New fluorescent labels for time-resolved detection of biomolecules

New dyes with characteristic fluorescence lifetimes have been developed for bioanalytical applications. Based upon the concept of multiplex dyes, we have designed rhodamine dyes with nearly identical absorption and emission spectral characteristics but different fluorescence lifetimes. Extending this principle to applications with laser diodes, new rhodamines with functional groups for covalent coupling of analytes have been developed. The new labels exhibit absortion and fluorescence beyond 600 nm and have a high quantum efficiency, even in aqueous buffer systems.     

Non-Linear Noise Contributions in Highly Dispersive Optical Transmission Systems

This article reports an analytical investigation, confirmed by numerical simulations, about the non-linear noise contribution in single-channel systems adopting generic modulation-detection formats in long links with both managed and unmanaged dispersion compensation and its impact in system performance. This noise contribution is expressed in terms of a pulse non-linear interaction length and permits a simple calculation of the Q-factor. Results point out the dependence of this non-linear noise on the number of amplifiers spans, N, according to the adopted chromatic dispersion compensation scheme, the modulation-detection format, and the signal baud rate. It is also shown how the effects of polarization multiplexing can be taken into account and how this single-channel non-linear noise contribution can be used in a wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) environment.     

Design and development of novel single multiplex system incorporating 26 rapidly mutating Y-STRs; 26 RM Yplex

This article details the development of a single multiplex system amplifying 26 rapidly mutating Y-STR markers. A sequenced allelic ladder, constructed for calling alleles of all loci, is introduced. The multiplex system shows the ability to address the limitations of Y-STRs commercial kits in differentiating closely related males. The multiplex performed well in the prevalidation tests and showed great potential to be used in forensic casework.     

Validation of the Microreader 28A ID System: A 6-dye multiplex amplification assay for forensic application

The Microreader 28A ID System is a new 28-plex genotyping system with 6-dye multiplex amplification, which allows the simultaneous amplification of all 20 Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) core loci (CSF1PO, D3S1358, D5S818, D7S820, D8S1179, D13S317, D16S539, D18S51, D21S11, FGA, TH01, TPOX, vWA, D1S1656, D2S441, D2S1338, D10S1248, D12S391, D19S433, D22S1045), plus five extended STRs loci (D6S1043, Penta D, Penta E, DYS391, SE33), 2 Y-Indels (Rs2032678, Rs771783753), and the amelogenin loci. This system can be used for forensic analyses, such as personal identification, kinship testing, scientific research, database applications, and other aspects of human genetic identification. The validation of the Microreader 28A ID System followed the “Validation Guidelines for DNA Analysis Methods (2016)” described by the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods and the regulations published by the China Ministry of Public Security. Our tests included PCR-based studies, sensitivity study, precision and accuracy evaluation, stutter percentage and heterozygous peak height ratio, inhibitor tests, species specificity, and population studies. The validation results suggest that the Microreader 28A ID system is a robust and reliable amplification kit for personal identification, kinship testing, and forensic database applications.     

波分复用全光网中不同调制方式的带内串扰代价比较

报道了采用直接调制和外调制激光源２．５Ｇｂ／ｓ光纤通信系统的带内串扰功率代价实验比较,结果与理论分析非常吻合,在相同串扰水平情况下,直接调制的功能代价小于外调制的功率代价。     

A Neoglycoprotein-Immobilized Fluorescent Magnetic Bead Suspension Multiplex Array for Galectin-Binding Studies

Carbohydrate-protein conjugates have diverse applications. They have been used clinically as vaccines against bacterial infection and have been developed for high-throughput assays to elucidate the ligand specificities of glycan-binding proteins (GBPs) and antibodies. Here, we report an effective process that combines highly efficient chemoenzymatic synthesis of carbohydrates, production of carbohydrate-bovine serum albumin (glycan-BSA) conjugates using a squarate linker, and convenient immobilization of the resulting neoglycoproteins on carboxylate-coated fluorescent magnetic beads for the development of a suspension multiplex array platform. A glycan-BSA-bead array containing BSA and 50 glycan-BSA conjugates with tuned glycan valency was generated. The binding profiles of six plant lectins with binding preference towards Gal and/or GalNAc, as well as human galectin-3 and galectin-8, were readily obtained. Our results provide useful information to understand the multivalent glycan-binding properties of human galectins. The neoglycoprotein-immobilized fluorescent magnetic bead suspension multiplex array is a robust and flexible platform for rapid analysis of glycan and GBP interactions and will find broad applications.     

平面波导环形格子结构型光交错复用器的设计

在分析比较双折射晶体偏振光干涉型和平面波导环形格子结构型光交错复用滤波器原理的基础上,揭示了两者在光谱透射率的数学上的等效性,给出了两者结构参量之间的等效关系,可以直接利用经简单傅里叶级数对比法获得的晶体的结构参量对平面波导环形格子结构型光交错复用滤波器进行结构设计。利用该方法对一个两级平面波导环形格子结构型光交错复用滤波器进行了优化设计,信道隔离度比文献中结构提高了近5dB,而且结构参量有多种组合。与利用复杂的格子理论计算仅获得一组结构参量相比,该方法更加简单、有效。     

Production and certification of NIST Standard Reference Material 2372 Human DNA Quantitation Standard

Modern highly multiplexed short tandem repeat (STR) assays used by the forensic human-identity community require tight control of the initial amount of sample DNA amplified in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) process. This, in turn, requires the ability to reproducibly measure the concentration of human DNA, [DNA], in a sample extract. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) techniques can determine the number of intact stretches of DNA of specified nucleotide sequence in an extremely small sample; however, these assays must be calibrated with DNA extracts of well-characterized and stable composition. By 2004, studies coordinated by or reported to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) indicated that a well-characterized, stable human DNA quantitation certified reference material (CRM) could help the forensic community reduce within- and among-laboratory quantitation variability. To ensure that the stability of such a quantitation standard can be monitored and that, if and when required, equivalent replacement materials can be prepared, a measurement of some stable quantity directly related to [DNA] is required. Using a long-established conventional relationship linking optical density (properly designated as decadic attenuance) at 260 nm with [DNA] in aqueous solution, NIST Standard Reference Material (SRM) 2372 Human DNA Quantitation Standard was issued in October 2007. This SRM consists of three quite different DNA extracts: a single-source male, a multiple-source female, and a mixture of male and female sources. All three SRM components have very similar optical densities, and thus very similar conventional [DNA]. The materials perform very similarly in several widely used gender-neutral assays, demonstrating that the combination of appropriate preparation methods and metrologically sound spectrophotometric measurements enables the preparation and certification of quantitation [DNA] standards that are both maintainable and of practical utility. Figure NIST Standard Reference Material (SRM) 2372 Human Quantitation Standard     

MQD--multiplex-quadrature detection in multi-dimensional NMR

With multiplex‐quadrature detection (MQD) the tasks of coherence selection and quadrature separation in N‐dimensional heteronuclear NMR experiments are merged. Thus the number of acquisitions required to achieve a desired resolution in the indirect dimensions is significantly reduced. The minimum number of transients per indirect data point, which have to be combined to give pure‐phase spectra, is thus decreased by a factor (3/4)^N?1. This reduction is achieved without adjustable parameters. We demonstrate the advantage by MQD 3D HNCO and HCCH‐TOCSY spectra affording the same resolution and the same per‐scan sensitivity as standard phase‐cycled ones, but obtained in only 56 % of the usual time and by resolution improvements achieved in the same amount of time.