Thermodynamics of natural selection

It is shown that biological-natural-selection-like behavior can occur, as a general type of time evolution, in a statistical system where detailed balance is violated owing to the presence of metastable energy states. A model of a non-equilibrium phase transition corresponding to the spontaneous origin of self-reproduction in the system is suggested. After a phase transition, the system passes from one quasistationary distribution of self-reproducing subsystems to another, with an increase in the total organization, as long as the growth of the energy flow through the system or a reduction of energy dissipation in the system is possible. The entropy production is calculated for this process in terms of selective values of Eigen's theory for self-organization in autocatalytic systems. Correspondence of the extremal principle of Eigen's theory with the criterion of evolution in Prigogine's thermodynamics is established.     

Capillary electrophoresis as a tool for screening aptamer with high affinity and high specificity to ricin

Aptamers which specifically recognize targets are selected from random oligonucleotide library using systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). In this paper, capillary electrophoresis (CE) as a separation approach has been introduced to SELEX procedure. The high efficiency of CE gives rise to greatly shorten the selection procedure. The results from enzyme-linked assay and dot blot experiment show that an enrichment pool has been obtained after four rounds selection, which can specifically recognize ricin. __________ Translated from Chemical Journal of Chinese Universities, 2006, 27(10): 1,840–1,843 [译自: 高等学校化学学报]     

PBA@POM Hybrids as Efficient Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction

To realize the effective conversion of renewable energy through water decomposition, efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are essential. In this article, PBA@POM was successfully prepared with a Prussian blue analogue (PBA) as the initial structure. A facile hydrothermal process is reported for obtaining PBA@POM by etching the cubic PBA with a strong Brønsted acid, H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀ (HPMo). The hollow cube structure not only exposes more active sites but also promotes electron transport, which results in excellent electrocatalytic activity for the OER. Compared with the PBA, which initially simply adhered to POM, the optimum PBA@POM hybrids display remarkably enhanced OER catalytic activity, with an almost constant overpotential of 440 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm^?2 and a small Tafel slope (23.45 mV dec^?1). The facilely prepared PBA@POM with good electrochemical activity and stability promises great potential for the OER.     

基于离散小波变换的蛋白质结构、功能与进化关系延时交叉相关分析

基于氨基酸的疏水特性, 将离散小波变换与延时交叉相关分析相结合, 提出了一种分析蛋白质结构、功能和进化关系的新方法——序列小波层次相关法. 以丝氨酸蛋白酶超家族中Trypsin种属为研究对象, 描述了该方法在揭示不同物种的Trypsin蛋白质进化关系中的应用; 以蛋白质酪氨酸磷酸酶、血红蛋白和溶菌酶为例, 采用该方法揭示了蛋白质之间功能与序列的内在关系. 该方法为非参数方法, 具有简单、直观、可视和可操作性强等特点, 且不需要事先知道蛋白质的结构, 仅从蛋白质的氨基酸序列出发即可比较和揭示蛋白质之间的关系.     

Laser irradiation induced spectral evolution of the surface-enhanced Raman scattering(SERS) of 4-tert-butylbenzylmercaptan on gold nanoparticles assembly

The spectral evolution of the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of 4-tert-butylbenzylmer-captan (4-tBBM) on gold nanoparticles assembly under laser irradiation is reported. The relative intensities of typical peaks in the spectrum of 4-tBBM gradually change with irradiation time. Comparison of the rate of spectral changes under several experimental conditions indicates that the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) induced heat in the gold nanoparticles assembly is the origin of the spectral evolution. During the process of self-assembly, 4-tBBM molecules do not form a compact ordered monolayer because of the spatial hindrance of the 4-tert-butyl end group. The heat induced by laser irradiation drives the 4-tBBM molecules to rearrange to a more stable orientation.     

镍钴复合氧化物的制备和析氧活性

用浸碱热分解法制备了具有较高析氧活性和稳定性的复合氧化物ＮｉＣｏ＿２Ｏ＿４。考察了涂液成分、热分解温度和涂覆次数对ＮｉＣｏ＿２Ｏ＿４析氧活性的影响；测定了氧在ＮｉＣｏ＿２Ｏ＿４从电极上的稳态电化学行为。     

Preparation of La0.75Sr0.25MnO3 Nano-Phase Powders and Films from Alkoxide Precursors

The first purely alkoxide-based sol-gel route to nano-phase powders and thin films of perovskite La_0.75Sr_0.25MnO₃ is described. The phase and microstructure evolution on heat treatment of free gel films to form the target nano-phase oxide were investigated by TGA, IR spectroscopy, powder XRD, SEM and TEM-EDS. The xerogel consisted of a hydrated oxo-carbonate, without remaining alkoxo groups or solvent. Heating at 5°C·min^–1 decomposed the carbonate groups and yielded the pure perovskite La_0.75Sr_0.25MnO₃ at 760°C. The cell dimensions were virtually unchanged from the first observation of perovskite at 680°C, to 1000°C, 4 h. The monoclinic cell of La_0.75Sr_0.25MnO₃ obtained at 1000°C, 4 h, had the dimensions a = 5.475(1), b = 5.504(2), c = 7.771(1) Å, = 90.50(2), fitting the literature data quite well. Crack-free, homogenous, 150 nm thick La_0.75Sr_0.25MnO₃ films were prepared by spin-coating Si/SiO₂/TiO₂/Pt and polycrystalline -Al₂O₃ substrates with a 0.6 M alkoxide solution, followed by heating at 5°C·min^–1 to 800°C, 30 min.     

Ultrafine molybdenum carbide nanoparticles supported on nitrogen doped carbon nanosheets for hydrogen evolution reaction

Nitrogen doped carbon nanosheets supported molybdenum carbides nanoparticles (Mo_xC/NCS) have been synthesized by tuning the mass ratio of melamine and ammonia molybdate. The Mo₂C/NCS-10 exhibits superior electrocatalytic performance and stability for HER, which was attributed to N-doped carbon nanosheets, small particle size, mesoporous structure, and large electrochemical active surface area.     

Developments on carbon dioxide reduction: Their promise,achievements, and challenges

CO₂ reduction processes continue to be developed for electrosynthesis, energy storage applications, and environmental remediation. A number of promising materials have shown high activity and selectivity to target reduction products. However, the progress has been mainly at a small laboratory scale, and the technical challenges of large scale CO₂ reduction have not been considered adequately. This review covers recent advancements in catalyst materials and cell designs. The leading materials for CO₂ reduction to a number of useful products are presented with their corresponding cell and reactor designs. The latest efforts to progress to industrially relevant scales are discussed, along with the challenges that must be met for carbon dioxide reduction to be a viable route for mass scale production.