Vibrational Spectroscopy in Assessment of Early Osteoarthritis—A Narrative Review

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease, and there is currently no effective medicine to cure it. Early prevention and treatment can effectively reduce the pain of OA patients and save costs. Therefore, it is necessary to diagnose OA at an early stage. There are various diagnostic methods for OA, but the methods applied to early diagnosis are limited. Ordinary optical diagnosis is confined to the surface, while laboratory tests, such as rheumatoid factor inspection and physical arthritis checks, are too trivial or time-consuming. Evidently, there is an urgent need to develop a rapid nondestructive detection method for the early diagnosis of OA. Vibrational spectroscopy is a rapid and nondestructive technique that has attracted much attention. In this review, near-infrared (NIR), infrared, (IR) and Raman spectroscopy were introduced to show their potential in early OA diagnosis. The basic principles were discussed first, and then the research progress to date was discussed, as well as its limitations and the direction of development. Finally, all methods were compared, and vibrational spectroscopy was demonstrated that it could be used as a promising tool for early OA diagnosis. This review provides theoretical support for the application and development of vibrational spectroscopy technology in OA diagnosis, providing a new strategy for the nondestructive and rapid diagnosis of arthritis and promoting the development and clinical application of a component-based molecular spectrum detection technology.     

Biowaste-derived hydroxyapatite reinforced with polyvinyl pyrrolidone/aloevera composite for biomedical applications

The present investigation focuses on the synthesis of crabshell-derived hydroxyapatite (CS-HAP)/ water-soluble synthetic polymer—polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVP)/aloevera(AV)—a natural biopolymer, as a composite for enhanced mechanical, antibacterial and biocompatible properties. The reinforcement of polymer has a significant function in increasing the mechanical property of the composite, whereas the incorporation of AV improves the antibacterial and biocompatibility. Phase composition, morphology, mechanical property, and hydrophilicity of CS-HAP/PVP/AV biocomposite with different concentrations of PVP and AV were examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX), Vickers microhardness tests, contact angle, respectively. Furthermore, the antibacterial efficiency of the composite is assessed using Escherichia coli (E coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S aureus). The biocompatibility of HOS MG 63 cells on the CS-HAP/PVP/AV composite is evaluated by MTT assay test. The obtained results evidence that the as-synthesized composite have appropriate mechanical, antibacterial and biocompatible properties. Overall, the combination of mechanical property of PVP, antibacterial and biocompatible property of AV in CS-HAP/PVP/AV, makes the composite a potential therapeutic material for various biomedical applications.     

Probing the Conformation States of Neurotensin Receptor 1 Variants by NMR Site-Directed Methyl Labeling

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are key players in mediating signal transduction across the cell membrane. However, due to their intrinsic instability, many GPCRs are not suitable for structural investigations. Various approaches have been developed in recent years to remedy this situation, ranging from the use of more native membrane mimetics to protein-stabilization methods. The latter approach typically results in GPCRs that contain various numbers of mutations. However, probing the functionality of such variants by in vitro and in vivo assays is often time consuming. In addition, to validate the suitability of such GPCRs for structural investigations, an assessment of their conformation state is required. NMR spectroscopy has been proven to be suitable to probe the conformation state of GPCRs in solution. Here, by using chemical labeling with an isotope-labeled methyl probe, we show that the activity and the conformation state of stabilized neurotensin receptor 1 variants obtained from directed evolution can be efficiently assayed in 2D NMR experiments. This strategy enables the quantification of the active and inactive conformation states and the derivation of an estimation of the basal as well as agonist-induced activity of the receptor. Furthermore, this assay can be used as a readout when re-introducing agonist-dependent signaling into a highly stabilized, and thus rigidified, receptor by mutagenesis. This approach will be useful in cases where low production yields do not permit the addition of labeled compounds to the growth medium and where 1D NMR spectra of selectively ¹⁹F-labeled receptors are not sufficient to resolve signal overlap for a more detailed analysis.     

Influence of molybdenum on passivation of polarised stainless steels in a chloride environment

Polarised specimens of AISI 304L and 316L stainless steels (SS) were studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in conjunction with Ar⁺-ion sputtering. A 5% NaCl test solution was used at room temperature. The polarised passive films formed consist mainly of chromium oxide and hydroxide and a small proportion of iron oxides. The composition of the films depend strongly on the potential. Chloride and molybdenum ions appear when the AISI 316L SS alloy is polarised at a potential close to pitting potential.     

我国冶金分析定量检测仪器的发展趋势

为了了解我国分析仪器的发展,推动冶金分析领域定量检测技术的进步,文章以北京分析测试学术报告会暨展览会(BCEIA)在国内的展示成果为依托,选择电感耦合等离子体发射光谱(ICP-OES)、电感耦合等离子体质谱(ICP-MS)、X射线荧光光谱(XRF)、激光诱导击穿光谱(LIBS)等基础定量检测仪器为主要分析对象,归纳总结了这些仪器的发展过程、基本原理和主要结构。从分析检测人员的视角,讨论了该检测仪器的优势特点及应用效果;展望了定量分析检测技术的发展趋势;提出了以定量检测仪器为基础的新型高端科学仪器的发展前景。又以激光剥蚀电感耦合等离子体质谱(LA-ICP-MS)、辉光放电质谱(GD-MS)、电子探针X射线显微分析仪(EPMA)等拓展联用检测仪器为例,介绍了设备的主要特点及应用,最终总结出LA-ICP-MS为固体样品中微量元素分析的常用技术,GD-MS技术是痕量元素分析的重要手段,EPMA技术因具有与其他仪器结合包容性高的优点,虽然在使用过程中存在一定的缺陷,但已成为通用的分析手段。而我国定量分析检测技术正朝着现场化、专用化及标准化的方向发展。     

Passivation of Fe-Cr alloys studied with ICP-AES and EQCM

The response of sputter deposited Fe-15Cr and Fe-25Cr alloys to a rapid potential increase in the passive region was studied using two in situ methods: electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance and inductive coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Both methods indicated an increase in the dissolution rate of iron following the potential change; the total amount of material dissolved being higher for the Fe-15Cr alloy. For both alloys, about 10% of the total dissolved material was Cr. This result compared well with experiments on a 430 stainless steel. ICP-AES is shown to be useful for the in situ determination of partial currents of metal dissolution using solution analysis in a flow cell.     

CRYSTAL STRUCTURE OF γ-Li_xFe_2O_3 WITH ELECTROCHEMICAL INSERTION OF Li

Crystal structure of γ-Li_xFe_2O_3,inserted Li electrochemically,was studied by Moss-bauer spectroscopy together with X-ray diffraction,XPS and electrochemical method,Onthe insertion of Li at low current density,the crystal structure is keeping original spinel;while at higher current density or by thermal activation,owing to violent movement ofLi~+ ions,part of crystal structure transforms into rock type similar to face-centeredcubic structure of ferrous oxide.The transition channels during insertion of Li~+ ions andlimitation of Li~+ ions inserted were discussed.     

Effect of laser fluences on the structure of carbon nitride films deposited by direct current plasma assisted pulsed laser ablation

Carbon nitride films were deposited by direct current plasma assisted pulsed laser ablation of a graphite target under a nitrogen atmosphere at room temperature. The surface morphology, composition and bonding structure of the deposited films were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The effect of laser fluences in the range 0.5–3 J/cm² on the surface morphology, composition and bonding structure of the carbon nitride films were systematically studied. As laser fluence is increased, AFM results show a great decrease in the surface roughness of carbon nitride films. FTIR and XPS results indicate an increase in the N/C ratio and the content of N atoms bonded to sp³ C, as well as a decrease in the content of H atoms and the content of N atoms boned to sp² C in the deposited films, and Raman spectra indicate an increase in the content of disordered sp² C atoms and the sp² cluster size. The increase in the film density and the decrease in the particle fraction contribute to the decrease of surface roughness with increasing laser fluence.     

不同模数下圆柱直齿轮成形的数值模拟及分析

论述了在直齿轮分度圆直径为定值时，变形程度与模数的关系。通过对三种不同模数的齿轮在特定的条件下温挤压成形数值模拟，结果及分析表明，随着齿轮模数的增大，变形程度也增大，金属向齿顶及周围流动就相对较多，齿形就容易充满，但齿轮头部内凹与头的齿部凸肚现象就越厉害。