A fluorescent molecularly-imprinted polymer gate with temperature and pH as inputs for detection of alpha-fetoprotein

In this work, we have reported a new approach on the use of stimuli-responsive molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for trace level sensing of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), which is a well know cancer biomarker. The stimuli-responsive MIP is composed of three components, a thermo-responsive monomer, a pH responsive component (tyrosine derivative) and a highly fluorescent vinyl silane modified carbon dot. The synthesized AFP-imprinted polymer possesses excellent selectivity towards their template molecule and dual-stimuli responsive behavior. Along with this, the imprinted polymer was also explored as `OR' logic gate with two stimuli (pH and temperature) as inputs. However, the non-imprinted polymers did not have such `OR' gate property, which confirms the role of template binding. The imprinted polymer was also used for estimation of AFP in the concentration range of 3.96-80.0 ng mL(-1), with limit of detection (LOD) 0.42 ng mL(-1). The role of proposed sensor was successfully exploited for analysis of AFP in real human blood plasma, serum and urine sample. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Pd-Catalyzed Hydroborylation of Alkynes: A Ligand Controlled Regioselectivity Switch for the Synthesis of alpha- or beta-Vinylboronates

A ligand controlled selective hydroborylation of alkynes to alpha- or beta-vinylboronates has been developed using a Pd catalyst. The high alpha-selectivity displayed by this reaction can be switched to furnish beta-vinylboronates by altering the ligand from a trialkylphosphine to N-heterocyclic carbene. A variety of terminal alkynes are shown to furnish the corresponding alpha- or beta-vinylboronates in good to excellent selectivity and yield. The mechanistic studies suggest that the solvent is the proton source and bromobenzene functions as an important additive in driving this reaction forward.

Pd-Catalyzed Hydroborylation of Alkynes: A Ligand Controlled Regioselectivity Switch for the Synthesis of alpha- or beta-Vinylboronates

A ligand controlled selective hydroborylation of alkynes to alpha- or beta-vinylboronates has been developed using a Pd catalyst. The high alpha-selectivity displayed by this reaction can be switched to furnish beta-vinylboronates by altering the ligand from a trialkylphosphine to N-heterocyclic carbene. A variety of terminal alkynes are shown to furnish the corresponding alpha- or beta-vinylboronates in good to excellent selectivity and yield. The mechanistic studies suggest that the solvent is the proton source and bromobenzene functions as an important additive in driving this reaction forward.

A strategy to achieve enhanced electromagnetic interference shielding at ultra-low concentration of multiwall carbon nanotubes in P alpha MSAN/PMMA blends in the presence of a random copolymer PS-r-PMMA

A unique strategy was adopted to achieve an ultra-low electrical percolation threshold of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) (0.25 wt%) in a classical partially miscible blend of poly-alpha-methylstyrene-co-acrylonitrile and poly(methyl methacrylate) (P alpha MSAN/PMMA), with a lower critical solution temperature. The polymer blend nanocomposite was prepared by standard melt-mixing followed by annealing above the phase separation temperature. In a two-step mixing protocol, MWNTs were initially melt-mixed with a random PS-r-PMMA copolymer and subsequently diluted with 85/15 P alpha MSAN/PMMA blends in the next mixing step. Mediated by the PS-r-PMMA, the MWNTs were mostly localized at the interface and bridged the PMMA droplets. This strategy led to enhanced electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness at 0.25 wt% MWNTs through multiple scattering from MWNT-covered droplets, as compared to the blends without the copolymer, which were transparent to electromagnetic radiation.

Thermodynamics of the displacive mechanism of alpha(1) transformation in a beta

Thermodynamics of the displacive mechanism of plate-shaped phase alpha(1) was analyzed in beta'Cu-Zn alloys. It was proposed that the displacive transformation of the alpha(1) plate took place in the solute-depleted region formed in the parent phase during the incubation period. The thermodynamic analysis indicated that the driving force of alpha(1) transformation, Delta G, increased with the reduction of x(d), the solute concentration of the depleted region. And, Delta G could overcome-the transformation barrier with solute depletion to a certain degree. In addition, x(d) was higher than the equilibrium concentration in the phase diagram. Therefore, the shear formation of alpha(1) plate in the solute-depleted region was thermodynamically supported.

Pressure and thermal effects on elastic properties of single crystal alpha-Al2O3 from Monte-Carlo simulation

A rectangular structural unit cell of a-Al2O3 is generated from its hexagonal one. For the rectangular structural crystal with a simple interatomic potential [Matsui, Mineral Mag. 58A, 571 (1994)], the relations of lattice constants to homogeneous pressure and temperature are calculated by using Monte-Carlo method at temperature 298K and 0 GPa, respectively. Both numerical results agree with experimental ones fairly well. By comparing pair distribution function, the crystal structure of a-Al2O3 has no phase transition in the range of systematic parameters. Based on the potential model, pressure dependence of isothermal bulk moduli is predicted. Under variation of general strains, which include of external and internal strains, elastic constants of a-Al2O3 in the different homogeneous load are determined. Along with increase of pressure, axial elastic constants increase appreciably, but nonaxial elastic constants are slowly changed.

Molecular dynamics studies on dislocations in crystallites of nanocrystalline alpha-iron

Molecular dynamics simulations have been carried our to study the atomic structure of the crystalline component of nanocrystalline alpha-iron. A two-dimensional computational block is used to simulate the consolidation process. It is found that dislocations are generated in the crystallites during consolidation when the grain size is large enough. The critical value of the grain size for dislocation generation appears to be about 9 nm. This result agrees with experiment qualitatively. AN dislocations that are preset in the original grains glide out during consolidation. It shows that dislocations in the crystallites we generated in consolidation process, but not in the original grains. Higher consolidation pressure results in more dislocations. Furthermore, new interfaces are found within crystallites. These interfaces might result from the special environment of nanomaterial. (C) 1998 Acta Metallurgica Inc.

Dislocations in the crystallites of nanocrystalline alpha-Fe - A molecular dynamics study

Molecular dynamics simulations are carried out in order to study the atomic structure of crystalline component, of nanocrystalline alpha-Fe when it is consolidated from small grains. A two-dimensional computational block is used to simulate the consolidation process. All the preset dislocations in the original grains glide out of them in the consolidation process, but new dislocations can generate when the grain size is large enough. It shows that dislocations exist in the consolidated material rather than in the original grains. Whether dislocations exist in the crystalline component of the resultant model nana-material depends upon grain size. The critical value of grain size for dislocation generation appears to be about 9 nm. This result agrees with experiments qualitatively.

A study on stratification of concentration in crystal-growth of alpha-liio3 by holographic-interferometry

A new thermoplastic-photoconductor laser holographic recording system has been used for real-time and in situ observation of alpha-LiIO3 crystal growth. The influence of crystallization-driven convection on the concentration stratification in solution has been studied under gravity field. It is found that the stratification is closely related to the seed orientation of alpha-LiIO3 crystal. When the optical axis of crystal seed C is parallel to the gravity vector g, the velocity of the concentration stratification is two times larger than that in the case of C perpendicular-to g. It needs 40 h for the crystalline system of alpha-LiIO3 to reach stable concentration distribution (expressed as tau) at 47.6-degrees-C. The time tau is not sensitive to the seed orientation. Our results provide valuable data for designing the crystal growth experiments ia space.

Evaluation of Alpha 1-Antitrypsin and the Levels of mRNA Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase 7, Urokinase Type Plasminogen Activator Receptor and COX-2 for the Diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer

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