Abstract: The present invention provides nonionic cleavable surfactants (NCS), specifically n-Decyl-disulfide-?-D-maltoside (DSSM), suitable for MS-based proteomics and analysis. These surfactants are designed to mimic the properties of a commonly used surfactant in structural biology, n-dodecyl-?-d-maltoside (DDM), but contain a disulfide bond that allows for facile cleavage and surfactant removal before analysis. DSSM and other NCS are compatible with native mass spectrometry, top-down and bottom-up proteomics, ESI-MS and other analytical techniques, and reduce signal suppression typically observed with other surfactants. DSSM and other NCS provide versatile surfactants that can facilitate protein sample preparation under non-denaturing conditions for a myriad of proteomic and structural biology applications and act as a general replacement for DDM.

Abstract: An open micro-environment plant health sensing method includes placing a plurality of sensors in a configurable plant growing base for growing plants, collecting data representing one or more environmental parameters of the plants by the plurality of sensors continuously in real-time, communicating the collected data representing the one or more environmental parameters of the plants through a sensor network mediated by gateways, applying the data representing the one or more environmental parameters to a trained artificial intelligence (AI) engine for correlating micro-environment changes to the plants with one or more plant health parameters, and predicting the one or more plant health parameters for monitoring plant health by the trained AI engine.

Abstract: A microtome includes a blade; and a knife holder. The blade has a cutting edge configured to section a specimen block. The knife holder includes a base, a pressure plate and a frame. The pressure plate is connected to the base, and the pressure plate is adjustable relative to the base to clamp the blade between base and the pressure plate. The frame includes at least one limb and a bridge extending from the at least one limb parallel to the cutting edge. The bridge is proximate the cutting edge, the bridge and the blade cooperatively define a first gap therebetween, and the bridge and the pressure plate cooperatively define a second gap therebetween.

Abstract: A crop recipe optimization method includes placing crops in an incubator, taking a plurality of images of the crops for measuring crop growth, obtaining a growth score from the plurality of images of the crop, generating, based on the obtained growth score and yield information of the crops, an optimized crop recipe from an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm, and applying the optimized crop recipe to growing crops in a farm. The plurality of images are associated with one or more crop recipes, and each of the one or more crop recipes represents a set of environmental parameters inside the incubator.

Abstract: A blade clamping device for a microtome is provided. The blade clamping device includes: a base part; a pressure plate rotatably connected to the base part via a rotation shaft; a clamping pin received in the base part, and configured to extend out of the base part and push the pressure plate to rotate, so as to clamp a blade between the base part and the pressure plate; and a drive unit received in the base part, connected to the clamping pin and configured to drive the clamping pin to extend out of the base part.

Abstract: Provided are method, apparatus, electronic device and storage medium for determining defect shape of wafer, wherein the method includes: for a target wafer image of each specification, comparing the target wafer image with the standard wafer image of this specification, and acquiring a coordinate position where each of defect points is located in the target wafer image; according to each coordinate position, projecting each of the defect points into the image to be classified of the target specification on the basis of the preset scaling ratio; determining target points where distance between any two adjacent points in the image to be classified is less than the preset distance; and determining the shape of the region formed by the target points, so as to determine the shape as the defect shape of the target wafer.

Abstract: A wafer chip testing method and apparatus, an electronic device and a storage medium are provided. The testing method includes: comparing each configuration parameter of each wafer chip with a standard specification threshold interval of a corresponding parameter type, and marking as marked test parameters configuration parameters which do not belong to the standard specification threshold intervals; and inputting all marked test parameters of individual wafer chip into a combination rule judgment function respectively, outputting wafer chip(s) which does not conform to any one or more rules in the combination rule judgment function, and determining the wafer chip(s) as unqualified wafer chip(s).

Abstract: Exosomes are a small type of extracellular vesicles containing nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins that are implicated in tumorigenesis, metastasis, and cardiac regeneration, and therefore serve as potentially useful biomarkers from fluids or as vehicles for drug delivery. Global bottom-up mass spectrometry-based proteomics has been previously used to profile exosome cargo for diagnostic purposes. However, the current protocols for MS analysis of extracellular vesicles and exosome proteomics are challenging due to labor-intensive sample preparation, including lengthy digestion times and removal of MS incompatible reagents, and the need for high sensitivity. To address these challenges, the present invention provides a novel, high-throughput strategy for extracellular vesicle analysis and exosome proteomics using a photo-cleavable, anionic surfactant, preferably 4-hexylphenylazosulfonate (Azo).

Abstract: The present invention provides photo-cleavable anionic surfactants, particularly 4-hexylphenylazosulfonate (Azo) and sodium 4-hexylphenylazosulfonate derivatives, which can be rapidly degraded upon UV irradiation, for top-down and bottom-up proteomics. These surfactants can effectively solubilize proteins and peptide fragments with performance comparable to sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and are compatible with mass spectrometry analysis of the solubilized proteins and peptide fragments. Top-down proteomic studies using the present photo-cleavable anionic surfactants has allowed the detection of 100-fold more unique proteoforms as compared to controls and has enabled the solubilization of membrane proteins for comprehensive characterization of protein post-translational modifications.

Abstract: This invention provides mass spectrometry (MS) compatible nanomaterials for the selective capture and enrichment of low abundance proteins as well as MS analysis of different proteoforms of proteins, particularly cardiac proteins and different proteoforms of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) arising from post-translational modifications and sequence variations. The surface of superparamagnetic nanoparticles is functionalized with probe molecules that specifically bind to the desired protein. In an embodiment, the nanoparticles are functionalized with probe molecules having high affinity and selectivity for cTnI within the human cardiac troponin complex. This allows for MS-analysis and characterization of cTnI proteoforms from human heart tissue lysates and human blood or serum samples, and provides an accurate assay for detection of cTnI with molecular details.

Abstract: The present invention provides photo-cleavable anionic surfactants, particularly 4-hexylphenylazosulfonate (Azo) and sodium 4-hexylphenylazosulfonate derivatives, which can be rapidly degraded upon UV irradiation, for top-down and bottom-up proteomics. These surfactants can effectively solubilize proteins and peptide fragments with performance comparable to sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and are compatible with mass spectrometry analysis of the solubilized proteins and peptide fragments. Top-down proteomic studies using the present photo-cleavable anionic surfactants has allowed the detection of 100-fold more unique proteoforms as compared to controls and has enabled the solubilization of membrane proteins for comprehensive characterization of protein post-translational modifications.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a blade holder (100), a blade moving system (1000) and a microtome (2000). The blade holder (100) includes a base (110) defining a blade groove (112) and a slide groove (114), the blade groove (112) being configured to accommodating a blade (900); a slide rail (120) slidably accommodated in the slide groove (114); and an engagement assembly (130) mounted to the slide rail (120) and configured to engage the blade (900) such that the blade (900) is slidable along the blade groove (112) with sliding of the slide rail (120) in the slide groove (114). By using the blade holder (100) according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the blade (900) can be moved to the left or right along the blade groove (112) by sliding the slide rail (120) in the slide groove (114), thereby facilitating fully use of the blade (900).

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a blade holder system based on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology and a controlling method thereof. The blade holder system comprises a blade dispenser, including a blade and a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the RFID tag including ID data relating to the blade dispenser; a blade holder, including a radio frequency identification (RFID) reading/writing unit, configured to establish a wireless communication connection with the RFID tag so as to receive the ID data from the RFID tag; and a controller, configured to receive the ID data from the RFID reading/writing unit, to compare the ID data with preset authorization data, and to enable the blade holder to use the blade in the blade dispenser when the ID data matches with the authorization data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may provide methods and systems for enhancing bioreactivity of carbonaceous geological material (11) which may include adding carbonaceous geological material to an electrochemical treatment (18) and creating acidic and basic pH levels, peroxides, and radicals (5) which can increase biochemical reactivity, bioavailability, and water solubility of the carbonaceous geological material to provide a reactive carbonaceous geological material (14).

Abstract: Electrodes for catalyzing electrochemical reactions (e.g., the hydrogen evolution reaction) are provided. The electrode may comprise a ternary pyrite-phase transition metal phosphochalcogenide (e.g., CoPS) disposed on a substrate, wherein the ternary pyrite-phase transition metal phosphochalcogenide is a solid material of a ternary compound of a transition metal, phosphorous (P), and a chalcogen, the solid material characterized by a substantially single, ternary alloy phase having a pyrite crystal structure. Methods of using and making the electrodes are also provided.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a microtome having a cutting knife, an object holder mounted on a slide, the slide being movable relative to the cutting knife in a cutting direction and in a thickness defining direction, movement of the slide in the thickness defining direction being performed by a first electric motor controlled by a control unit, movement of the slide in the cutting direction being performed by a second electric motor controlled by the control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to control the movement of the slide in the thickness defining direction and in the cutting direction.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may provide methods and systems for enhancing bioreactivity of carbonaceous geological material (11) which may include adding carbonaceous geological material to an electrochemical treatment (18) and creating acidic and basic pH levels, peroxides, and radicals (5) which can increase biochemical reactivity, bioavailability, and water solubility of the carbonaceous geological material to provide a reactive carbonaceous geological material (14).

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a portable bioelectrochemical electrical signal measuring device that may have at least one anode, at least one cathode, an anode-cathode connector between said at least one anode and said at least one cathode, a load connector between a load and said at least one anode and at least one cathode, and a data meter connected to said load connector wherein the device may measure an electrical signal of a matrix to perhaps determine the microbial activity in the matrix.

Abstract: The present invention provides photo-cleavable anionic surfactants, particularly 4-hexylphenylazosulfonate (Azo) and sodium 4-hexylphenylazosulfonate derivatives, which can be rapidly degraded upon UV irradiation, for top-down and bottom-up proteomics. These surfactants can effectively solubilize proteins and peptide fragments with performance comparable to sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and are compatible with mass spectrometry analysis of the solubilized proteins and peptide fragments. Top-down proteomic studies using the present photo-cleavable anionic surfactants has allowed the detection of 100-fold more unique proteoforms as compared to controls and has enabled the solubilization of membrane proteins for comprehensive characterization of protein post-trans-modifications.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may provide a soil amendment which can increase the soil permeability, increase a plant's ability to repel pests and even its antioxidant capabilities such as to provide anti-browning of its fruit, larger crop yields, larger fruit and vegetables, or the like.