Lab-in-a-Tube: A portable imaging spectrophotometer for cost-effective, high-throughput, and label-free analysis of centrifugation processes

Centrifuges serve as essential instruments in modern experimental sciences, facilitating a wide range of routine sample processing tasks that necessitate material sedimentation. However, the study for real time observation of the dynamical process during centrifugation has remained elusive. In this study, we developed an innovative Lab_in_a_Tube imaging spectrophotometer that incorporates capabilities of real time image analysis and programmable interruption. This portable LIAT device costs less than 30 US dollars. Based on our knowledge, it is the first Wi Fi camera built_in in common lab centrifuges with active closed_loop control. We tested our LIAT imaging spectrophotometer with solute solvent interaction investigation obtained from lab centrifuges with quantitative data plotting in a real time manner. Single re circulating flow was real time observed, forming the ring shaped pattern during centrifugation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the very first observation of similar phenomena. We developed theoretical simulations for the single particle in a rotating reference frame, which correlated well with experimental results. We also demonstrated the first demonstration to visualize the blood sedimentation process in clinical lab centrifuges. This remarkable cost effectiveness opens up exciting opportunities for centrifugation microbiology research and paves the way for the creation of a network of computational imaging spectrometers at an affordable price for large scale and continuous monitoring of centrifugal processes in general.Comment: 21 Pages, 6 Figure

Polynomial Algebra (in Chinese)

National audienc

Experimental research on oil film thickness and its microwave scattering during emulsification

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) plays a major role in identifying oil spills on the sea surface. However, obtaining information of oil spill thickness (volume) is still a challenge. Emulsification is an important process affecting the thickness and normalized radar cross section (NRCS) of oil film. Experiments of crude oil emulsification with C-band fully-polarized scatterometer were conducted combining airborne hyperspectral imaging spectrometer and 3D laser scanner observation data, to provide experimental parameters and method to support accurate remote sensing monitoring on marine oil spill. It is further proved that through quantitative homogeneous emulsified oil spill experiments, to a certain extent, the NRCS of oil film increased during the emulsification process of crude oil. The backscattering mechanism of crude oil emulsification was explored using a semi-empirical model (SEM); the change of oil film NRCS was modulated by its dielectric constant and surface roughness, in which the dielectric constant showed a dominant effect. The relationship between thickness and NRCS of oil film was studied under two experimental conditions. The differences of NRCS between oil film and adjacent seawater (Delta sigma(0)) and the damping ratio (DR) were found to have a linear relationship with oil thickness, which were best in the vertical polarization mode (VV) at 45 degrees incident angle during the quantitative crude oil homogeneous emulsification process. In the natural emulsification process of continuous oil spill in which oil film was mixed with both crude oil and emulsified oil, an empirical equation of oil film thickness is preliminarily established. The Delta sigma(0), DR, and the empirical equation of oil film thickness were applied to the marine continuous oil spill incident on a 19-3 oil platform with spaceborne SAR image and successfully explained the distribution of the relative thickness of the oil film

The Effects of <i>n</i>-3 PUFA Supplementation on Bone Metabolism Markers and Body Bone Mineral Density in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of RCTs

Supplemental n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on bone metabolism have yielded inconsistent results. This study aimed to examine the effects of n-3 PUFA supplementation on bone metabolism markers and bone mineral density through a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. A systematic literature search was conducted using the PubMed, Web of Science, and EBSCO databases, updated to 1 March 2023. The intervention effects were measured as standard mean differences (SMD) and mean differences (MD). Additionally, n-3 PUFA with the untreated control, placebo control, or lower-dose n-3 PUFA supplements were compared, respectively. Further, 19 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (22 comparisons, n = 2546) showed that n-3 PUFA supplementation significantly increased blood n-3 PUFA (SMD: 2.612; 95% CI: 1.649 to 3.575). However, no significant effects were found on BMD, CTx-1, NTx-1, BAP, serum calcium, 25(OH)D, PTH, CRP, and IL-6. Subgroup analyses showed significant increases in femoral neck BMD in females (0.01, 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.02), people aged n-3 PUFA only (0.36, 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.66), and in studies lasting ≤6 months (0.29, 95% CI: 0.11 to 0.47). NTx-1 decreased in both genders (−9.66, 95% CI: −15.60 to −3.71), and serum calcium reduction was found in studies lasting >6 months (−0.19, 95% CI: −0.37 to −0.01). The present study demonstrated that n-3 PUFA supplementation might not have a significant effect on bone mineral density or bone metabolism markers, but have some potential benefits for younger postmenopausal subjects in the short term. Therefore, additional high-quality, long-term randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are warranted to fully elucidate the potential benefits of n-3 PUFA supplementation, as well as the combined supplementation of n-3 PUFA, on bone health

Uncovering a conserved vulnerability site in SARS-CoV-2 by a human antibody

An essential step for SARS-CoV-2 infection is the attachment to the host cell receptor by its Spike receptor-binding domain (RBD). Most of the existing RBD-targeting neutralizing antibodies block the receptor-binding motif (RBM), a mutable region with the potential to generate neutralization escape mutants. Here, we isolated and structurally characterized a non-RBM-targeting monoclonal antibody (FD20) from convalescent patients. FD20 engages the RBD at an epitope distal to the RBM with a KD of 5.6 nM, neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 including the current Variants of Concern such as B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P.1, and B.1.617.2 (Delta), displays modest cross-reactivity against SARS-CoV, and reduces viral replication in hamsters. The epitope coincides with a predicted “ideal” vulnerability site with high functional and structural constraints. Mutation of the residues of the conserved epitope variably affects FD20-binding but confers little or no resistance to neutralization. Finally, in vitro mode-of-action characterization and negative-stain electron microscopy suggest a neutralization mechanism by which FD20 destructs the Spike. Our results reveal a conserved vulnerability site in the SARS-CoV-2 Spike for the development of potential antiviral drugs