Comparison of different thermostat settings in the implicit solvent approach for nanoparticles through brush-decorated nanopores.

Nanoparticles (NPs) that are forcefully driven through a brush-decorated nanochannel form a nonequilibrium system with a rich physical behavior, including a dynamical phase transition between two modes of propagation that correspond to either separate clusters of NPs or a continuous flow channel. The peculiar properties of this system make it an ideal benchmark candidate for a comparison of three thermostat settings, the dissipative particle dynamics (DPD), the Langevin (LGV) dynamics, and a modified LGV setup, denoted as LGV^{-}, in which the thermostatting is disabled in the direction of the driving force. We demonstrate that the choice of the thermostat has little influence on the conformations of NPs, and that, due to differences in the dissipation modes, notable differences arise in their dynamical properties, such as effective friction constants and average velocities.

Kinetically Controlled Site-Specific Self-assembly of Hairy Colloids.

The solvophobicity-driven directional self-assembly of polymer-coated gold nanorods is a well-established phenomenon. Yet, the kinetics of this process, the origin of site-selectivity in the self-assembly, and the interplay of (attractive) solvophobic brush interactions and (repulsive) electrostatic forces are not fully understood. Herein, we use a combination of time-resolved (vis/NIR) extinction spectroscopy and finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations to determine conversion profiles for the assembly of gold nanorods with polystyrene shells of distinct thicknesses into their (tip-to-tip) self-assembled structures.

Theoretical analysis of the elastic free energy contributions to polymer brushes in poor solvent: A refined mean-field theory.

We consider polymer brushes in poor solvent that are grafted onto planar substrates and onto the internal and external surfaces of a cylinder using molecular dynamics simulation, self-consistent field (SCF), and mean-field theory. We derive a unified expression for the mean field free energy for the three geometrical classes. While for low grafting densities, the effect of chain elasticity can be neglected in poor solvent conditions, it becomes relevant at higher grafting densities and, in particular, for concave geometries.

A nanofluidic system based on cylindrical polymer brushes: how to control the size of nanodroplets.

In molecular dynamics simulations we investigate the self-organized formation of droplets from a continuous flow of incoming nanoparticles. This transformation is facilitated by a cylindrical channel that is decorated with a polymer brush in a marginally poor solvent. We analyze droplet formation and propagation by means of simple scaling arguments which are tested in the simulations.

β-arrestin 2 is essential for fluoxetine-mediated promotion of hippocampal neurogenesis in a mouse model of depression.

Over the last decade, the roles of β-arrestins in the treatment of neuropsychological diseases have become increasingly appreciated. Fluoxetine is the first selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor developed and is approved for the clinical treatment of depression. Emerging evidence suggests that fluoxetine can directly combine with the 5-HT receptor, which is a member of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family, in addition to suppressing the serotonin transporter.

FTIR study of hydrogen bonds in coal under drop weight impact testing.

There are many hydrogen bonds in coal, which affect the chemical structure and properties of coal. FTIR has been applied to the characterization study of the hydrogen bonds of Dongpang coals, which were under drop weight impact. There exists five kinds of hydrogen bonds in the coal: free OH groups, OH.

[CIinical study on treatment of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy].

Objective: To investigate the effect of Wuzi Yanzong Decoction (WYD) in treating Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON).

Methods: Thirty patients of LHON up to the requirement were assigned to two groups, the treated group administered with WYD plus coenzyme Q10, and the control group with coenzyme Q10 alone, all for 3 months. Patients' visual acuity, visual field, vision evoked potential (VEP) and their Chinese medicine syndrome were observed before and after treatment.

[A novel microbeads-based chemiluminescence immunoassay for detecting human thyrotropin].

Aim: To establish a low cost and sensitive microbeads-based chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLEIA) for detecting human thyrotropin.

Methods: Thyrotropin in sera was captured by an alkaline phosphase-labeled mAb against TSH beta subunit and a FITC-labeled mAb against TSH alpha subunit. Captured thyrotropin was then isolated with immuno-magnetic beads conjugated with anti-FITC antibody and then quantified by chemiluminescence using adamanatane amine as luminescent substrate.