Development of a propulsion system for a biomimetic thruster

We studied theoretically and experimentally a biomimetic propulsion system inspired by the motility mechanisms of bacteria such as E. coli. Our goal was to investigate the effect of the "complex" filament of Rhizobium Meliloti bacteria on thrust force. The complex filament is a helically perturbed filament,similar to a plain filament threaded through a small helix. The propulsive performance of this system was estimated by modeling the dynamics of helical wave motion in viscous fluid. The model consists of a helical filament which is axially rotated at angular velocity ω. Resistive force theory(RFT) was applied to this model to calculate the thrust force and required torque. The Buckingham PI theorem(non-dimensional analysis) was also used to analyze the theoretical results. The procedure for making a complex filament with various pitch angles θs from a small helix and plain filament is explained in detail. To validate the theoretical results for helical wave propulsion and compare the characteristics of complex and plain filaments together,an experiment was performed to measure the thrust forces in silicone oil. The experimental results agreed with the theoretical values predicted by RFT. The thrust forces of complex filaments depended on the shape of small helix winding. The maximum thrust force was achieved at a small helix pitch angle of θs = 45°. In addition,we found that the thrust force generated by a complex filament had a value about 10% higher than that of a plain filament with the same equivalent diameter de.     

Theoretical analysis of reactive solid-liquid interfacial energies

The characterization of reactive solid-liquid interfacial energies and solid surface energies is a pressing problem in materials science and surface science. Based on the concept that unbalanced forces doing work, a mathematical formulation between surface energies and interfacial energies for reactive wetting is presented. The resulting formalism has significant generality in which the equilibrium Young’s equation for solid-liquid interfacial energies is just a special case. It is shown that a solid-liquid interfacial energy at non-equilibrium is always higher than that at equilibrium, and that the transformation of reactive interfaces to equilib-rium interfaces is an inevitable, spontaneous process. The numerical range of solid-liquid interfacial energies γsl for a limited, solid-liquid interfacial wetting system was calculated to be 0 ≤γsl ≤γsg. The calculation methods for reactive solid-liquid interfacial energies and solid surface energies are presented. They are significant for composite materials and weld, powder sinter, package of electronic devices, and other surface and interfacial issues in metallurgy.     

Low concentrations of NaHSO3 enhance NAD(P)H dehydrogenase-dependent cyclic photophosphorylation and alleviate the oxidative damage to improve photosynthesis in tobacco

Bisulfite at low concentrations(L-NaHSO3) increases cyclic electron transport around photosystem I(PSI) and photosynthesis.However,little is known regarding the detailed contribution of cyclic electron transport to the promoted photosynthesis by L-NaHSO3.In the present work,we used tobacco mutant defective in ndhC-ndhK-ndhJ(ndhCKJ) to investigate the role of NAD(P)H dehydrogenase(NDH)-dependent cyclic electron transport around PSI in an increase in photosynthesis by L-NaHSO3.After the treatment of tobacco leaves with L-NaHSO3(10 μmol L-1),the NDH-dependent cyclic electron transport,monitored by a transient post-illumination increase in Chl fluorescence and the amount of NDH,was notably up-regulated in wild type(WT).The NDH-dependent cyclic electron transport was severely impaired in ndhCKJ and was not significantly affected by treatment with L-NaHSO3.Accordingly,the NDH-dependent transthylakoid membrane proton gradient(pH),as reflected by the slow phase of millisecond-delayed light emission(ms-DLE),was increased by L-NaHSO3 in WT,but not in ndhCKJ;the enhancement of cyclic photophosphorylation(PSP) activity by L-NaHSO3 was more obvious in WT than ndhCKJ.The accumulation of both superoxide and hydrogen peroxide was reduced in WT when subjected to L-NaHSO3 treatment,but not in ndhCKJ.Furthermore,the increase of photosynthetic O 2 evolution rate by L-NaHSO3 was more significant in WT than in ndhCKJ.We therefore conclude that L-NaHSO3 alleviates the photo-oxidative damage by the enhancement of NDH-dependent cyclic PSP,thereby improving photosynthesis.     

Force measurements by micromanipulation of a single actin filament by glass needles

Single actin filaments (approximately 7 nm in diameter) labelled with fluorescent phalloidin can be clearly seen by video-fluorescence microscopy. This technique has been used to observe motions of single filaments in solution and in several in vitro movement assays. In a further development of the technique, we report here a method to catch and manipulate a single actin filament (F-actin) by glass microneedles under conditions in which external force on the filament can be applied and measured. Using this method, we directly measured the tensile strength of a filament (the force necessary to break the bond between two actin monomers) and the force required for a filament to be moved by myosin or its proteolytic fragment bound to a glass surface in the presence of ATP. The first result shows that the tensile strength of the F-actin-phalloidin complex is comparable with the average force exerted on a single thin filament in muscle fibres during isometric contraction. This force is increased only slightly by tropomyosin. The second measurement shows that the myosin head (subfragment-1) can produce the same ATP-dependent force as intact myosin. The magnitude of this force is comparable with that produced by each head of myosin in muscle during isometric contraction.     

螺旋线电流轴线上磁场的计算与分析

应用数值模拟的方法，细致地分析了螺旋线电流轴线上磁场随螺距和位置的变化关系．计算结果表明，当螺距较大时，其磁场分布与圆形电流的磁场分布相差很大；但当螺距较小或距螺旋线中心较远处，磁场几乎与圆形电流产生的磁场相当，可用表述圆形电流轴线磁场的简单公式来近似．     

Tying a molecular knot with optical tweezers.

Filamentous structures are abundant in cells. Relatively rigid filaments, such as microtubules and actin, serve as intracellular scaffolds that support movement and force, and their mechanical properties are crucial to their function in the cell. Some aspects of the behaviour of DNA, meanwhile, depend critically on its flexibility-for example, DNA-binding proteins can induce sharp bends in the helix. The mechanical characterization of such filaments has generally been conducted without controlling the filament shape, by the observation of thermal motions or of the response to external forces or flows. Controlled buckling of a microtubule has been reported, but the analysis of the buckled shape was complicated. Here we report the continuous control of the radius of curvature of a molecular strand by tying a knot in it, using optical tweezers to manipulate the strand's ends. We find that actin filaments break at the knot when the knot diameter falls below 0.4 microm. The pulling force at breakage is around 1 pN, two orders of magnitude smaller than the tensile stress of a straight filament. The flexural rigidity of the filament remained unchanged down to this diameter. We have also knotted a single DNA molecule, opening up the possibility of studying curvature-dependent interactions with associated proteins. We find that the knotted DNA is stronger than actin.     

Groundbreaking gas source rock correlation research based on the application of a new experimental approach for adsorbed gas

Many years of experimentation have led to the development and improvement of equipment and methods used to make gas source rock correlations.By crushing samples using a ball mill and directly collecting adsorbed gases in the absence of aqueous media under high vacuum conditions,most possible interference factors,such as atmospheric pollution,crushing-induced pyrolysis,and gas collection by aqueous media are eliminated.This greatly enhances the volume percentage of hydrocarbon gas in the acquired adsorbed gases,with maxima up to more than 80%.The actual measurement of carbon isotopic series can be carried out to such an extent as to be δ13C1-δ13C5.A preliminary study using newly established equipment and methods has indicated the following.(1) The carbon isotopic composition of ethane in adsorbed gases on hydrocarbon source rocks can be used to distinguish the types of source rocks.This is consistent with results obtained by using organic geochemical parameters for source rocks,and illustrates that it is highly feasible to use the carbon isotopic composition of ethane in natural gases as a parameter for distinguishing the types of source rocks.(2) The thermal evolution degree(Ro) of hydrocarbon-source rocks calculated in terms of the carbon isotopic composition of methane in adsorbed gases on hydrocarbon source rocks agrees well with the vitrinite reflectance actually measured in the source rocks.This confirms the reliability of the relationship between the carbon isotopic composition of methane in natural gases and the thermal evolution degree determined using statistics.(3) Finally,a direct gas source correlation method for natural gases has been established,and the expression of log Ro vs.δ13C1 established in terms of actually measured δ13C1 values of methane in absorbed gases.Ro values of hydrocarbon source rocks have been established as well,thus creating favorable conditions for precise oil-and-gas source correlations in exploration areas.     

可展变螺距螺旋面的展开

本文推导了变螺距柱螺线的参数方程,对变螺距螺旋面进行了解析分析,提供了变螺距螺旋面展开的计算方法,利用这种方法可以由计算机快速,准确地绘制其展开图。     

Theoretical study on stereodynamics of H + NeH+ (v = 0, j = 0) → H2 + + Ne reaction

Stereodynamics of reaction H + NeH+(v = 0,j = 0) → H2+ + Ne is investigated by quasi-classical trajectory method using a new potential energy surface constructed by Lv et al.The distributions of P(r),P(r) and PDDCSs are calculated at four different collision energies.The rotational polarization of product H2+ presents different characters at different collision energies.The product rotational angular momentum vector j’ is not only aligned,but also oriented along the direction perpendicular to the scattering plane.With the increase of collision energy,the rotation of product molecule has a preference of changing from the "in-plane" mechanism to the "out-of-plane" mechanism.Although the title reaction is mainly dominated by the direct reaction mechanism,the indirect mechanism plays a role when the collision energies are low.     

DFT study on nonlinear optical properties of lithium-doped corannulene

The effects of lithium doping on the nonlinear optical properties of new electrodes (lithium-doped corannulene) were investigated in detail. Nine dynamically stable geometries of Lin-C20H10 (n=1, 2) are predicted by B3LYP/6-31G(d,p). Among these nine structures, the largest first static hyperpolarizability (β0) is computed to be 15314 au, which is dramatically larger than the β0 value of 74 au for C20H10, indicating that Li doping plays an important role in elevating the first hyperpolarizability of corannulene.     

Three new zinc（Ⅱ） coordination polymers： Modulation of extended structures driven by assistant ligands

Three new complexes, [Zn（dtb）（4,4′-bipy）]·5H2O （1）, [Zn（dtb）（bpp）]·H2O （2） and [Zn（dtb）（phen）2]·CH3- CH2OH·H2O （3） （dtb = 5,5′-dithiobis（2-nitrobenzoic acid）, 4,4′-bipy = 4,4′-bipyridine, bpp = 1,3-bi（4-pyridyl） propane, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline）, have been constructed by dtb ligand and zinc salt in the presence of different assistant N-containing ligands under hydrothermal conditions. The structures of the complexes were established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Although compounds 1 and 2 are both 2D networks, the cavities＇ forms and pitch of helix are different. The structure of compound 3 shows a 1D helical chain, and is extended by the supermolecule interactions into a 2D framework. These neutral polymeric complexes exhibit structural and dimensional diversity due to the different coordination modes of the flexible dtb ligand and the effect of assistant ligands.     

工艺参数对楔横轧螺旋齿轴成形的影响

根据楔横轧轧制过程金属体积不变原则,设计固定螺旋升角和变螺旋升角的实验模具,分别用圆坯料和内凹锥坯料在H630楔横轧机上进行梯形螺旋齿轴的轧制实验。研究结果表明:采用圆坯料进行轧制时,易产生轧件齿高不均、螺距不均等缺陷,而内凹圆坯料可以解决齿高不均的问题,最终获得轧制合格齿形的坯料直径经验公式。模具螺旋升角是影响轧件齿形质量的重要参数,模具螺旋升角采用轧件螺旋升角时,轧件齿形端部螺距变大,且出现螺旋痕缺陷。模具螺旋升角选用轧件瞬时直径对应的螺旋升角时,轧件螺距均匀、无螺旋痕缺陷。因此进行楔横轧梯形螺旋齿轴轧制时,选择合适直径的内凹圆锥坯料,采用瞬时变化螺旋升角值,能得到齿形较好的轧件。     

Phase analysis and thermal conductivity of in situ O′-sialon/β-Si3N4 composites

Typical O??-sialon-based ceramics, with a formula of Si_2?x Al _x O_1+x N_2?x , where x was set as 0.25, were fabricated by in-situ synthesis. Si₃N₄, Al₂O₃, and SiO₂ powders were used as raw materials, and MgO and Y₂O₃ were added as sintering additives. All the samples were sintered at different temperatures under a nitrogen pressure of 0.25?C0.30 MPa, and their microstructure, phase content, and thermal conductivity were evaluated. The effects of O??-sialon and ??-Si₃N₄ on the thermal conductivity were analyzed by numerical calculation in detail. In the case of the similar porosity, the thermal conductivity of O??-sialon-based ceramics decreased with the ratio of O??-sialon/??-Si₃N₄ increasing. When the ratio was 12, the thermal conductivity of O??-sialon ceramics sintered at 1360°C was 1.197 W·m^?1·K^?1.     

Influence of yttrium on the structure and magnetostriction of Fe83Ga17 alloy

Polycrystalline Fe₈₃Ga₁₇ alloy rods with various amounts of yttrium were prepared by high vacuum induction melting. It is found that yttrium addition has a significant effect on the structure and magnetostriction of Fe₈₃Ga₁₇ alloy. The small addition of yttrium alters the solidification character and the grain shape of Fe₈₃Ga₁₇ alloy, and as a result, columnar grains with the ??100?? preferential direction are produced. Yttrium addition improves the magnetostrictive performance of the as-cast Fe₈₃Ga₁₇ alloy. The magnetostriction values of the as-cast alloy with 0.32at% and 0.64at% yttrium addition go up to 119×10^?6 and 137×10^?6 under 15 MPa compressive stress, respectively. The energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) result shows that almost all of the yttrium atoms exist in the Y₂Fe_17?x Ga _x phase. A small amount of this kind of secondary phase cannot obviously increase the saturate magnetic field.     

The rate of actin-based motility of intracellular Listeria monocytogenes equals the rate of actin polymerization.

The Gram-positive bacterium Listeria monocytogenes is a facultative intracellular pathogen capable of rapid movement through the host cell cytoplasm. The biophysical basis of the motility of L. monocytogenes is an interesting question in its own right, the answer to which may shed light on the general processes of actin-based motility in cells. Moving intracellular bacteria display phase-dense 'comet tails' made of actin filaments, the formation of which is required for bacterial motility. We have investigated the dynamics of the actin filaments in the comet tails using the technique of photoactivation of fluorescence, which allows monitoring of the movement and turnover of labelled actin filaments after activation by illumination with ultraviolet light. We find that the actin filaments remain stationary in the cytoplasm as the bacterium moves forward, and that length of the comet tails is linearly proportional to the rate of movement. Our results imply that the motile mechanism involves continuous polymerization and release of actin filaments at the bacterial surface and that the rate of filament generation is related to the rate of movement. We suggest that actin polymerization provides the driving force for bacterial propulsion.     

TBM掘进参数与不同岩性地层相关性分析

为了研究TBM掘进参数与不同岩性地层的相关性规律,以新疆某引水工程为背景,针对典型岩性地层选取了300 m掘进参数数据,采用数理统计方法分析3项掘进参数与6种岩性地层的相关性. 通过分析6种岩性地层下刀盘转速、总推力与推进速度之间相关性,提出6种岩性地层下的掘进建议. 结果表明:各种岩性地层中推进速度、总推力的平均值差距较大,且有较大波动;刀盘转速波动不大,平均值差异较小;硅质岩、安山岩和凝灰岩地层下,总推力、刀盘转速和推进速度不相关;糜棱岩和砂岩地层下,总推力、刀盘转速和推进速度正相关;碎裂岩地层下总推力与推进速度负相关.     

Comparative crystal structure determination of griseofulvin: Powder X-ray diffraction versus single-crystal X-ray diffraction

In an attempt to compare crystal structure determination from powder data and single-crystal data,crystal structure of griseofulvin(C 17 H 17 ClO 6) was tested by both powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction.Lattice parameters of griseofulvin are α=90.0°,a=b=8.9757,c=19.9345,V=1605.99 3 from powder data coinciding with α=90.0°,a=b=8.9714,c=19.8848,V=1600.46 3 from single-crystal data.Main processes of structure elucidating of griseofulvin by the two approaches were analyzed.Powder X-ray diffraction was demonstrated to be a powerful auxiliary implement to single-crystal X-ray diffraction in structure characterization,and its application can be popularized in the field of structure research of small organic molecules.     

Isotopic evidence for the moisture origin and composition of surface runoff in the headwaters of the Heihe River basin

We investigated the moisture origin and contribution of different water sources to surface runoff entering the headwaters of the Heihe River basin on the basis of NECP/NCAR (National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research) re-analysis data and variations in the stable hydrogen and oxygen isotope ratios (?? D and ?? ¹⁸O) of precipitation, spring, river, and melt water. The similar seasonality in precipitation ?? ¹⁸O at different sites reveals the same moisture origin for water entering the headwaters of the Heihe River basin. The similarity in the seasonality of ?? ¹⁸O and d-excess for precipitation at Yeniugou and Urumchi, which showed more positive ?? ¹⁸O and lower d-excess values in summer and more negative ?? ¹⁸O and higher d-excess values in winter, indicates a dominant effect of westerly air masses in summer and the integrated influence of westerly and polar air masses in winter. Higher d-excess values throughout the year for Yeniugou suggest that in arid inland areas of northwestern China, water is intensively recycled. Temporal changes in ?? ¹⁸O, ??D, and d-excess reveal distinct contributions of different bodies of water to surface runoff. For example, there were similar trends for ?? D, ?? ¹⁸O, and d-excess of precipitation and river water from June to September, similar ?? ¹⁸O trends for river and spring water from December to February, and similar trends for precipitation and runoff volumes. However, there were significant differences in ?? ¹⁸O between melt water and river water in September. Our results show that the recharge of surface runoff by precipitation occurred mainly from June to mid-September, whereas the supply of surface runoff in winter was from base flow (as spring water), mostly with a lower runoff amount.     

用于太空技术的微波推进电磁发动机

微波推进的电磁发动机( EmDrive )技术现已获广泛认同。在推进力的反方向产生的加速、反作用力遵守Newton力学,可能产生10mN/kW至1000mN/kW的推力。基本器件是一个圆锥状的封闭谐振腔,用TE011模式。由于腔内的非均匀场分布,电磁合力F∑≠0,提供了腔体自主加速运动的推力。微波推进电磁发动机的发明人是英国工程师Roger Shawyer,它不携带燃料,推进器使用的微波能由太阳能转换而来,故适于作太空飞行。2006年6月有报道说,Shawyer用700W功率产生了88mN力;2007年5月用300W功率产生了96.1mN力。这说明早期即达到了(125~320)mN/kW水平。力虽然小,不断加速的过程有望获得非常高的速度。
　　电磁发动机可对卫星作精确控制和定位,可能用在深空对小行星或月球探测。空天飞机可完成多种任务,例如作载人的长距离亚轨道飞行。未来可能用于星际探测,只用几年即到达较近的星系。现在把太阳系内飞行称为航天,系外飞行称作宇航。估计在本世纪将有第一批宇航员飞出太阳系并安全返回,而飞出太阳系是人类的伟大理想。但这有许多理论与技术问题需要解决。所以必须加大航行速度,应达到光速,可能的话应为超光速。
　　2004年11月宋健院士指出,航天技术呼唤实验物理学家们寻找速度大于光速c的源;只要能找到这种新的源,以光速或超光速宇航的可能性就会大为增长。林金院士指出,宇航员建立了自主精确描述火箭和宇宙飞船在给定惯性系中作任意加速和减速运动的动力学过程,修正了自主惯性导航的严格理论基础,只要开发出新型的动力源,宇宙飞船航行的速度不存在上限,未来载人宇宙航行的范围理论上不存在限制。……现在已是2015年6月,两位航天专家所说言犹在耳,我们认为他们所说的新动力源已被实验物理学家开发出来,即电磁发动机;这将使人类在未来作超光速宇航可能性大为增加。
　　本文论述了电磁发动机的原理,指出它给世界带来了新希望。最后,提出了开展新研究的建议———试用椭圆锥状谐振腔,考虑采用光波导谐振腔,以及在此项目中试用超材料。当然,任何新型推进器都必须满足无需携带燃料的要求。