An unexpected all-metal aromatic tetranuclear silver cluster in human copper chaperone Atox1

Metal clusters, such as iron–sulfur clusters, play key roles in sustaining life and are intimately involved in the functions of metalloproteins. Herein we report the formation and crystal structure of a planar square tetranuclear silver cluster when silver ions were mixed with human copper chaperone Atox1. Quantum chemical studies reveal that two Ag 5s¹ electrons in the tetranuclear silver cluster fully occupy the one bonding molecular orbital, with the assumption that this Ag₄ cluster is Ag₄²⁺, leading to extensive electron delocalization over the planar square and significant stabilization. This bonding pattern of the tetranuclear silver cluster represents an aromatic all-metal structure that follows a 4n + 2 electron counting rule (n = 0). This is the first time an all-metal aromatic silver cluster was observed in a protein.

Metal clusters, such as iron–sulfur clusters, play key roles in sustaining life and are intimately involved in the functions of metalloproteins.     

紧支撑Gabor框架的稳定性

1引言自Duffin和Schaeffer提出了框架理论以来,框架理论在数学和信息科学等领域占有非常重要的地位,在小波分析和时频分析中起着举足轻重的作用.现在Gabor框架系统被广泛地应用在信息论,量子力学,信号处理和图象处理等方面.Gabor框架的稳定性是应用中所需要的,同时也是人们关心的问题.但是,一直以来对Gabor框架的稳定性的研究主要集中在L~2(R)上,即使在L~2(R~d)上的研究也主要针对单项指标扰动进行了研究.本文借助于文[2]中的定理3和定理4,文[3]中的定理2和文[5]中的定理2.1,分别对L~2(R~d)上紧支撑Gabor框架的窗函数、平移指标、旋转指标以及多项混合扰动的稳定性进行了讨论.     

Preparation and Characterization of Methyl Jasmonate Microcapsules and Their Preserving Effects on Postharvest Potato Tuber

Potato tubers tend to sprout during long-term storage, resulting in quality deterioration and shortened shelf life. Restrictions on the use of chlorpropham, the major potato sprout suppressant, have led to a need to seek alternative methods. In this study, the effects of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) solutions and MeJA microcapsules on sprouting and other key quality attributes of the potato tuber were investigated. The results showed that the MeJA solution was most effective at 300 μmol L⁻¹ according to TOPSIS analysis. To prepare MeJA microcapsules, the optimal formulation is with 0.04% emulsifier, 2.5% sodium alginate, 0.5% chitosan and 3% CaCl₂. Compared to 300 μmol L⁻¹ MeJA solution, MeJA microcapsules consumed a lower dose of MeJA but demonstrated a better retaining effect on the overall quality attributes of potato tubers. MeJA microcapsules are promising agents for the preservation of postharvest potato tubers.     

全变换半群Tn 与对称逆半群ISn 之间的同态

刻画了有限集合N上全变换半群T_n 与对称逆半群IS_n 之间的所有同态.     

一类厄尔尼诺/拉尼娜-南方涛动海-气振子的奇摄动解

厄尔尼诺/拉尼娜-南方涛动是涉及赤道太平洋中的一个海-气交互的年际现象.本文的目的是建立一类海-气振子模型的非线性奇摄动问题的渐近求解方法.并在一类海-气振子模型的基础上,借用奇摄动方法研究了对应问题的近似解.由奇摄动方法得到的结果分析厄尔尼诺/拉尼娜-南方涛动海-气振子模型的赤道太平洋的海表温度异常和气-海振子的温度深度异常.     

Spin gapless semiconductor like Ti2MnAl film as a new candidate for spintronics application

A novel Heusler ferrimagnet Ti₂MnAl film has been grown on Si(001) substrate using magnetron sputtering. Characteristics of its magnetic and transport properties reveal the spin‐gapless‐semiconductor (SGS) nature of the stoichiometric Ti₂MnAl, in agreement with theoretical prediction. The as‐grown SGS‐like Ti₂MnAl film demonstrated high Curie temperature, nearly compensated ferrimagnetic properties with small coercivity and low magnetization. It also showed semiconductor‐like behavior at room temperature allowing good compatibility with commercial Si‐based semiconductor. In this regards, Ti₂MnAl film is a potential candidate material for spintronics application, especially for the minimization of energy consumption of device. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Faraday-Michelson system for quantum cryptography

Quantum key distribution provides unconditional security for communication. Unfortunately, current experimental schemes are not suitable for long-distance fiber transmission because of phase drift or Rayleigh backscattering. In this Letter we present a unidirectional intrinsically stable scheme that is based on Michelson-Faraday interferometers, in which ordinary mirrors are replaced with 90 degree Faraday mirrors. With the scheme, a demonstration setup was built and excellent stability of interference fringe visibility was achieved over a fiber length of 175 km. Through a 125 km long commercial communication fiber cable between Beijing and Tianjin, the key exchange was performed with a quantum bit-error rate of less than 6%, which is to our knowledge the longest reported quantum key distribution experiment under field conditions.     

光滑粒子流体动力学方法固壁处理的一种新型排斥力模型

与传统网格法相比, 光滑粒子流体动力学方法不能直接施加壁面边界条件, 这就限制了该方法在工程中的应用.为此, 本文基于Galerkin加权余量法并结合传统排斥力方法, 推导出一种新的排斥力公式来施加壁面边界条件.该方法不含未知参数, 能在不减小边界粒子尺寸的情形下有效地防止流体粒子穿透壁面, 同时可避免邻近边界的流体粒子的速度及压力振荡. 分别通过静止液柱算例、液柱坍塌算例、容器中液体静止算例及溃坝算 例来验证本文方法的有效性, 并与传统边界处理方法进行对比, 结果表明: 本文方法克服了传统方法存在的缺陷, 是一种有效的固壁边界处理方法. 关键词： 光滑粒子流体动力学法 固壁边界 排斥力 加权余量法     

Tomatidine-stimulated maturation of human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes for modeling mitochondrial dysfunction

Human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hESC-CMs) have been reported to exhibit immature embryonic or fetal cardiomyocyte-like phenotypes. To enhance the maturation of hESC-CMs, we identified a natural steroidal alkaloid, tomatidine, as a new substance that stimulates the maturation of hESC-CMs. Treatment of human embryonic stem cells with tomatidine during cardiomyocyte differentiation stimulated the expression of several cardiomyocyte-specific markers and increased the density of T-tubules. Furthermore, tomatidine treatment augmented the number and size of mitochondria and enhanced the formation of mitochondrial lamellar cristae. Tomatidine treatment stimulated mitochondrial functions, including mitochondrial membrane potential, oxidative phosphorylation, and ATP production, in hESC-CMs. Tomatidine-treated hESC-CMs were more sensitive to doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity than the control cells. In conclusion, the present study suggests that tomatidine promotes the differentiation of stem cells to adult cardiomyocytes by accelerating mitochondrial biogenesis and maturation and that tomatidine-treated mature hESC-CMs can be used for cardiotoxicity screening and cardiac disease modeling.Subject terms: Heart failure, Embryonic stem cells, Stem-cell differentiation     

Bioavailability Enhancement of Cepharanthine via Pulmonary Administration in Rats and Its Therapeutic Potential for Pulmonary Fibrosis Associated with COVID-19 Infection

Cepharanthine (CEP) has excellent anti-SARS-CoV-2 properties, indicating its favorable potential for COVID-19 treatment. However, its application is challenged by its poor dissolubility and oral bioavailability. The present study aimed to improve the bioavailability of CEP by optimizing its solubility and through a pulmonary delivery method, which improved its bioavailability by five times when compared to that through the oral delivery method (68.07% vs. 13.15%). An ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for quantification of CEP in rat plasma was developed and validated to support the bioavailability and pharmacokinetic studies. In addition, pulmonary fibrosis was recognized as a sequela of COVID-19 infection, warranting further evaluation of the therapeutic potential of CEP on a rat lung fibrosis model. The antifibrotic effect was assessed by analysis of lung index and histopathological examination, detection of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, interleukin-6 (IL-6), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and hydroxyproline level in serum or lung tissues. Our data demonstrated that CEP could significantly alleviate bleomycin (BLM)-induced collagen accumulation and inflammation, thereby exerting protective effects against pulmonary fibrosis. Our results provide evidence supporting the hypothesis that pulmonary delivery CEP may be a promising therapy for pulmonary fibrosis associated with COVID-19 infection.