Vanadyl ions binding to GroEL （HSP60） and inducing its depolymerization

Several vanadium compounds have been known for the hypoglycemic and anticancer effects. However, the mechanisms of the pharmacological and toxicological effects were not clear. In this work, we in- vestigated the potential targets of vanadium in mitochondria. Vanadyl ions were found to bind to mi- tochondria from rat liver with a stoichiometry of 244±58 nmol/mg protein and an apparent dissocia- tion constant (Kd) of (2.0±0.8)×10·16 mol/L. Using size exclusion chromatography, a vanadium-binding protein was isolated and identified to be the 60-kDa heat shock protein (HSP60) by mass spectrometry analysis and immunoassays. Additionally, binding of vanadyl ions was found to result in depolymeri- zation of homo-oligomeric HSP60 (GroEL). HSP60 is an indispensable molecular chaperone and in- volved in many kinds of pathogenesis of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, e.g. type 1 diabetes. Our results suggested that HSP60 could be a novel important target involved in the biological and/or toxicological effects of vanadium compounds.     

Non-Uniform Doo-Sabin Subdivision Surface via Eigen Polygon

This paper constructs a new non-uniform Doo-Sabin subdivision scheme via eigen polygon.The authors proved that the limit surface is always convergent and is G1 continuous for any valence and any positive knot intervals under a minor assumption, that λ is the second and third eigenvalues of the subdivision matrix. And then, a million of numerical experiments are tested with randomly selecting positive knot intervals, which verify that our new subdivision scheme satisfies the assumption.However this is not true for the other two existing non-uniform Doo-Sabin schemes in Sederberg, et al.(1998), Huang and Wang(2013). In additional, numerical experiments indicate that the quality of the new limit surface can be improved.     

Analysis for gene networks based on logic relationships

The reverse construction and analysis of the networks of molecular interactions are essential for understanding their functions within cells. In this paper, a logic network model is constructed to investigate the complicated regulation mechanism of shoot genes of Arabidopsis Thaliana in response to stimuli. The dynamics of the complicated logic network is analyzed, discussed, and simulated. The simulation results show that the logic network of the active genes of shoot eventually evolves into eleven attractors under the stimuli, including five 1-periodic and six 2-periodic attractors. Our work provides valuable reference and guidance for biologists to understand and explain Arabidopsis’ response to external stimuli by experiments.     

A novel method for improving cerussite sulfidization

Evaluation of flotation behavior, solution measurements, and surface analyses were performed to investigate the effects of chloride ion addition on the sulfidization of cerussite in this study. Micro-flotation tests indicate that the addition of chloride ions prior to sulfidization can significantly increase the flotation recovery of cerussite, which is attributed to the formation of more lead sulfide species on the mineral surface. Solution measurement results suggest that the addition of chloride ions prior to sulfidization induces the transformation of more sulfide ions from pulp solution onto the mineral surface by the formation of more lead sulfide species. X-ray diffraction and energy-dispersive spectroscopy indicate that more lead sulfide species form on the mineral surface when chloride ions are added prior to sulfidization. These results demonstrate that the addition of chloride ions prior to sulfidization can significantly improve the sulfidization of cerussite, thereby enhancing the flotation performance.     

Application of the modified neighborhood interference model to the cultivation of forest and herbaceous ecosystem

This paper is an extension of the application of neighborhood interference model--being modified--to the study of the interference between forest plants and herbaceous plants. The exploration of the neighborhood interference between triploid Populus tomentosa and Lolium multiflorum shows that the interference of Lolium multiflorum on triploid populus tomentosa is positive, with the primary interference factor living weight, and secondary factor cover degree; the growth of an individual tree is affected by the number, height, and coverage of the Lolium multiflorum; the more dense the coverage of the Lolium multiflorum in a certain area, the taller, faster and more trees will grow as a result of a greater positive neighborhood interference. The modified neighborhood interference model well serves as an effective approach to extend the application of neighborhood interference researches.     

Synthesis of BiOCl photocatalyst by a low-cost,simple hydrolytic technique and its excellent photocatalytic activity

A novel photocatalyst, bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) micro-nano particles with a fine ferrite plate structure, was prepared by a low-cost, simple hydrolytic method. The as-prepared BiOCl was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis-differential thermal analysis (TGA-DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). The effects of preparation conditions such as sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) dispersant, HCl concentration, and heat treatment temperature on BiOCl performances were investigated. Moreover, its photocatalytic activity was evaluated on the degradation of methylene orange (MO) and was compared with that of TiO₂ (P25). The experimental results confirmed that BiOCl micro-nano particles prepared with SDBS, the HCl concentration of 1.5 mol/L, and the heat treatment temperature of 80℃ exhibited the best performance for the photodegradation of MO solution, and they showed good stability and better photocatalytic activity than P25 photocatalyst.     

Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb ages of the “Xinghuadukou Group” in Hanjiayuanzi and Xinlin areas and the “Zhalantun Group” in Inner Mongolia, Da Hinggan Mountains

A report is presented of SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating data of meta-igneous and meta-sedimentary rocks of the Xinghuadukou Group(Xinlin-Hanjiayuanzi area,Heilongjiang Province)and meta-volcanic rocks of the Zhalantun Group(Zhalantun district,Inner Mongolia).The SHRIMP analyses show that the meta-igneous rocks from the Xinghuadukou Group formed at 506±10―547±46 Ma,belonging to Early-Middle Precambrian,whereas the meta-sedimentary rocks yielded detrital zircons,with ages of 1.0―1.2,1.6―1.8 and 2.5―2.6 Ga,indicative of deposition age at least<1.0 Ga. Meta-basic volcanic rocks from the Zhalantun Group have a formation age of 506±3 Ma.These data suggest that both the Xinghuadukou and Zhalantun Groups formed during Cambrian and/or Neoproterozoic time,rather than Paleoproterozoic time as previously thought.Early Precambrian inherited zircons in the meta-igneous rocks and numerous Precambrian detrital zircons in the meta-sedimentary rocks imply that these rocks were formed proximal to older crust.It is inferred that the Xinghuadukou and Zhalantun Groups represent Cambrian and/or Neoproterozoic vol- cano-sedimentary sequences formed in an active continental margin setting.     

Research on Computing Models of CBR Similarity

Several models of measuring case similarity in CBR systems are deeply explored. We also discuss the case matching process, and present three matching functions. Finally, we illustrate the significance of the models in CBR(Case Based Reasoning) systems implementation.     

Formation and biocorrosion behavior of Zr-Al-Co-Nb bulk metallic glasses

Ni-and Cu-free Zr-Al-Co-Nb glassy alloys with different Nb and Co contents were synthesized by melt spinning and copper mold casting.The effects of Nb addition to partially replace Co in the Zr55Al20Co25 glassy alloy on the glass-forming ability,thermal properties,in-vitro biocorrosion behavior and surface wettability of the metallic glasses were investigated.Although addition of Nb up to 5 at.% slightly decreased the supercooled liquid region and the glass-forming ability(GFA),the alloys could be casted in a bulk glassy rod form with diameters up to 3mm.The Zr-Al-Co-Nb glassy alloys were spontaneously passivated with low passive current densities in phosphate buffered saline and Hanks’ solution.Substitution of "toxic" Co by Nb is effective in improved the corrosion resistance of the Zr-Al-Co glassy alloy.Water contact angle measurements showed that Nb addition increased the hydrophilicity of the glassy alloys,which may enhance cell adhesion of the alloys in biomedical applications.     

Effect of deep cryogenic treatment on the properties of 80CrMo12 5 tool steel

The effect of deep cryogenic treatment on the mechanical properties of 80CrMo12 5 tool steel was investigated. Moreover, the effects of stabilization (holding at room temperature for some periods before deep cryogenic treatment) and tempering before deep cryogenic treatment were studied. The results show that deep cryogenic treatment can eliminate the retained austenite, making a better carbide distribution and a higher carbide amount. As a result, a remarkable improvement in wear resistance of cryogenically treated specimens is observed. Moreover, the ultimate tensile strength increases, and the toughness of the sample decreases. It is also found that both stabilization and tempering before deep cryogenic treatment decrease the wear resistance, hardness, and carbides homogeneity compared to the deep cryogenically treated samples. It is concluded that deep cryogenic treatment should be performed without any delay on samples after quenching to reach the highest wear resistance and hardness.