Understanding the role of ion interactions in soluble salt flotation with alkylammonium and alkylsulfate collectors

There is anecdotal evidence for the significant effects of salt ions on the flotation separation of minerals using process water of high salt content. Examples include flotation of soluble salt minerals such as potash, trona and borax in brine solutions using alkylammonium and alkylsulfate collectors such as dodecylamine hydrochloride and sodium dodecylsulfate. Although some of the effects are expected, some do not seem to be encompassed by classical theories of colloid science. Several experimental and modeling techniques for determining solution viscosity, surface tension, bubble-particle attachment time, contact angle, and molecular dynamics simulation have been used to provide further information on air–solution and solid–solution interfacial phenomena, especially with respect to the interfacial water structure due to the presence of dissolved ions. In addition atomic force microscopy, and sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy have been used to provide further information on surface states. These studies indicate that the ion specificity effect is the most significant factor influencing flotation in brine solutions.     

Switching Demethylation Activities between AlkB Family RNA/DNA Demethylases through Exchange of Active‐Site Residues

The AlkB family demethylases AlkB, FTO, and ALKBH5 recognize differentially methylated RNA/DNA substrates, which results in their distinct biological roles. Here we identify key active‐site residues that contribute to their substrate specificity. Swapping such active‐site residues between the demethylases leads to partially switched demethylation activities. Combined evidence from X‐ray structures and enzyme kinetics suggests a role of the active‐site residues in substrate recognition. Such a divergent active‐site sequence may aid the design of selective inhibitors that can discriminate these homologue RNA/DNA demethylases.     

基于VHSE结构表征的TAP亲和活性预测及选择特异性分析

应用氨基酸描述子VHSE(Principal component score vector of hydrophobic, steric, and electronic properties)对613个抗原9肽进行结构表征, 在此基础上, 采用支持向量机结合逐步回归变量筛选方法, 成功建立了抗原肽抗原处理相关转运蛋白(Transporter associated with antigen processing, TAP)亲和活性预测模型, 最优线性支持向量机模型的R2, Q2和R2ext分别为0.7386, 0.7270和0.6057. 模型结果分析表明, 影响TAP亲和活性的首要因素是电性, 其次是立体和疏水性质; 底物9肽的P1(N端)及P2, P7和P9(C端)位氨基酸物化性质对TAP亲和活性有重要影响, 而P3, P4, P5和P6位对模型贡献相对较小, P8位则与活性无关. 依据最优模型对模拟点突变9肽的TAP亲和活性的预测结果, 并结合变量载荷分析, 对TAP底物选择特异性进行了分析和总结.     

12(S)-Hydroxyheptadeca-5Z,8E,10E-trienoic acid suppresses UV-induced IL-6 synthesis in keratinocytes, exerting an anti-inflammatory activity

12(S)-Hydroxyheptadeca-5Z,8E,10E-trienoic acid (12- HHT) is an enzymatic product of prostaglandin H(2) (PGH(2)) derived from cyclooxygenase (COX)-mediated arachidonic acid metabolism. Despite the high level of 12-HHT present in tissues and bodily fluids, its precise function remains largely unknown. In this study, we found that 12-HHT treatment in HaCaT cells remarkably down-regulated the ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation-induced synthesis of interleukin-6 (IL-6), a pro-inflammatory cytokine associated with cutaneous inflammation. In an approach to identify the down-stream signaling mechanism by which 12-HHT down-regulates UVB-induced IL-6 synthesis in keratinocytes, we observed that 12-HHT inhibits the UVB-stimulated activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). In addition, we found that 12-HHT markedly up-regulates MAPK phosphatase-1 (MKP-1), a critical negative regulator of p38 MAPK. When MKP-1 was suppressed by siRNA knock-down, the 12-HHT-mediated inhibitory effects on the UVB-stimulated activation of p38 MAPK and NF-κB, as well as the production of IL-6, were attenuated in HaCaT cells. Taken together, our results suggest that 12-HHT exerts anti-inflammatory effect via up-regulation of MKP-1, which negatively regulates p38 MAPK and NF-κB, thus attenuating IL-6 production in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells. Considering the critical role of IL-6 in cutaneous inflammation, our findings provide the basis for the application of 12-HHT as a potential anti-inflammatory therapeutic agent in UV-induced skin diseases.     

Serum metabolomics as a novel diagnostic approach for gastrointestinal cancer

Conventional tumor markers are unsuitable for detecting carcinoma at an early stage and lack clinical efficacy and utility. In this study, we attempted to investigate the differences in serum metabolite profiles of gastrointestinal cancers and healthy volunteers using a metabolomic approach and searched for sensitive and specific metabolomic biomarker candidates. Human serum samples were obtained esophageal (n = 15), gastric (n = 11), and colorectal (n = 12) cancer patients and healthy volunteers (n = 12). A model for evaluating metabolomic biomarker candidates was constructed using multiple classification analysis, and the results were assessed with receiver operating characteristic curves. Among the 58 metabolites, the levels of nine, five and 12 metabolites were significantly changed in the esophageal, gastric and colorectal cancer patients, respectively, compared with the healthy volunteers. Multiple classification analysis revealed that the variations in the levels of malonic acid and l ‐serine largely contributed to the separation of esophageal cancer; gastric cancer was characterized by changes in the levels of 3‐hydroxypropionic acid and pyruvic acid; and l ‐alanine, glucuronoic lactone and l ‐glutamine contributed to the separation of colorectal cancer. Our approach revealed that some metabolites are more sensitive for detecting gastrointestinal cancer than conventional biomarkers. Our study supports the potential of metabolomics as an early diagnostic tool for cancer. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

一种通用的红外人脸器官定位算法

红外人脸热像图是红外成像领域的研究热点之一,而对作为其基础性研究的通用红外人脸定位算法却研究的较少。利用由人脸生理结构造成的温度特异性和由温度变化形成的图像边缘,给出了一种通用的人脸器官定位算法。首先利用温度特异性定位鼻孔等温度特异性强的区域,然后以此为参考点,结合面部器官分布特点,对融合提取的图像边缘信息进行眼睛等其他器官的定位。实验结果表明,该方法对各器官的平均定位精度均达到了90%以上,具有一定的实用价值。另外,该方法不仅可以对常规的眼、鼻、口等器官进行定位,而且还可以对眉骨、瞳孔等位置进行定位。     

埃洛石基离子印迹材料的制备及其镉离子传感性能

用表面印迹聚合法制备了埃洛石纳米管(HNTs)基超支化镉离子印迹传感材料HNTs@IIPs。用傅立叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)、XRD、SEM、核磁及热重等方法表征材料的结构;利用循环伏安法(cyclic voltammetry,CV)、差分脉冲伏安法(differential pulse voltammetry,DPV)及交流阻抗法(electrochemical impedance spectroscopy,EIS)等考察了HNTs@IIPs的电化学性能及其对镉离子的特异性传感性能。结果表明成功合成了HNTs@IIPs,且在cCd~(2+)≤0.125μmol·L~(-1)时,感应峰电流与镉离子浓度有良好的定量关系,检出限为0.026μmol·L~(-1),印迹因子α为5.97,选择因子β为4.97,表明HNTs@IIPs对Cd~(2+)具有专一性和强选择性。对阻抗谱分析结果拟合得到了传感器的电学等效电路模型,并分析阐明了传感机理。     

The Applicability of Enzymes in Cellulose Ether Analysis

Summary: Six methyl cellulose (MC) samples, one with a DS of 1.32 and five with a DS between 1.83 and 1.88, were degraded with five different enzymes or enzyme preparations containing endoglucanases. The main goal was to investigate whether enzymes could be used for determination of heterogeneity of the substituent distribution along the cellulose chain. To obtain information about the heterogeneity it was necessary to gather information on how the enzymes affect hydrolysis. Monomer composition and methyl distribution in the polymer chain were analyzed after total or partial random hydrolysis and appropriate derivatization by GC and MS, respectively, and used as reference data for the evaluation of the enzymatic hydrolysis. Size exclusion chromatography with multi angle light scattering and refractive index detection (SEC-MALLS/RI) was used to estimate molar mass distribution of the MCs before and after hydrolysis. Electrospray and matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization (ESI and MALDI) in combination with various MS analyzers were compared with respect to quantification of the degradation products directly and after perdeuteromethylation. Methyl group distribution in the oligomeric fractions and the average DS/DP were calculated from ESI mass spectra. With help of the reference analysis, patterns could be corrected for the unspecific contribution of end groups. By labelling and ESI-MSⁿ, our knowledge about the tolerance of the enzyme's sub-sites with respect to the number of methyl groups could be improved. A novel standard addition method in combination with electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry (ESI-IT MS) was used to determine the amount of formed oligomers.     

Recent Advances in Micro/Nanomaterial-Based Aptamer Selection Strategies

Aptamers are artificial nucleic acid ligands that have been employed in various fundamental studies and applications, such as biological analyses, disease diagnostics, targeted therapeutics, and environmental pollutant detection. This review focuses on the recent advances in aptamer discovery strategies that have been used to detect various chemicals and biomolecules. Recent examples of the strategies discussed here are based on the classification of these micro/nanomaterial-mediated systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) platforms into three categories: bead-mediated, carbon-based nanomaterial-mediated, and other nanoparticle-mediated strategies. In addition to describing the advantages and limitations of the aforementioned strategies, this review discusses potential strategies to develop high-performance aptamers.