An automated, parallel processing approach to biomolecular sample preparation

Sample preparation for DNA and RNA assays is a prime candidate for laboratory automation. A novel, parallel processing device that performs the three separate liquid-handling functions necessary for such sample preparation-dispensing, pipetting, and pressurizing-is presented. The device comprises an array of fine nozzles connected by fluidic channels to automatically and precisely distribute flow between one source and an array of points. The design principles, as well as the experimental and computational methods used to develop the device, are described. Test results, including accuracy, uniformity, volume range, and timing, are presented. The functionality of the device is demonstrated by performing a solid-phase extraction of DNA with two types of microcolumns.     

Vitamins as Active Agents for Highly Emissive and Stable Nanostructured Halide Perovskite Inks and 3D Composites Fabricated by Additive Manufacturing

The use of non-toxic and low-cost vitamins like α-tocopherol (α-TCP, vitamin E) to improve the photophysical properties and stability of perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs), through post-synthetic ligand surface passivation, is demonstrated for the first time. Especially interesting is its effect on CsPbI₃ the most unstable inorganic PNC. Adding α-TCP produces that the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of freshly prepared and aged PNCs achieves values of ≈98% and 100%, respectively. After storing 2 months under ambient air and 60% relative humidity, PLQY is maintained at 85% and 67%, respectively. α-TCP restores the PL features of aged CsPbI₃ PNCs, and mediates the radiative recombination channels by reducing surface defects. In addition, the combination of α-TCP and PNCs facilitates the chemical formulation to prepare PNCs-acrylic polymer composites processable by additive manufacturing. This enables the development of complex shaped parts with improved luminescent features and long-term stability for 4 months, which is not possible for non-modified PNCs. A PLQY ≈92% is reached in the 3D printed polymer/PNC composite, the highest value obtained for a red-emitting composite solid until now as far as it is known. The passivation shell provided by α-TCP makes that PNCs inks do not suffer any degradation process avoiding the contact with the environment and preserve their properties after reacting with polar monomers during composite polymerization.     

卫星遥感气溶胶光学厚度在北京2008年地面空气质量监测上的应用

利用卫星遥感地面空气质量是近年来随着空间遥感手段的进步而发展起来的一项新技术,如何利用卫星遥感的大气气溶胶光学厚度产品来定量评估地面空气质量是个难题.利用高分辨率的大气气溶胶光学厚度产品,经过垂直分布的订正和湿度影响的订正,分别得到地面气溶胶消光系数和地面"干"气溶胶消光系数.通过与地面PM10质量浓度的相关分析表明,地面气溶胶消光系数具有比大气气溶胶光学厚度更高的相关系数,而经过湿度订正的"干"气溶胶消光系数具有比前两者更高的相关系数.利用华北地区"干"气溶胶消光系数的分布评估了2008年夏季气溶胶变化情况,与往年同期相比,地面气溶胶消光季节平均下降约17%～20%,而华北平原其他城市和地区则没有显著变化,说明北京地区气溶胶浓度的下降与局地减排有直接关系.     

On the designing of densely dispersion-managed optical fiber systems for ultrafast optical communication

We present some theoretical and experimental results which suggest the possibility of constructing a non-empirical methodology of designing optical transmission systems with ultra high bit-rate per channel. Theoretically, we present an average dispersion decreasing densely dispersion-managed (A4dm) fiber system, which exhibits many advantages over the densely dispersion-managed fiber system, such as the possibility of transmitting chirp-free Gaussian pulses at 160 Gbit/s per channel over transoceanic distances, with a reduced energy and minimal intra-channel interaction. Experimentally we present generation of a 160-GHz picosecond pulse train at 1550 nm using multiple four-wave mixing temporal compression of an initial dual frequency beat signal in the anomalous-dispersion regime of a non-zero dispersion shifted fiber. A complete intensity and phase characterization of the pulse train by means of a frequency-resolved optical gating technique is achieved, showing generation of transform-limited pedestal-free Gaussian pulses.     

Catalytic Hydrogenation of CO2 to Formate Using Ruthenium Nanoparticles Immobilized on Supported Ionic Liquid Phases

Ruthenium nanoparticles (NPs) immobilized on imidazolium-based supported ionic liquid phases (Ru@SILP) act as effective heterogeneous catalysts for the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to formate in a mixture of water and triethylamine (NEt₃). The structure of the imidazolium-based molecular modifiers is varied systematically regarding side chain functionality (neutral, basic, and acidic) and anion to assess the influence of the IL-type environment on the NPs synthesis and catalytic properties. The resulting Ru@SILP materials contain well-dispersed Ru NPs with diameters in the range 0.8–2.9 nm that are found 2 to 10 times more active for CO₂ hydrogenation than a reference Ru@SiO₂ catalyst under identical conditions. Introduction of sulfonic acid groups in the IL modifiers results in a greatly increased turnover number (TON) and turnover frequency (TOF) at reduced metal loadings. As a result, excellent productivity with TONs up to 16 100 at an initial TOF of 1430 h⁻¹ can be achieved with the Ru@SILP(SO₃H-OAc) catalyst. H/D exchange and other control experiments suggest an accelerated desorption of the formate species from the Ru NPs promoted by the presence of ammonium sulfonate species on Ru@SILP(SO₃H-X) materials, resulting in enhanced catalyst activity and productivity.     

Oregano: chemical analysis and evaluation of its antimalarial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities

Abstract: GC‐FID and GC‐MS analysis of essential oil from oregano leaves (Origanum compactum) resulted in the identification of 46 compounds, representing more than 98% of the total composition. Carvacrol was the predominant compound (36.46%), followed by thymol (29.74%) and p‐cymene (24.31%). Serial extractions with petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and water were performed on aerials parts of Origanum compactum. In these extracts, different chemical families were characterized: polyphenols (gallic acid equivalent 21.2 to 858.3 g/kg), tannins (catechin equivalent 12.4 to 510.3 g/kg), anthocyanins (cyanidin equivalent 0.38 to 5.63 mg/kg), and flavonoids (quercetin equivalent 14.5 to 54.7 g/kg). The samples (essential oil and extracts) were subjected to a screening for antioxidant (DPPH and ABTS assays) and antimalarial activities and against human breast cancer cells. The essential oil showed a higher antioxidant activity with an IC₅₀= 2 ± 0.1 mg/L. Among the extracts, the aqueous extract had the highest antioxidant activity with an IC₅₀= 4.8 ± 0.2 mg/L (DPPH assay). Concerning antimalarial activity, Origanum compactum essential oil and ethyl acetate extract showed the best results with an IC₅₀ of 34 and 33 mg/mL, respectively. In addition, ethyl acetate extract (30 mg/L) and ethanol extract (56 mg/L) showed activity against human breast cancer cells (MCF7). The oregano essential oil was considered to be nontoxic.     

Sorption versus biomineralization of Pb(II) within Burkholderia cepacia biofilms

X-ray spectroscopy measurements have been combined with macroscopic uptake data and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results to show that Pb(II) uptake by Burkholderia cepacia is due to simultaneous sorption and biomineralization processes. X-ray microprobe mapping of B. cepacia biofilms formed on alpha-Al2O3 surfaces shows that Pb(II) is distributed heterogeneously throughout the biofilms because of the formation of Pb "hot spots". EXAFS data and TEM observations show that the enhanced Pb accumulation is due to the formation of nanoscale crystals of pyromorphite (Pb5(PO4)3(OH)) adjacent to the outer-membrane of a fraction of the total population of B. cepacia cells. In contrast, B. cepacia cell suspensions or biofilms that were heat-killed or pretreated with X-rays do not form pyromorphite, which suggests that metabolic activity is required. Precipitation of pyromorphite occurs over several orders of magnitude in [H-] and [Pb] and accounts for approximately 90% of the total Pb uptake below pH 4.5 but only 45-60% at near-neutral pH because of the formation of additional Pb(II) adsorption complexes. Structural fits of Pb L(III) EXAFS data collected for heat-treated cells at near-neutral pH suggest that Pb(II) forms inner-sphere adsorption complexes with carboxyl functional groups in the biofilms.     

An in situ infrared study of NO reduction by C3H8 over Fe‐ZSM‐5

The interactions of NO, O₂ and NO₂ with Fe‐ZSM‐5, as well as the reduction of NO by C₃H₈ in the presence of O₂, have been investigated using in situ infrared spectroscopy. The sample of Fe‐ZSM‐5 (Fe/Al =0.56) was prepared by solid‐state ion exchange. NO adsorption in the absence of O₂ produces only mono‐ and dinitrosyl species associated with Fe²⁺ cations. Adsorbed NO₂/NO₃ species are formed via the reaction of adsorbed O₂ with gas‐phase NO or by the adsorption of gas‐phase NO₂. The reduction of NO in the presence of O₂ begins with the reaction of gas‐phase C₃H₈ with adsorbed NO₂/NO₃ species to form a nitrogen‐containing polymeric species. A reaction pathway is proposed for the catalyzed reduction of NO by C₃H₈ in the presence of O₂. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.