From Glucose to Polymers: A Continuous Chemoenzymatic Process

Efforts to synthesize degradable polymers from renewable resources are deterred by technical and economic challenges; especially, the conversion of natural building blocks into polymerizable monomers is inefficient, requiring multistep synthesis and chromatographic purification. Herein we report a chemoenzymatic process to address these challenges. An enzymatic reaction system was designed that allows for regioselective functional group transformation, efficiently converting glucose into a polymerizable monomer in quantitative yield, thus removing the need for chromatographic purification. With this key success, we further designed a continuous, three-step process, which enabled the synthesis of a sugar polymer, sugar poly(orthoester), directly from glucose in high yield (73 % from glucose). This work may provide a proof-of-concept in developing technically and economically viable approaches to address the many issues associated with current petroleum-based polymers.     

Self‐Assembly of Ag6 Clusters into Nanowires for Nonenzymatic Electrochemical Sensing of Glucose

Self‐assembly of metal nanoclusters into 3D ordered superstructures and the exploration of their electrochemical properties are highly significant for fundamental research and practical application. In this study, atomically precise Ag₆(NALC)₅ nanoclusters are successfully synthesized and their structure is determined carefully. It is interesting that the prepared Ag₆(NALC)₅ nanoclusters can be self‐assembled into ultrafine nanowires, long ribbons, and finally 3D porous network in the mixed solution of water and ethanol, which can be attributed to the solvent polarity, static electricity interaction between ligands, and the possible Van der Waals attractions. Such assembly phenomenon lays a foundation for the future fabrication of silver clusters‐based nanodevices. In addition, the synthesized silver nanoclusters can be used for electrochemical sensing of glucose with high detection sensitivity, selectivity, and low limit of detection. This work is expected to be helpful for the synthesis of atomically precise metal nanoclusters and their applications in fabrication of nanodevices for chemical sensors.     

Analysis of the Structure of the Bands in the IR Spectrum of β-D Glucose by the Regularized Method of Deconvolution

Deconvolution of the IR absorption spectrum of -D glucose in the spectral range 1500–450 cm^–1 has been carried out. The results of the deconvolution were compared with the IR and Raman spectra recorded at room and low temperatures and with the data obtained by theoretical calculations for the frequencies of the normal vibrations of the -D glucose molecule in the crystalline state. It is shown that deconvolution of the IR spectra recorded at room temperature makes it possible to separate the bands observed experimentally only at a very low temperature of the sample and a number of components that were not resolved earlier. The number of bands separated on deconvolution of the IR spectra of -D glucose in the spectral range 1500–450 cm^–1 is more than twice the number of visible absorption maxima in the usual spectrum. The results of deconvolution of the IR spectrum of -D glucose are in good agreement with the data of theoretical calculations for the frequencies of the normal vibrations of the -D glucose molecule in the crystalline state. The existence of the factor-group (Davydov) splitting of a number of frequencies of the nondegenerate fundamental vibrations of molecules in a crystal cell has been revealed in the IR spectrum of -D glucose. It was concluded that the model of an isolated molecule is insufficient for detailed theoretical interpretation of the vibrational spectra of carbohydrates.     

傅立时变换中红外光谱法用于非损伤性血糖测定的研究

本文首次使用中红外光纤对人体血糖进行了非损伤性测定，实验显示，人手指的中红外光谱１１２３ｃｍ－１谱带的相对强度与人的血糖浓度同步改变，表明葡萄糖特征谱带的相对强度确可作为人血糖值的一个数量指标。这给红外光纤在生物医学领域中的应用展示了光明的前景。     

On the convergence rate and some applications of regularized ranking algorithms

This paper studies the ranking problem in the context of the regularization theory that allows a simultaneous analysis of a wide class of ranking algorithms. Some of them were previously studied separately. For such ones, our analysis gives a better convergence rate compared to the reported in the literature. We also supplement our theoretical results with numerical illustrations and discuss the application of ranking to the problem of estimating the risk from errors in blood glucose measurements of diabetic patients.     

基于太赫兹技术的药物检测

鉴于太赫兹辐射特有的光谱分辨性、功能性成像特点以及良好的穿透性和安全性等,太赫兹波谱技术迅速成为物质分析与检测等的重要工具。文章基于太赫兹时域光谱技术的实验数据,结合泛函密度理论(DFT)和HIPHOP模型,对一系列降糖类药物进行分子解析和功能基团识别;结合支持向量机理论(SVM),对4种郁金类中草药进行分析识别;并结合差式扫描量热法对葡萄糖—水合物的结晶水状态进行测定;最后对太赫兹时域技术在药物检测方面的优势和不足做了进一步的分析与展望。     

Sauna,sweat and science II – do we sweat what we drink?

ABSTRACT

Inspired by a previous ‘Sauna, sweat and science’ study [Zech et al. Isot Environ Health Stud. 2015;51(3):439–447] and out of curiosity and enthusiasm for stable isotope and sauna research we aimed at answering the question ‘do we sweat (isotopically) what we drink’? We, therefore, pulse-labelled five test persons in a sauna experiment with beverages that were ²H-enriched at about +25,600?‰. Sweat samples were collected during six sauna rounds and the hydrogen isotope composition δ²H_sweat was determined using an isotope ratio mass spectrometer. Before pulse labelling, δ²H_sweat – reflecting by approximation body water – ranged from –32 to –22?‰. This is ～35?‰ enriched compared to usual mid-European drinking water and can be explained with hydrogen-bearing food as well as with the respiratory loss of ²H-depleted vapour. The absence of a clearly detectable ²H pulse in sweat after pulse labelling and δ²H_sweat results of ≤+250?‰ due to a fast ²H equilibration with body water are moreover a clearly negative answer to our research question also in a short-term consideration. Given that the recovery of the tracer based on an isotope mass balance calculation is clearly below 100?%, we finally answer the question ‘where did the rest of the tracer go?’     

Camu-Camu Fruit Extract Inhibits Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Responses by Regulating NFAT and Nrf2 Signaling Pathways in High Glucose-Induced Human Keratinocytes

Myrciaria dubia (HBK) McVaugh (camu-camu) belongs to the family Myrtaceae. Although camu-camu has received a great deal of attention for its potential pharmacological activities, there is little information on the anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory effects of camu-camu fruit in skin diseases. In the present study, we investigated the preventative effect of 70% ethanol camu-camu fruit extract against high glucose-induced human keratinocytes. High glucose-induced overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was inhibited by camu-camu fruit treatment. In response to ROS reduction, camu-camu fruit modulated the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK)/activator protein-1 (AP-1), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) signaling pathways related to inflammation by downregulating the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Furthermore, camu-camu fruit treatment activated the expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and subsequently increased the NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase1 (NQO1) expression to protect keratinocytes against high-glucose-induced oxidative stress. These results indicate that camu-camu fruit is a promising material for preventing oxidative stress and skin inflammation induced by high glucose level.     

水热法制备锂电池Si@C负极材料的工艺优化研究

水热法是广泛应用于锂离子电池Si@C电极材料的一种制备方法,其反应条件是影响产物最终形貌和性能的重要因素, 采取最佳的反应工艺可以大大提升材料的电化学性能。本研究中, 使用葡萄糖作为碳源, 光伏切割废料硅为硅源, 探究了水热法制备核壳结构Si@C电极材料的最优工艺, 分别研究了温度、 原料浓度、 反应时间和原料比例对产物的形貌、 性能的影响以及相互之间的关系, 并得到最佳反应条件。在该条件下(葡萄糖浓度为0.5 mol·L^-1, 硅与葡萄糖重量比为0.3:1, 反应温度190 ^oC, 反应时间9 h), 得到了包覆完整、 粒径适中的Si@C电极材料(CS190-3), 对以该样品为负极的扣式半电池进行电化学测试, 在655 mA·g^-1的电流密度下, 其首圈放电比容量为3369.5 mAh·g^-1, 经过500次循环剩余容量为1405.0 mAh·g^-1。倍率测试中, 在6550 mA·g^-1的电流密度下,其剩余容量为937.1 mAh·g^-1,当电流密度恢复至655 mA·g^-1时,电池放电比容量仍可恢复至1683.0 mAh·g^-1。     

An Overview of Wearable and Implantable Electrochemical Glucose Sensors

Electrochemical glucose sensors have garnered considerable attention because of their attractive prospect in point-of-care testing (POCT). In this review, we firstly introduce the principles and challenges of electrochemical glucose sensors. Subsequently, we present an overview of the application of electrochemical glucose sensors and discuss their advantages and drawbacks. Wearable and implantable devices based on diverse target biofluid and platforms provide a considerable prospect of accurate and continuous monitoring. Thus, we believe that the future development direction of electrochemical glucose sensors is non-invasive, wearable devices and implantable devices with minimally invasive for continuous glucose monitoring in real time.