methyl-1-phenyl-5-pyrazolon(eM PP) with aromatic aldehydes and ketones, benzil derivatives and imides, and the solid state Michael addition reaction of MPP with 4-arylidene-3-methyl-lphenyl-5-pyrazolone2 were investigated. Some new solid state reactions between the reactants were found, from which a series of new compounds were obtained. The structures of the products were identified by IR,¹H NMR, MS, elemental analyses and also by X-ray crystal analysis, and the reaction mechanism of MPP with aromatic aldehydes and ketones was proposed. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.     

Metabolism of xanthohumol and isoxanthohumol, prenylated flavonoids from hops (Humulus lupulus L.), by human liver microsomes

The female flowers of hops (Humulus lupulus L.) used to flavor beer contain the prenylated flavonoids xanthohumol (XN) and isoxanthohumol (IX). IX is moderately estrogenic in vitro and XN has pharmacological properties that might make it useful as a cancer chemopreventive agent. The metabolism of these dietary flavonoids was investigated in vitro using human liver microsomes. Hydroxylation of a prenyl methyl group was the primary route of oxidative metabolism forming either cis or trans hydroxylated metabolites of IX but only the trans isomer of XN. The double bond on the prenyl group of both compounds formed an epoxide which was opened by an intramolecular reaction with the neighboring hydroxyl group. The potent phytoestrogen 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN) was detected as a demethylation product of IX. However, the analogous demethylation reaction was not observed for XN. Since XN can be converted to IX through acid-catalyzed cyclization in the stomach, XN might contribute to the in vivo levels of estrogenic 8-PN following consumption of hops extracts.     

X波段相对论返波管谐振反射器

基于TPG2000强流电子束加速器和带谐振反射器的相对论返波管振荡器,开展了X波段高功率微波产生实验研究,获得了功率约2.5 GW,脉宽约20 ns的微波输出。理论分析及模拟了不同倒角大小对谐振反射器的表面电场及截止性能的影响,并对不同倒角开展了实验研究。结果表明,对谐振反射器倒角可增加输出微波脉冲宽度,且随着倒角增加,微波脉宽增加,效率略有降低。在谐振反射器倒角5 mm情况下,利用电压900 kV,电流9 kA的强流电子束,实验获得了功率约2.5 GW、脉宽大于25 ns的微波输出。     

Perturbation Analysis for a New Omni-Directional Antenna Consisted of Circular Rod Corrugations Gloved with a DNG Shell

A new omni-directional leaky-wave antenna is proposed in the paper, which is consisted of circular rod corrugations gloved with a Double-negative (DNG) shell. The leaky characteristics of the new antenna are analyzed by improved perturbation method. The electromagnetic fields are described in terms of a radial transmission-line network, which tremendously simplifies the analysis procedure with good calculation accuracy and brings considerable physical insight into the overall behavior of the dielectric grating antenna. The case where the n = −1 space harmonic of TE₀₁ mode radiating into the space is carefully investigated, it is demonstrated that the gloved cylindrical DNG shell greatly enhances the leaky strength of the antenna. As a result, the dimension of the antenna could be largely reduced keeping the radiation efficiency unchanged, which is of practical significance for some applications.     

探案式教学的探索与实践——以微分几何伪球面为例

创新教学的最终的目标是立德树人,培养学生学会主动思考,主动学习.以微分几何伪球面一节为例,探索了探案式的创新教学模式,让学生在全身心地探案解谜过程中学到了知识,培养了科研创新能力,收到了良好的教学效果.