Boosting the Capacitor Performance of the Metal Organic Frameworks Derived V2O5 Nanoflower by Cu Doping.

Due to its ultrahigh theoretical capacitance, vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) is considered to be a valid candidate for advanced supercapacitors. However, because of the low electron/electrolyte transfer rate, the capacitive performance still remains to be improved. In this report, Cu doping is adopted to improve the capacitive performance by a two-steps strategy consisting of microwave-assisted solvothermal and postannealing treatments. The electrochemical results indicate that the Cu doping was beneficial for improving the specific capacitance, extending the potential window, and improving the rate ability and long-term stability of V2O5. Furthermore, the mechanism for the performance improvement is explained in detail by combining theoretical calculation and experiments. The results indicated that, compared with that of undoped V2O5, the larger interplanar spacing, better electrical conductivity, a larger proportion of V3+/V4+, and more abundant oxygen vacancies result in an improved capacitive performance. Our proposed Cu-doped V2O5 (Cu-V2O5) can be used as both a positive electrode and a negative electrode for the assembly of the symmetric supercapacitor, which can be used as an energy storage device for light emitting diode lamps.

Determination of diethylstilbestrol in environmental water based on electrochemical senser modified with vanadium based metal organic framework material composite.

In this research, the MIL-47/ACET/Nafion/GCE electrochemical senser for the determination of diethylstilbestrol (DES) was prepared with vanadyl sulfate (VOSO4·nH2O) and terephthalic acid (H2BDC) as the main raw materials, compounded with acetylene black (ACET) and perfluorosulfonic acid polymer (Nafion). The compound DES belongs to the category of estrogens, and prolonged exposure to the environment can have detrimental effects on the physiological functioning of both humans and animals. Due to the strong DES enrichment performance of MIL-47(V-MOFs) with large specific surface area, in addition to the excellent conductivity and electrocatalysis of composite materials, this modified senser had good electrochemical response to DES. With differential pulse voltammetry, in optimum condition of 0.1 M NaH2PO4-Na2HPO4at pH = 7.0, potential interval of -1.0 to 1.0 V, enrichment time of 120 s and enrichment potential of 0.2 V, there was a good linear relationship between peak current and the concentration of DES over the range of 0.1 and 50µM, and the limit of detection was 0.008µM. The sensor accurately detected DES in actual water samples, with recovery rates ranging from 89.21% to 105.3%. The electrochemical sensor was simple to prepare and had practical significance for the detection of DES in water. The research results of the sensor provide another alternative analytical means for the sensitive detection of DES in the environment, which is important for maintaining public health.

Theoretical Study of the Temperature- and Pressure-Dependent Rate Constants for Nine Reactions between COn (n = 0-4), Om (m = 1-3), C2O, and C3O2 during the Radiolysis of Carbon Dioxide.

We investigate the reaction pathways of nine important CO2-related reactions using the revDSD-PBEP86-D3(BJ)/jun-cc-pV(T+d)Z level and simultaneously employ an accurate composite method (jun-Cheap) based on coupled-cluster (CC) theory. Subsequently, the Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus/master equation (RRKM/ME) is solved to calculate the temperature- and pressure-dependent rate constants. This work investigates reactions involving transition states that have been overlooked in previous literature, including the dissociation of singlet-state C3O2, the triple channel formation of C2O + CO to form C3O2, and the formation of O3 + CO. The results show that CO3 is highly prone to dissociation at high temperatures. Finally, the kinetic data show that over a wide temperature range, our calculations are consistent with previous experimental measurements. The majority of the reaction rate constants studied exhibit significant pressure dependence, while the O3 + CO reaction is pressure-independent at low temperatures. These results are instrumental in the development of detailed kinetic models for the CO2 radiolysis reaction network.

Comparative efficacy of concurrent training types on lower limb strength and muscular hypertrophy: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Objective: This study aims to compare, through quantitative analysis, the effectiveness of different endurance training types on increasing lower limb strength and muscle cross-sectional area (MCSA) in concurrent training. Methods: This systematic literature search was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) [PROSPERO ID: CRD42023396886]. Web of Science, SportDiscuss, Pubmed, Cochrane, and Scopus were systematically searched from their inception date to October 20, 2023. Results: A total of 40 studies (841 participants) were included in this meta-analysis. MCSA analysis showed that, compared to resistance training alone, concurrent high-intensity interval running training and resistance training and concurrent moderate-intensity continuous cycling training and resistance training were more effective (SMD = 0.15, 95% CI = -0.46 to 0.76, and SMD = 0.07, 95% CI = -0.24 to 0.38 respectively), while other modalities of concurrent training not. Lower body maximal strength analysis showed that all modalities of concurrent training were inferior to resistance training alone, but concurrent high-intensity interval training and resistance training showed an advantage in four different concurrent training modalities (SMD = -0.08, 95% CI = -0.25 to 0.08). For explosive strength, only concurrent high-intensity interval training and resistance training was superior to resistance training (SMD = 0.06, 95% CI = -0.21 to 0.33). Conclusion: Different endurance training types have an impact on the effectiveness of concurrent training, particularly on lower limb strength. Adopting high-intensity interval running as the endurance training type in concurrent training can effectively minimize the adverse effects on lower limb strength and MCSA.

Compaction of Hydrophobic Molybdenum Disulfide Coatings for Promoting Tribological Behaviors on Engineering Steel.

Ambient environment has a crucial effect on the lubrication performance of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) coatings. In this work, we fabricated porous MoS2 coatings via a facile optimized aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD) method. It is found that the obtained MoS2 coating demonstrates outstanding antifriction and antiwear lubrication performance with the coefficient of friction (COF) and wear rate as low as 0.035 and 3.4 × 10-7 mm3/Nm in lower humidity (15 ± 5)%, respectively, which is comparable to the lubrication ability of pure MoS2 in vacuum. In addition, the hydrophobic property of porous MoS2 coatings is suitable for infusing lubrication oil to achieve stable solid-liquid lubrication in higher humidity (85 ± 2)%. The composite lubrication system shows excellent tribological behavior in both dry and wet environments, which will alleviate the sensitivity of the MoS2 coating to the environment and ensure the service life of the engineering steel in complex industrial backgrounds.

Selectfluor-Mediated Electrophilic Annulation of 2-Alkynyl Biaryls with Diorganyl Diselenides.

A general and efficient method for the synthesis of various selanyl phenanthrenes/polycyclic heteroaromatics through the electrophilic annulation of 2-alkynyl biaryls with diorganyl diselenides under metal-free and mild conditions was established. The sulfanyl phenanthrene was also obtained in moderate yields.

Quantifying the spatial spillover effects of non-pharmaceutical interventions on pandemic risk.

BACKGROUND: Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) implemented in one place can affect neighboring regions by influencing people's behavior. However, existing epidemic models for NPIs evaluation rarely consider such spatial spillover effects, which may lead to a biased assessment of policy effects. METHODS: Using the US state-level mobility and policy data from January 6 to August 2, 2020, we develop a quantitative framework that includes both a panel spatial econometric model and an S-SEIR (Spillover-Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered) model to quantify the spatial spillover effects of NPIs on human mobility and COVID-19 transmission. RESULTS: The spatial spillover effects of NPIs explain [Formula: see text] [[Formula: see text] credible interval: 52.8-[Formula: see text]] of national cumulative confirmed cases, suggesting that the presence of the spillover effect significantly enhances the NPI influence. Simulations based on the S-SEIR model further show that increasing interventions in only a few states with larger intrastate human mobility intensity significantly reduce the cases nationwide. These region-based interventions also can carry over to interstate lockdowns. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides a framework for evaluating and comparing the effectiveness of different intervention strategies conditional on NPI spillovers, and calls for collaboration from different regions.

Generating Topologically Consistent BIM Models of Utility Tunnels from Point Clouds.

The development and utilization of urban underground space is an important way to solve the "great urban disease". As one of the most important types of urban underground foundations, utility tunnels have become increasingly popular in municipal construction. The investigation of utility tunnels is a general task and three-dimensional laser scanning technology has played a significant role in surveying and data acquisition. However, three-dimensional laser scanning technology suffers from noise and occlusion in narrow congested utility tunnel spaces, and the acquired point clouds are imperfect; hence, errors and redundancies are introduced in the extracted geometric elements. The topology of reconstructed BIM objects cannot be ensured. Therefore, in this study, a hierarchical segmentation method for point clouds and a topology reconstruction method for building information model (BIM) objects in utility tunnels are proposed. The point cloud is segmented into facades, planes, and pipelines hierarchically. An improved mean-shift algorithm is proposed to extract wall line features and a local symmetry-based medial axis extraction algorithm is proposed to extract pipelines from point clouds. A topology reconstruction method that searches for the neighbor information of wall and pipeline centerlines and establishes collinear, perpendicular, and intersecting situations is used to reconstruct a topologically consistent 3D model of a utility tunnel. An experiment on the Guangzhou's Nansha District dataset successfully reconstructed 24 BIM wall objects and 12 pipelines within the utility tunnel, verifying the efficiency of the method.

From waste-activated sludge to algae: a self-reliant cultivation process in photoreactors using saline conditions.

In this study, microalgae-bacteria (MB) systems using saline conditions (3 and 5% salinity) were built in order to use waste-activated sludge (AS) as raw material for cultivating lipid-rich microalgae. Algae were observed to be flourishing in 60 days of operation, which totally used the N and P released from the sludge biomass. A prominent improvement of lipid content in MB consortia was obtained under algae growth and salinity stimulation, which occupied 119-136 mg/g-SS rather than a low content of 12.1 mg/g-SS in AS. Lipid enrichment also brought a 3.1-3.3 times total heat release (THR) in the MB biomass. The marine spherical algae Porphyridium, as well as filamentous Geitlerinema, Nodularia, Leptolyngbya were found to be the main lipid producers and self-flocculated to 23.0% (R1) and 33.5% (R2) volume under the effect of residue EPS. This study had a big meaning in not only waste sludge reduction but also in manufacturing useful bioenergy products.

Fabrication of C-Doped Titanium Dioxide Coatings with Improved Anti-icing and Tribological Behavior.

The accumulation of ice on solid surfaces can cause serious losses and accidents. Current anti-icing/deicing coatings find it difficult to maintain their properties under frequent mechanical wear. In this work, the aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition method was employed to prepare C-doped titanium dioxide coatings that have both photothermal properties and excellent wear resistance. The temperature of the sample surface reached 37.6 °C after 2 sun (2 kW/m2) irradiation for 30 min at -30 °C. Compared to a pristine titanium dioxide coating, the C-doped titanium dioxide coatings demonstrated superior antifriction behavior, with the friction coefficient reduced by 47% under dry conditions. These wear resistance properties make C-doped titanium dioxide coatings highly suitable for a range of outdoor applications, especially for anti-icing purposes.

Robust Transparent Titanium Dioxide Coating Based on the AACVD Process for Anticorrosion Marine Exploration.

Transparent and robust titanium dioxide (TiO2) coatings were prepared by the facile aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD) method. The effects of deposition temperature and precursor concentration on the crystal growth and optical properties of TiO2 coating were investigated. It is found that the obtained TiO2 coating has strong adhesion to the substrate, which can effectively avoid mechanical scratches and wear by sharp objects, adhesive tape and steel wool. Besides, in the marine corrosion protection test, both the open circuit potential and electrochemical impedance of TiO2 coating immersed in artificial seawater for different times are greater than those of the bare S420 steel substrate. Particularly, the high-frequency phase angle of the TiO2 coating increases, and the impedance value at low frequency of 0.10 Hz is about 2 orders of magnitude higher than that of the bare S420 substrate. In addition, the significant decrease of corrosion products on the surface further proves that the deposited TiO2 coating exhibits better corrosion inhibition and excellent anticorrosion properties, which is expected in application of the surface coating protection of the marine exploration lens.

Rapid LC-MS/MS detection of different carbapenemase types in carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales.

Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-2, metallo-beta-lactamases (MBL), and oxacillinase (OXA)-48-like carbapenemases are considered the most important carbapenemases. In vitro studies have demonstrated that the carbapenemase activity of KPC-2 and MBL can be inhibited by 3-aminophenylboronic acid and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), respectively. Understanding the carbapenemase types expressed in carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) is of great significance to clinical therapies. Liquid chromatography-coupled tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is fast, stable, and specific; and is considered the gold standard method for measuring small molecules. In this study, we developed carbapenemase inhibition tests combined with LC-MS/MS to rapidly identify carbapenemase types. A total of 295 clinical isolates were examined, including 212 KPC-2 producers, 29 MBL producers, 15 OXA-48-like producers, 3 KPC-2 + OXA-232 producers, and 36 carbapenem-sensitive strains. We used LC-MS/MS to determine the carbapenemase types by measuring the ratio of the hydrolyzed meropenem peak areas in the presence and absence of different inhibitors. The sensitivity and specificity of LC-MS/MS in detecting single KPC-2 producers were 97.64% and 100.00%, respectively, and 96.55% and 100.00% for MBL producers, respectively. In addition, the sensitivity and specificity of LC-MS/MS in detecting single OXA-48-like producers were both 100.00% when extending incubation time up to 2.5 h. LC-MS/MS showed excellent agreement in detecting carbapenemase types using the modified carbapenem inactivation (mCIM)/EDTA-carbapenem inactivation assay (eCIM) (kappa = 0.93 for serine carbapenemases and kappa = 0.98 for MBL carbapenemases). In this study, LC-MS/MS demonstrated excellent detection of different carbapenemase types, showing potential reliability in future clinical applications.

Evaluation of LAMP assay using phenotypic tests and PCR for detection of blaKPC gene among clinical samples.

BACKGROUND: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infection constitutes a public health threat, which blaKPC was the major carbapenemases concerned in China. Timely and efficient diagnosis is of paramount importance for controlling the spread of drug-resistant bacteria. Here, we develop an approach based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) for rapid confirmation of blaKPC within 60 min from samples collected. METHODS: We designed primers specific to detect blaKPC and evaluated it for its sensitivity and specificity of detection using real-time monitoring. Five hundred forty-six clinical specimens were analyzed by the LAMP assay and compared with the phenotypic tests and PCR. The samples with inconsistent results were further verified by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: The LAMP assay displayed a detection limit of 1 × 102  CFU/ml, which was 10-fold more sensitive than the PCR. No cross-reactivity was observed for strains that produced other types of ß-lactamase. Furthermore, we demonstrated concordant results (Kappa > 0.75) between the genotypic method and phenotypic tests for the 546 clinical samples. The data presented in this study suggested that the genotypic method is a reliable assay for identifying blaKPC-induced CRE in China. The results of the Sanger sequencing indicate that the developed method not only has high accuracy but also meets the need for rapid diagnosis, while the PCR method is prone to false negatives. CONCLUSIONS: We successfully constructed a LAMP technique that can be used for auxiliary diagnosis of CRE, which is faster, cheaper, and more accurate than the PCR. It may therefore be routinely applied for detection of blaKPC producers in routine clinical laboratories.

Highly sensitive detection of three protein toxins via SERS-lateral flow immunoassay based on SiO2@Au nanoparticles.

We developed surface-enhanced Raman scattering-lateral flow immunoassay (SERS-LFIA) biosensor strips based on SiO2@Au nanoparticles (NPs) for the specific and highly sensitive detection of ricin, staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), and botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A). SiO2@Au NPs were used to prepare SERS tags with useful properties, such as light weight, uniform particle size, good dispersion, and high SERS performance. The detection limit of the SERS-LFIA strips developed herein for ricin, SEB, and BoNT/A was 0.1, 0.05, and 0.1 ng/mL. Their sensitivity was 100-fold higher than that of colloidal gold-LFIA strips, and the same batch of strips had good repeatability. Moreover, the test was completed within 15 min, indicating that the strips are suitable for the rapid and on-site detection of the said toxins. The SERS-LFIA strips based on SiO2@Au NPs developed herein for the detection of toxins are important to the prevention of bioterrorism attacks.

A novel LC-MS/MS method for the quantification of ulipristal acetate in human plasma: Application to a pharmacokinetic study in healthy Chinese female subjects.

OBJECTIVES: A LC-MS/MS method for the detection of ulipristal acetate in humans which was not only simple and rapid in sample pretreatment process and chromatographic condition, but also highly selective and sensitive in MS condition was developed, and the fully validated method was applied for investigating the pharmacokinetic properties of ulipristal acetate following single oral administration of Esmya in healthy Chinese subjects for the first time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After single-step protein precipitation with methanol, ulipristal acetate and ulipristal acetate-d3 (IS) were chromatographed on an ACE Excel 3 C18-PFP column with gradient elution procedure, and detected by positive electrospray ionization with multiple reaction monitoring mode using the respective precursor-product ion transitions of m/z 476.2→134.1 for ulipristal acetate and m/z 479.3→416.2 for IS. RESULTS: The assay has desirable accuracy and precision over a wide linear range of 0.0500 - 100 ng/mL for ulipristal acetate, and no interference caused by endogenous compounds was detected. It also exhibits satisfactory matrix effect, extraction recovery, and stability. Cmax of ulipristal acetate after oral administration of a single 5-mg dose of 47.7 ± 27.7 ng/mL was detected at 0.91 ± 0.98 h (tmax) with AUC0-t of 112 ± 49 ng·h/mL. Ulipristal acetate was eliminated slowly with T1/2 of 46.4 ± 14.0 h. CONCLUSIONS: The major advantages of the current approach involve one-step precipitation of plasma protein with methanol, high selectivity with a lower limit of quantitation of 0.0500 ng/mL, small plasma volume of 50 µL for processing and a short run time of 4 min per sample, which allow its applicability for a pharmacokinetic study in healthy Chinese subjects.

A simplified and sensitive LC-APCI-MS/MS method for the quantification of propofol: Application to a bioequivalence study in healthy Chinese subjects.

OBJECTIVES: Propofol has become the preferred anesthetic in recent years due to its desirable pharmacologic properties. However, propofol possesses a very narrow therapeutic window between the favorable clinical effect and potentially lethal toxicity, therefore, a rapid, simplified, and sensitive liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-APCI-MS/MS) method is presented in this study for the quantification of propofol in human plasma using the isotope-labeled internal standard (IS) of propofol-d17, and then applied in a bioequivalence study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sample preparation was accomplished through simple one-step precipitation of plasma protein with acetonitrile. Chromatographic separation was acquired on an ACE Excel 3 Super C18 column (2.1 × 50 mm, 3 µm) using gradient elution at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. The MS detection was achieved in the negative ion APCI by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode using the transitions of m/z 177.2 → 161.0 for propofol and m/z 194.2 → 174.2 for IS, respectively. 30 healthy Chinese subjects were enrolled in the open-label, randomized, two-period, two-sequence, cross-over bioequivalence study after single-dose intravenous administration of propofol medium-chain triglyceride and long-chain triglyceride (MCT/LCT). RESULTS: The current method was precise and accurate at a linearity range of 4.00 - 1,000 ng/mL without severe interference from the plasma matrix. The inter- and intra-batch precision (2.3 to 15.8%) and accuracy (-4.4 to 3.0%), IS-normalized matrix effect (coefficient of variation ≤ 4.6%), extraction recovery (107.1 - 117.1%), stability (coefficient of variation ≤ 8.0%), and dilution integrity were all within the acceptable range. The 90% confidence intervals (CIs) of the ratios of the geometric means (test/reference) were 86.44 - 104.88% for Cmax, 96.30 - 104.52% for AUC0-t, and 96.56 - 105.05% for AUC0-∞, which were all within the predefined bioequivalence range of 80 - 125%. Besides, both propofol MCT/LCT preparations were well tolerated in healthy Chinese subjects, and there were no serious adverse events during the study. CONCLUSION: The method is more simplified and sensitive than the previously reported modes of propofol detection. The two propofol MCT/LCT preparations were considered to be bioequivalent.

A simplified and reliable LC-tandem mass spectrometry method for determination of ulipristal acetate in human plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study in healthy Chinese volunteers.

In this study, a simplified, sensitive and reliable LC-tandem mass spectrometry method was established and validated for the quantification of ulipristal acetate (UPA) in human plasma and for the investigation of pharmacokinetic profile of UPA following a single oral administration of ella (UPA 30-mg tablet) in healthy Chinese volunteers. Plasma samples were analyzed after being processed by protein precipitation with methanol. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Kinetex EVO C18 column (2.1 × 50 mm, 2.6 µm) using gradient elution with a mobile phase composed of methanol and water containing 2 mm ammonium acetate and 0.3% formic acid at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. The chromatographic running time was 4.0 min per sample. The MS detection was performed via an LC system with the positive ion electrospray ionization interface in multiple reaction monitoring mode using the transition of m/z 476.2 → 134.1 for UPA and m/z 479.3 → 416.2 for UPA-d3 [internal standard (IS)], respectively. UPA and IS were monitored without severe interference from the biological matrices. The method was linear over the wide concentration range of 0.300-300 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy were well within the limits required for bioanalytical assays. The method was first used to describe the pharmacokinetic characteristic of UPA after a single oral administration of ella in healthy Chinese volunteers. Based on a between-study comparison, there were statistically significant differences (p < .05) between Chinese and Caucasian volunteers for the systemic exposure of UPA, suggesting that race seems to significantly impact the systemic exposure of UPA.

Rapid identification and antibiotic susceptibility test of pathogens in blood based on magnetic separation and surface-enhanced Raman scattering.

An effective surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) method is presented for the rapid identification and drug sensitivity analysis of pathogens in blood. In a first step, polyethyleneimine-modified magnetic microspheres (Fe3O4@PEI) were used to enrich bacteria from blood samples. Next, the Fe3O4@PEI@bacteria complex was cultured on both ordinary and drug-sensitive plates. Lastly, the SERS spectra of single colonies were acquired in order to identify different pathogens and their resistant strains by comparison with established standardized bacterial SERS spectras and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) method. Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and their resistant strains were used to evaluate the performance of the SERS method. The results demonstrate that the method can accurately detect and identify all the tested sensitive and drug-resistant strains of bacteria, including 77 clinical blood infection samples. The method provides a way for rapid identification and susceptibility test of pathogens, and has great potential to replace currently used time-consuming methods. Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of a method for the rapid identification and drug sensitivity analysis of pathogens in blood. It is based on a combination of magnetic separation, SERS fingerprint analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA).

SERS-based lateral flow assay for quantitative detection of C-reactive protein as an early bio-indicator of a radiation-induced inflammatory response in nonhuman primates.

In accidental irradiation situations, rapid in-field evaluation of acute radiation syndrome is critical for effective triage and timely medical treatment of irradiated individuals. A surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based lateral flow assay was developed for the quantitative detection of C-reactive protein (CRP) as an early bio-indicator of a radiation-induced inflammatory response in nonhuman primates. Raman reporter-embedded gold-core silver-shell nanoparticles with built-in hot spots were synthesized and conjugated with a CRP detection antibody to serve as SERS tags in the lateral flow assay. The proposed SERS-based lateral flow assay can rapidly detect CRP with a limit of detection of 0.01 ng mL-1 and quantitative analysis ability. Furthermore, the assay was applied to evaluate the CRP levels in plasma samples of irradiated nonhuman primates at 0 to 80 h after exposure to sublethal (4 Gy) and lethal (8 Gy) doses of total body irradiation (n = 3 animals per group). The plasma CRP levels increase rapidly within few hours after irradiation. The CRP level peaks are observed at 12 or 24 h after irradiation, with a concentration of 201.30, 386.06 and 475.18 µg mL-1 for the 4 Gy irradiated animals and 197.14, 69.52 and 358.03 µg mL-1 for the 8 Gy irradiated animals. The results indicate the potential application of the proposed SERS-based lateral flow assay to serve as a rapid and accurate point-of-care biodosimetry assay for the quantitative detection of bio-indicators to triage irradiated individuals in the field of a radiation accident.

Synthesis and antibacterial activities of novel pleuromutilin derivatives.

Pleuromutilin derivatives 4a-h, 5a-g, and 6a-d were synthesized and characterized by IR, 1 H NMR, and 13 C NMR. All synthetic compounds were screened for their in vitro antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA, ATCC 43300), Pasteurella multocida (CVCC 408), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), and Salmonella typhimurium (ATCC 14028). Most compounds with quaternary amine showed higher antibacterial activities against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria strains. Among the screened compounds, compound 5a bearing an N,N,N-trimethyl group at the C-14 side chain of pleuromutilin was found to be the most active agent. Furthermore, preliminary molecular docking was performed to predict the binding interaction of the compounds in the binding pocket.