Improved binary PSO for feature selection using gene expression data

Gene expression profiles, which represent the state of a cell at a molecular level, have great potential as a medical diagnosis tool. Compared to the number of genes involved, available training data sets generally have a fairly small sample size in cancer type classification. These training data limitations constitute a challenge to certain classification methodologies. A reliable selection method for genes relevant for sample classification is needed in order to speed up the processing rate, decrease the predictive error rate, and to avoid incomprehensibility due to the large number of genes investigated. Improved binary particle swarm optimization (IBPSO) is used in this study to implement feature selection, and the K-nearest neighbor (K-NN) method serves as an evaluator of the IBPSO for gene expression data classification problems. Experimental results show that this method effectively simplifies feature selection and reduces the total number of features needed. The classification accuracy obtained by the proposed method has the highest classification accuracy in nine of the 11 gene expression data test problems, and is comparative to the classification accuracy of the two other test problems, as compared to the best results previously published.     

通过RAFT聚合制备SiO2/接枝共聚物纳米杂化粒子

以二氧化硅(SiO2)纳米粒子表面键接的二硫代苯甲酸酯作为可逆加成-断裂-链转移(RAFT)聚合反应的链转移剂, 在室温下引发苯乙烯和马来酸酐进行表面RAFT交替共聚反应, 制得了SiO2/苯乙烯-alt-马来酸酐杂化材料. 通过聚氧化乙烯(PEO)的羟基与马来酸酐的酯化反应, 将PEO接枝到SiO2纳米粒子的表面, 增加了硅粒子的生物相容性. 用FTIR, TGA和TEM对杂化材料的结构、组成和形貌进行了表征.     

Dynamic interaction between oppositely charged vesicles: aggregation, lipid mixing, and disaggregation

We investigated dynamic interactions between oppositely charged small unilamellar vesicles using positively charged vesicles containing 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane or 3beta-[N-(N('),N(')-dimethylaminoethane)-carbamoyl] cholesterol and negatively charged vesicles containing L-alpha-phosphatidyl-DL-glycerol. Aggregation, lipid bilayer mixing, contents mixing and contents leakage were systematically examined using optical density measurements, fluorescence resonance energy transfer assays, fluorescence quenching assays, light-scattering analyses, and freeze-fracture transmission electron microscopy. The oppositely charged vesicles aggregated immediately. Lipid mixing was observed, but there was no mixing of the contents. The vesicle aggregates disaggregated spontaneously after several minutes. The surface potential of the disaggregated vesicles was neutralized. From these results, we infer that the lipids in the external monolayers were exchanged between the oppositely charged vesicles while the internal monolayers remained intact. The two types of cationic lipids used exhibited different speeds of disaggregation.     

Tunable magnetophoretic method for distinguishing and separating wear debris particles in an Fe-PDMS-based microfluidic chip

Wear debris analysis provides an early warning of mechanical transmission system aging and wear fault diagnosis, which has been widely used in machine health monitoring. The ability to detect and distinguish the ferromagnetic and nonmagnetic debris in oil is becoming an effective way to assess the health status of machinery. In this work, an Fe-poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)-based magnetophoretic method for the continuous separation of ferromagnetic iron particles by diameter and the isolation of ferromagnetic particles and nonmagnetic particles with similar diameter by type is developed. The particles experience magnetophoretic effects when passing through the vicinity of the Fe-PDMS where the strongest gradient of the magnetic fields exists. By choosing a relatively short distance between the magnet and the sidewall of the horizontal main channel and the length of Fe-PDMS with controlled particles flow rate, the diameter-dependent separation of ferromagnetic iron particles, that is, smaller than 7 µm, in the range of 8–12 µm, and larger than 14 µm, and the isolation of ferromagnetic iron particles and nonmagnetic aluminum particles based on opposite magnetophoretic behaviors by types are demonstrated, providing a potential method for the detection of wear debris particles with a high sensitivity and resolution and the diagnostic of mechanical system.     

食品中罂栗碱金标快速检测试剂条的研究

首先以1-乙基-3-(3-二甲氨基丙基)碳二亚胺盐酸盐(EDC·HCI)方法合成罂粟碱完全抗原;通过改变还原剂加入量,确定纳米金合成条件为每50.0 ml,氯金酸加入1.5 mL柠檬酸三钠;合成金标保护剂量为20.0 mL胶体金溶胶加入1100稀释抗体(12 mg/L)2.0 mL,标记pH值为8.65.以罂粟碱多克隆抗体-纳米金复合物作为分析探针,罂粟碱完全抗原作为竞争抗原,构建分析体系.点样条件抗原质量浓度为1.0 g/L(以蛋白浓度计算);抗原点样量1 μL/条;金标点样量5 μL/条;二抗浓度(羊抗兔)3.3 g/L稀释至13 500;二抗点样量1μL/条.同时在实验中确定了样品提取方法.检测的灵敏度达到10 μg/L,检测时间不超过20 min.与ELISA方法对照结果,对比检测123份样品,准确率100%.     

三元聚合物复合颗粒的制备与形态调控

分别考察了聚合过程中的各因素对三元聚合物复合颗粒大小与形态的影响,结果表明:在分散共聚中,复合颗粒的粒径主要由疏水性单体苯乙烯的聚合所决定;并可采用分步聚合的方法先制备目标粒径的种子微球,进而在种子分散聚合过程中实现对颗粒大小的有效控制,其范围在500nm到3μm之间;颗粒表面凸起的不同形态是由聚丙烯腈链的生长和堆积所决定,但受到反应介质性质与聚合温度等条件的影响。     

Influence of light scattering particles in the TiO2 photoelectrode for solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell

A TiO₂ film was modified by adding light scattering particles and applied to an anode electrode in solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The TiO₂ films with 10 wt% (vs. TiO₂ weight) light scattering particles showed enhanced performance (28%), compared with nanocrystalline TiO₂ films, which were used as the controls. In particular, the photocurrent density (J_sc) reached approximately 12.6 mA/cm² under a one-sun condition. This was attributed to the light scattering effect and decrease in internal resistance through the macroporous structure with a minor loss of electron transport. However, in the case of a larger concentration of light scattering particles (>10 wt%), there was a decrease in the efficiency of DSSCs, which resulted from the decreased surface area and degraded electron transport and charge recombination properties, as confirmed by the measurement of stepped light-induced photocurrent and photovoltage transients. Furthermore, the diffusion properties and kinetics of the composite polymer electrolyte with the nanoporous and macroporous TiO₂ films were compared and evaluated from the electrochemical impedance spectra.     

Thermal and mechanical properties of particulate fillers filled epoxy composites for electronic packaging application

Epoxy composites containing particulate fillers‐fused silica, glass powder, and mineral silica were investigated to be used as substrate materials in electronic packaging application. The content of fillers were varied between 0 and 40 vol%. The effects of the fillers on the thermal properties—thermal stability, thermal expansion and dynamic mechanical properties of the epoxy composites were studied, and it was found that fused silica, glass powder, and mineral silica increase the thermal stability and dynamic thermal mechanical properties and reduce the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). The lowest CTE value was observed at a fused silica content of 40 vol% for the epoxy composites, which was traced to the effect of its nature of low intrinsic CTE value of the fillers. The mechanical properties of the epoxy composites were determined in both flexural and single‐edge notch (SEN‐T) fracture toughness properties. Highest flexural strength, stiffness, and toughness values were observed at fillers content of 40 vol% for all the filled epoxy composites. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrograph showed poor filler–matrix interaction in glass powder filled epoxy composites at 40 vol%. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Spectroscopy in the Studies of Colloidal Quantum Qots

Colloidal quantum dots display remarkable optical and electrical characteristics with the potential for extensive applications in contemporary nanotechnology. As an ideal instrument for examining surface topography and local density of states (LDOS) at an atomic scale, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) has become indispensable approaches to gain better understanding of their physical properties. This article presents a comprehensive review of the research advancements in measuring the electronic orbits and corresponding energy levels of colloidal quantum dots in various systems using STM and STS. The first three sections introduce the basic principles of colloidal quantum dots synthesis and the fundamental methodology of STM research on quantum dots. The fourth section explores the latest progress in the application of STM for colloidal quantum dot studies. Finally, a summary and prospective is presented.