Cryo-electron microscopy (cryoEM) has become one of the most important approach for structural biology. However, barriers are still there for an increased successful rate, a better resolution and improved efficiency from sample preparation, data collection to image processing. CryoEM sample preparation is one of the bottlenecks with many efforts made recently, including the optimization of supporting substrate (e.g. ultra-thin carbon, graphene, pure gold, 2d crystal of streptavidin, and affinity modification), which was aimed to solve air-water interface problem, or reduce beam induced motion (BIM), or change particle distribution in the grid hole. Here, we report another effort of developing a new supporting substrate, the amorphous nickel-titanium alloy (ANTA) film, for cryoEM sample preparation as a layer of holey supporting film covering on TEM grid. Our investigations showed advantages of ANTA film in comparison with conventional carbon film, including much better electron conductivity and trace non-specific interaction with protein. These advantages yield less BIM and significantly improved particle distribution during cryoEM experiment of human apo-ferritn, thus resulting an improved reconstruction resolution from a reduced number of micrographs and particles. Unlike the pure gold film, the usage of the ANTA film is just same with the carbon film, compatible to conventional automatic cryoEM data collection procedure.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2020.07.009 | DOI Listing |
Inorg Chem
January 2025
Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, Patras 265 04, Greece.
A new [DyBiOCl(saph)] () Werner-type cluster has been prepared, which is the first Dy/Bi polynuclear compound with no metal-metal bond and one of the very few Ln-Bi (Ln = lanthanide) heterometallic complexes reported to date. The molecular compound has been deliberately transformed to its 1-D analogue [DyBiO(N)(saph)] () via the replacement of the terminal Cl ions by end-to-end bridging N groups. The overall metallic skeleton of (and ) can be described as consisting of a diamagnetic {Bi} unit with an elongated trigonal bipyramidal topology, surrounded by a magnetic {Dy} equilateral triangle, which does not contain μ-oxo/hydroxo/alkoxo groups.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLoS One
January 2025
Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, United States of America.
Amino acid identification is crucial across various scientific disciplines, including biochemistry, pharmaceutical research, and medical diagnostics. However, traditional methods such as mass spectrometry require extensive sample preparation and are time-consuming, complex and costly. Therefore, this study presents a pioneering Machine Learning (ML) approach for automatic amino acid identification by utilizing the unique absorption profiles from an Elliptical Dichroism (ED) spectrometer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLuminescence
January 2025
Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Two versatile yet simple methods, colorimetric and spectrofluorimetric, were utilized for the quantitation of nonchromophore neomycin using silver nanoparticles modified with fluorescein. Fluorescein was excited at 485 nm (emission at 515 nm); when it is deposited on the surface of silver nanoparticles, its fluorescence intensity at 515 nm is quenched. Neomycin restores the fluorescence level at 515 nm by displacing fluorescein from nanoparticle binding sites.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Sep Sci
January 2025
Department of Ocean Science, Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science, Tehran, Iran.
In recent years, despite significant advances in preconcentration and preparation techniques that have led to efficient recovery and accurate measurement of target compounds. There is still a need to develop adsorbents with unique and efficient features such as high pore volume and surface area, reactivity, easy synthesis, low toxicity, and compatibility with the environment, which increase the adsorption capacity and increase extraction efficiency. Semiconductor nanocrystals called quantum dots (QDs) with a size of less than 10 nm are three-dimensional nanoparticles with a spherical, rod, or disc structure that have significant potential in extraction as adsorbents due to their excellent properties such as low toxicity, reactivity, environmental friendliness, and hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Public Health
January 2025
School of Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Woldia University, Woldia, Ethiopia.
Background: The term "danger signs" refers to any symptoms or indicators that suggest a pregnant woman may be at risk during pregnancy. Mothers are often burdened with responsibilities, and the majority of them do not even receive treatment for potential complications, which can ultimately lead to the loss of their lives. This situation highlights the barriers that prevent them from being properly prepared for potential risks.
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