Instantaneous Hydrolysis of Nerve‐Agent Simulants with a Six‐Connected Zirconium‐Based Metal–Organic Framework

A nerve‐agent simulant based on a phosphate ester is hydrolyzed using a MOF‐based catalyst. Suspensions of MOF‐808 (6‐connected), a material featuring 6‐connected zirconium nodes, display the highest hydrolysis rates among all MOFs that have been reported to date. A plug‐flow reactor was also prepared with MOF‐808 (6‐connected) as the active layer. Deployed in a simple filtration scheme, the reactor displayed high hydrolysis efficiency and reusability.     

Determining the etiology of mild vocal fold hypomobility

The prevalence of mild vocal fold hypomobility is unknown. In a study by Heman-Ackah et al, vocal fold hypomobility in a population of singing teachers was found to be associated more frequently with vocal complaints than was the presence of vocal fold masses.¹ The etiology of mild vocal fold hypomobility has not been previously explored. In the present study, a retrospective chart review was performed of 134 patients who presented to a tertiary laryngology referral center over a 6-month period for evaluation of vocal complaints. Of the 134 patients, 61 (46%) were found to have mild vocal fold hypomobility previously undiagnosed by the referring otolaryngologist. Imaging studies and laboratory tests to evaluate for structural, metabolic, and infectious causes of the decreased mobility had been ordered. Forty-nine patients completed the work-up. Of these, 41 out of 49 (84%) were found to have imaging or laboratory findings that could explain the hypomobility. Thyroid abnormalities were found to be associated with vocal fold hypomobility in 21 out of 49 (43%) of those with a complete evaluation. Other causes of vocal fold hypomobility included idiopathic (8 of 49, 16%), viral neuritis (5 of 49, 10%), central nervous system abnormality (4 of 49, 8%), neural tumor (3 of 49, 6%), joint dysfunction (3 of 49, 6%), iatrogenic nerve injury (2 of 49, 4%), myopathy (2 of 49, 4%), and noniatrogenic traumatic nerve injury (1 of 49, 2%), This study shows that unilateral vocal fold hypomobility often is associated with a physiologic process, and a complete investigation to determine the etiology is warranted in all cases.     

神经元轴突电刺激响应的有限元数值模拟

为了研究神经元轴突的微观生理电传导特性,建立了神经元轴突的三维有限元模型,通过数值计算模拟神经元轴突对电刺激的动态响应.建立海马神经元轴突的三维几何模型并指定其生物物理参数,根据Hodgkin-Huxley方程和Maxwell方程,建立偏微分方程组,对神经元轴突有限元模型施加不同持续时间和不同脉冲幅度的电流脉冲并求解,获得神经元轴突的三维电势分布和动作电位曲线.数值模拟结果显示,该神经元轴突的静息电位约为-65 mV;对模型施加持续时间为2 ms,强度0.01 A/m2的电流脉冲刺激未产生动作电位,施以(2 ms、0.2 A/m2),(20ms、0.01 A/m2),(20ms、0.2 A/m2)脉冲刺激均产生动作电位,峰值分别出现在0.012 s、0.017 s和0.012 s,动作电位幅度约为100mV,持续时间约为2 ms.神经元轴突电刺激响应的有限元模拟结果与实验结果吻合,表明所建立的神经元轴突有限元模型及数值模拟方法合理、可靠,为深入研究神经电生理特性提供了基础模型和仿真分析方法.     

An isomer-specific high-energy collision-induced dissociation MS/MS database for forensic applications: a proof-of-concept on chemical warfare agent markers

Spectra database search has become the most popular technique for the identification of unknown chemicals, minimizing the need for authentic reference chemicals. In the present study, an isomer‐specific high‐energy collision‐induced dissociation (CID) MS/MS spectra database of 12 isomeric O‐hexyl methylphosphonic acids (degradation markers of nerve agents) was created. Phosphonate anions were produced by the electrospray ionization of phosphonic acids or negative‐ion chemical ionization of their fluorinated derivatives and were analysed in a hybrid magnetic‐sector–time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometer. A centre‐of‐mass energy (E_com) of 65 eV led to an optimal sequential carbon–carbon bond breakage, which was interpreted in terms of charge remote fragmentation. The proposed mechanism is discussed in comparison with the routinely used low‐energy CID MS/MS. Even‐mass (odd‐electron) charge remote fragmentation ion series were diagnostic of the O‐alkyl chain structure and can be used to interpret unknown spectra. Together with the odd‐mass ion series, they formed highly reproducible, isomer‐specific spectra that gave significantly higher database matches and probability factors (by 1.5 times) than did the EI MS spectra of the trimethylsilyl derivatives of the same isomers. In addition, ionization by negative‐ion chemical ionization and electrospray ionization resulted in similar spectra, which further highlights the general potential of the high‐energy CID MS/MS technique. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Improved sample preparation of glyphosate and methylphosphonic acid by EPA method 6800A and time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry using novel solid‐phase extraction

The employment of chemical weapons by rogue states and/or terrorist organizations is an ongoing concern in the United States. The quantitative analysis of nerve agents must be rapid and reliable for use in the private and public sectors. Current methods describe a tedious and time‐consuming derivatization for gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography in tandem with mass spectrometry. Two solid‐phase extraction (SPE) techniques for the analysis of glyphosate and methylphosphonic acid are described with the utilization of isotopically enriched analytes for quantitation via atmospheric pressure chemical ionization–quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (APCI‐Q‐TOF‐MS) that does not require derivatization. Solid‐phase extraction‐isotope dilution mass spectrometry (SPE‐IDMS) involves pre‐equilibration of a naturally occurring sample with an isotopically enriched standard. The second extraction method, i‐Spike, involves loading an isotopically enriched standard onto the SPE column before the naturally occurring sample. The sample and the spike are then co‐eluted from the column enabling precise and accurate quantitation via IDMS. The SPE methods in conjunction with IDMS eliminate concerns of incomplete elution, matrix and sorbent effects, and MS drift. For accurate quantitation with IDMS, the isotopic contribution of all atoms in the target molecule must be statistically taken into account. This paper describes two newly developed sample preparation techniques for the analysis of nerve agent surrogates in drinking water as well as statistical probability analysis for proper molecular IDMS. The methods described in this paper demonstrate accurate molecular IDMS using APCI‐Q‐TOF‐MS with limits of quantitation as low as 0.400 mg/kg for glyphosate and 0.031 mg/kg for methylphosphonic acid. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cutaneous Heat Transfer and Its Effect on Contact Heat Evoked Brain Potentials

The brain's response to external painful stimuli can be assessed through contact heat evoked cortical potentials that enable the evaluation of the integrity of pain pathways. This work aims to improve the reliability of this diagnostic procedure by decoupling the effects of heat transfer and nerve fiber conduction. It is herein shown experimentally that the latency of the N2 contact heat evoked cortical potentials component is the most stable diagnostic parameter. The contribution of heat transfer to N2 contact heat evoked cortical potentials latency was modeled as a function of the subject's pain threshold, allowing for the separation of nerve fiber pathology from thermodynamic influences.     

基于级联卷积神经网络的驾驶员分心驾驶行为检测

针对驾驶员分心驾驶行为检测,设计一种级联卷积神经网络检测框架。检测框架由第一级分心行为预筛选卷积网络和第二级分心行为精确检测卷积网络两个全卷积网络级联构成。预筛选卷积网络是一个轻量级的图像分类网络,负责对原始数据进行快速筛选,其网络层数少、训练速度快,结构特征冗余较少,能够减少后续网络的计算负担;分心行为精确检测卷积网络采用VGG(Visual geometry group)模型特征提取的深度迁移学习检测算法网络,通过迁移学习重新训练分类器和部分卷积层。提出的级联神经网络最终可以实现9种驾驶员分心驾驶行为的准确识别检测。实验结果表明,相比主流单模型检测方法,在保证算法效率的同时准确率均有明显提升,准确率达到93.3%,有效降低了误检率。该方法具有较好的鲁棒性和泛化能力。     

一类非线性广义神经传播方程Adini元的超收敛分析

讨论了Adini元对一类非线性广义神经传播方程的逼近,通过导数转移方法和平均值技巧,给出了其近似解与精确解的误差估计及超逼近性,通过使用插值后处理技巧得到了整体超收敛结果。     

铅染毒家兔脂质过氧化水平和神经传导速度的变化及关系研究

为观察铅对脂质过氧化水平和神经传导速度(NCV)的影响,并探讨两者关系,1 6只家兔随机分为2组,每组8只,染铅组饮用0 1 %醋酸铅水,对照组予以去离子水,持续8周,测定了两组家兔股神经NCV及血浆和脑组织丙二醛(MDA)、总超氧化物歧化酶(T -SOD)水平,分析了MDA、T -SOD与NCV之间的关系。结果表明,染铅组NCV显著低于对照组(P <0 0 1 ) ,NCV与脑组织MDA之间存在相关关系(r=-0 5 2 1 ,P <0 0 5 ) ,但染铅组MDA、T -SOD与对照组比较未达到显著性差别(P >0 0 5 )。提示铅中毒能引起NCV减慢,这与脂质过氧化水平有关,脂质过氧化损伤可能是铅致中毒性周围神经病的机制之一。