Amperometric glucose biosensor based on sol-gel organic-inorganic hybrid material

A new type of sol-gel organic-inorganic hybrid material was developed and used for the production of biosensors. This material is composed of silica sol and a grafting copolymer of poly(vinyl alcohol) with 4-vinylpyridine. It prevents the cracking of conventional sol-gel-derived glasses and eliminates the swelling of the hydrogel. The optimum composition of the hybrid material was first examined, and then glucose oxidase was immobilized in this matrix to demonstrate its application. The characteristics of the biosensor were studied by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The biosensor exhibited a series of good properties: high sensitivity (600 nA mmol(-1)L(-1)), short response time (11 s) and remarkable long-term stability in storage (at least 5 months). In addition, the characteristics of the second-generation biosensor with the use of tetrathiafulvalene as a mediator mere discussed.

High resolution solid-state NMR and DSC study of poly(ethylene glycol) silicate hybrid materials via sol-gel process

Hybrid materials incorporating poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) with tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) via a sol-gel process were studied for a wide range of compositions of PEG by DSC and high resolution solid-state C-13- and Si-29-NMR spectroscopy. The results indicate that the microstructure of the hybrid materials and the crystallization behavior of PEG in hybrids strongly depend on the relative content of PEG. With an increasing content of PEG, the microstructure of hybrid materials changes a lot, from intimate mixing to macrophase separation. It is found that the glass transition temperatures (T-g) (around 373 K) of PEG homogeneously embedded in a silica network are much higher than that (about 223 K) of pure PEG and also much higher in melting temperatures T-m (around 323 K) than PEG crystallites in heterogeneous hybrids. Meanwhile, the lower the PEG content, the more perfect the silica network, and the higher the T-g of PEG embedded in hybrids. An extended-chain structure of PEG was supposed to be responsible for the unusually high T-g of PEG. Homogeneous PEG-TEOS hybrids on a molecular level can be obtained provided that the PEG. content in the hybrids is less than 30% by weight. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Bioorganic/inorganic hybrid composition of sponge spicules: Matrix of the giant spicules and of the comitalia of the deep sea hexactinellid Monorhaphis

The giant basal spicules of the siliceous sponges Monorhaphis chuni and Monorhaphis intermedia (Hexactinellida) represent the largest biosilica structures on earth (up to 3 m long). Here we describe the construction (lamellar organization) of these spicules and of the comitalia and highlight their organic matrix in order to understand their mechanical properties. The spicules display three distinct regions built of biosilica: (i) the outer lamellar zone (radius: >300 mu m), (ii) the bulky axial cylinder (radius: <75 mu m), and (iii) the central axial canal (diameter: <2 mu m) with its organic axial filament. The spicules are loosely covered with a collagen net which is regularly perforated by 7-10 mu m large holes; the net can be silicified. The silica layers forming the lamellar zone are approximate to 5 mu m thick; the central axial cylinder appears to be composed of almost solid silica which becomes porous after etching with hydrofluoric acid (HF). Dissolution of a complete spicule discloses its complex structure with distinct lamellae in the outer zone (lamellar coating) and a more resistant central part (axial barrel). Rapidly after the release of the organic coating from the lamellar zone the protein layers disintegrate to form irregular clumps/aggregates. In contrast, the proteinaceous axial barrel, hidden in the siliceous axial cylinder, is set up by rope-like filaments. Biochemical analysis revealed that the (dominant) molecule of the lamellar coating is a 27-kDa protein which displays catalytic, proteolytic activity. High resolution electron microscopic analysis showed that this protein is arranged within the lamellae and stabilizes these surfaces by palisade-like pillars. The mechanical behavior of the spicules was analyzed by a 3-point bending assay, coupled with scanning electron microscopy. The load-extension curve of the spicule shows a biphasic breakage/cracking pattern. The outer lamellar zone cracks in several distinct steps showing high resistance in concert with comparably low elasticity, while the axial cylinder breaks with high elasticity and lower stiffness. The complex bioorganic/inorganic hybrid composition and structure of the Monorhaphis spicules might provide the blueprint for the synthesis of bio-inspired material, with unusual mechanical properties (strength, stiffness) without losing the exceptional properties of optical transmission. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A hybrid coupled ocean-atmosphere model and ENSO prediction study

A hybrid coupled ocean-atmosphere model is designed, which consists of a global AGCM and a simple anomaly ocean model in the tropical Pacific. Retroactive experimental predictions initiated in each season from 1979 to 1994 are performed. Analyses indicate that: (1) The overall predictive capability of this model for SSTA over the central-eastern tropical Pacific can reach one year, and the error is not larger than 0.8 degrees C. (2) The prediction skill depends greatly on the season when forecasts start. However, the phenomenon of SPB (spring prediction barrier) is not found in the model. (3) The ensemble forecast method can effectively improve prediction results. A new initialization scheme is discussed.

A HYBRID METHOD OF FRACTIONAL STEPS WITH PREDICTOR-CORRECTOR DIFFERENCE-PSEUDOSPECTRUM FOR NUMERICAL-SOLUTION OF THE CONVECTION-DOMINATED FLOW PROBLEMS

A fractional-step method of predictor-corrector difference-pseudospectrum with unconditional L(2)-stability and exponential convergence is presented. The stability and convergence of this method is strictly proved mathematically for a nonlinear convection-dominated flow. The error estimation is given and the superiority of this method is verified by numerical test.

Molecular evidence for double maternal origins of the diploid hybrid Hippophae goniocarpa (Elaeagnaceae)

Homoploid hybrid plant species are rare, and the mechanisms of their speciation are largely unknown, especially for homoploid hybrid tree species. Two contrasting hypotheses have been proposed to explain the origin of Hippophae goniocarpa: (1) it is a diploid hybrid originating from H. rhamnoides ssp. sinensis x H. neurocarpa ssp. neurocarpa, and (2) it originated via marginal differentiation from H. rhamnoides ssp. sinensis. Regardless of which of these hypotheses is true (if either), previous studies have suggested that H. rhamnoides ssp. sinensis is the only maternal donor for this hybrid species. In this study, we aim to elucidate the maternal composition of H. goniocarpa and to test the two hypotheses. For this purpose, we sequenced the maternal chloroplast DNA trnL-F region of 75 individuals representing H. goniocarpa, H. rhamnoides ssp. sinensis, and H. neurocarpa ssp. neurocarpa in two co-occurring sites of the taxa. Seven haplotypes were identified from three taxonomic units, and their phylogenetic relationships were further constructed by means of maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and network analyses. These seven haplotypes clustered into two distinct, highly divergent lineages. Two haplotypes from one lineage were found in H. rhamnoides ssp. sinensis, and five (representing the other lineage) in H. neurocarpa ssp. neurocarpa. Hippophae goniocarpa shared four common haplotypes from both lineages, but the haplotypes detected from the two populations differed to some extent, and in each case were identical to local haplotypes of the putative parental species. Thus, both H. rhamnoides ssp. sinensis and H. neurocarpa ssp. neurocarpa appear to have together contributed to the maternal establishment of H. goniocarpa. These results clearly demonstrate that the marginal origin hypothesis should be rejected, and support the hybrid origin hypothesis. Hippophae goniocarpa exhibits a sympatric distribution with its two parent species, without occupying new niches or displaying complete ecological isolation. However, this species has effectively developed reproductive isolation from its sympatric parent species. Our preliminary results suggest that H. goniocarpa may provide a useful model system for studying diploid hybrid speciation in trees. (c) 2008 The Linnean Society of London.

基于IP QoS技术的网络机器人遥操作研究

针对基于 Internet机器人遥操作中存在的问题 ,结合 Internet网络技术的最新发展 ,借助 IP Qo S技术的特点和优势 ,本文研究并设计了基于集成业务体系结构的网络机器人遥操作系统 .通过分析 IP Qo S技术和机器人遥操作技术相互结合的可行性与合理性 ,表明该系统能够克服目前在 Internet遥操作过程中存在的问题并可在未来支持 IP Qo S技术的 Internet中发挥作用 .本文提出了该系统的设计原型及实现方法 .

基于Internet的机器人遥操作系统QoS策略与同步问题研究

基于Internet的机器人遥操作系统提供了进行网络控制系统(NCS和多媒体通信等学科交叉领域研究的良好平台和契机。服务质量(QoS)的概念起源于多媒体和远程通信领域，大量的文献表明，将NCS和QOS结合起来的研究和应用还很少。本文分析、研究了基于Internet的机器人遥操作系统作为NCS, Internet上的多媒体应用和实时系统等多学科的交叉领域所具有的特点，对该系统同步和协调问题及具有QOS意识的网络机器人遥操作系统体系结构进行了深入、广泛的研究和探讨。就现有的基于Internet的机器人遥操作系统存在的缺乏对网络可用带宽的适应、缺乏多数据流协调等问题，提出了一种针对网络机器人遥操作系统的端到端QOS自适应体系结构AeQTA o在Internet QoS整体工程尚未完全启动的情况下，AeQTA的目的是将QOS的方法和策略尽量移植到端系统上，在端系统上提供QOS配置接口，实施QOS驱动的控制和管理策略，实现最大的网络效率、最可能好的应用性能和合理的业务流间资源分配的和谐统一。从时钟同步、速率控制、拥塞控制、多传感器信息同步和端到端的调度等几个方面剖析了基于Internet的机器人遥操作系统的协调和同步问题。针对NC S系统的同步容限的量化问题，提出了NCS多传感器反馈中的同步距离的概念和定义。然后，根据基于公式的、TCP－友好的速率控制的基本思路，结合使用应用需求QOS和网络QOS两种尺度调节的基于主媒体流的表象同步方法，将多传感器信息同步和速率控制统一起来，提出了一种速率控制方法TTFRC，提高了系统的实时性和TCP－友好性。为了给基于Internet的机器人遥操作系统研究提供一个真实的实验环境，为相关的策略和算法提供验证平台，我们建立了一个开放的、灵活的、可移植的、可裁减的且成本低的MOMR原型系统。目前，该原型系统已经为基于Internet的机器人遥操作系统深入的理论研究和实际经验积累做出了很大贡献。并且，在此基础上，由中国科学院沈阳自动化研究所和香港中文大学合作，己于2402年1月通过Internet实现了沈阳—香港—密西根三地的MONM远程协作。力求控制工程和计算机网络工程等多学科的结合是本论文工作的努力方向。

Hybrid organic-inorganic phenyl monolithic column for capillary electrochromatography

A novel hybrid organic-inorganic silica-based monolithic column possessing phenyl ligands for reversed-phase (RP) capillary electrochromatography (CEC) is described. The monolithic stationary phase was prepared by in situ co-condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) with phenyltriethoxysilane (PTES) via a two-step catalytic sol-gel procedure to introduce phenyl groups distributed throughout the silica matrix for chromatographic interaction. The hydrolysis and condensation reactions of precursors were chemically controlled through pH variation by adding hydrochloric acid and dodecylamine, respectively. The structural property of the monolithic column can be easily tailored through adjusting the composition of starting sol solution. The effect of PTES/TEOS ratios on the morphology of the created stationary phases was investigated. A variety of neutral and basic analytes were used to evaluate the column performance. The CEC columns exhibited typical RP chromatographic retention mechanism for neutral compounds and had improved peak shape for basic solutes.