The analyte-induced formation of exciton trapping leads to the decrease of cathode photocurrent of mercapto-capped CdTe quantum dots (QDs), which produces a sensitive cathode photoelectrochemical method for selective sensing of trace Cu(2+) as the analyte with a linear range from 0.06 to 100 μM.

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This work presented a photocurrent response mechanism of quantum dots (QDs) under illumination with the concept of a quantum photoelectric effect. Upon irradiation, the photoelectron could directly escape from QDs. By using nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) to capture the photoelectron, a new visual system was proposed due to the formation of an insoluble reduction product, purple formazan, which could be used to visualize the quantum photoelectric effect. The interaction of copper(II) with QDs could form trapping sites to interfere with the quantum confinement and thus blocked the escape of photoelectron, leading to a "signal off" visual method for sensitive copper(II) detection. Meanwhile, by using QDs as a signal tag to label antibody, a "signal on" visual method was also proposed for immunoassay of corresponding protein. With meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic-capped CdTe QDs and carcino-embryonic antigen as models, the proposed visual detection methods showed high sensitivity, low detection limit, and wide detectable concentration ranges. The visualization of quantum photoelectric effect could be simply extended for the detection of other targets. This work opens a new visual detection way and provides a highly efficient tool for bioanalysis.

Ribosomal (r) DNA genotypes (rRNA gene copy number) and nucleolar phenotypes (nucleoli number and size) were studied in dam and sire commercial broiler pure lines from three primary breeder sources. Thirteen lines were studied to determine whether directionally selected broiler pure lines contain higher numbers of rRNA genes than a control line unselected for performance traits. Eight of the 13 lines exhibited rRNA gene copy averages between 261 and 331 copies, three lines had averages between 365 and 380, and two lines had average copy numbers equal to or greater than 450 rRNA genes. The overall source copy number average from one breeder company exhibited a value (402 rRNA genes) significantly different from the control value (300 rRNA genes). Nucleoli number and relative-size were examined in 9 of the 13 lines to establish ploidy and determine the population incidence of nucleolar size polymorphisms. All of the individuals examined for nucleolar phenotype expressed two nucleoli, indicating that gene copy number variation in those lines was generally unrelated to haploidy, aneuploidy, or polyploidy. A high frequency of individuals exhibited nucleolar size polymorphisms (line values of 57 to 87%). The results suggest that multiple nucleolus organizer region (NOR) types are segregating within and among broiler pure lines and that these NOR types contain variable numbers of rRNA genes that differ in nucleogenesis capacity.

Many applications call for initiation of chemical reactions with highly penetrating X-rays with nanometer precision and little damage to the surroundings, which is difficult to realize because of low interaction cross-sections between hard X-rays and organic matters. Here, we demonstrate that a combination of computational protein design of single conjugation site green fluorescent proteins and nanomaterial engineering of silica-covered gold nanoparticles can enhance the release efficiencies of proteins from the surface of nanoparticles. The nanoparticles, to which the proteins are attached through DNA linkers, provide increased X-ray absorption without scavenging radicals, and single conjugation sites allow efficient release of proteins.