Crystallization and stability of different protein crystal modifications: A case study of lysozyme

The crystallization, including both the phase diagram and the phase transition of hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) was investigated. A tetragonal modification and a needle modification were obtained during crystallization. The phase diagram and stability of two modifications in both acid and basic pH solutions (pH 4.5, 8.0 and 9.0) were determined. Besides in acid solutions, the well‐known tetragonal crystals can also be obtained in basic solutions at low temperature (7 °C) while the needle like modification can only crystallize in a basic solution. Based on the phase diagram, phase transfer behavior was found to exist between the two modifications. In basic solutions, tetragonal modification can transfer to needle shaped crystals. This process can be affected by a changing of pH and temperature. While in acid buffer, the needle shaped crystals dissolve and tetragonal crystals crystallize and remain in solution.     

Integrated separation of blood plasma from whole blood for microfluidic paper-based analytical devices

Many diagnostic tests in a conventional clinical laboratory are performed on blood plasma because changes in its composition often reflect the current status of pathological processes throughout the body. Recently, a significant research effort has been invested into the development of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) implementing these conventional laboratory tests for point-of-care diagnostics in resource-limited settings. This paper describes the use of red blood cell (RBC) agglutination for separating plasma from finger-prick volumes of whole blood directly in paper, and demonstrates the utility of this approach by integrating plasma separation and a colorimetric assay in a single μPAD. The μPAD was fabricated by printing its pattern onto chromatography paper with a solid ink (wax) printer and melting the ink to create hydrophobic barriers spanning through the entire thickness of the paper substrate. The μPAD was functionalized by spotting agglutinating antibodies onto the plasma separation zone in the center and the reagents of the colorimetric assay onto the test readout zones on the periphery of the device. To operate the μPAD, a drop of whole blood was placed directly onto the plasma separation zone of the device. RBCs in the whole blood sample agglutinated and remained in the central zone, while separated plasma wicked through the paper substrate into the test readout zones where analyte in plasma reacted with the reagents of the colorimetric assay to produce a visible color change. The color change was digitized with a portable scanner and converted to concentration values using a calibration curve. The purity and yield of separated plasma was sufficient for successful operation of the μPAD. This approach to plasma separation based on RBC agglutination will be particularly useful for designing fully integrated μPADs operating directly on small samples of whole blood.     

β/α Transformation of β-polypropylene during tensile deformation: effect of crystalline morphology

In this work, the β/α transformation of β-nucleated iPP at different tensile strains has been analyzed. The crystalline morphology of iPP is controlled by the content of β-phase nucleating agent (β-NA), namely, well-developed β-spherulites induced by critical content of β-NA and bundle-like morphology without distinctly developed spherulites by supercritical content of β-NA. It is interesting to observe that the crystalline morphology of β-iPP exhibits great influence on the β/α transformation process during deformation. For well-developed β-spherulites, the content of β-iPP increases at relatively low tensile strain and then decreases gradually with the further increase of tensile strain. However, for bundle-like morphology, the content of β-iPP decreases monotonically with the increase of tensile strain. More important, well-developed β-spherulites, which have integrated crystalline structures, exhibit much smaller degree of β/α transformation as compared with bundle-like morphology at the same tensile strain, leading to more β-iPP maintaining and participating in the deformation process at high strain and consequently, resulting in better ductility. The results of this study further show the importance of crystalline morphology in determining the ductility of β-nucleated iPP on the one hand. On the other hand, this work provides the illuminating explanation for the reason why the well-developed β-spherulites exhibits more excellent ductility compared with the bundle-like morphology.     

超声空化泡运动特性的研究进展

超声空化是一个极其复杂的物理现象,超声空化泡运动是影响超声空化效应的重要因素,研究超声空化泡的运动特性已受到学术界的极大重视。本文研究了近几年国内外学者基于超声作用下的空化泡运动特性的工作,从空化泡运动方程、数值模拟、实验研究等方面介绍了超声空化泡运动特性的研究进展。最后指出了研究中需解决的关键问题,同时对超声空化泡的研究趋势进行了展望。     

液氢贮箱零蒸发数值模拟与分析

采用CFD技术,对处于微重力下的零蒸发(ZBO)液氢贮箱内采用喷嘴棒强迫混合的流场进行稳态数值模拟,建立了二维轴对称模型,预测了在不同几何参数下贮箱内温度场及速度场分布情况。研究表明,喷嘴棒伸入贮箱长度、入口直径等因素均会对系统内温度场产生影响。贮箱内平均温度和最大温度随喷嘴棒长度和入口直径的增大而减小,而喷口直径对贮箱内温度场影响不明显。由上述可以看出,通过增大入口直径、选择合适的喷嘴棒伸入长度,可以改善系统性能。     

Dinitrogen Activation and Addition to Unsaturated C−E (E=C,N, O,S) Bonds Mediated by Transition Metal Complexes

Dinitrogen (N₂) activation and functionalization is of fundamental interest and practical importance. This review focuses on N₂ activation and addition to unsaturated substrates, including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, heteroallenes, aldehydes, ketones, acid halides, nitriles, alkynes, and allenes, mediated by transition metal complexes, which afforded a variety of N−C bond formation products. Emphases are placed on the reaction modes and mechanisms. We hope that this work would stimulate further explorations in this challenging field.     

The effect of In doping on optical properties of Fe:LiNBO3 crystals

Fe:LiNbO₃ and In:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystals were grown by Czochralski method. The absorption spectra were measured to investigate their defect structure. The photo damage resistance and photorefractive properties were measured. The photo damage resistance of the In:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystal in which the In concentration is above the threshold value is one order of magnitude higher than that of the Fe:LiNbO₃ crystal. The mechanisms of the violet shift of the absorption edge and the enhancement of the photorefractive effect of In:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystals were investigated.     

超声速弹丸立靶弹着点定位模型研究

针对常规武器火炮直瞄射击时的弹着点测试问题,提出了一种双圆环形传声器阵列方法。该阵列将若干传感器布设在两个圆环上,并根据超声速弹丸产生的激波传播速度随传播距离增加逐渐递减的规律,对每个传声器阵分别引入一个视速度,建立了双视速度模型。计算机仿真分析表明,采用双圆环形传声器阵列及双视速度模型确定弹丸弹着点坐标,带来的模型误差优于3 mm,对于工程应用而言可以忽略。试验结果表明,双视速度模型明显优于将激波传播速度视为恒定的基本模型和交会模型。     

Decarboxylative Trifluoromethylating Reagent [Cu(O2CCF3)(phen)] and Difluorocarbene Precursor [Cu(phen)2][O2CCF2Cl]

This article describes the new economic decarboxylative trifluoromethylating reagent [Cu(phen)(O₂CCF₃)] ( 1 ; phen=1,10‐phenanthroline) and the efficient difluorocarbene precursor [Cu(phen)₂][O₂CCF₂Cl] ( 2 ). Treatment of copper tert‐butoxide with phen and subsequent addition of trifluoroacetic acid or chlorodifluoroacetic acid afforded air‐stable complexes 1 and 2 , respectively, which were characterized by X‐ray crystallography. The copper(I) ion in 1 is coordinated by a bidentate phen ligand, a monodentate trifluoroacetate group, and a molecule of CH₃CN in a distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry. The molecular structure of 2 adopts an ionic form that consists of a [Cu(phen)₂]⁺ cation and a chlorodifluoroacetate anion. Complex 1 reacted with a variety of aryl and heteroaryl halides to form trifluoromethyl (hetero)arenes in good yields. The corresponding Hammett plot exhibited a linear relationship and a reaction parameter (ρ)=+0.56±0.02, which indicated that the trifluoromethylation reaction proceeded via a nucleophilic reactive species. Complex 2 reacts with phenols to produce aryl difluoromethyl ethers in modest‐to‐excellent yields. Mechanistic investigations revealed that the difluoromethylation reaction proceeds by initial copper‐mediated formation of difluorocarbene and subsequent concerted addition of difluorocarbene to the phenol to form a three‐center transition state.