Unraveling the mystery of efficacy in Chinese medicine formula: New approaches and technologies for research on pharmacodynamic substances

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is the key to unlock treasures of Chinese civilization. TCM and its compound play a beneficial role in medical activities to cure diseases, especially in major public health events such as novel coronavirus epidemics across the globe. The chemical composition in Chinese medicine formula is complex and diverse, but their effective substances resemble “mystery boxes”. Revealing their active ingredients and their mechanisms of action has become focal point and difficulty of research for herbalists. Although the existing research methods are numerous and constantly updated iteratively, there is remain a lack of prospective reviews. Hence, this paper provides a comprehensive account of existing new approaches and technologies based on previous studies with an in vitro to in vivo perspective. In addition, the bottlenecks of studies on Chinese medicine formula effective substances are also revealed. Especially, we look ahead to new perspectives, technologies and applications for its future development. This work reviews based on new perspectives to open horizons for the future research. Consequently, herbal compounding pharmaceutical substances study should carry on the essence of TCM while pursuing innovations in the field.     

单细胞与空间转录组分析研究进展

单细胞的异质性在胚胎发育、神经系统发育、癌症病变等生物学过程中具有重要的研究意义。单细胞转录组测序利用测序技术解析细胞内转录本序列,为细胞异质性研究提供可靠、准确的研究手段及观测视野,为揭示生物发育规律、疾病发生发展机制等提供了重要的技术手段。该文围绕单细胞与空间组学分析,综述了近年来发展的各类单细胞转录组测序、单细胞多组学测序及空间转录组分析方法,分析了其优缺点。同时展望了单细胞与空间转录组分析领域的发展趋势,即开发低成本、全方位、高通量、高分辨的单细胞空间多组学分析方法以实现对单个细胞更为细致、全面及准确的描述和精准单细胞图谱构建。     

Dual recognition strategy for ultra-sensitive fluorescent detection of Hg2+ at femto-molar level based on aptamer functionalized sulfur quantum dots

In the present study, a dual recognition strategy for ultrasensitive detection of Hg²⁺ was successfully developed for the first time based on aptamer functionalized sulfur quantum dots (Apt-SQDs). The developed Apt-SQDs not only retained the good fluorescence properties of quantum dots but also overcame the problem of poor selectivity of SQDs for heavy metal ions. This system used the dual recognition strategy, including the combination of S_x^2? and Hg²⁺ and T-Hg²⁺-T structures to excellently identify and capture Hg²⁺, and an ultrahigh sensitivity fluorescent aptasensor was fabricated. The fluorescent aptasensor had a good response to Hg²⁺ at concentrations ranging of 10^?15 to 10^?7 M with an ultralow limit of detection of 0.3 fM, and the response to other metal ions was far less than that to Hg²⁺. It was successfully applied to detect Hg²⁺ in nearby environmental water samples (tap water, lake water and river water) with a good recovery rate. Moreover, portable test papers that would be useful for Hg²⁺ monitoring in environmental water were designed. The dual recognition strategy not only achieves ultrasensitive fluorescent detection of Hg²⁺ but also provides a new insight into the further expansion of the application of SQDs.     

人教版高中化学教科书“研究与实践”栏目分析与实施策略*

对人教版高中化学教科书新设计的“研究与实践”栏目的主题内容、功能价值进行分析,就如何充分发挥该栏目的教学功能和价值,发展学生的化学学科核心素养,提出了创设教学情境线索、开发为研究性学习课题、开发为校本选修课程、开发为STEM课程等实施策略。     

提升化学学科核心素养的高中化学教学——以“金属的防护”为例

针对人教版选修1《化学反应原理》第4章第3节“金属的腐蚀与防护”课时2“金属的防护”进行教学实践探索,融合STEM教育理念促进知识与社会生活结合。选用任务情境“家用电热水器碳钢内胆防腐”,通过实验探究构建起电化学防护的认知模型,再将模型应用于实际生产生活问题的解决,进行热水器内胆的防腐设计。在真实情境问题的解决中,将知识、方法、应用等3者融合,培养学生的问题意识和创新思维,逐步内化并表现出化学学科核心素养。     

国内外近30年“电化学”主题概念测查研究进展*

梳理了国内外1990-2020年核心期刊文献中对学生电化学主题概念测评的实证研究,主要涵盖学生电化学概念理解水平以及影响因素等方面。据此探讨其对化学教师教学实施以及国内外化学教育实证研究的启示,以期为中学化学教学及后续研究提供有益参考。     

小组合作学习在“化学化工专业英语”实践教学活动中存在的问题及解决策略

小组合作学习作为一种主动学习模式被引入到化学化工专业英语课程教学活动中,在具体教学实践中往往存在诸如分组随意、参与度低、分工不明确、缺乏有效评价、流于形式等诸多问题。对采用小组合作学习的班级进行问卷调查并分析统计结果,在此基础上提出合理分组、细致分工、适当指导、及时评价等解决方案,以期对小组合作学习实践教学活动提供相应的理论依据和实践基础。     

Spatial relaxation of electrons in nonisothermal plasmas

The spatial relaxation of electrons to homogeneous states under the action of space-independent electric fields is investigated in helium, krypton, and N₂ plasmas for various electric field strengths. These investigations are based on a new method recently developed for solving the one-dimensional inhomogeneous electron Boltzmann equation in weakly ionized, collision-dominated plasmas. Elastic as well as conservative inelastic collisions of electrons with gas atoms have been included in the kinetic treatment. The spatial relaxation is caused by an imposed direct disturbance in the velocity distribution of the electrons on a spatial boundary. A pronounced dependence of the relaxation structure and the resultant relaxation length on the atomic data of the electron collision processes in different gases has been found. Furthermore the relaxation process sensitively depends on the electric field strength in the region of medium field values.     

[4 1]及[3 2]会聚式四氢呋喃环合成策略在天然产物全合成中的应用进展

四氢呋喃环广泛存在于具有生物活性的天然产物结构当中,立体选择性地构筑四氢呋喃环往往成为这些天然产物全合成研究中的关键。本文归纳了已有全合成报道中的四氢呋喃环成环策略,以实例展示了其中的会聚式合成策略在近年的发展。相比于直线型的分子内关环策略,以[4+1]、[3+2]为代表的会聚式四氢呋喃关环策略往往能够使全合成的整体路线更加简洁高效,更符合全合成研究领域的发展趋势。     

Mutual Diffusion Driven NMR: a new approach for the analysis of mixtures by spatially resolved NMR spectroscopy

We introduce a new approach for resolving the NMR spectra of mixtures that relies on the mutual diffusion of dissolved species when a concentration gradient is established within the NMR tube. This is achieved by cooling down a biphasic mixture of triethylamine and deuterated water below its mixing temperature, where a single phase is expected. Until equilibrium is reached, a gradient of concentration, from ‘pure’ triethylamine to ‘pure’ water, establishes within the tube. The amount of time required to reach this equilibrium is controlled by the mutual diffusion coefficient of both species. Moreover, a gradient of concentration exists for each additional compound dissolved in this system, related to the partition coefficient for that compound in the original biphasic state. Using slice selective experiments, it was possible to measure these concentration gradients and use them to separate signals from all the present species. We show the results acquired for a mixture composed of n‐octanol, methanol, acetonitrile and benzene and compare them with those obtained by pulse field gradient NMR. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.