Computer-aided design of formulated products

Formulated products represent a particular class of complex chemical products, and their design is typically based on experience and extensive experimentation. Although still at an early stage, and despite that their potential is not fully accessed and not fully used by the industry, computer-aided design (CAD) methods and tools offer many possibilities in the design of formulated products. The CAD methodology based on computerized models enables the formulation chemists to speed up the design process, without completely replacing experiments.In this work, we summarize previous studies in the field and present important elements of the CAD framework, emphasizing estimation methods for key target properties, link to specifications, and finally, some case studies will illustrate how the CAD framework can be used in practice for formulated products.     

Improved neural networks based on genetic algorithm for pulse recognition

Pulse diagnosis is an important part of Chinese medicine and has played an important role in the development of Chinese medical science. However, the pulse is traditionally determined by cutting it off, which leads to a lack of objective standard pulse identification methods and affects their accuracy and feasibility. This research has studied and discussed the processing and identification of four kinds of pulse: normal pulse, wiry pulse, smooth pulse, and thready pulse. Four frequency-domain characteristics of the pulse wave and six kinds of wavelet scale energy characteristic information were extracted, and a three-layer BP (backprocessing) neural network was established. The LM (Levenberg–Marquard) algorithm and a genetic algorithm were used to improve the BP neural network, to train on and predict experimental samples, and to obtain classification accuracies of 90% and 95% respectively. Moreover, improved BP neural network based on a genetic algorithm has shown highly superior performance in terms of convergence speed and low error rate.     

基于Nie-Tan算法的区间二型模糊集质心计算:改变主变量采样个数

计算区间二型模糊集的质心(也称降型)是区间二型模糊逻辑系统中的一个重要模块。Karnik-Mendel(KM)迭代算法通常被认为是计算区间二型模糊集质心的标准算法。尽管如此,KM算法涉及复杂的计算过程,不利于实时应用。在各种改进类算法中,非迭代的Nie-Tan(NT)算法可节省计算消耗。此外,连续版本NT(CNT,continuous version of NT)算法被证明是计算质心的准确算法。本文比较了离散版本NT算法中求和运算和连续版本NT算法中求积分运算,通过四个计算机仿真例子证实了当适度增加区间二型模糊集主变量采样个数时,NT算法的计算结果可以精确地逼近CNT算法。     

吸收峰混叠的太赫兹光谱区间组合特征提取算法

太赫兹光谱是物质识别的前沿方法之一。由于不同物质的分子组成或结构各异,许多物质的太赫兹吸收谱会在特定频率上出现吸收峰,可以作为混合物成分检测的重要特征。有效准确地提取这些吸收峰的参数,是提高识别率的关键。多峰拟合算法将光谱曲线拟合成若干个标准峰函数之和,能够同时提取到吸收峰的频率、峰高、峰宽等信息。但是该算法以寻峰算法结果为基础确定吸收峰的大致位置和数量,寻峰结果不一定是最优的拟合结果,而且很难准确识别定位混叠状态的吸收峰。为了提高混叠光谱中吸收峰的识别定位精度,提出以大幅度平滑后的曲线波谷为分界点,将预处理后的光谱分成若干个子区间。然后将子区间组合起来进行多峰拟合,通过遗传算法得到最优的拟合子区间组合和吸收峰频率近似值,拟合时每个子区间中通过峰数递增最优化方法确定拟合的吸收峰数,最后微调优化得到最优的吸收峰频率、峰高值。为了实现物质的识别,通过密度聚类算法得到同一类纯净物在多次测量中的共同吸收峰,以此作为标准数据,通过提出的基于吸收峰特征的光谱匹配算法实现了纯净物和不同含量混合物的快速识别。对10类纯净物的实际光谱数据进行拟合聚类,得到其吸收峰参数,结果与太赫兹光谱数据库一致。通过识别算法对纯净物测试集进行识别的识别率为100%,证明了特征提取和物质识别算法的有效性。对于含有混叠峰的混合物光谱,二阶导数法对葡萄糖-乳糖混合物光谱中被掩盖吸收峰(1.280 THz)的识别率仅为70%,提取到的频率平均值为1.316 THz;而该算法提高识别率至95%,频率平均值为1.281 THz,该算法提高了对混叠峰的分辨能力,能够精确定位混叠峰。对10类纯净物构成的6类不同程度混叠的二元混合物前二、三识别率分别达到90.8%和98.3%,提取到的特征能够有效应用于混合物的成分检测。该算法能够以纯净物数据为标准数据实现成分各异的混合物成分检测,对于太赫兹光谱混合物成分检测有重要意义。     

Synthesis,Biochemical Characterization,and Genetic Encoding of a 1,2,4-Triazole Amino Acid as an Acetyllysine Mimic for Bromodomains of the BET Family

Lysine acetylation is a charge-neutralizing post-translational modification of proteins bound by bromodomains (Brds). A 1,2,4-triazole amino acid (ApmTri) was established as acetyllysine (Kac) mimic recruiting Brds of the BET family in contrast to glutamine commonly used for simulating this modification. Optimization of triazole substituents and side chain spacing allowed BET Brd recruitment to ApmTri-containing peptides with affinities similar to native substrates. Crystal structures of ApmTri-containing peptides in complex with two BET Brds revealed the binding mode which mirrored that of Kac ligands. ApmTri was genetically encoded and recombinant ApmTri-containing proteins co-enriched BRD3(2) from cellular lysates. This interaction was blocked by BET inhibitor JQ1. With genetically encoded ApmTri, biochemistry is now provided with a stable Kac mimic reflecting charge neutralization and Brd recruitment, allowing new investigations into BET proteins in vitro and in vivo.     

A Versatile Strategy for Screening Custom-Designed Warhead-Armed Cyclic Peptide Inhibitors

Demand for peptide-based pharmaceuticals has been steadily increasing, but only limited success has been achieved to date. To expedite peptide-based drug discovery, we developed a general scheme for cell-based screening of cyclic peptide inhibitors armed with a user-designed warhead. We combined unnatural amino acid incorporation and split intein-mediated peptide cyclization techniques and integrated a yeast-based colorimetric screening assay to generate a new scheme that we call the custom-designed warhead-armed cyclic peptide screening platform (CWCPS). This strategy successfully discovered a potent inhibitor, CY5-6Q, that targets human histone deacetylase 8 (HDAC8) with a K_D value of 15 nM. This approach can be a versatile and general platform for discovering cyclic peptide inhibitors.     

基于内源性致香物质和化学计量学的烟草感官评价研究

采用主成分分析法结合遗传算法和神经网络,建立了基于烟草内源性致香物质的感官质量评价预测模型。利用气相色谱-质谱(GC-MS)技术对超临界萃取-分子蒸馏所得烟草精油中的内源性致香组分进行定性定量分析,汇总各类致香指标后,对其进行主成分分析;以提取所得5个主成分的得分作为输入变量,感官评吸分数作为输出变量,分别使用标准BP神经网络和遗传算法(GA)优化的BP神经网络建立预测模型。对比实验结果表明,GA优化后的模型预测效果更优,其预测值与实验值间的相关系数为0.96,预测均方根误差为1.81,说明GA-BP模型具有更好的拟合能力和预测能力,该模型能有效地预测烟草精油的感官品质。     

Cr(VI) and Cu(II) removal from aqueous solution in fixed bed column using rice bran; experimental,statistical and GA modelling

Rice bran, a green and low-cost adsorbent, is used for Chromium (VI) and Copper (II) remotion from its aqueous solution. The influence of different process parameters in a fixed-bed on the removing efficiency has been investigated. The results show that the removal efficiency is higher at a minimum flow rate, low metal ion concentration, and higher bed height. The adsorption studies show that the rice bran has a better affinity to Chromium (VI) than Copper (II). Different kinetic models are used for the prediction of the column performance. This study shows that rice bran could be a potential and eco-friendly adsorbent for chromium (VI) and copper (II) removal and is suitable for developing countries like India. Multiple linear regression and ANN-based genetic algorithm modelling have been applied successfully to predict both metal ions' percentage removal separately.     

Learning about multiplication by comparing algorithms: “One times one,but actually they are ten times ten”

Multiplication algorithms in primary school are still frequently introduced with little attention to meaning. We present a case study focusing on a third grade class that engaged in comparing two algorithms and discussing “why they both work”. The objectives of the didactical intervention were to foster students' development of mathematical meanings concerning multiplication algorithms, and their development of an attitude to judge and compare the value and efficiency of different algorithms. Underlying hypotheses were that it is possible to promote the simultaneous unfolding of the semiotic potential of two algorithms, considered as cultural artifacts, with respect to the objectives of the didactical intervention, and to establish a fruitful synergy between the two algorithms. As results, this study sheds light onto the new theoretical construct of “bridging sign”, illuminating students’ meaning-making processes involving more than one artifact; and it provides important insight into the actual unfolding of the hypothesized potential of the algorithms.     

Seismic gyrotropy as a result of rock-microstructure dissymmetry

Seismic investigations show that rocks exhibit not only anisotropic properties but also gyrotropic ones. Recently, the phenomenological theory has been developed to describe the phenomenon ‘seismic gyrotropy'. The paper gives a possible explanation of the gyrotropic properties of rocks on a microlevel. A gyrotropic model of grainy rock with dissymetry in its microstructure is presented. The model is built on a principle ‘azimuthal turn plus translation'. The mathematical and physical formulations of the problem are discussed. An algorithm is constructed to find the displacements, their first and second derivatives with respect to spatial coordinates as well as stresses inside a grain, an element of the model. Mathematical modelling of elastic-wave propagation in the model considered enabled to demonstrate that the model possesses gyrotropic properties, i.e., it rotates on a polarization vector. Gyration constants are determined.