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．     

Fluorescence energy transfer shows that the four-way DNA junction is a right-handed cross of antiparallel molecules

The four-way junction between DNA helices is the central intermediate in recombination, and the manner of its interaction with resolvase enzymes can determine the genetic outcome of the process. A knowledge of its structure is a prerequisite to understanding the interaction with proteins, and there has been recent progress. Here we use fluorescence energy transfer to determine the relative distances between the ends of a small DNA junction, and hence the path of the strands. Our results are consistent with the geometry of an 'X'. The interconnected helices are juxtaposed so that the continuous strands of each helix generate an antiparallel alignment, and the two interchanged strands do not cross at the centre. The acute angle of the X structure is defined by a right-handed rotation of the helical axes about the axis perpendicular to the X plane, as viewed from the centre of the X.     

The helical repeat of double-stranded DNA varies as a function of catenation and supercoiling

DNA in the cell is intertwined at several levels: one polynucleotide strand wraps helically around its complement and the double helix is in turn coiled in space. The higher-order intertwining most often takes the form of supercoiling of the helix axis, but can also be observed as the wrapping of one DNA duplex around another, as in catenation. We have investigated the relationship between intertwining at these three levels, the double helix, supercoiling, and catenation, using an approach that relies on comparative measurements of DNA linking numbers by gel electrophoresis. The method determines both the handedness of DNA catenanes and the change in helical repeat that accompanies catenation-induced supercoiling. For multiply-linked catenated rings of 3.5 kilobase pairs (kb), we conclude that the double helix unwinds by two-thirds of a turn for every right-handed supercoil involved in linking the two circles. Altering the geometry of the catenanes by linking rings of dissimilar size changes the effect of catenation on helical and superhelical parameters. Our experiments used intact DNA rings, but we note that linear DNA molecules, by virtue of their subdivision into closed loops or domains in vivo, can intertwine in the same ways.     

Unidirectional molecular motor on a gold surface

Molecules capable of mimicking the function of a wide range of mechanical devices have been fabricated, with motors that can induce mechanical movement attracting particular attention. Such molecular motors convert light or chemical energy into directional rotary or linear motion, and are usually prepared and operated in solution. But if they are to be used as nanomachines that can do useful work, it seems essential to construct systems that can function on a surface, like a recently reported linear artificial muscle. Surface-mounted rotors have been realized and limited directionality in their motion predicted. Here we demonstrate that a light-driven molecular motor capable of repetitive unidirectional rotation can be mounted on the surface of gold nanoparticles. The motor design uses a chiral helical alkene with an upper half that serves as a propeller and is connected through a carbon-carbon double bond (the rotation axis) to a lower half that serves as a stator. The stator carries two thiol-functionalized 'legs', which then bind the entire motor molecule to a gold surface. NMR spectroscopy reveals that two photo-induced cis-trans isomerizations of the central double bond, each followed by a thermal helix inversion to prevent reverse rotation, induce a full and unidirectional 360 degrees rotation of the propeller with respect to the surface-mounted lower half of the system.     

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 ??. 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 ?? _s 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 ?? _s = 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 d _e .     

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。     

微小型多机器人自重构的红外定位及对接方法

研究了Millibot类型自重构机器人的红外定位及对接方法. 在该方法中,设定一个静止的信标机器人,移动机器人利用红外传感器定位,安装在移动机器人前端连接件上的两个红外传感器分别在步进电机的驱动下旋转,它们发出的红外光分别被信标机器人后端连接件上的两个反射体反射回来. 利用此时得到的步进电机旋转角度参数,通过三角法就能计算出移动机器人与信标机器人的相对位置,进而规划出移动机器人的对接过程和运动轨迹. 移动机器人沿着该轨迹行走就能实现与信标机器人的对接. 给出了自重构机器人的原理样机,并用试验验证了该方法的有效性.     

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。     

Evidence for kinks in DNA folding in the nucleosome

The nucleosome subunit of chromatin consists of DNA folded around a histone core as a 1.8-turn left-handed solenoid. The crystal structure of the nucleosome core particle revealed that it has a dyad symmetry axis and that the minor helix groove faces outwards from the protein core. Richmond et al. noticed that the path traversed by the helix has severe bends at sites approximately one and four helix turns from the dyad axis. We have developed two photochemical methods to study the structure of DNA, and in particular that wrapped around the nucleosome core. One method depends on the sensitization of singlet oxygen production by an eosin analogue. We have monitored the rate at which excited state oxygen diffuses into contact with DNA base planes, and find that it attacks the nucleosome with high specificity. We have also mapped the DNA binding of the intercalating dye methylene blue, and conclude that it binds to the same sites accessible to oxygen by diffusion. On the basis of these results we suggest that the DNA in the nucleosome is bent or kinked at two sites, 1.5 helix turns from the dyad axis.     

螺旋叶片成形胎具的一种设计方法

运用解析几何方法，从等螺距旋面和螺旋线的参数方程入手，采用坐标系旋转等方面得出螺旋面的有关特性，并根据这些特性提出一种螺旋叶片水平形成胎具的设计方法，使一胎具即可压制多种导程的螺旋叶片。     

线偏振入射光在胆甾相液晶中传播特性的研究

本文以麦克斯韦电磁波方程为基础,通过引入局域坐标系和泡利矩阵等数学处理,得出了沿螺旋轴方向入射的线偏振光在胆甾相液晶中传播的波动方程及电矢量的一般公式,并由此讨论了波长与液晶螺距相差很大的线偏振入射光在胆甾相液晶中传播过程中偏振状态和偏振方向的变化规律。     

The DExH protein NPH-II is a processive and directional motor for unwinding RNA

All aspects of cellular RNA metabolism and processing involve DExH/D proteins, which are a family of enzymes that unwind or manipulate RNA in an ATP-dependent fashion. DExH/D proteins are also essential for the replication of many viruses, and therefore provide targets for the development of therapeutics. All DExH/D proteins characterized to date hydrolyse nucleoside triphosphates and, in most cases, this activity is stimulated by the addition of RNA or DNA. Several members of the family unwind RNA duplexes in an NTP-dependent fashion in vitro; therefore it has been proposed that DExH/D proteins couple NTP hydrolysis to RNA conformational change in complex macromolecular assemblies. Despite the central role of DExH/D proteins, their mechanism of RNA helicase activity remains unknown. Here we show that the DExH protein NPH-II unwinds RNA duplexes in a processive, unidirectional fashion with a step size of roughly one-half helix turn. We show that there is a quantitative connection between ATP utilization and helicase processivity, thereby providing direct evidence that DExH/D proteins can function as molecular motors on RNA.     

Light-driven monodirectional molecular rotor.

Attempts to fabricate mechanical devices on the molecular level have yielded analogues of rotors, gears, switches, shuttles, turnstiles and ratchets. Molecular motors, however, have not yet been made, even though they are common in biological systems. Rotary motion as such has been induced in interlocked systems and directly visualized for single molecules, but the controlled conversion of energy into unidirectional rotary motion has remained difficult to achieve. Here we report repetitive, monodirectional rotation around a central carbon-carbon double bond in a chiral, helical alkene, with each 360 degrees rotation involving four discrete isomerization steps activated by ultraviolet light or a change in the temperature of the system. We find that axial chirality and the presence of two chiral centres are essential for the observed monodirectional behaviour of the molecular motor. Two light-induced cis-trans isomerizations are each associated with a 180 degrees rotation around the carbon-carbon double bond and are each followed by thermally controlled helicity inversions, which effectively block reverse rotation and thus ensure that the four individual steps add up to one full rotation in one direction only. As the energy barriers of the helicity inversion steps can be adjusted by structural modifications, chiral alkenes based on our system may find use as basic components for 'molecular machinery' driven by light.     

Structural basis for transcription elongation by bacterial RNA polymerase

The RNA polymerase elongation complex (EC) is both highly stable and processive, rapidly extending RNA chains for thousands of nucleotides. Understanding the mechanisms of elongation and its regulation requires detailed information about the structural organization of the EC. Here we report the 2.5-A resolution structure of the Thermus thermophilus EC; the structure reveals the post-translocated intermediate with the DNA template in the active site available for pairing with the substrate. DNA strand separation occurs one position downstream of the active site, implying that only one substrate at a time can specifically bind to the EC. The upstream edge of the RNA/DNA hybrid stacks on the beta'-subunit 'lid' loop, whereas the first displaced RNA base is trapped within a protein pocket, suggesting a mechanism for RNA displacement. The RNA is threaded through the RNA exit channel, where it adopts a conformation mimicking that of a single strand within a double helix, providing insight into a mechanism for hairpin-dependent pausing and termination.     

A highly basic histone H4 domain bound to the sharply bent region of nucleosomal DNA

A nucleosomal core particle is composed of two each of histones H2A, H2B, H3 and H4 located inside the particle with approximately 47 base pairs (bp) of DNA wrapped around the octamer in about 1.8 turns of a left-handed superhelix. The path of the superhelix is not smooth; the DNA is sharply bent, or kinked, at positions symmetrically disposed at a distance of about one and four double-helical turns in both directions from the nucleosomal dyad axis (designated as sites +/- 1 and +/- 4 respectively). This non-uniform bending is considered archetypal to other DNA-protein complexes, but its mechanism is not clear (reviewed in ref. 4). DNA-histone chemical cross-linking within the core particle has revealed strong binding of each of the two histone H4 molecules to DNA at a distance of 1.5 helical turns either side of the nucleosomal dyad axis (sites +/- 1.5). In each of these sites, a single flexible domain of H4 was previously shown to contact three points, at about nucleotides 55 and 65 on one strand and nucleotide 88 on the complementary strand, numbering from the 5' terminus of each 147-base strand; these three locations are closely juxtaposed across the highly compressed minor and major grooves (Fig. 1). Here we report that the amino-acid residue of histone H4 cross-linked at the 1.5 site is histidine-18, embedded in a highly basic cluster Lys-Arg-His-Arg-Lys-Val-Leu-Arg which is probably involved in the sharp bending of the DNA double helix at the +/- 1 sites.     

基于幅度差平方和函数的基音周期提取算法

为了在任意采样率下都可以高效、准确地进行基音周期提取,提出基于归一化幅度差平方和函数的基音周期提取算法。导出高效计算幅度差平方和函数的方法,时间复杂度是O(N lbN),给出该函数的归一化定义。归一化幅度差平方和函数的取值反映语音信号的非周期性程度,由此定义了基音周期的状态损失函数和转移损失函数,从而能在后处理过程中利用V iterb i算法,确定最优的基音周期序列。实验结果表明:与通用基音提取算法相比,在保证实时性的基础上错误率降低了9.31%,证明使用该算法提高了基音周期提取的准确率。