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

     

Molecular Simulation on Competitive Adsorption Differences of Gas with Different Pore Sizes in Coal

Micropores are the primary sites for methane occurrence in coal. Studying the regularity of methane occurrence in micropores is significant for targeted displacement and other yield-increasing measures in the future. This study used simplified graphene sheets as pore walls to construct coal-structural models with pore sizes of 1 nm, 2 nm, and 4 nm. Based on the Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) and molecular dynamics theory, we simulated the adsorption characteristics of methane in pores of different sizes. The results showed that the adsorption capacity was positively correlated with the pore size for pure gas adsorption. The adsorption capacity increased with pressure and pore size for competitive adsorption of binary mixtures in pores. As the average isosteric heat decreased, the interaction between the gas and the pore wall weakened, and the desorption amount of CH₄ decreased. In ultramicropores, the high concentration of CO₂ (50–70%) is more conducive to CH₄ desorption; however, when the CO₂ concentration is greater than 70%, the corresponding CH₄ adsorption amount is meager, and the selected adsorption coefficient S_CO2/CH4 is small. Therefore, to achieve effective desorption of methane in coal micropores, relatively low pressure (4–6 MPa) and a relatively low CO₂ concentration (50–70%) should be selected in the process of increasing methane production by CO₂ injection in later stages. These research results provide theoretical support for gas injection to promote CH₄ desorption in coal pores and to increase yield.     

稀土X (X=La、Ce、Pr、Nd)修饰单层h-MoS2的NO气敏性

为提高h-MoS₂对NO的气敏性,采用第一性原理研究了X(X=La、Ce、Pr和Nd)对h-MoS₂的稳定性、吸附特性、功函数和伏安特性的影响.研究结果表明：X(X=La、Ce、Pr和Nd)取代Mo原子后得到的形成能均为负,说明掺杂体系容易形成且稳定存在.同时X掺杂后的h-MoS₂布居数相比于未掺杂前的大,也说明掺杂有利于体系稳定.NO吸附在La、Ce原子顶部位置的吸附能为-1.215 eV、-1.225 eV,吸附距离分别为2.475?、2.854?,具有明显的化学吸附特征.同时Hirshfeld转移电荷分别为0.213e和0.325e,具有明显的受体特征,提高了气敏性.La和Ce掺杂后能明显改变功函数的大小,也说明La和Ce能提高h-MoS₂对NO的气敏性.施加电场后能有效提高Pr掺杂体系的吸附强度,增大Hirshfeld转移电荷,对功函数的改变最大,所以电场对Pr掺杂体系的影响非常明显.通过分析掺杂体系的伏安特性曲线,La、Ce两掺杂体系的电流分别由0增大到5.3μA和4.8μA,而Pr、Nd...     

AlF<Subscript>3</Subscript> coating of LiNi<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>1.5</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> for high-performance Li-ion batteries

AlF₃-coating is attempted to improve the performance of LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ cathode materials for Li-ion batteries. The prepared powders are characterized by scanning electron microscope, powder X-ray diffraction, charge/discharge, and impedance. The coated LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ samples show higher discharge capacity, better rate capability, and higher capacity retention than the uncoated samples. Among the coated samples, 1.0 mol% AlF₃-coated sample shows highest capacity after charge–discharged at 30 mA/g for 3 cycles, but 4.0 mol% coated sample exhibits the highest capacity and cycling stability when cycled at high rate of 150 and 300 mA/g. The 40th cycle discharge capacity at 300 mA/g current still remains 114.8 mAh/g for 4.0 mol% AlF₃-coated LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄, while only 84.3 mAh/g for the uncoated sample.     

Quantum protocol for millionaire problem

We present a quantum protocol for the solution of a two-party comparison task with the help of a semi-honest third party, which can be used to solve the millionaire problem. The secrets are coded into the phases of d-level entangled states by local operations and read by the third party's collective measurements. The two parties can deduce the results of comparisons based on the secret bits shared between them beforehand and the announcement of the third party. Moreover, others will learn no information of the comparison results, even the third party. Our scheme is private and fair, and the security has also been discussed.     

半导体激光泵浦亚稳态氩气激光器实现激光振荡

采用基于体布拉格光栅的窄线宽半导体激光器作为泵浦源,以电容耦合式射频激励Ar, He混合气体放电等离子体为增益介质,在双程纵向泵浦的结构下实现了连续波模式的912 nm的激光输出。     

Pulsation of black holes

The Hawking–Penrose singularity theorem states that a singularity forms inside a black hole in general relativity. To remove this singularity one must resort to a more fundamental theory. Using a corrected dynamical equation arising in loop quantum cosmology and braneworld models, we study the gravitational collapse of a perfect fluid sphere with a rather general equation of state. In the frame of an observer comoving with this fluid, the sphere pulsates between a maximum and a minimum size, avoiding the singularity. The exterior geometry is also constructed. There are usually an outer and an inner apparent horizon, resembling the Reissner–Nordström situation. For a distant observer the horizon crossing occurs in an infinite time and the pulsations of the black hole quantum “beating heart” are completely unobservable. However, it may be observable if the black hole is not spherical symmetric and radiates gravitational wave due to the quadrupole moment, if any.     

The Maximum Amplitude of Dust-Acoustic Waves in Dusty Plasma with Vortex-Like Ions

Theoretical investigations are carried out for the properties of small amplitude dust-acoustic solitary waves in plasmas consisting of extremely massive, high negatively charged inertial dust grains, Boltzmann distributed electrons and trapped ions, for one-dimensional case and three-dimensional case. An energy integral equation involving the Sagdeev potential is derived. The dependence of the critical Mach number corresponding to maximum amplitude on other parameters is obtained. It is observed that the magnitude of the external magnetic field has no effect on the amplitude of the solitary waves.     

Targeting Upconversion Nanoprobes for Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Early Colon Cancer

Colon cancer (CC) is one of the most common intestinal malignancies and is difficult to detect in its early stage by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with currently used contrast agents (CAs). The development of targeted CAs contributes to the early diagnosis of CC and thereby enables early intervention and timely therapy. Considering the outstanding performance of upconversion nanoprobes (UCNPs) in high‐performance MR and fluorescence imaging, a new type of nanoprobes with considerably enhanced imaging performance is developed herein. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) antibody is conjugated onto the surface of UCNPs to achieve the targeted imaging of early CC tumors, which overexpress CEA. Both toxicity tests and histological/hematological examinations demonstrate the excellent biocompatibility of these CC‐targeting nanoprobes, which possess great potential for clinical application in the early diagnosis of CC.