Preparation and Characterization of Highly Fluorescent, Glutathione-coated Near Infrared Quantum Dots for in Vivo Fluorescence Imaging

Fluorescent probes that emit in the near-infrared (NIR, 700–1,300 nm) region are suitable as optical contrast agents for in vivo fluorescence imaging because of low scattering and absorption of the NIR light in tissues. Recently, NIR quantum dots (QDs) have become a new class of fluorescent materials that can be used for in vivo imaging. Compared with traditional organic fluorescent dyes, QDs have several unique advantages such as size- and composition-tunable emission, high brightness, narrow emission bands, large Stokes shifts, and high resistance to photobleaching. In this paper, we report a facile method for the preparation of highly fluorescent, water-soluble glutathione (GSH)-coated NIR QDs for in vivo imaging. GSH-coated NIR QDs (GSH-QDs) were prepared by surface modification of hydrophobic CdSeTe/CdS (core/shell) QDs. The hydrophobic surface of the CdSeTe/CdS QDs was exchanged with GSH in tetrahydrofuran-water. The resulting GSH-QDs were monodisperse particles and stable in PBS (phosphate buffered saline, pH = 7.4). The GSH-QDs (800 nm emission) were highly fluorescent in aqueous solutions (quantum yield = 22% in PBS buffer), and their hydrodynamic diameter was less than 10 nm, which is comparable to the size of proteins. The cellular uptake and viability for the GSH-QDs were examined using HeLa and HEK 293 cells. When the cells were incubated with aqueous solutions of the GSH-QDs (10 nM), the QDs were taken into the cells and distributed in the perinuclear region of both cells. After 12 hrs incubation of 4 nM of GSH-QDs, the viabilities of HeLa and HEK 293 cells were ca. 80 and 50%, respectively. As a biomedical utility of the GSH-QDs, in vivo NIR-fluorescence imaging of a lymph node in a mouse is presented.     

Cryogenic optical measurements of 12-segment-bonded carbon-fiber-reinforced silicon carbide composite mirror with support mechanism

A 720 mm diameter 12-segment-bonded carbon-fiber-reinforced silicon carbide (C/SiC) composite mirror has been fabricated and tested at cryogenic temperatures. Interferometric measurements show significant cryogenic deformation of the C/SiC composite mirror, which is well reproduced by a model analysis with measured properties of the bonded segments. It is concluded that the deformation is due mostly to variation in coefficients of thermal expansion among segments. In parallel, a 4-degree-of-freedom ball-bearing support mechanism has been developed for cryogenic applications. The C/SiC composite mirror was mounted on an aluminum base plate with the support mechanism and tested again. Cryogenic deformation of the mirror attributed to thermal contraction of the aluminum base plate via the support mechanism is highly reduced by the support, confirming that the newly developed support mechanism is promising for its future application to large-aperture cooled space telescopes.     

Some properties of boronized layers on steels with direct diode laser

Boronized layer on steel is known to be formed by thermal diffusion of boron into the surface of steel improving corrosion-erosion resistant properties. Boronizing is carried out at temperatures ranging from 800 °C to 1050 °C and takes from one to several hours. There is one problem in this process, however, that the structure and properties of the base material are influenced considerably by the high temperature and long time of treatment. In order to avoid the aforementioned drawbacks of pack boronizing and laser-assisted boronizing, a better way is to activate the pack boronizing media and the workpiece with a high density power. The laser boronizing processes do not change the properties of the base material. In this study, the effect of laser characteristics was examined on the laser boronizing of carbon steel. After laser boronizing, the microstructure of the boride layer was analysed with an optical microscope and X-ray diffractometer (XRD). The mechanical properties of borided layer are evaluated using Vickers hardness tester and sand erosion tester. Results showed that the boride layer was composed of FeB and Fe₂B with thickness ranging 200-300 μm. The laser boronizing process did not change the properties of the base material.     

Aluminum Triflate as a Powerful Catalyst for Direct Amination of Alcohols,Including Electron‐Withdrawing Group‐Substituted Benzhydrols

Direct aminations of allylic alcohols, benzylic alcohols, and benzhydrols with electron‐withdrawing (F, Br, I, NO₂, or CN) substituents were efficiently catalyzed by aluminum triflate [Al(OTf)₃] to afford the corresponding biarylamines in high yield, and the dibromo‐substituted product was further transformed into letrozole.     

新一代聚丙烯催化剂内给电子体的研究

综述了丙烯聚合物Z-N催化剂内给电子体的研究进展,讨论了内给电子体在丙烯聚合中的作用及机理.介绍了最新的内给电子体,通过对内给电子体在近年来发展的分析,对丙烯聚合物Z-N催化剂的发展进行了展望.     

Ultra high-efficiency multi-photon emission blue phosphorescent OLEDs with external quantum efficiency exceeding 40%

We developed high-efficiency multi-photon emission (MPE) blue phosphorescent OLEDs with external quantum efficiency exceeding 40% at 100 cd m⁻². In these MPE devices, we used a blue phosphorescent emitter, FIrpic and pyridine-containing electron-transporters, B3PyPB and B3PyMPM, B4PyMPM. We also used a well-known electron-transporter, BCP for comparison. We used a combination of TAPC/MoO₃/Al/Liq layers as the charge-generation layer unit. An optimized MPE device showed an extremely high current efficiency of over 90 cd A⁻¹ and a high power efficiency of over 40 lm W⁻¹ at 100 cd m⁻² without any outcoupling enhancement.     

A BioDVD media with multilayered structure is suitable for analyzing biomolecular interactions

A biomolecular interactive analysis with antibody-antigen and aptamer-protein was evaluated on Au-over layers deposited on the BioDVD surface. BioDVD consists of multilayered structures with Au layer on the top and it detects analytes by monitoring the changes in reflected light intensity due to analyte adsorption to the sensor surface, on which functional biomolecules are immobilized to bind specifically to the analytes. The BioDVD sensing instrument is based on a commercial digital versatile disc system, which allows the instrument to be small and inexpensive. The BioDVD platform can be fabricated utilizing mass production techniques with additional functional phase change layers that can serve both to enhance sensitivity by optimization of the interferometric cavity optical properties and also as a possible medium for the storage of test related information.     

职务犯罪案件逮捕决定权配置改革审视

介绍了检察院直接受理侦查案件由上一级检察院审查逮捕的法理依据,分析了职务犯罪案件决定逮捕权上提一级后将面临的问题,提出了克服问题的措施建议.     

Ziegler-Natta/茂金属复合催化剂中茂金属组分的休眠及对聚丙烯合金性能的影响

制备出了以二醚为内给电子体的Ziegler-Natta(Z-N)催化剂及Z-N/茂金属(Z-M)复合催化剂。研究了催化剂类型(Z-N或Z-M)、休眠剂类型(苯乙烯(St)或对甲基苯乙烯(pMS))及用量对聚合过程、中间产品(均聚聚丙烯(PP))和最终产品(PP釜内合金)性能的影响,还利用扫描电子显微镜观测了PP釜内合金粒子的形貌。结果表明:St是比pMS更适宜的休眠剂;在保证使Z-M复合催化剂中茂金属组分充分休眠的前提下,应尽可能降低休眠剂的加入量;在St休眠剂存在下使用Z-M复合催化剂可制得23,-30℃抗冲击强度分别为47,5.6 kJ/m2的高刚高韧PP合金。     

Effect of interfacial chemistry on the linear rheology and thermal stability of poly(arylene ether nitrile) nanocomposite films filled with various functionalized graphite nanoplates

Poly(arylene ether nitrile) (PEN) nanocomposites filled with functionalized graphite nanoplates (GNs) were prepared by a simple solution‐ casting method and then characterized by rheometer and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). This study investigates how the surface treatment of GNs affects the GN dispersion state. The linear rheological test indicated that the 4‐aminophenoxyphthalonitrile‐grafted GN (GN‐CN) presented better dispersion in PEN matrix than purified GN because the corresponding composite showed the lower rheological percolation threshold, which was further confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and solution experiments. The TGA revealed that the presence of 4‐aminophenoxyphthalonitrile‐grafted GN retarded the depolymerization evidently compared with that of purified GN, showing remarkable increase in the temperatures corresponding to a weight loss of 5 wt % (increased by 21°C) and maximum rate of decomposition (increased by 9°C). Both the dispersion state and the surface functionalization of GN are very important to the thermal stability of PEN matrix. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013