Water-soluble and fluorescent dendritic perylene bisimides for live-cell imaging

We prepared dendritic perylene bisimide probes with triblock structures: perylene bisimides fluorescence cores, branched oligo(glutamic acid)s and polyethylene glycol chains. These probes showed good water solubility, low cytotoxicity and strong fluorescence in live cells.     

超支化聚(酰胺-酯)的端基光致变色改性研究

采用丁二酸酐、三羟甲基氨基甲烷为主要原料,先在冰水浴条件下合成AB3型单体,然后进行熔融缩聚制得超支化聚(酰胺-酯)(HBP),最后用4-(4′-二甲氨基苯基偶氮)苯甲酸对HBP的末端羟基进行功能化改性,得到了一种具有光致变色和酸碱变色性的HBP;用紫外光谱对改性超支化聚(酰胺-酯)的变色性进行了研究。结果表明：随紫外光照时间延长紫外吸收强度增加;随pH值增大紫外吸收波长向短波方向移动。     

Microwave-induced combustion synthesis and characterization of NixCo1−xFe2O4 nanocrystals (x = 0.0, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0)

A series of Ni-doped cobalt ferrites Ni_xCo1_−xFe₂O₄ (x = 0.0, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0) were prepared using microwave-induced combustion. Nickel, cobalt, and ferric nitrates were used as starting materials and glycine as fuel. The influence of Ni content on the lattice parameter, stretching vibrations, and magnetization was studied. XRD, FTIR, and SEM were used for structure, composition, and morphology investigation. A porous network structure was observed with average particle size 60–67 nm. All samples had a cubic spinel structure. The unit cell parameter “a” decreases linearly with nickel concentration due to the smaller ionic radius of nickel. Magnetization measurements showed that coercivity decreased as Ni content increased; it increased with decreasing temperature.      

Fluorescent Coumarin–Artemisinin Conjugates as Mitochondria‐Targeting Theranostic Probes for Enhanced Anticancer Activities

Mitochondria‐targeting theranostic probes that enable the simultaneously reporting of and triggering of mitochondrial dysfunctions in cancer cells are highly attractive for cancer diagnosis and therapy. Three fluorescent mitochondria‐targeting theranostic probes have been developed by linking a mitochondrial dye, coumarin‐3‐carboximide, with a widely used traditional Chinese medicine, artemisinin, to kill cancer cells. Fluorescence images showed that the designed coumarin–artemisinin conjugates localized mainly in mitochondria, leading to enhanced anticancer activities over artemisinin. High cytotoxicity against cancer cells correlated with the strong ability to accumulate in mitochondria, which could efficiently increase the intracellular reactive oxygen species level and induce cell apoptosis. This study highlights the potential of using mitochondria‐targeting fluorophores to selectively trigger and directly visualize subcellular drug delivery in living cells.     

Label-free optical biosensing with slot-waveguides

We demonstrate label-free molecule detection by using an integrated biosensor based on a Si(3)N(4)/SiO(2) slot-waveguide microring resonator. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) and anti-BSA molecular binding events on the sensor surface are monitored through the measurement of resonant wavelength shifts with varying biomolecule concentrations. The biosensor exhibited sensitivities of 1.8 and 3.2 nm/(ng/mm(2)) for the detection of anti-BSA and BSA, respectively. The estimated detection limits are 28 and 16 pg/mm(2) for anti-BSA and BSA, respectively, limited by wavelength resolution.     

On classification of conformally flat spaces

Classification of conformally flat n-dimensional pseudo-Riemannian spaces via Plebanski's method is discussed. It is based on embedding these spaces into a flat (n + 2)-dimensional space and on finding their minimal isometry groups which are subgroups of the conformal group. In particular, the case n = 4 is given in full detail and compared with incomplete results known in the literature. The found conformally flat spacetimes are identified with the associated solutions of the Einstein equations and with the spacetimes used in various cosmological considerations.     

Teleportation of a general two-mode coherent-state superposition via attenuated quantum channels with ideal and/or threshold detectors

Three novel probabilistic yet conclusive schemes are proposed to teleport a general two-mode coherent-state superposition via attenuated quantum channels with ideal and/or threshold detectors. The calculated total success probability is highest (lowest) when only ideal (threshold) detectors are used.     

Bistable reflectivity in bulky semiconductors due to two photon-biexciton transitions

A new mechanism has been proposed for optical bistability in a bulk system of interacting photons and biexcitons. Bistable behaviour can occur for very low pumping intensities if the input light frequency is clearly less than the two-photon resonance of the biexciton.     

Application of stochastic analytic hierarchy process within a domestic appliance manufacturer

The stochastic analytic hierarchy process (SAHP) provides a mechanism for achieving more effective selection of alternatives in the form of considering multi and conflicting criteria using quantitative and qualitative information under uncertainty. In contrast to the traditional analytic hierarchy process, the SAHP uses probabilistic distributions to incorporate uncertainty that people have in converging their judgements of preferences into a Likert scale. The vector of priorities is calculated using Monte Carlo simulation, the final rankings are analysed for rank reversal using statistical analysis, and managerial aspects are introduced systematically. The present paper demonstrates an application of the SAHP in a world-class domestic appliance manufacturer. The case study was carried out by strictly following a disciplined and organized methodology for applying the SAHP developed by the authors. The results of this study were encouraging to key personnel within the company, establishing a greater opportunity to explore the applications of the SAHP in other core business processes.