Functional analysis of the validamycin biosynthetic gene cluster and engineered production of validoxylamine A

A 45 kb DNA sequencing analysis from Streptomyces hygroscopicus 5008 involved in validamycin A (VAL-A) biosynthesis revealed 16 structural genes, 2 regulatory genes, 5 genes related transport, transposition/integration or tellurium resistance; another 4 genes had no obvious identity. The VAL-A biosynthetic pathway was proposed, with assignment of the required genetic functions confined to the sequenced region. A cluster of eight reassembled genes was found to support VAL-A synthesis in a heterologous host, S. lividans 1326. In vivo inactivation of the putative glycosyltransferase gene (valG) abolished the final attachment of glucose for VAL production and resulted in accumulation of the VAL-A precursor, validoxylamine, while the normal production of VAL-A could be restored by complementation with valG. The role of valG in the glycosylation of validoxylamine to VAL-A was demonstrated in vitro by enzymatic assay.     

Multilayer films of carbon nanotubes and redox polymer on screen-printed carbon electrodes for electrocatalysis of ascorbic acid

Multilayer films containing multiwall carbon nanotubes and redox polymer were successfully fabricated on a screen-printed carbon electrode using layer-by-layer (LBL) assembled method. UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical method were used to characterize the assembled multilayer films. The multilayer films modified electrodes exhibited good electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of ascorbic acid (AA). Compared with the bare electrode, the oxidation peak potential negatively shifted about 350 mV (versus Ag/AgCl). Furthermore, the modified screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) could be used for the determination of ascorbic acid in real samples.     

1 J/pulse Q-switched 2 microm solid-state laser

Q-switched output of 1.1 J/pulse at a 2.053 microm wavelength has been achieved in a diode-pumped Ho: Tm: LuLF laser with a side-pumped rod configuration in a master-oscillator-power-amplifier (MOPA) architecture. This is the first time to our knowledge that a 2 microm laser has broken the joule per pulse barrier for Q-switched operation. The total system efficiency reaches 5% and 6.2% for single- and double-pulse operation, respectively. The system produces an excellent 1.4 times transform-limited beam quality.     

Elasticity reconstruction for ultrasound elastography using a radial compression: an inverse approach

To reduce the inherent mechanical artifacts in the strain images, many groups have investigated solutions to the inverse problem in elastography. However, in prostate elastography or intravascular elastography where the compression direction is radial, the inverse problem has not been studied thoroughly. In this paper, an iterative approach is proposed to reconstruct tissue elasticity for ultrasound elastography using a radial compression. The method is based upon the stress-strain relations in the polar coordinates. Computer simulations in an intravascular model are performed to illustrate the feasibility of this method in reducing the mechanical artifacts of the strain images. The reconstructed elasticity error and the contrast-transfer efficiency (CTE) as a function of the iteration number show that the inverse approach converges with a few iterations.     

Progress of nanoscience in China

Fast evolving nanoseienees and nanotechnology in China has made it one of the front countries of nanotechnology development. Ill this review, we summarize some most recent progresses in nanoseienee research and nanotechnology development in China. The topics we selected in this article include llano-fabrication, nanocatalysis, bioinspired nanoteehnology, green printing nanotechnology, nanoplasmonics, nanomedicine, nanomaterials and their applications, energy and environmental nanoteehnology, nano EHS （nanosafety）, etc. Most of them have great potentials in applications or application-related key issues in future.     

飞行器变后掠过程非定常气动特性形成机理

可变体飞行器变后掠过程中的时变气动力与力矩特性对于飞行安全具有重要意义,是亟待深入研究的基础问题.通过风洞实验对其开展了研究,揭示了可变体飞行器变后掠引起的气动特性动态迟滞现象及滞回环大小与方向的影响因素.基于风洞实验结果和力学中一些重要概念,提出了3种物理效应:流场迟滞效应、附加运动效应、固壁牵连效应,以此定性与定量论证了可变体飞行器变后掠过程中非定常气动特性的形成机理.除了能解释实验现象,这一机理研究亦可用于后续可变体飞行器变后掠过程中的气动特性建模.     

一种基于证据理论的结构可靠性分析方法

提出了一种基于证据理论的结构可靠性高效求解方法. 通过构造优化问题求解极限状态方程的非概率可靠性指标及设计验算点, 并构造一辅助区域. 通过辅助区域显著减少需要进行极值分析的焦元个数, 并基于区间分析方法减少焦元上极限状态方程的计算次数, 从而有效降低计算成本. 数值算例及工程应用验证了该方法的有效性.     

Effect of Partial Premixing on Stabilization and Local Extinction of Turbulent Methane/Air Flames

The stabilization characteristics and local extinction structures of partially premixed methane/air flames were studied using simultaneous OH-PLIF/PIV techniques, and large eddy simulations employing a two-scalar flamelet model. Partial premixing was made in a mixing chamber comprised of two concentric tubes, where the degree of partial premixing of fuel and air was controlled by varying the mixing length of the chamber. At the exit of the mixing chamber a cone was mounted to stabilize the flames at high turbulence intensities. The stability regime of flames was determined for different degree of partial premixing and Reynolds numbers. It was found that in general partially premixed flames at low Reynolds numbers become more stable when the level of partial premixing of air to the fuel stream decreases. At high Reynolds numbers, for the presently studied burner configuration there is an optimal partial premixing level of air to the fuel stream at which the flame is most stable. OH-PLIF images revealed that for the stable flames not very close to the blowout regime, significant local extinction holes appear already. By increasing premixing air to fuel stream successively, local extinction holes grow in size leading to eventual flame blowout. Local flame extinction was found to frequently attain to locations where locally high velocity flows impinging to the flame. The local flame extinction poses a future challenge for model simulations and the present flames provide a possible test case for such study.     

金鸡纳碱奎尼丁催化含苯并噻唑基团亚胺与丙二酸酯Mannich反应机理研究

手性催化剂奎尼丁催化丙二酸乙酯与苯并噻唑亚胺的不对称Mannich反应机理研究, 对β-氨基酸酯类衍生物合成具有重要的指导意义. 采用密度泛函理论(DFT)的M06-2X方法, 通过精确计算: (1)确定了奎尼丁催化剂催化活性位点为9位碳上的羟基和位于1位的叔氮原子; (2) S构型反应过渡态能量比R构型反应过渡态能量低, 反应产物以S构型为主; (3)计算进一步表明较低温度有助于提高反应的立体选择性. 计算结果与实验数据相符, 反应获得S构型的β-氨基酸酯类衍生物, 其ee可达到 81%～95%.