Radiative models of laser-induced plasma and pump-probe diagnostics relevant to laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

The paper describes past and present efforts in modeling of laser-induced plasma and overviews plasma diagnostics carried out by pump-probe techniques. Besides general information on existing plasma models, the emphasis is given to models relevant to spectrochemical analysis, i.e. models of radiating plasma. Special attention is paid to collisional-radiative (CR) and collisional-dominated (CD) plasma models where radiative processes play an important role. Also, calibration-free (CF) models are considered which may endow with the possibility for standardless spectroscopic analysis. In the diagnostic part, only methods based on the use of additional diagnostic tools (auxiliary lasers, optics, and probes) are described omitting those based on plasma own radiation. A short review is provided on image-based diagnostics (shadowgraphy, schlieren, and interferometry), absorption and fluorescence, Langmuir probe, and less frequently used cavity ringdown and Thomson scattering methods.     

Influence diagnostics and outlier tests for varying coefficient mixed models

In this paper, we consider subset deletion diagnostics for fixed effects (coefficient functions), random effects and one variance component in varying coefficient mixed models (VCMMs). Some simple updated formulas are obtained, and based on which, Cook’s distance, joint influence and conditional influence are also investigated. Besides, since mean shift outlier models (MSOMs) are also efficient to detect outliers, we establish an equivalence between deletion models and MSOMs, which is not only suitable for fixed effects but also for random effects, and test statistics for outliers are then constructed. As a byproduct, we obtain the nonparametric “delete = replace” identity. Our influence diagnostics methods are illustrated through a simulated example and a real data set.     

2MeV注入器脉冲电子束时间分辨能谱诊断研究

介绍了利用磁分析器和电子束产生的契伦科夫辐射光诊断直线感应加速器脉冲电子束时间分辨能谱的原理、方法及诊断系统,对中物院2MeV感应叠加型注入器的2kA强流脉冲电子束时间分辨能谱进行实验诊断,并与二极管电压进行对比分析。测得能量约2.2MeV,60ns内最大能量变化为4%。     

Polyglycerol based coatings to reduce non-specific protein adsorption in sample vials and on SPR sensors

Coatings based on dendritic polyglycerol (dPG) were investigated for their use to control nonspecific protein adsorption in an assay targeted to analyze concentrations of a specific protein. We demonstrate that coating of the sample vial with dPG can significantly increase the recovery of an antibody after incubation. First, we determine the concentration dependent loss of an antibody due to nonspecific adsorption to glass via quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). Complementary to the QCM measurements, we applied the same antibody as analyte in an surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay to determine the loss of analyte due to nonspecific adsorption to the sample vial. For this purpose, we used two different coatings based on dPG. For the first coating, which served as a matrix for the SPR sensor, carboxyl groups were incorporated into dPG as well as a dithiolane moiety enabling covalent immobilization to the gold sensor surface. This SPR-matrix exhibited excellent protein resistant properties and allowed the immobilization of amyloid peptides via amide bond formation. The second coating which was intended to prevent nonspecific adsorption to glass vials comprised a silyl moiety that allowed covalent grafting to glass. For demonstrating the impact of the vial coating on the accuracy of an SPR assay, we immobilized amyloid beta (Aβ) 1-40 and used an anti-Aβ 1-40 antibody as analyte. Alternate injection of analyte into the flow cell of the SPR device from uncoated and coated vials, respectively gave us the relative signal loss (1 − RU_uncoated/RU_coated) caused by the nonspecific adsorption. We found that the relative signal loss increases with decreasing analyte concentration. The SPR data correlate well with concentration dependent non-specific adsorption experiments of the analyte to glass surfaces performed with QCM. Our measurements show that rendering both the sample vial and the sensor surface is crucial for accurate results in protein assays.     

FeOOH@Metal–Organic Framework Core–Satellite Nanocomposites for the Serum Metabolic Fingerprinting of Gynecological Cancers

High-throughput metabolic analysis is of significance in diagnostics, while tedious sample pretreatment has largely hindered its clinic application. Herein, we designed FeOOH@ZIF-8 composites with enhanced ionization efficiency and size-exclusion effect for laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS)-based metabolic diagnosis of gynecological cancers. The FeOOH@ZIF-8-assisted LDI-MS achieved rapid, sensitive, and selective metabolic fingerprints of the native serum without any enrichment or purification. Further analysis of extracted serum metabolic fingerprints successfully discriminated patients with gynecological cancers (GCs) from healthy controls and also differentiated three major subtypes of GCs. Given the low cost, high-throughput, and easy operation, our approach brings a new dimension to disease analysis and classification.     

Nonribosomal cyclic peptides: specific markers of fungal infections

Some cyclic peptides and depsipeptides are synthesized in microorganisms by large multienzymes called nonribosomal peptide synthetases. The structures of peptide products originating in this way are complex and diverse and are microorganism-specific. This work proposes the use of fungal cyclic peptides and depsipeptides as extremely specific markers of fungal infections. Since a reliable molecular tool for diagnosing fungal infections at an early stage is still missing, we present mass spectrometry as a new, modern, broadband (with respect to fungal strain) and specific tool for clinical mycologists. More than 40 different fungal species can be rapidly characterized according to specific families of cyclic peptides, and in some cases, a particular fungal strain can be identified on the basis of its cyclopeptide profile. This paper is also aimed at initiating discussion on the biological role of these secondary metabolites, especially of those synthesized by medically important strains. Proven cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive activities of some cyclic peptides indicate that these molecules may contribute to the synergistic array of fungal virulence factors and support microbial invasion during fungal infection. In addition to an overview on recent mass spectrometric protocols for cyclic peptide sequencing, the structures of new peptides from Paecilomyces and Pseudallescheria are presented.     

Nano-enabled biosensing systems for intelligent healthcare: towards COVID-19 management

Biosensors are emerging as efficient (sensitive and selective) and affordable analytical diagnostic tools for early-stage disease detection, as required for personalized health wellness management. Low-level detection of a targeted disease biomarker (pM level) has emerged extremely useful to evaluate the progression of disease under therapy. Such collected bioinformatics and its multi-aspects-oriented analytics is in demand to explore the effectiveness of a prescribed treatment, optimize therapy, and correlate biomarker level with disease pathogenesis. Owing to nanotechnology-enabled advancements in sensing unit fabrication, device integration, interfacing, packaging, and sensing performance at point-of-care (POC) has rendered diagnostics according to the requirements of disease management and patient disease profile i.e. in a personalized manner. Efforts are continuously being made to promote the state of art biosensing technology as a next-generation non-invasive disease diagnostics methodology. Keeping this in view, this progressive opinion article describes personalized health care management related analytical tools which can provide access to better health for everyone, with overreaching aim to manage healthy tomorrow timely. Considering accomplishments and predictions, such affordable intelligent diagnostics tools are urgently required to manage COVID-19 pandemic, a life-threatening respiratory infectious disease, where a rapid, selective and sensitive detection of human beta severe acute respiratory system coronavirus (SARS-COoV-2) protein is the key factor.     

Particle velocity measurements in induction plasma spraying

Laser Dopple anemometry (LDA) measurements of the particle velocity are carried out during an induction plasma spraying operation. The velocity of nickel alloy particles, or molten droplets, at the exit of an induction plasma torch prior to impact on the substrate is shown to vary with the plasma and powder injection conditions. Plasma spraying under soft vacuum (150–450 Torr) gives rise to substantially higher particle velocities (40–60 m/sec) compared to those attained at atmospheric pressure (10–20 m/sec).     

Multi-diagnostic approach to characterize the onset of formation of nanoparticles in a premixed laminar ethylene/air flame

The onset of formation of nanoparticles in a premixed laminar ethylene/air flame was studied using optical and non-optical diagnostic techniques. The optical techniques (Visible Imaging, Spectroscopic analysis of optical emission, Laser Induced Incandescence and Optical Extinction) were checked against the direct measurement of particles size distribution done with a commercial sampler. The diagnostic techniques were set up on a standard burner (McKenna). The combustion conditions were varied by tuning two experimental parameters: the equivalent ratio Φ and the cold gases velocity v. Values of Φ were investigated in the range 1.3 to 2.2, in combination with cold unburned gas velocities of 5, 7 and 10 cm/s. By varying the combustion conditions, a transition in the signal detected by the different techniques was observed. The transition was put in correspondence with the sensitivity of the given technique to the onset of the nanoparticles formation. A comparison of the sensitivity of the different techniques was performed.     

Temporally resolved laser induced plasma diagnostics of single crystal silicon — Effects of ambient pressure

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy of silicon was performed using a nanosecond pulsed frequency doubled Nd:YAG (532 nm) laser. The temporal evolution of the laser ablation plumes in air at atmospheric pressure and at an ambient pressure of ∼ 10^− 5 mbar is presented. Electron densities were determined from the Stark broadening of the Si (I) 288.16 nm emission line. Electron densities in the range of 6.91 × 10¹⁷ to 1.29 × 10¹⁹ cm^− 3 at atmospheric pressure and 1.68 × 10¹⁷ to 3.02 × 10¹⁹ cm^− 3 under vacuum were observed. Electron excitation temperatures were obtained from the line to continuum ratios and yielded temperatures in the range 7600–18,200 K at atmospheric pressure, and 8020–18,200 K under vacuum. The plasma morphology is also characterized with respect to time in both pressure regimes.