A novel DNA computing model based on RecA-mediated triple-stranded DNA structure

The field of DNA computing emerged in 1994 after Adleman’s paper was published. Henceforth,a few scholars solved some noted NP-complete problems in this way. And all these methods of DNA computing are based on conventional Watson-Crick hydrogen bond of doublehelical DNA molecule. In this paper, we show that the triple-stranded DNA structure mediated by RecA protein can be used for solving computational problems. Sequence-specific recognition of double-stranded DNA by oligonucleotide-directed triple helix (triplex) formation is used to carry out the algorithm. We present procedure for the 3-vertex-colorability problems. In our proposed procedure, it is suggested that it is possible to solve more complicated problems with more variables by this model.     

Silica nanoparticle is a possible safe carrier for gene therapy

In order to develop a safe and effective gene therapy carrier, some toxicological and biodynamical experiments were carried out on silica nanoparticles （SiNPs）. First we prepared SiNPs with appropriate portions of cyclohexane, deionized water and ethyl silicate, and then transfected the modified SiNPs and GFP plasmid DNA complex into the HT1080 cells to test the effectiveness of transfection for gene therapy. At the same time, we injected the SiNPs into a number of mice through tail vein. Then we made the mice crossed to evaluate the acute, long-term and reproductive toxicity. In vivo distribution analysis and pathological examination were made on both adult mice and their offspring. SiNPs were uniform and had an average diameter of 40 nm, and the modified SiNPs carried exogenous DNA molecules into target cells and the transferred GFP fusion gene was effectively expressed in the cells. The SiNPs injected via tail vein were widely distributed in almost all of tissues, and the injected mice had the ability to reproduce normally. The in vivo and in vitro results of this study clearly show that SiNPs can be used as a safe and effective carrier for gene transfection and gene therapy.     

A multicast routing algorithm with multiple trees

1.INTRODUCTION Qualityofservice(QoS)multicastroutinghascon tinuedtobeaveryimportantresearchtopicintheIn ternet.Multicastisacommunicationservicethatal lowssimultaneoustransmissionofthesamemessage fromonesourcetoagroupofdestinationnodes.To carryoutdifferentmulticastsessions,anetworkmust minimizethesessions’resourceconsumption,while meetingtheirrequirements.Efficientallocationof networkresourcestosatisfyQoSrequirementsisthe primarygoalofmulticastrouting.Howevertheinter dependencyandconfli…     

Thermal atomic layer etching: Mechanism, materials and prospects

In the semiconductors and related industries, the fabrication of nanostructures and nanopatterns has become progressive demand for achieving near-atomic accuracy and selectivity in etching different materials, particularly in ultra-thin gate dielectrics and ultra-thin channels used in field-effect transistors and other nanodevices below 10 nm scale. Atomic layer etching(ALE) is a novel technique for removing thin layers of material using sequential and self-limiting reactions. Different from most ALE processes using plasma-enhanced or other energetic particles-enhanced surface reactions, thermal ALE realizes isotropic atomic-level etch control based on sequential thermal-drive reaction steps that are self-terminating and self-saturating. Thermal ALE can be viewed as the reverse of atomic layer deposition(ALD), both of which define the atomic layer removal and growth steps required for advanced semiconductor fabrication. In this review, we focus on the concept and basic characteristics of the thermal ALE in comparison with ALD. Several typical thermal ALE mechanisms including fluorination and ligand-exchange, conversion-etch, oxidation and fluorination reactions are intensively introduced.The pros and cons of thermal ALE, plasma ALE, and traditional plasma etching are compared. Some representative materials and their typical thermal ALE processes are summarized. Finally, the outlook and challenges of thermal ALE are addressed.     

Growth in solution of hooked Ni–Fe fibers by oriented rotation and attachment approaches

Inspired by the curved branches of fractal trees, hooked Ni–Fe fibers were grown in situ in Ni–Fe composite coatings on a spheroidal graphite cast iron substrate. These hooked Ni–Fe fibers exhibited inclination angles of about 39°, which was in accordance with the theoretical prediction of 37°. Ni–Fe nanostructures self-assembled to form dendrites and evolved into hooked fibers by an oriented attachment reaction. The orientation rotation of Ni–Fe nanostructures played an important role in the growth of curved hooked Ni–Fe fibers. During sliding wear tests, the volume loss of the spheroidal graphite cast iron substrate was 2.2 times as large as that of the Ni–Fe coating reinforced by hooked fibers. The good load-transferring ability of hooked Ni–Fe fibers led to an improvement in their wear properties during wear tests.     

Localization of calmodulin and calmodulin-like protein and their functions in biomineralization in P. fucata

Calmodulin （CAM） and calmodulin-like protein （CaLP） are two proteins involved in biomineralization. Their localizations in Pinctada fucata mantle epithelia were studied by Western blot （WB） analysis of the nuclear/cytosol fraction of primary cultured P. fucata mantle cells and immunogold electron microscopy. The results showed a completely different distribution of these two proteins at the subcellular level. CaM was distributed throughout both the nucleus and cytoplasm of the mantle epithelium but CaLP was distributed only in the cytoplasm. The functions of these two proteins in biomineralization were investigated by shell regeneration. During this pro- cess, the expressions of CaM and CaLP were greatly enhanced in different organelles of the mantle epithelium. Overexpression of these two proteins and a mutant of calmodulin-like protein （M-CaLP） that lacks an extra C-terminal tail in MC3T3-E1 promoted the mRNA expression of osteopontin, a biomineralization marker for osteoblasts. All of the results indicated that CaM and CaLP have completely different distributions in the mantle epithelium and affect the biomineralization process at different levels. The extra C-terminal tail of CaLP is important for its functions in biomineralization in P. fucata.     

离心条件对双歧杆菌存活力的影响

优化离心力、离心时间和离心温度等离心参数,研究其对双歧杆菌存活力的影响。确定了在4℃,6000g离心时间30min的条件下,长双歧杆菌KLDS 2.0001和婴儿双歧杆菌KLDS 2.0002两菌株的存活率最高,分别达到了94.49%和91.19%。     

Study on high speed tension property of B-grade bulletproof steel

In this paper, the high speed tension experiments have been performed on ultra high strength bulletproof steel. The specimen were cut from B-grade bulletproof steel sheet after hard-module quenching with thickness of 2.3 mm. The mechanical properties at strain rates of 0.001 s^-1, 0.01 s^-1, 0.1 s^-1 and 1 s^-1 were carried out on MTSS10, while those at higher strain rates of 200 s^-1, 500 s^-1 and i 000 s^-1 were tested on HTM5020 high speed tension tester and Hopkinson bar. The data from the high speed tension experiments were fitted via Johnson-Cook constitutive equation, and the fracture surface of each specimen was analyzed by scanning electron microscope （SEM）. The results indicate that, the shoot resistance capability of bulletproof steel is closely related to its strength, thickness and flow behaviors under high strain rate. The shoot resistance will be improved in the case of higher strength and better matching between strength and elongation. The Johnson-Cook constitutive equation fitted via experimental data provides fundament to numerical simulation. With the increase of strain rate, the size and depth of dimple trend to decrease and the depth of dimple changes less in steel with lower strength and higher elongation. The SEM analysis of fracture aspect is of benefit for further understanding of deformation and fracture mode under high strain rate.     

The stability safety factor calibration based on the reliability index

When the bridge structure stability safety factor of the first type is 4, the research that whether the structure reliability index will reach target reliability index under the more-likely-to-happen collapse situation of the second type is necessary. The stability calculations of the first and the second type are made respectively for single layer and single span rigid frame bridge. Based on the critical load obtained from the stability calculation of the first type, the stability safety factor of the first type is taken as 4, and the first order reliability method is used to program and calculate the reliability index. Then, the load effect under the stability reliability index cal- culation of the first type and the critical load of the second type are employed to calculate the reliability index of the second type. The evaluation of structure stability safety factor is discussed according to reliability index. Based on the discussion above, parameter analysis of the stable critical loads of two types is made, and the in- fluence of critical load change on reliability index is researched. The result shows that stability analysis should identify collapse state; when the stability safety factor of the first type is 4, but the structure has the collapse of the second type, the reliability index cannot be ensured to reach the target reliability index under certain condi- tions.     

Forming of magnesium alloy microtubes in the fabrication of biodegradable stents

Magnesium alloys have, in recent years, been recognized as highly promising biodegradable materials, especially for vascular stent applications. Forming of magnesium alloys into high-precision thin-wall tubes has however presented a technological barrier in the fabrication of vascular stents, because of the poor workability of magnesium at room temperature. In the present study, the forming processes, i.e., hot indirect extrusion and multi-pass cold drawing were used to fabricate seamless microtubes of a magnesium alloy. The magnesium alloy ZM21 was selected as a representative biomaterial for biodegradable stent applications. Microtubes with an outside diameter of 2.9 mm and a wall thickness of 0.2 mm were successfully produced at the fourth pass of cold drawing without inter-pass annealing. Dimensional evaluation showed that multipass cold drawing was effective in correcting dimensional non-uniformity arising from hot indirect extrusion. Examinations of the microstructures of microtubes revealed the generation of a large number of twins as a result of accumulated work hardening at the third and fourth passes of cold drawing, corresponding to the significantly raised forming forces. The work demonstrated the viability of the forming process route selected for the fabrication of biodegradable magnesium alloy microtubes.