Electrochemical Quantification of Neurotransmitters in Single Live Cell Vesicles Shows Exocytosis is Predominantly Partial

Exocytosis plays an essential role in the communication between cells in the nervous system. Understanding the regulation of neurotransmitter release during exocytosis and the amount of neurotransmitter content that is stored in vesicles is of importance, as it provides fundamental insights to understand how the brain works and how neurons elicit a certain behavior. In this minireview, we summarize recent progress in amperometric measurements for monitoring exocytosis in single cells and electrochemical cytometry measurements of vesicular neurotransmitter content in individual vesicles. Important steps have increased our understanding of the different mechanisms of exocytosis. Increasing evidence is firmly establishing that partial release is the primary mechanism of release in multiple cell types.     

Life time prediction of self-supporting flame-sprayed alumina-rich coatings

Main objective of the presented research is the life time prediction of self-supporting flame-sprayed Al₂O₃- and Al₂O₃ -ZrO₂ -TiO₂-materials under constant load. The characteristic life time and its scatter were derived from stable crack growth tests and Weibull-statistics including the four-point-bending and ball-on-three-balls method. The potential life time was estimated in order to assess room-temperature handling and long term storage of self-supporting flame-sprayed alumina components. In terms of flexural strength, energy release, and subcritical crack growth parameters, distinct differences between both materials were shown. In turn, the characteristic life times only barely deviated from each other. From that the conclusion was drawn that life time performance under constant load application is governed by the characteristic flame-spray microstructure. However, advantages in the flame-spray processing of Al₂O₃ - ZrO₂ -TiO₂ are still given, attributed to its lower melting temperature.     

Dual pH‐ and thermal‐responsive nanocomposite hydrogels for controllable delivery of hydrophobic drug baicalein

Hydrogels have been widely used as mild biomaterials due to their bio‐affinity, high drug loading capability and controllable release profiles. However, hydrogel‐based carriers are greatly limited for the delivery of hydrophobic payloads due to the lack of hydrophobic binding sites. Herein, nano‐liposome micelles were embedded in semi‐interpenetrating poly[(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐co‐chitosan] (PNIPAAm‐co‐CS) and poly[(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐co‐(sodium alginate)] (PNIPAAm‐co‐SA) hydrogels which were responsive to both temperature and pH, thereby establishing tunable nanocomposite hydrogel delivery systems. Nano‐micelles formed via the self‐assembly of phospholipid could serve as the link between hydrophobic drug and hydrophilic hydrogel due to their special amphiphilic structure. The results of transmission and scanning electron microscopies and infrared spectroscopy showed that the porous hydrogels were successfully fabricated and the liposomes encapsulated with baicalein could be well contained in the network. In addition, the experimental results of response release in vitro revealed that the smart hydrogels showed different degree of sensitiveness under different pH and temperature stimuli. The results of the study demonstrate that combining PNIPAAm‐co‐SA and PNIPAAm‐co‐CS hydrogels with liposomes encapsulated with hydrophobic drugs is a feasible method for hydrophobic drug delivery and have potential application prospects in the medical field. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry     

贵州北盘江增殖放流效果评价

为了评估北盘江鱼类增殖放流效果,2017~2018年期间采用体外荧光、剪鳍、"T"型标三种标志方法对目标鱼类进行标志放流,通过集中捕捞方式进行回捕调查,集中捕捞时间为2017年7月、2018年8月,捕捞水域为董菁-马马崖-光照-善泥坡库区。结果表明,白甲鱼回捕率较高,为0.82%,其他鱼类均在0.5%左右,其中主要为低龄鱼类,高龄鱼类较少;董菁打邦河及各库尾水域物种丰富度较高,善泥坡高家渡码头和马马崖库区试验库尾物种多样性指数相对较低。建议在以后的增殖放流活动中,加大每年的监测频次。     

典型废玻璃回收厂区空气颗粒物及噪声分布特征研究

以某典型废玻璃回收厂区作为研究对象, 监测和分析了车间及厂区内部的噪声强度、空气颗粒物(PM_2.5、PM₁₀) 浓度等环境指标, 点位布设涵盖了车间入口、人工分拣、物料筛分、破碎、干法清洗等关键工艺环节; 其次, 解析了空气颗粒物的组分及形貌特征, 并对其在厂区及车间内部的时空分布特征进行了研究; 此外, 利用噪声控制模型模拟并分析了隔声罩对噪声的控制作用。结果表明, 生产车间中工作态的空气颗粒物浓度显著高于非工作态, 其中干法清洗区浓度最高, 其PM_2.5 浓度为3.725 mg/m³, PM₁₀浓度为4.055 mg/m³; 噪声监测结果显示生产车间内噪声强度较高, 达到99.5 dB, 而引入隔声罩后噪声强度可降至67 dB, 结果表明, 隔声罩可有效控制频率为125~1 000 Hz 的噪声。该研究可为废玻璃的绿色、高效回收处置提供理论基础和实践经验。     

Dynamic shovel allocation approach to short-term production planning in open-pit mines

The complexity and uncertainties associated with mining operations often lead to deviations from short-term plans. A proactive approach will predict such deviations and help minimise opportunity losses, providing economic and operational gains. This paper presents an optimisation tool as a dynamic shovel allocation decision-maker for mining operation simulation models. The objectives of the optimisation tool are to provide shovel allocations to mining faces in order to maximise production, meet desired head grade and tonnage at the crushers, and minimise shovel movements. This paper presents the development and implementation of the optimisation tool with an iron ore mine case study.     

Development and in vitro characterization of chitosan-coated polymeric nanoparticles for oral delivery and sustained release of the immunosuppressant drug mycophenolate mofetil

Objective: To develop an oral sustained release formulation of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) for once-daily dosing, using chitosan-coated polylactic acid (PLA) or poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) nanoparticles. The role of polymer molecular weight (MW) and drug to polymer ratio in encapsulation efficiency (EE) and release from the nanoparticles was explored in vitro.

Methods: Nanoparticles were prepared by a single emulsion solvent evaporation method where MMF was encapsulated with PLGA or PLA at various polymer MW and drug: polymer ratios. Subsequently, chitosan was added to create coated cationic particles, also at several chitosan MW grades and drug: polymer ratios. All the formulations were evaluated for mean diameter and polydispersity, EE as well as in vitro drug release. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), surface morphology, and in vitro mucin binding of the nanoparticles were performed for further characterization.

Results: Two lead formulations comprise MMF: high MW, PLA: medium MW chitosan 1:7:7 (w/w/w), and MMF: high MW, PLGA: high MW chitosan 1:7:7 (w/w/w), which had high EE (94.34% and 75.44%, respectively) and sustained drug release over 12?h with a minimal burst phase. DSC experiments revealed an amorphous form of MMF in the nanoparticle formulations. The surface morphology of the MMF NP showed spherical nanoparticles with minimal visible porosity. The potential for mucoadhesiveness was assessed by changes in zeta potential after incubation of the nanoparticles in mucin.

Conclusion: Two chitosan-coated nanoparticles formulations of MMF had high EE and a desirable sustained drug release profile in the effort to design a once-daily dosage form for MMF.     

控轧控冷中碳非调质钢的高周疲劳性能

 采用中碳非调质钢制造的轴类等零件常承受交变载荷，因而对钢材疲劳性能具有高的要求。为了评估控轧控冷工艺生产的非调质钢棒材的疲劳性能，利用旋转弯曲疲劳试验机研究了一种常用的钒微合金化中碳非调质钢38MnVS及对比钢38MnS的高周疲劳性能。结果表明，与38MnS钢相比，38MnVS钢中铁素体体积分数增加，组织明显细化；相分析表明约有54%的钒处于M（C，N）相中，且尺寸小于10 nm的M（C，N）粒子质量分数为32%，这些细小粒子的析出强化增量约为116 MPa。38MnVS钢的疲劳极限较38MnS钢提高了62 MPa，提高幅度约为18%；疲劳极限比从38MnS钢的0.43提高到38MnVS钢的0.48。M（C，N）相的析出强化及组织细化是38MnVS钢较38MnS钢具有优异疲劳性能的主要原因，但其疲劳性能仍低于锻态非调质钢。根据试验结果及文献数据，给出了预测铁素体＋珠光体型非调质钢疲劳极限的简便方法。