A DNA Switch for Detecting Single Nucleotide Polymorphism within a Long DNA Sequence Under Denaturing Conditions

DNA detection is usually conducted under nondenaturing conditions to favor the formation of Watson–Crick base-paring interactions. However, although such a setting is excellent for distinguishing a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) within short DNA sequences (15–25 nucleotides), it does not offer a good solution to SNP detection within much longer sequences. Here we report on a new detection method capable of detecting SNP in a DNA sequence containing 35–90 nucleotides. This is achieved through incorporating into the recognition DNA sequence a previously discovered DNA molecule that forms a stable G-quadruplex in the presence of 7 molar urea, a known condition for denaturing DNA structures. The systems are configured to produce both colorimetric and fluorescent signals upon target binding.     

Theory of chemical bonds in metalloenzymes XXII: a concerted bond-switching mechanism for the oxygen–oxygen bond formation coupled with one electron transfer for water oxidation in the oxygen-evolving complex of photosystem II

ABSTRACT

QM(UB3LYP)/MM(AMBER) calculations were performed for the locations of the transition structure (TS) of the oxygen–oxygen (O–O) bond formation in the S₄ state of the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) of photosystem II (PSII). The natural orbital (NO) analysis of the broken-symmetry (BS) solutions was also performed to elucidate the nature of the chemical bonds at TS on the basis of several chemical indices defined by the occupation numbers of NO. The computational results revealed a concerted bond switching (CBS) mechanism for the oxygen–oxygen bond formation coupled with the one-electron transfer (OET) for water oxidation in OEC of PSII. The orbital interaction between the σ-HOMO of the Mn(IV)₄–O₍₅₎ bond and the π*-LUMO of the Mn(V)₁=O₍₆₎ bond plays an important role for the concerted O–O bond formation for water oxidation in the CaMn₄O₆ cluster of OEC of PSII. One electron transfer (OET) from the π-HOMO of the Mn(V)₁=O₍₆₎ bond to the σ*-LUMO of the Mn(IV)₄–O₍₅₎ bond occurs for the formation of electron transfer diradical, where the generated anion radical [Mn(IV)₄–O₍₅₎]^-? part is relaxed to the ?Mn(III)₄?…?O₍₅₎^- structure and the cation radical [O₍₆₎=Mn(V)₁]⁺ ? part is relaxed to the ⁺O₍₆₎–Mn(IV)₁? structure because of the charge-spin separation for the electron-and hole-doped Mn–oxo bonds. Therefore, the local spins are responsible for the one-electron reductions of Mn(IV)₄->Mn(III)₄ and Mn(V)₁->Mn(IV)₁. On the other hand, the O₍₅₎^- and O₍₆₎⁺ sites generated undergo the O–O bond formation in the CaMn₄O₆ cluster. The Ca(II) ion in the cubane- skeleton of the CaMn₄O₆ cluster assists the above orbital interactions by the lowering of the orbital energy levels of π*-LUMO of Mn(V)₁=O₍₆₎ and σ*-LUMO of Mn(IV)₄–O₍₅₎, indicating an important role of its Lewis acidity. Present CBS mechanism for the O–O bond formation coupled with one electron reductions of the high-valent Mn ions is different from the conventional radical coupling (RC) and acid-base (AB) mechanisms for water oxidation in artificial and native photosynthesis systems. The proton-coupled electron transfer (PC-OET) mechanism for the O–O bond formation is also touched in relation to the CBS-OET mechanism.     

Gravitational wave imprint of new symmetry breaking

It is believed that there are more fundamental gauge symmetries beyond those described by the Standard Model of particle physics. The scales of these new gauge symmetries are usually too high to be reachable by particle colliders. Considering that the phase transition (PT) relating to the spontaneous breaking of new gauge symmetries to the electroweak symmetry might be strongly first order, we propose considering the stochastic gravitational waves (GW) arising from this phase transition as an indirect way of detecting these new fundamental gauge symmetries. As an illustration, we explore the possibility of detecting the stochastic GW generated from the PT of \begin{document}$ {\bf{B}}-{\bf{L}}$\end{document} in the space-based interferometer detectors. Our study demonstrates that the GW energy spectrum is reachable by the LISA, Tianqin, Taiji, BBO, and DECIGO experiments only for the case where the spontaneous breaking of \begin{document}$ {\bf{B}}-{\bf{L}}$\end{document} is triggered by at least two electroweak singlet scalars.     

Recent trends in capillary and micro-chip electrophoretic instrumentation for field-analysis

Technical advances in the development of field-deployable capillary and microchip electrophoretic instruments and reports of their deployment between 2013 and 2017 were reviewed. Strategies and considerations in the design of the injection, separation and detection hardware, chemistry and associated infrastructure were discussed from an in-field perspective, with portability, robustness and automation/“ease of use” featuring as key requirements. Integration of functionality is important for adequate in-field performance. Progress was made towards the use of multiple channel devices for increased throughput and/or resolving power, mixing devices for on-line/in-line sample derivatization, battery operation and temperature control. The strengths and weaknesses of the various approaches described in the literature are discussed from the perspective of in-field operation. An overview of the applications of the field electrophoretic instruments is provided, including environmental science and planetary investigation.     

Sensitive chemically amplified electrochemical detection of ruthenium tris-(2,2′-bipyridine) on tin-doped indium oxide electrode

Optimized combination of chemical agents was selected for sensitive electrochemical detection of dissolved ruthenium tris-(2,2′-bipyridine) (Ru-bipy). The detection was based on the chemical amplification mechanism, in which the anodic current of a redox-active analyte was amplified by a sacrificial electron donor in solution. On indium-doped tin oxide (ITO) electrodes, electrochemical reaction of the analyte was reversible, but that of the electron donor was greatly suppressed. Several transition metal complexes, such as ferrocene and tris-(2,2′-bipyridine) complexes of osmium, iron and ruthenium, were evaluated as model analyte. A correlation between the amplified current and the standard potential of the complex was observed, and Ru-bipy generated the largest current. A variety of organic bases, acids and zwitterions were assessed as potential electron donor. Sodium oxalate was found to produce the largest amplification factor. With Ru-bipy as the model analyte and oxalate as the electron donor, the analyte concentration curve was linear up to 50 μM, with a lower detection limit of approximately 50 nM. Preliminary work was presented in which a Ru-bipy derivative was attached to bovine serum albumin and detected electrochemically. Although the combination of Ru-bipy, oxalate and ITO electrode has been used before for electrochemiluminescent detection of Ru-bipy and oxalate, as well as electrochemical detection of oxalate, its utility in amplified voltammetric detection of Ru-bipy as a potential electrochemical label has not been reported previously.     

压力淬火过程中锗的相结构研究

 应用高压原位差热方法，直接测量了压力下锗的固化参数─—固化温度与过冷度。高压差热信号表明，当压力大于3 GPa时，锗在凝固过程中可能发生结构相变。X射线结构分析表明，在最终的样品中除GeⅠ相外，还形成GeⅢ相和GeⅣ相。     

Schwinger boson mapping of SO(8) fermion model

The Schwinger representation of the SO(8) fermion pair algebra in terms ofd and quasispin vector (u, s, v) bosons is used in deriving a microscopic boson coherent state having both particle-hole and pair excitations. The coherent state is the exact boson image of the HFB variational solution. We can study the shape phase transition and pairing behaviour of the nuclear ground states using the coherent states.     

纳米级精度分光路双频干涉度量系统的设计

为完成快速、精确的外观轮廓度量,设计了一种新型纳米级精度分光路双频干涉度量系统。系统由低频差双频激光干涉度量模块和微探头及二维工作台两部分组成。微探针以轻敲式接近样品至几十纳米时,受原子力作用发生偏转,利用双频干涉模块度量其纵向偏转量,并对样品进行梳状式度量得到外观形貌。根据双频激光的实际光源,对原有双频干涉度量理论进行了改进提高。进行了系统组建和实验验证。结果表明:系统具有纳米级精度,可用于超精样品外观轮廓度量。     

SBIRS-HIGH对导弹上升段位置测量精度及中末段位置预报精度的分析

根据目前的技术水平分析了高空天基红外系统(SBIRS-HIGH)的技术参数;理论上计算了SBIRS-HIGH对导弹上升段的位置测量精度以及中末段任意时刻飞行位置的预报精度;研究了SBIRS-HIGH对中段和末端导弹拦截系统的导引能力。     

Parametric estimation of discretely sampled Gamma-OU processes

The stationary Gamma-OU processes are recommended to be the volatility of the financial assets. A parametric estimation for the Gamma-OU processes based on the discrete observations is considered in this paper. The estimator of an intensity parameter A and its convergence result are given, and the simulations show that the estimation is quite accurate. Assuming that the parameter A is estimated, the maximum likelihood estimation of shape parameter c and scale parameter a, whose likelihood function is not explicitly computable, is considered. By means of the Gaver-Stehfest algorithm, we construct an explicit sequence of approximations to the likelihood function and show that it converges the true (but unkown) one. Maximizing the sequence results in an estimator that converges to the true maximum likelihood estimator and the approximation shares the asymptotic properties of the true maximum likelihood estimator. Some simulation experiments reveal that this method is still quite accurate in most of rational situations for the background of volatility.