4 research outputs found
A comparison of digital and conventional sketching: Implications for conceptual design ideation
The study compared the use of digital and conventional sketching as influence upon conceptual design work. Results show a significantly increased focus of attention upon the sketching tool in the digital condition compared to conventional sketching with pen and paper. Both a statistical analysis and fine-grained qualitative comparison illustrate how increased frequencies of sketching tool focused activities resulted in both significantly more time spent in problem orientated work and the fragmentation of attempts to transition from problem definition to generative solution ideation. In contrast, reduced tool-focused activity in the conventional sketching condition appeared to provide opportunities for significantly increased solution ideation through design-driven moves to explore reflect upon and develop solution propositions. The implications of a tool orientated focus of attention are discussed in terms of its impact upon reflective solution ideation during conceptual design
Trifluoromethylation of Alkenes by Visible Light Photoredox Catalysis
A method for trifluoromethylation of alkenes has been
developed
employing visible light photoredox catalysis with CF<sub>3</sub>I,
Ru(Phen)<sub>3</sub>Cl<sub>2</sub>, and DBU. This process works especially
well for terminal alkenes to give alkenyl-CF<sub>3</sub> products
with only <i>E</i>-stereochemistry. The mild reaction conditions
enable the trifluoromethylation of a range of alkenes that bear various
functional groups
Cloning and Expression Analysis of Bioluminescence Genes in <i>Omphalotus guepiniiformis</i> Reveal Stress-Dependent Regulation of Bioluminescence
Bioluminescence is a type of chemiluminescence that arises from a luciferase-catalyzed oxidation reaction of luciferin. Molecular biology and comparative genomics have recently elucidated the genes involved in fungal bioluminescence and the evolutionary history of their clusters. However, most studies on fungal bioluminescence have been limited to observing the changes in light intensity under various conditions. To understand the molecular basis of bioluminescent responses in Omphalotus guepiniiformis under different environmental conditions, we cloned and sequenced the genes of hispidin synthase, hispidin-3-hydroxylase, and luciferase enzymes, which are pivotal in the fungal bioluminescence pathway. Each gene showed high sequence similarity to that of other luminous fungal species. Furthermore, we investigated their transcriptional changes in response to abiotic stresses. Wound stress enhanced the bioluminescence intensity by increasing the expression of bioluminescence pathway genes, while temperature stress suppressed the bioluminescence intensity via the non-transcriptional pathway. Our data suggested that O. guepiniiformis regulates bioluminescence to respond differentially to specific environmental stresses. To our knowledge, this is the first study on fungal bioluminescence at the gene expression level. Further studies are required to address the biological and ecological meaning of different bioluminescence responses in changing environments, and O. quepiniiformis could be a potential model species.</p
Efficient Enrichment and Analysis of Vicinal-Diol-Containing Flavonoid Molecules Using Boronic-Acid-Functionalized Particles and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry
Detection and quantitation of flavonoids
are relatively difficult
compared to those of other small-molecule analytes because flavonoids
undergo rapid metabolic processes, resulting in their elimination
from the body. Here, we report an efficient enrichment method for
facilitating the analysis of vicinal-diol-containing flavonoid molecules
using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass
spectrometry. In our strategy, boronic-acid-functionalized polyacrylamide
particles were used, where boronic acids bound to vicinal diols to
form boronate monoesters at basic pH. This complex remained intact
during the enrichment processes, and the vicinal-diol-containing flavonoids
were easily separated by centrifugation and subsequent acidic treatments.
The selectivity and limit of detection of our strategy were confirmed
by mass spectrometry analysis, and the validity was assessed by performing
the detection and quantitation of quercetin in mouse organs