Semi-implantable device based on multiplexed microfilament electrode cluster for continuous monitoring of physiological ions

Modern medicine is increasingly interested in advanced sensors to detect and analyze biochemical indicators.Ion sensors based on potentiometric methods are a promising platform for monitoring physiological ions in biological subjects.Current semi-implantable devices are mainly based on single-parameter detection.Miniaturized semi-implantable electrodes for multiparameter sensing have more restrictions on the electrode size due to biocompatibility considerations,but reducing the electrode surface area could potentially limit electrode sensitivity.This study developed a semi-implantable device system comprising a multiplexed microfilament electrode cluster(MMEC)and a printed circuit board for real-time monitoring of intra-tissue K^(+),Ca^(2+),and Na^(+)concentrations.The electrode surface area was less important for the potentiometric sensing mechanism,suggesting the feasibility of using a tiny fiber-like electrode for potentiometric sensing.The MMEC device exhibited a broad linear response(K^(+):2–32 mmol/L;Ca^(2+):0.5–4 mmol/L;Na^(+):10–160 mmol/L),high sensitivity(about 20–45 mV/decade),temporal stability(>2weeks),and good selectivity(>80%)for the above ions.In vitro detection and in vivo subcutaneous and brain experiment results showed that the MMEC system exhibits good multi-ion monitoring performance in several complex environments.This work provides a platform for the continuous real-time monitoring of ion fluctuations in different situations and has implications for developing smart sensors to monitor human health.

藜麦的驯化栽培与遗传育种

藜麦(Chenopodium quinoa Willd.)起源于南美洲提提喀喀湖区,是苋科(Amaranthaceae)藜属(Chenopodium)一年生作物。因其营养全面且对多种非生物逆境胁迫具有抗性,被认为是尚未被充分开发且具有高应用潜力的作物,深受育种学家的关注。近年来,随着人们对健康的关注和高品质生活的追求,对藜麦的需求量急剧增加,加之藜麦能有效缓解全球粮食安全,对其栽培与育种等研究已成为热点。为了加深对藜麦的认识和推动其产业的发展,本文结合本课题组多年来对源于安第斯山藜麦种质资源的收集、评价与利用的实践,从藜麦营养价值与应用、起源与分布、遗传研究、品种选育进展及发展趋势等方面进行了总结,以期为我国藜麦新品种(系)的培育与栽培、产业可持续发展、贫困地区人群增收及新增我国粮食生产途径等方面提供参考信息。

Multichannel microneedle dry electrode patches for minimally invasive transdermal recording of electrophysiological signals

The collection of multiple-channel electrophysiological signals enables a comprehensive understanding of the spatial distribution and temporal features of electrophysiological activities.This approach can help to distinguish the traits and patterns of different ailments to enhance diagnostic accuracy.Microneedle array electrodes,which can penetrate skin without pain,can lessen the impedance between the electrodes and skin;however,current microneedle methods are limited to single channels and cannot achieve multichannel collection in small areas.Here,a multichannel(32 channels)microneedle dry electrode patch device was developed via a dimensionality reduction fabrication and integration approach and supported by a self-developed circuit system to record weak electrophysiological signals,including electroencephalography(EEG),electrocardiogram(ECG),and electromyography(EMG)signals.The microneedles reduced the electrode–skin contact impedance by penetrating the nonconducting stratum corneum in a painless way.The multichannel microneedle array(MMA)enabled painless transdermal recording of multichannel electrophysiological signals from the subcutaneous space,with high temporal and spatial resolution,reaching the level of a single microneedle in terms of signal precision.The MMA demonstrated the detection of the spatial distribution of ECG,EMG and EEG signals in live rabbit models,and the microneedle electrode(MNE)achieved better signal quality in the transcutaneous detection of EEG signals than did the conventional flat dry electrode array.This work offers a promising opportunity to develop advanced tools for neural interface technology and electrophysiological recording.

智能时代人机交互的一些思考

在信息技术迅猛发展的背景下,人工智能的爆发及在诸多行业的成功应用再次引发人们对计算机全方位为人类服务的美好想象.然而,作为人与计算机之间信息沟通的桥梁和以人为中心指导系统开发的方法论,人机交互没有得到应有的同步发展,其瓶颈效应日益彰显.究其原因,可以归纳为以下两点:一是没有吸取好历史的发展经验;二是智能时代下应用场景的变化导致新的需求,对人机交互提出了巨大的挑战.本文回顾了人机交互的发展历史,重点讨论了人机交互的发展模式、心理学模型、交互界面、交互设计原则和研究框架等多个核心问题,并总结了当前人机交互出现的重要思想理论,提出在智能时代下对人机交互未来发展必要的讨论和思考.

Real-time quantification of nuclear RNA export using an intracellular relocation probe

Nuclear RNA export into the cytoplasm is one of the key steps in protein expression to realize biological functions.Despite the broad availability of nucleic acid dyes,tracking and quantifying the highly dynamic process of RNA export in live cells is challenging.When dye-labeled RNA enters the cytoplasm,the dye molecules are released upon degradation of the RNA,allowing them to re-enter the cell nucleus.As a result,the ratio between the dye exported with RNA into the cytoplasm and the portion staying inside the nucleus cannot be determined.To address this common limitation,we report the design of a smart probe that can only check into the nucleus once.When adding to cells,this probe rapidly binds with nuclear RNAs in live cells and reacts with intrinsic H_(2)S.This reaction not only activates the fluorescence for RNA tracking but also changes the structure of probe and consequently its intracellular localization.After disassociating from exported RNAs in cytoplasm,the probe preferentially enters lysosomes rather than cell nucleus,enabling real-time quantitative measurement of nuclear RNA exports.Using this probe,we successfully evaluated the effects of hormones and cancer drugs on nuclear RNA export in live cells.Interestingly,we found that hormones inhibiting RNA exports can partially offset the effect of chemotherapy.