Fluorescence Microscopic Image Analysis of Nucleic Acids Based on The Capillary Flow Directed Assembly Ring of Neutral Red-nucleic Acid Supramolecular Complexes

It is critical to establish a direct and precise method with a high sensitivity and selectivity in analytical chemistry. In this research, making use of a well known phenomenon of capillary flow, we have proposed an image analysis method of nucleic acids at the price of a small amount of sample. When a droplet of the supramolecular complex solution, formed by neutral red and nucleic acids(NA) under an approximate neutral condition, was placed on the hydrophobic surface of dimethyl dichlorosilane pretreated glass slides, and it was evaporated, the supramolecular complex exhibited the periphery of the droplet due to the capillary effect, and accumulated there to form a red capillary flow directed assembly ring(CFDAR). A typical CFDAR has an outer diameter of (2 r ) about 1.18 mm and a ring width(2 δ ) of about 41 μm. Depending on the experimental conditions, a variety of CFDAR can be assembled. The experimental results are in agreement with our former theoretical discussion. It was found that when a droplet volume is 0.1 μL, the fluorescence intensity of the CFDAR formed by the NR NA is in proportion to the content of calf thymus DNA in the range of 0-0.28 ng, fish sperm DNA of 0-0.24 ng and yeast RNA of 0-0.16 ng with the limit of detection(3 σ ) of 1 7, 1.4 and 0.9 pg, respectively for the three nucleic acids.

Synthesis, Crystal Structure, Fluorescent Property and DFT Calculations of a New Zn(Ⅱ) Complex Based on 3-(2-Pyridyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole

A new coordination compound Zn（2,4＇-bpt）2（H2O）（1） based on the versatile ligand 2,4＇-Hbpt（2,4？-Hbpt = 3-（2-pyridyl）-5-（4-pyridyl）-1H-1,2,4-triazole） was prepared by hydrothermal reactions. The structure of complex 1 has been characterized by X-ray single-crystal diffraction, elemental analysis, X-ray powder diffraction, IR spectrum analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis indicates that the complex belongs to monoclinic system, space group C2/c with a = 23.877（3）, b = 0.7483（9）, c = 1.2492（2） A, b = 92.681（2）°, V = 2230.6（4） A^3, Z = 4, Dc = 1.572 g/cm^3, m = 1.143 mm^-1, Mr = 527.85 and F（000） = 1080. The final R = 0.0581 and wR = 0.0898 with I 〉 2s（I）. 1 is a 0D motif which is connected by hydrogen bonds to form a corrugated 1D pattern. In addition, 1 shows strong photoluminescent emissions in the solid state at room temperature which can be used as potential optical materials. Theoretical calculations based on density functional theory（DFT） were employed in order to explicate the stability and chemical reactivity of 2,4＇-Hbpt with different conformations. The results indicated that conformation I is more stable and prior to coordination in the reactions.

Discrimination of marine algal taxonomic groups based on fluorescence excitation emission matrix, parallel factor analysis and CHEMTAX

An in vivo three-dimensional fluorescence method for the determination of algae community structure was developed by parallel factor analysis （PARAFAC） and CHEMTAX. The PARAFAC model was applied to fluo-rescence excitation-emission matrix （EEM） of 60 algae species belonging to five divisions and 11 fluorescent components were identified according to the residual sum of squares and specificity of the composition profiles of fluorescent. By the 11 fluorescent components, the algae species at different growth stages were classified correctly at the division level using Bayesian discriminant analysis （BDA）. Then the reference fluo-rescent component ratio matrix was constructed for CHEMTAX, and the EEM-PARAFAC-CHEMTAX method was developed to differentiate algae taxonomic groups. The correct discrimination ratios （CDRs） when the fluorometric method was used for single-species samples were 100% at the division level, except for Bacil-lariophyta with a CDR of 95.6%. The CDRs for the mixtures were above 94.0% for the dominant algae species and above 87.0% for the subdominant algae species. However, the CDRs of the subdominant algae species were too low to be unreliable when the relative abundance estimated was less than 15.0%. The fluorometric method was tested using the samples from the Jiaozhou Bay and the mesocosm experiments in the Xiaomai Island Bay in August 2007. The discrimination results of the dominant algae groups agreed with microscopy cell counts, as well as the subdominant algae groups of which the estimated relative abundance was above 15.0%. This technique would be of great aid when low-cost and rapid analysis is needed for samples in a large batch. The fluorometric technique has the ability to correctly identify dominant species with proper abundance both in vivo and in situ.

One Novel 2D Co(Ⅱ) Polymer with 1,2,3-Triazole Derivative: Crystal Structure, Fluorescence and Hirshfeld Surface Analysis

One new polymer [Co（L）（H2O）2]n（1） was synthesized by 4-（ethoxycarbonyl）-5-methyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole-1-carboxylic acid（Emtc） under the in situ solvent thermal reaction（H2L = 1-（carboxymethyl）-5-methyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-carboxylic acid）. The title complex performs a wave-like 2D framework and the ligand H2L demonstrates the coordination mode as μ4-η-2：η-1η-1：η-1. The crystal structure has been established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and characterized by FT-IR. Fluorescent property was investigated in this work. Hirshfeld surface analysis has also been carried out on 1, and obvious main intermolecular interactions are observed.

X-RAY FLUORESCENCE SPECTRA ANALYSIS ON THE STRUCTURE AROUND Ti^(4+) OF BaO-SiO_2-B_2O_3-TiO_2 SYSTEM GLASSES

The structure around Ti^(4+) in Bao-SiO_2 -B_2O_3-TiO_2 had been studied by X-ray fluorescence spectra. The results show that the Ti^(4+) mainly exists in the [TiO_4] and enters the network of [SiO_4]. [TiO_4] has the tendency to change to [TiO_6] with the increase of TiO_2 con-tent. When the TiO_2 content increases to about 20mol% the tendency reaches its maximum.

On the road towards the global analysis of human synapses

Synapses are essential units for the flow of information in the brain.Over the last 70 years,synapses have been widely studied in multiple animal models including worms,fruit flies,and rodents.In comparison,the study of human synapses has evolved significantly slower,mainly because of technical limitations.However,three novel methods allowing the analysis of molecular,morphological,and functional properties of human synapses may expand our knowledge of the human brain.Here,we briefly describe these methods,and evaluate how the information provided by each unique approach may contribute to the functional and anatomical analysis of the synaptic component of human brain circuitries.In particular,using tissue from cryopreserved human brains,synaptic plasticity can be studied in isolated synaptosomes by fluorescence analysis of single-synapse long-term potentiation（FASS-LTP）,and subpopulations of synapses can be thoroughly assessed in the ribbons of brain tissue by array tomography（AT）.Currently,it is also possible to quantify synaptic density in the living human brain by positron emission tomography（PET）,using a novel synaptic radio-ligand.Overall,data provided by FASS-LTP,AT,and PET may significantly contribute to the global understanding of synaptic structure and function in both healthy and diseased human brains,thus directly impacting translational research.

Research progress on fluorescence analysis of antitumor Chinese medicine components

This paper classifies the anti-tumor traditional Chinese medicine's fluorescence analysis and finds that its research content mainly includes two aspects:the application of fluorescence analysis in the determination of the effective component content of anti-tumor traditional Chinese medicine;the study of the combined use of fluorescence imaging technology and the drug.According to literature analysis,it is found that although the research on the fluorescence analysis of anti-tumor Chinese medicine components is in a good state of development,it still needs to explore further in the identification of unknown components and deeper research on known components.Therefore,it can provide a certain basis for clinical guidance of tumor patients.

Fluorometric Discrimination Technique of Phytoplankton Population Based on Wavelet Analysis

The discrete excitation-emission-matrix fluorescence spectra (EEMS) at 12 excitation wavelengths (400, 430, 450, 460, 470, 490, 500, 510, 525, 550, 570, and 590 nm) and emission wavelengths ranging from 600-750 nm were determined for 43 phytoplankton species. A two-rank fluorescence spectra database was established by wavelet analysis and a fluorometric discrimination technique for determining phytoplankton population was developed. For laboratory simulatively mixed samples, the samples mixed from 43 algal species (the algae of one division accounted for 25%, 50%, 75%, 85%, and 100% of the gross biomass, respectively), the average discrimination rates at the level of division were 65.0%, 87.5%, 98.6%, 99.0%, and 99.1%, with average relative contents of 18.9%, 44.5%, 68.9%, 73.4%, and 82.9%, respectively; the samples mixed from 32 red tide algal species (the dominant species accounted for 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100% of the gross biomass, respectively), the average correct discrimination rates of the dominant species at the level of genus were 63.3%, 74.2%, 78.8%, 83.4%, and 79.4%, respectively. For the 81 laboratory mixed samples with the dominant species accounting for 75% of the gross biomass (chlorophyll), the discrimination rates of the dominant species were 95.1% and 72.8% at the level of division and genus, respectively. For the 12 samples collected from the mesocosm experiment in Maidao Bay of Qingdao in August 2007, the dominant species of the 11 samples were recognized at the division level and the dominant species of four of the five samples in which the dominant species accounted for more than 80% of the gross biomass were discriminated at the genus level; for the 12 samples obtained from Jiaozhou Bay in August 2007, the dominant species of all the 12 samples were recognized at the division level. The technique can be directly applied to fluorescence spectrophotometers and to the developing of an in situ algae fluorescence auto-analyzer for phytoplankton population.

Construction of Fluorescence Sensing Platform on the Basis of Carbon Nitride Nanosheet for the Detection of Interferon-γ

Purpose: Interferon-γ (INF-γ) is a cytokine that participates in the immune reaction of the body. Its level of secretion can reflect the immune response condition after the body is infected by pathogens, which is a significant indication of clinically-related diseases. Therefore, it is of great significance in application to develop a fluorescence biosensor to inspect INF-γ with rapidness, high sensitivity and high practicability. Method: The fluorescence sensor is made on the basis of the two-dimensional nano-material namely Carbon Nitride Nanosheet (CNNS) and the Aptamer probe to identify INF-γ (Apt®INF-γ). CNNS can quickly quench the Cy5 fluorescent dye modified on the Apt®INF-γ probe due to the Photoinduced Electron Transfer (PET), but when the INF-γ exists, Apt®INF-γ specifically identifies and combines it. The complex of Apt®INF-γ and INF-γ is away from CNNS, which can effectively block the fluorescent signal of Apt?INF-γ being quenched by CNNS. Result: The sensitive detection of IFN-γ protein can be achieved through the application of CNNS/Apt®INF-γ fluorescence sensing platform. In this method, the intensity of the fluorescent signal is positively correlated with the concentration of IFN-γ, of which the liner response range is 0.5 - 100 ng/mL and the limit of detection is 0.303 ng/mL. In addition, this fluorescence sensing platform has the advantages of high specificity, simple operation and low costs. It can inspect the content of IFN-γ in clinical serum samples without interference. The actual recovery rate of serum samples is 97.11% - 106.96%. Conclusion: Therefore, the CNNS/Apt®INF-γ sensing platform is expected to be implemented in the actual clinical detection, also conducive to developing a universal fluorescence biosensor to inspect other target materials.

Construction of Fluorescence Sensing Platform on the Basis of Molybdenum Disulfide Nanosheet for the Detection of AFB1

Purpose: Aflatoxin B1 is the most common mycotoxin in cereal crops;it is of stronger toxicity and has a carcinogenic effect. In recent years, a series of fluorescence sensors constructed on the basis of MoS2NS fluorescence quenching property have become a research hotspot. Therefore, we can construct a fast and simple analysis method with high specificity to detect AFB1 by utilizing MoS2NS, which can be effectively applied to food safety monitoring and clinical diagnosis. Method: In the current research, a fluorescence biosensor is developed on the basis of a new type of two-dimensional nano-material namely MoS2NS applied for the detection of AFB1. The fluorescence of Apt@AFB1 can be quickly quenched by MoS2NS through the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). When the target molecule AFB1 exists, after the specificity binding between AFB1 and aptamer, the Apt@AFB1 loses its single stranded structure and is away from MoS2NS, and the fluorescence of Apt®AFB1 cannot be quenched effectively. Such sensing signals can be used to achieve the sensitive detection of AFB1. Result: With this new method, under the optimized conditions, the AFB1 is analyzed in the MoS2NS/Apt®AFB1 sensing platform. Within the dynamic range of 0.2 - 25 ng/mL, the sensing platform expresses a good linear response to the level of AFB1 with the R2 = 0.9964 and LOD as 90 pg/mL. This method is applied to detect the actual serum samples and soybean milk with the recovery rate of 93.10% - 107.23% and 95.15% - 102.60% separately, and it can be used in the quantitative detection under the interference of other mycotoxins in a relatively accurate way. Conclusion: It is proved that this new detection method can be used as a potential biosensor platform for the detection of AFB1. This detection method features several advantages such as specificity, rapidness and low costs, which can meet the requirement of trace detection in clinical detection and food safety.

Syntheses,Structures and Luminescent Properties of Two Zinc Complexes Containing N-P-Acetamidobenzenesulfonyl-glycine Acid Ligand

Using N-P-acetamidobenzenesulfonyl-glycine acid （abbreviated as abglyH2） as a ligand, two zinc（II） complexes [Zn（abglyH）2（bipy）2（H2O）2], （1） and {[Znz（abgly）2（bipy）2（H2O）2]. 2（H2O）}n （2） （bipy = 4,4＇-bipyridine） have been synthesized under mild conditions and characterized by IR, elemental analysis and X-ray diffraction analysis. Complex 1 is a monomeric compound, which is further assembled by intermolecular hydrogen bonds and π-π interactions into a 3-D supramolecular network. Complex 2 adopts a one-dimensional double chain structure and is further linked by hydrogen bonds to form a 2-D structure. Fluorescent analysis shows that complex 1 has an emissive maximum at 337 nm and complex 2 exhibits an emissive maximum at 339 nm in the solution state at room temperature.

Extraction and characterization of alumina nanopowders from aluminum dross by acid dissolution process

A significant amount of aluminum dross is available as a waste in foundry industries in Bangladesh. In this study, alumina was ex- tracted from aluminum dross collected from two foundry industries situated in Dhamrai and Manikgang, near the capital city, Dhaka. Alu- minum dross samples were found to approximately contain 75wt% A1203 and 12wt% SIO2. An acid dissolution process was used to recover the alumina value from the dross. The effects of various parameters, e.g., temperature, acid concentration, and leaching time, on the extrac- tion of alumina were studied to optimize the dissolution process. First, AI（OH）3 was produced in the form of a gel. Calcination of the AI（OH）3 gel at 1000℃, 1200℃, and 1400℃ for 2 h produced O-AlcOa, （t~＋O）-A1203, and u-alumina powder, respectively. Thermal charac- terization of the AI（OH）3 gel was performed by thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis （TG/DTA） and differential scanning calo- rimetry （DSC）. The phases and crystallite size of the alumina were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The dimensions of the alumina were found to be on the nano level. The chemical compositions of the aluminum dross and alumina were determined by X-ray fluorescence （XRF） spectroscopy. The microstructure and morphology of the alumina were studied with scanning electron microscopy. The purity of the alumina extracted in this study was found to be 99.0%. Thus, it is expected that the obtained alumina powders can be potentially utilized as biomaterials.

Effects of Chilling Stress on Photosynthetic Rate and Chlorophyll Fluorescence Parameter in Seedlings of Two Rice Cultivars Differing in Cold Tolerance

A cold-tolerant cultivar, Xiangnuo 1, and a cold-sensitive cultivar, IR50, were used to study the influence of chilling on photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in rice seedlings. The photosynthetic rates declined dramatically during chilling, and decreased by 48.7% and 67.5% in Xiangnuo 1 and IR50 seedlings, respectively, after being subjected to chilling treatment for two days. Chlorophyll fluorescence measurements showed that relatively higher qp and qNP in Xiangnuo 1 were maintained to dissipate the redundant excitation energy and protect the reaction centers from chill injury; accordingly, redundant excitation energy accumulated less in the reaction centers, and antenna systems were less injured by chilling in Xiangnuo 1. On the contrary, in IR50, qp and qNP declined rapidly while Eg increased, as the chilling persisted. This result indicated that the reaction centers and antenna systems in IR50 were damaged severely by chilling, which led to the lower photosynthetic rate.

Combining gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence measurements to analyze the photosynthetic activity of drip-irrigated cotton under different soil water deficits

Gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence were measured to study the effects of soil water deficit （75, 60 and 45% of field capacity, FC） on the photosynthetic activity of drip-irrigated cotton under field conditions. At light intensities above 1 200 IJmol m-2 s-1, leaf net photosynthetic rate （mn） at 60 and 45% FC was 0.75 and 0.45 times respectively than that of 75% FC. The chlorophyll content, leaf water potential and yield decreased as soil water deficit decreased. Fiber length was significantly lower at 45% FC than at 75% FC. The actual quantum yield of the photosystem II （PSII） primary photo- chemistry and the photochemical quenching were significantly greater at 60% FC than at 75% FC. The electron transport rate and non-photochemical quenching at 45% FC were 0.91 and 1.29 times than those at 75% FC, respectively. The amplitudes of the K- and L-bands were higher at 45% FC than at 60% FC. As soil water content decreased, active PSII reaction centers per chlorophyll decreased, functional PSII antenna size increased, and energetic connectivity between PSII units decreased. Electron flow from plastoquinol to the PSI end electron acceptors was significantly lower at 45% FC than at 75% FC. Similar to the effect on leaf Po, water deficit reduced the performance index （PIABs, tot） in the dark-adapted state. These results suggest that （i） the effect of mild water deficit on photosystem activity was mainly related to processes between plastoquinol and the PSI end electron acceptors, （ii） PSI end electron acceptors were only affected at moderate water deficit, and （iii） PIABs. tota can reliably indicate the effect of water deficit on the energy supply for cotton metabolism.

Compositional Distribution and Growth Mode of Garnet Porphyroblasts during Deformation and Metamorphism

Although porphyroblast microstructures play an important role in structural and metamorphic studies, there are still controversies in the interpretation. The focus is how porphyroblasts grow during deformation and metamorphism. In this paper, we introduce a new approach, the Synchrotron Radiation X-Ray Fluorescence, to a hemi-quantitative interpretation of the growth mode of porphyroblasts. The analysis was done at the Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility. The specimens were sampled from metapelite of the Baoyintu Group, northern Urad Middle Banner, Inner Mongolia. The new method is successful for determining the microscopic distribution of trace elements in porphybroblasts. The results support the theory of deformation partition, which has been brought forth by Bell and his colleagues, and demonstrate the existence of porphyroblast growth phases and the growth mode of porphyroblasts by hemi-quantitative mineral chemical analysis. The porphyroblast grows stage by stage in the manner of the distribution of a roseleaf and is controlled by deformation. We call the growth stage of porphyroblast a growth phase.

Determination of F,S(total),and Cl in the Calcite Rich Limestone and Marbles by WD-XRF Spectrometry

Determining the contents of F,S(total),and Cl in the studied samples of the limestone and marbles with high calcite contents was carried out by the nondestructive method of WDXRFS(Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry).All measurements were performed in a vacuum condition using a WDXRF spectrometer S8 TIGER(Bruker AXS,Germany).The studied samples have wide ranges of F,S(total),and Cl contents,and high concentration of calcite(89.5%-99%).Main objective of this research is to develop WDXRF(WD X-ray fluorescence)technique for the determination of F,S(total),and Cl.The calculated values of the ILD(instrumental limit of the detection)were within the interval from 3 for S(total)to 37 for F mg/kg.The repeatability was found to be satisfactory with the relative standard deviations lower than 7%.

Pharmacognostic standardisation of Hilleria latifolia(Lam.) H.Walt.(Phytolaccaceae)

Objective:To establish the pharmacognostic characters for the correct identification and quality control of Hilleria latifolia(H.latifolia),an important herb in Ghanaian folklore medicine,for the treatment of infections,pain and inflammation.Methods:The macro-morphological,qualitative and quantitative microscopic features,physicochemical and phytochemical features of the medicinally used parts of H.latifolia were evaluated using standard methods.Results:The plant has simple,alternate leaves with entire margin.The lamina is ovate to broadly lanceolate with an acuminate apex.It is hypostomatic with anomocytie stomata.The plant contains abundant prismatic crystals in all parts.Starch grains abound in the roots.The quantitative indices of the leaf and physicochemical parameters have also been established.Conclusions:The pharmacognostic features established in this study may be used as part of the pharmacopoeia! standard for the correct identification and quality control of H.latifolia.

Comparison of 66 chemical element contents in normal and benign hyperplastic prostate

Objective:The aim of this study was to clarify the differences between the prostatic levels of chemical elements in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)and healthy male.Methods:We evaluated the prostatic level of 66 chemical elements in 43 patients with BPH and 37 healthy males.Measurements were performed using five instrumental analytical methods.Results:In the hyperplastic prostates,we have observed a significant increase in the mean level of Bi,Cr,Hg,K,Sb,and Se accompanied a significant decrease in the mean level of Al,Ce,Cs,Dy,Er,Gd,Ho,La,Mo,Nd,Pb,Pr,Sm,Sn,Tb,Tm,U,and Y.No differences were found in the mean prostatic level of other chemical elements including Ag,Al,Au,B,Ba,Be,Br,Ca,Cd,Co,Cu,Fe,Li,Mg,Mn,Na,Nb,Ni,P,Rb,S,Sc,Si,Th,Ti,Tl,Yb,Zn,and Zr between BPH patients and healthy males.Conclusions:The finding of chemical element contents and correlation between pairs of chemical element mass fractions indicates that there is a great disturbance of prostatic chemical element metabolism in BPH gland.Trace elements Bi,Cr,Hg,K,Sb,and Se may be regarded as the possible tissue biomarkers of hyperplastic transformation of prostate gland.Obtained data did not confirm a critical role of Cd and Pb accumulation in the pathogenesis of BPH.A potential age-related Zn,Fe,and Se deficiency in the prostate tissue has not been found as being involved in the etiology of BPH.

A Mesoscopic Self-assembled Ring of a Femtomole Fluorescein Sessile Droplet on Glass Slide Support

Since the solvent evaporation of a droplet on a hydrophobically pretreated glass slide, femtomole amount of fluorescent materials is carried by the evaporation and results in outward capillary flow to the perimeter of the droplet spot where the solute deposits, and forms a fluorescent ring like deposit (RLD) with submicrometer-scale structures.

SMONTE CARLO CALCULATION FOR CALIBRATION FUNCTIONS IN TOTAL REFLECTION X-RAY FLUORESCENCE SPECTROMETRY

Simulation approach includes such processes as photon emissions from X-ray tube with a spectral distribution, total reflection on the sample support, photoelectric effect in thin layer sample, as well as characteristic line absorption and detection. The calculation results are in agreement with experimental ones.