Excitation of Broadband Surface Plasmons with Dye Molecules

Rhodamine B and Rhodamine 6G molecules were doped in polymethyl methacrylate solution. Then a silver film on the glass substrate was spin coated with the mixed solution to get a multilayer film. Under the irradiation of a 532-nm green laser, broadband surface plasmons (SPs) on the silver film were generated due to the coupling between the broadband fluorescence and the SP modes allowed in the multilayer film. From the back focal plane image of a leakage radiation microscopy, propagation constants of SP waves at different wavelengths were derived. Numerical calculations were also carried out and were consistent with the experimental results.     

D-ring modified novel isosteviol derivatives: Design, synthesis and cytotoxic activity evaluation

A series of polyhydric, amino alcohol and tricyclic derivatives were facilely synthesized by D-ring modification of isosteviol. These compounds were screened for their cytotoxic activities against four human tumor cell lines in vitro. Among them, the 15-α-aminomethyl-16-β-hydroxyl isosteviol 23 exhibits significant cytotoxicity superior to the positive control (cisplatin) against EC9706, PC-3 and HCT-116 cell lines.     

Perceptual grouping without awareness: superiority of Kanizsa triangle in breaking interocular suppression

Much information could be processed unconsciously. However, there is no direct evidence on whether perceptual grouping could occur without awareness. To answer this question, we investigated whether a Kanizsa triangle (an example of perceptual grouping) is processed differently from stimuli with the same local components but are ungrouped or weakly grouped. Specifically, using a suppression time paradigm we tested whether a Kanizsa triangle would emerge from interocular continuous flash suppression sooner than control stimuli. Results show a significant advantage of the Kanizsa triangle: the Kanizsa triangle emerged from suppression noise significantly faster than the control stimulus with the local Pacmen randomly rotated (t(9)?=?-2.78, p?=?0.02); and also faster than the control stimulus with all Pacmen rotated 180° (t(11)?=?-3.20, p<0.01). Additional results demonstrated that the advantage of the grouped Kanizsa triangle could not be accounted for by the faster detection speed at the conscious level for the Kanizsa figures on a dynamic noise background. Our results indicate that certain properties supporting perceptual grouping could be processed in the absence of awareness.     

A novel and efficient assay for identification and quantification of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans in bioleaching samples

Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is a Gram-negative, acidophilic, and chemolithotrophic bacterium that is active in bioleaching. The leaching efficacy is directly influenced by the biomass changes of this specie in bioleaching microbial community. In order to perform a simple and sensitive assay on A. ferrooxidans from mixed strains in this process, a novel assay was developed based on sandwich hybridization assay with the aid of S1 nuclease treatment and fluorescent labeling. In the work, a designed DNA probe complementary to the conservative region of its 16S rRNA was synthesized, which showed high accuracy for distinguishing homologous species with the exclusion of even-only two base pairs difference. The specificity of this assay was verified in different systems with mixed strains, and the quantitative result was proved by comparison of microscopic cell counting. The detection sensitivity was about 8 × 10(2) cells/ml and the inter-assay coefficient of variation of three independent assays was from 3.8 to 7.7 %, respectively. In addition, the cycle of assay was about 3-4 h when the cost estimated was less than $0.5 per sample. This assay method might be applied for identifying and monitoring any kind of bacterial strain from a mixed microbial flora in bioleaching or other areas.     

胡桃楸提取液对肿瘤细胞增殖的抑制作用

目的考察胡桃楸提取液对肿瘤细胞Hela、K562的抑制作用和相关机制。方法用MTT方法分析胡桃楸提取液对Hela、K562细胞增殖的影响。采用端粒酶PCR ELISA试剂盒分析胡桃楸提取液对Hela、K562细胞端粒酶的影响。结果 Hela细胞24、48和72 h的LD50分别为406.18μg/mL、319.48μg/mL和112.84μg/mL。K562细胞24 h LD50为154.50μg/mL。HLF细胞LD50为918.69μg/mL。胡桃楸提取液可抑制Hela细胞和K562细胞的端粒酶活性,而对HLF细胞端粒酶活性影响不大。结论胡桃楸提取液对Hela细胞、K562细胞有抑制作用,在低浓度下对HLF细胞杀伤不大。对肿瘤细胞抑制作用可能与抑制端粒酶活性相关。