Generation of Linear and Parabolic Concentration Gradients by Using a Christmas Tree-Shaped Microfluidic Network

This paper describes a simple method of generating concentration gradients with linear and parabolic profiles by using a Christmas tree-shaped microfluidic network.The microfluidic gradient generator consists of two parts:a Christmas tree-shaped network for gradient generation and a broad microchannel for detection.A two-dimensional model was built to analyze the flow field and the mass transfer in the microfluidic network.The simulating results show that a series of linear and parabolic gradient profiles were generated via adjusting relative flow rate ratios of the two source solutions(R_L~2≥0.995 and _PR~2≥0.999),which could match well with the experimental results(R_L~2≥0.987 and _PR~2≥0.996).The proposed method is promising for the generation of linear and parabolic concentration gradient profiles,with the potential in chemical and biological applications such as combinatorial chemistry synthesis,stem cell differentiation or cytotoxicity assays.     

Critical Chords of Convex Bodies of Constant Width

In this paper, we show that when Minkowski measure of asymmetry of convex body K of constant width is bigger than α (n-1), K has at least n+1 critical chords, where \(\alpha (n) = \frac{{n + \sqrt {2n(n + 1)} }}{{n + 2}}\).     

Wiener Indices in Random Cyclooctane Chains

The Wiener index of a connected graph (molecule graph) G is the sum of the distances between all pairs of vertices of G. In this paper, simple exact formula are established for the expected value of Wiener index in random cyclooctane chain. Moreover, we obtain the average value of the Wiener indices with respect to the set of all cyclooctane chains with n octagons.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of SiC-particle-strengthening tri-metal Al/Cu/Ni composite produced by accumulative roll bonding process

In this study, a multilayer Al/Ni/Cu composite reinforced with SiC particles was produced using an accumulative roll bonding (ARB) process with different cycles. The microstructure and mechanical properties of this composite were investigated using optical and scanning microscopy and hardness and tensile testing. The results show that by increasing the applied strain, the Al/Ni/Cu multilayer composite converted from layer features to near a particle-strengthening characteristic. After the fifth ARB cycle, a composite with a uniform distribution of reinforcements (Cu, Ni, and SiC) was fabricated. The tensile strength of the composite increased from the initial sandwich structure to the first ARB cycle and then decreased from the first to the third ARB cycle. Upon reaching five ARB cycles, the tensile strength of the composite increased again. The variation in the elongation of the composite exhibited a tendency similar to that of its tensile strength. It is observed that with increasing strain, the microhardness values of the Al, Cu, and Ni layers increased, and that the dominant fracture mechanisms of Al and Cu were dimple formation and ductile fracture. In contrast, brittle fracture in specific plains was the main characteristic of Ni fractures.     

Effect of melting temperature on microstructural evolutions,behavior and corrosion morphology of Hadfield austenitic manganese steel in the casting process

In this study, the effect of melting temperature on the microstructural evolutions, behavior, and corrosion morphology of Hadfield steel in the casting process is investigated. The mold was prepared by the sodium silicate/CO₂ method, using a blind riser, and then the desired molten steel was obtained using a coreless induction furnace. The casting was performed at melting temperatures of 1350, 1400, 1450, and 1500℃, and the cast blocks were immediately quenched in water. Optical microscopy was used to analyze the microstructure, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffractrometry (XRD) were used to analyze the corrosion morphology and phase formation in the microstructure, respectively. The corrosion behavior of the samples was analyzed using a potentiodynamic polarization test and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in 3.5wt% NaCl. The optical microscopy observations and XRD patterns show that the increase in melting temperature led to a decrease of carbides and an increase in the austenite grain size in the Hadfield steel microstructure. The corrosion tests results show that with increasing melting temperature in the casting process, Hadfield steel shows a higher corrosion resistance. The SEM images of the corrosion morphologies show that the reduction of melting temperature in the Hadfield steel casting process induced micro-galvanic corrosion conditions.     

尾矿库溃坝灾害防控现状及发展

尾矿库溃坝灾害应急响应时间短、潜在威胁巨大,往往造成惨重人员伤亡与巨额财产损失.近些年尾矿库安全事故发生数量的总体下降趋势充分体现出现代化技术及安全管理方面的进步,然而重大事故发生频次却不减反增,2015年巴西Samarco铁矿与2014年加拿大Mount Polley重大溃坝事故及其惨重后果,再次为尾矿库安全敲响警钟.我国现存尾矿库8869座,含"头顶库"1425座,安全形势复杂.本文在收集大量相关领域文献的基础上,聚焦尾矿库溃坝灾害防控体系中的安全监测、灾害预警与应急准备、安全管理与标准规范这三大方面核心内容,分别综述对比国内外现状及前沿进展,探讨分析我国当前所面临的问题并尝试提出改进建议,为尾矿库防灾减灾理论研究与技术革新提供参考.结果表明:(1)我国尾矿库安全监测标准更高,但仪器耐久性、可靠度与实用性不足,专用监测器件与新技术的研发应用势在必行;(2)灾害预警方法单一且可信度不高,而信息技术融合应用成为发展趋势;(3)应急管理与预警决策需以充分的科学论证为基础,当前研究在试验手段与计算方法上存在局限;(4)我国拥有完善的安全管理标准规范体系,但在安全等别划分、全生命周期管理、主体变更、事故总结等方面相对欠缺.     

Complex reorganization and predominant non-homologous repair following chromosomal breakage in karyotypically balanced germline rearrangements and transgenic integration

We defined the genetic landscape of balanced chromosomal rearrangements at nucleotide resolution by sequencing 141 breakpoints from cytogenetically interpreted translocations and inversions. We confirm that the recently described phenomenon of 'chromothripsis' (massive chromosomal shattering and reorganization) is not unique to cancer cells but also occurs in the germline, where it can resolve to a relatively balanced state with frequent inversions. We detected a high incidence of complex rearrangements (19.2%) and substantially less reliance on microhomology (31%) than previously observed in benign copy-number variants (CNVs). We compared these results to experimentally generated DNA breakage-repair by sequencing seven transgenic animals, revealing extensive rearrangement of the transgene and host genome with similar complexity to human germline alterations. Inversion was the most common rearrangement, suggesting that a combined mechanism involving template switching and non-homologous repair mediates the formation of balanced complex rearrangements that are viable, stably replicated and transmitted unaltered to subsequent generations.     

Heritable and inducible genetic interference by double-stranded RNA encoded by transgenes

Double-stranded RNA interference (RNAi) is an effective method for disrupting expression of specific genes in Caenorhabditis elegans and other organisms. Applications of this reverse-genetics tool, however, are somewhat restricted in nematodes because introduced dsRNA is not stably inherited. Another difficulty is that RNAi disruption of late-acting genes has been generally less consistent than that of embryonically expressed genes, perhaps because the concentration of dsRNA becomes lower as cellular division proceeds or as developmental time advances. In particular, some neuronally expressed genes appear refractory to dsRNA-mediated interference. We sought to extend the applicability of RNAi by in vivo expression of heritable inverted-repeat (IR) genes. We assayed the efficacy of in vivo-driven RNAi in three situations for which heritable, inducible RNAi would be advantageous: (i) production of large numbers of animals deficient for gene activities required for viability or reproduction; (ii) generation of large populations of phenocopy mutants for biochemical analysis; and (iii) effective gene inactivation in the nervous system. We report that heritable IR genes confer potent and specific gene inactivation for each of these applications. We suggest that a similar strategy might be used to test for dsRNA interference effects in higher organisms in which it is feasible to construct transgenic animals, but impossible to directly or transiently introduce high concentrations of dsRNA.     

Purification and cloning of amyloid precursor protein beta-secretase from human brain

Proteolytic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) generates amyloid beta (Abeta) peptide, which is thought to be causal for the pathology and subsequent cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. Cleavage by beta-secretase at the amino terminus of the Abeta peptide sequence, between residues 671 and 672 of APP, leads to the generation and extracellular release of beta-cleaved soluble APP, and a corresponding cell-associated carboxy-terminal fragment. Cleavage of the C-terminal fragment by gamma-secretase(s) leads to the formation of Abeta. The pathogenic mutation K670M671-->N670L671 at the beta-secretase cleavage site in APP, which was discovered in a Swedish family with familial Alzheimer's disease, leads to increased beta-secretase cleavage of the mutant substrate. Here we describe a membrane-bound enzyme activity that cleaves full-length APP at the beta-secretase cleavage site, and find it to be the predominant beta-cleavage activity in human brain. We have purified this enzyme activity to homogeneity from human brain using a new substrate analogue inhibitor of the enzyme activity, and show that the purified enzyme has all the properties predicted for beta-secretase. Cloning and expression of the enzyme reveals that human brain beta-secretase is a new membrane-bound aspartic proteinase.     

水合锰(Ⅱ)结构的量子化学和ABEEM/MM研究

应用新一代可极化分子力场——原子-键电负性均衡浮动电荷分子力场ABEEM/MM,结合精密量子化学方法, 构建了精确的Mn²⁺-H₂O 相互作用的势能函数, 确定了相关参数.将该势能函数用于计算[Mn(H₂O)_n]²⁺(n=1~12)的结构和结合能, 得到了与量子化学一致的结果. 进一步对Mn²⁺水溶液进行ABEEM/MM 动力学模拟, 得到的Mn²⁺–O 径向分布函数的第一和第二最高峰分别处于0.218 和0.435 nm 处, 积分得到第一和第二水合层的配位水分子数分别为7.03 和17.74; 对于O–Mn²⁺–O 角度分布函数, 其第一和第二最高峰分别位于80°和140°附近, 这些结果与实验和其他理论方法的结果有很好的一致性. Mn²⁺的极化作用使得第一水合层中水分子的键长明显增长, 键角明显减小; 而Mn²⁺对第二水合层及外层水分子的结构影响较小. 分析体系的电荷分布表明, 与ABEEM-7P 纯水相比, Mn²⁺水溶液中参与形成氢键的氢原子和孤对电子的电荷变化较大, 且Mn²⁺和其邻近的水分子间存在明显的电荷转移.