Facile Preparation of WO3−x Dots with Remarkably Low Toxicity and Uncompromised Activity as Co-reactants for Clinical Diagnosis by Electrochemiluminescence

The exceptional nature of WO_3−x dots has inspired widespread interest, but it is still a significant challenge to synthesize high-quality WO_3−x dots without using unstable reactants, expensive equipment, and complex synthetic processes. Herein, the synthesis of ligand-free WO_3−x dots is reported that are highly dispersible and rich in oxygen vacancies by a simple but straightforward exfoliation of bulk WS₂ and a mild follow-up chemical conversion. Surprisingly, the WO_3−x dots emerged as co-reactants for the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ with a comparable ECL efficiency to the well-known Ru(bpy)₃²⁺/tripropylamine (TPrA) system. Moreover, compared to TPrA, whose toxicity remains a critical issue of concern, the WO_3−x dots were ca. 300-fold less toxic. The potency of WO_3−x dots was further explored in the detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) with the most competitive limit of detection so far.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric [4+3]‐Cyclization Reaction of Fused 1‐Azadienes with Amino‐trimethylenemethanes: Highly Stereoselective Construction of Chiral Fused Azepines

Summary of main observation and conclusion A Pd-catalyzed asymmetric aromative[4+3]-cyclization reaction of amino-trimethylenemethanes(TMM,1d,ip3-oles)with fused 1-azadienes has been developed.This method enables access to the synthetically importance and biologically active benzofuran fused azepines and indeno-azepines in excellent efficiency and stereoselectivity(up to 95%yield,99%ee,>19:1 dr).     

Effects of nonlinearity of restoring springs on propulsion performance of wave glider

Nonlinear Dynamics - Wave glider is an unmanned surface vehicle that can directly convert wave energy into forward propulsion and fulfill long-term marine monitoring. A previous study suggested...     

A new switched capacitor resonator and its research

In bandpass sigma delta modulator, resonator is the key block. This paper proposed a new resonator which can simplify the circuit implementation when designing bandpass modulator with lowpass prototype. The effect of finite gain, finite bandwidth, and path mismatch on the resonator is analyzed. The function of the proposed resonator and the devired equations about path mismatch have been verified by switched capacitor software SWITCAP.     

片段化森林中檵木幼苗种内叶经济性状变异及其驱动因子

在异质性生境中,种内功能性状变异有助于植物对环境的适应,进而影响种群更新、群落构建和生态系统过程。探讨了种内叶经济性状的变异及受生境异质性的塑造情况。以千岛湖片段化生境中的常见种檵木（Loropetalum chinense）的幼苗为研究对象,测定了200株檵木幼苗个体水平的7个叶经济性状（比叶面积SLA、叶全碳量C、叶全氮量N等）及其对应的生境因子（郁闭度、土壤全碳量、土壤全氮量等）,采用相关性检验、主成分分析和线性混合效应模型等方法探讨片段化森林中檵木幼苗的种内叶经济性状变异及生境异质性对该变异的驱动作用。结果显示：（1） 在7个叶经济性状所构成的21对相关性分析中,有12对显著相关。经主成分分析降维后,主成分1（PC1）占性状总变异的43.02%,主要与比叶面积、叶绿素浓度、叶全氮量呈正相关,与叶干物质质量分数和叶碳氮比呈负相关,体现了檵木的种内叶经济谱,可反映叶片的最大光合效率。（2）片段化对生境条件和叶经济性状均有影响。岛屿森林群落的郁闭度显著低于大陆。相对于大陆,岛屿中的檵木幼苗趋向于更小的PC1值（缓慢投资-收益策略）;大岛边缘较大岛内部偏向于更小的PC1值。（3）生境因子中,郁闭度对PC1具有显著正效应。研究表明,片段化生境中的檵木在幼苗阶段存在叶经济谱,生境片段化可通过影响生境条件进而改变檵木幼苗的叶经济性状。随着生境片段化程度的加剧,檵木幼苗的叶经济性状逐渐向缓慢投资-收益策略靠拢。     

复合材料失效判据有效性验证方法研究

为系统地验证复合材料失效判据计算精度和有效性范围,给出了4种材料体系、6种铺层形式的层合板在单轴、双轴载荷下的失效试验数据,用以评估复合材料失效判据在单向层合板失效包线、多向层合板初始失效包线、多向层合板最终失效包线、层合板变形及层合板的破坏特性等五个方面的预测能力。并根据验证方法和有效性评估策略对失效判据计算精度进行量化考核,给出了失效判据在五个层面上的计算精度。     

Synergistic Effect of Lithocholic Acid with Gentamicin against Gram-Positive Bacteria but Not against Gram-Negative Bacteria

Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) is an important Gram-positive food-borne pathogen that severely threatens public health. A checkerboard microdilution method was performed to evaluate the synergistic effect of lithocholic acid (LCA) with Gentamicin (Genta) against L. monocytogenes. BacLight LIVE/DEAD staining, scanning electron microscopy and biofilm inhibition assays were further used to explore the bactericidal effect and antibiofilm effect of this combination on L. monocytogenes. Additionally, the synergistic effects of LCA derivatives with Genta were also evaluated against L. monocytogenes, S. aureus and S. suis. The results indicated that a synergistic bactericidal effect was observed for the combined therapy of LCA at the concentration without affecting bacteria viability, with Genta. Additionally, LCA in combination with Genta had a synergistic effect against Gram-positive bacteria (L. monocytogenes, S. aureus and S. suis) but not against Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli, A. baumannii and Salmonella). BacLight LIVE/DEAD staining and scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that the combination of LCA with Genta caused L. monocytogenes membrane injury, leading to bacteria death. We found that 8 μg/mL LCA treatment effectively improved the ability of Genta to eradicate L. monocytogenes biofilms. In addition, we found that chenodeoxycholic acid, as a cholic acid derivative, also improved the bactericidal effect of Genta against Gram-positive bacteria. Our results indicate that LCA represents a broad-spectrum adjuvant with Genta for infection caused by L. monocytogenes and other Gram-positive pathogens.     

Development of a Genus-Universal Nucleotide Signature for the Identification and Supervision of Ephedra-Containing Products

Ephedra plants generally contain ephedrine alkaloids, which are the critical precursor compounds of methamphetamine (METH). METH could cause serious physical and mental damage, and therefore Ephedra materials are strictly in supervision internationally. However, unlawful utilization of Ephedra herbs and its products still exist. Thus, it is imperative to establish a universal method for monitoring Ephedra ingredients in complex mixtures and processed products. In this study, 224 ITS2 sequences representing 59 taxa within Ephedra were collected, and a 23-bp genus-level nucleotide signature (GTCCGGTCCGCCTCGGCGGTGCG) was developed for the identification of the whole genus. The specific primers MH-1F/1R were designed, and 125 individuals of twelve Ephedra species/varieties were gathered for applicability verification of the nucleotide signature. Additionally, seven batches of Chinese patent medicines containing Ephedra herbs were used to test the application of the nucleotide signature in complex and highly processed materials. The results demonstrated that the 23-bp molecular marker was unique to Ephedra and conserved within the genus. It can be successfully utilized for the detection of Ephedra components in complex preparations and processed products with severe DNA degradation. The method developed in this study could undoubtedly serve as a strong support for the supervision of illegal circulation of Ephedra-containing products.     

Thermal Catalytic-Cracking Low-Density Polyethylene Waste by Metakaolin-Based Geopolymer NaA Microsphere

Metakaolin-based geopolymer microspheres (MGM) with hierarchical pore structures were prepared by suspension dispersion method in dimethicone at 80 °C. The hydrothermal modification of MGM was carried out at a lower temperature of 80 °C, and a NaA molecular sieve converted from metakaolin-based geopolymer (NMGM) with good crystal structure was prepared and applied in thermal catalytic cracking of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) reaction. The one-pot two-stage thermal catalytic cracking of LDPE was carried out in a 100 mL micro-autoclave under normal pressure. In this work, the optimal proportions and optimal reaction conditions of catalysts for NMGM thermal catalytic cracking of LDPE waste to fuel oil were investigated. The NMGM catalyst showed high selectivity to the liquid product of thermal catalytic cracking of waste LDPE. Under the reaction conditions of reaction time of 1 h and reaction temperature of 400 °C, the liquid-phase yield of thermal catalytic cracking of LDPE reached a high of 88.45%, of which the content of gasoline components was 10.14% and the content of diesel components was 80.97%.     

Quantitation of seven polyoxypregnane glycosides in Marsdenia tenacissima using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography-evaporative light-scattering detection

A high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with an evaporative light scattering detector (HPLC-ELSD) has been developed for the simultaneous determination of seven polyoxypregnane glycosides, tenacissosides A, B, G, H, I and marsdenosides C, G, in the stem of Marsdenia tenacissima, a Chinese herbal medicine. With a C18 analytical column, the analytes were separated efficiently using methanol-water as the mobile phase in a gradient program. The method limits of detection ranged from ca. 0.3 microg for marsdenoside C to ca. 0.5 microg for marsdenoside G and the method limits of quantitation from 1.0 microg for marsdenoside C to 1.7 microg for marsdenoside G, respectively. The intra- and inter-day precisions of the method were evaluated and all were less than 4%. All the recoveries for the spiked analytes exceeded 90%. This method was successfully used to analyze 19 samples of the stem of M. tenacissima.