Abstract: Lipase activity can be detected with a biosensor that includes a quantum dot adhered to a construct having a lipase-cleavable ester to attach a fluorophore acceptor configured as a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) acceptor to the QD when the construct is bound thereto. Cleavage of the ester by a lipase results in a measurable reduction in FRET. In further embodiments, the cleavable ester can be used to detect esterase activity, or the ester could be replaced with a glycosidic linkage to detect glycoside activity.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a mechanically activated cementitious composite for stopping the impact of firearms, which involved the designing of mixes of Portland Composite Cement PCC mechanically activated through high energy mechanical milling (HEM) with other ingredients, such as: Ordinary PCC Cement, fine sand, fibers, and polymeric additives, among other compounds, to prepare high-performance composite walls capable of stopping several calibers up to type 50 (typically loaded in Barret rifles). In accordance with Mexican and U.S. Standards for ballistic tests, which entail the approval of the concrete ballistic-resistant wall as long as it resists one impact with a 50 caliber Barret, the present invention allows the construction of composite walls (with dimensions of 40×40×15 cm) with mechanically activated cement and performance complying with the standards.

Abstract: Lipase activity can be detected with a biosensor that includes a quantum dot adhered to a construct having a lipase-cleavable ester to attach a fluorophore acceptor configured as a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) acceptor to the QD when the construct is bound thereto. Cleavage of the ester by a lipase results in a measurable reduction in FRET. In further embodiments, the cleavable ester can be used to detect esterase activity, or the ester could be replaced with a glycosidic linkage to detect glycoside activity.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a mechanically activated cementitious composite for stopping the impact of firearms, which involved the designing of mixes of Portland Composite Cement PCC mechanically activated through high energy mechanical milling (HEM) with other ingredients, such as: Ordinary PCC Cement, fine sand, fibers, and polymeric additives, among other compounds, to prepare high-performance composite walls capable of stopping several calibers up to type 50 (typically loaded in Barret rifles). In accordance with Mexican and US Standards for ballistic tests, which entail the approval of the concrete ballistic-resistant wall as long as it resists one impact with a 50 caliber Barret, the present invention allows the construction of composite walls' (with dimensions of 40×40×15 cm) with mechanically activated cement and performance complying with the standards.