7 research outputs found
Gold Nanorods as Colorful Chromogenic Substrates for Semiquantitative Detection of Nucleic Acids, Proteins, and Small Molecules with the Naked Eye
Herein,
we report for the first time a colorful chromogenic substrate, which
displays vivid color responses in the presence of different concentration
of analytes. Our investigation reveals that the selective shortening
of gold nanorods (AuNRs) could generate a series of distinct colors
that covers nearly the whole visible range from 400 to 760 nm. These
vivid colors can be easily distinguished by the naked eye; as a result,
the accuracy of visual inspection could be greatly improved. Next,
we demonstrate the utility of AuNRs as multicolor chromogenic substrate
to develop a number of colorimetric immunoassay methods, e.g., multicolor
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), multicolor competitive
ELISA, and multicolor magnetic immunoassay (MIA). These methods allow
us to visually quantify the concentration of a broad range of target
molecules with the naked eye, and the obtained results are highly
consistent with those state-of-the-art techniques that are tested
by the sophisticated apparatus. These multicolor portable and cost-effective
immunoassay approaches could be potentially useful for a number of
applications, for example, in-home personal healthcare, on-site environmental
monitoring, and food inspection in the field
Data_Sheet_2_Developing and validating a nomogram for cognitive impairment in the older people based on the NHANES.docx
ObjectiveTo use the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES) to develop and validate a risk-prediction nomogram for cognitive impairment in people aged over 60 years.MethodsA total of 2,802 participants (aged ≥ 60 years) from NHANES were analyzed. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used for variable selection and model development. ROC-AUC, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the nomogram’s performance.ResultsThe nomogram included five predictors, namely sex, moderate activity, taste problem, age, and education. It demonstrated satisfying discrimination with a AUC of 0.744 (95% confidence interval, 0.696–0.791). The nomogram was well-calibrated according to the calibration curve. The DCA demonstrated that the nomogram was clinically useful.ConclusionThe risk-prediction nomogram for cognitive impairment in people aged over 60 years was effective. All predictors included in this nomogram can be easily accessed from its’ user.</p
Data_Sheet_1_Developing and validating a nomogram for cognitive impairment in the older people based on the NHANES.csv
ObjectiveTo use the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES) to develop and validate a risk-prediction nomogram for cognitive impairment in people aged over 60 years.MethodsA total of 2,802 participants (aged ≥ 60 years) from NHANES were analyzed. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used for variable selection and model development. ROC-AUC, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the nomogram’s performance.ResultsThe nomogram included five predictors, namely sex, moderate activity, taste problem, age, and education. It demonstrated satisfying discrimination with a AUC of 0.744 (95% confidence interval, 0.696–0.791). The nomogram was well-calibrated according to the calibration curve. The DCA demonstrated that the nomogram was clinically useful.ConclusionThe risk-prediction nomogram for cognitive impairment in people aged over 60 years was effective. All predictors included in this nomogram can be easily accessed from its’ user.</p
A Simple and Convenient Aptasensor for Protein Using an Electronic Balance as a Readout
The electronic balance,
one of the most common pieces of equipment
in the laboratory, is normally used to directly measure the weight
of a target with high accuracy. However, little attention has been
paid to the extension of its applications. In this study, an electronic
balance was used as a readout to develop a novel aptasensor for protein
quantification for the first time. Thrombin was selected as a model
target, and its two aptamers recognizing different sites of the protein
were used (one aptamer was immobilized on the surface of magnetic
microparticles and the other aptamer was functionalized with platinum
nanoparticles). The two aptamers were specifically bound with the
thrombin to form a sandwich structure; thus, the platinum nanoparticles
were linked to the magnetic microparticles, and they were separated
by a magnet easily. The captured platinum nanoparticles effectively
catalyzed the decomposition of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>, generating
a large volume of O<sub>2</sub> to discharge a certain amount of water
in a drainage device, because the pressure in the vial is higher than
that outside of the vial. The weight of water was accurately measured
by an electronic balance. The weight of water increased with the increasing
of the thrombin concentration in the range of 0 to 100 nM with a detection
limit of 2.8 nM. This is the first time the use of an electronic balance
as a signal readout for biomolecule quantitation in bioassay has been
reported
A comprehensive study on the longissius dorsi muscle of Ashdan yaks under different feeding regimes based on transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses
Yak is an important dominant livestock species at high altitude, and the growth performance of yak has obvious differences under different feeding methods. This experiment was conducted to compare the effects of different feeding practices on growth performance and meat quality of yaks through combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses. In terms of yak growth performance, compared with traditional grazing, in-house feeding can significantly improve the average daily weight gain, carcass weight and net meat weight of yaks; in terms of yak meat quality, in-house feeding can effectively improve the quality of yak meat. A combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis revealed 31 co-enriched pathways, among which arginine metabolism, proline metabolism and glycerophospholipid metabolism may be involved in the development of the longissimus dorsi muscle of yak and the regulation of meat quality-related traits. The experimental results increased our understanding of yak meat quality and provided data materials for subsequent deep excavation of the mechanism of yak meat quality.</p
Data_Sheet_1_Multi-omics revealed the effects of dietary energy levels on the rumen microbiota and metabolites in yaks under house-feeding conditions.pdf
Yak (Bos grunniens) is a unique large ruminant species in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). Changing the energy levels of their rations can significantly improve their growth performance. Therefore, studying the effects of dietary energy levels on the rumen microflora and metabolites of yak is crucial for enhancing the development of the yak industry. Currently, there is a lack of understanding regarding the impact of feeding energy diets on rumen fermentation parameters, microbial functions, and metabolites. This study was designed to determine the appropriate energy level for feeding yak. Three test diets with metabolizable energy levels of 7.57 MJ/kg, 9.44 MJ/kg, and 11.9 MJ/kg were used and the concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA) in rumen fluid was measured. The microbial communities, functions, and metabolites in yaks were studied by 16S rRNA sequencing, metagenome, and LC-MS non-targeted metabolomics to investigate the relationships among rumen fermentation parameters, microbial diversity, and metabolites. Ration energy levels significantly affect total VFA, acetate, propionate, butyrate, iso-valerate, valerate, and acetate/propionate (p < 0.05). At the phylum level, the dominant phyla in all three treatment groups were Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteriota. At the genus level, the abundance of the unclassified_o__Bacteroidales, norank_f_Muribaculaceae, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, and Family _XIII_AD3011_group showed significant differences (p < 0.05) and were significantly correlated with differential metabolites screened for phosphatidylcholine [PC(16:0/0:0), PC(18:3/0:0)], uridine 3′-monophosphate, and adenosine monophosphate, etc. CAZymes family analysis showed that GHs and CEs differed significantly among the three groups. In addition, differential metabolites were mainly enriched in the pathways of lipid metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, and biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites, and the concentrations of differential metabolites were correlated with microbial abundance. In summary, this study analyzed the effects of ration energy levels on rumen microorganisms and metabolites of yaks and their relationships. The results provided a scientific basis for the selection of dietary energy for yaks in the house feeding period in the future.</p
Controllable Synthesis and Catalytic Performance of Nanocrystals of Rare-Earth-Polyoxometalates
Large-scale
isolation of nanocrystals of rare-earth-polyoxometalates
(RE-POMs) catalysts is important in fundamental research and applications.
Here, we synthesized a family of monomeric RE-POMs by the self-assembly
of Ta/W mixed-addendum POM {P<sub>2</sub>W<sub>15</sub>Ta<sub>3</sub>O<sub>62</sub>} and rare-earth (RE) ions. These RE-POMs with molecular
formulas of [REÂ(H<sub>2</sub>O)<sub>7</sub>]<sub>3</sub>ÂP<sub>2</sub>W<sub>15</sub>Ta<sub>3</sub>O<sub>62</sub>·<i>n</i>H<sub>2</sub>O (RE = Y, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb,
and Lu) are all electroneutral molecular clusters, insoluble in water
and common organic solvents. The electronic structures, electrochemical
properties, and catalytic activities of them have been investigated
by experimental and computational methods. In particular, based on
a mild and controllable synthetic process, a convenient and controllable
approach to prepare nanocrystals and self-organized aggregates of
these monomers has been developed. They exhibit remarkable heterogeneous
catalytic activity for cyanosilylation. Both the increased Lewis acid
strength of RE in the title compounds, as indicated by theoretical
calculations, and the decreased particle size contribute to their
high catalytic performances