Laser induced optoacoustic spectroscopy of benzil: Evaluation of structural volume change upon photoisomerization

The cis-skew to trans-planar photoisomerization of benzil in the photoexcited state was studied by laser-induced optoacoustic spectroscopy (LIOAS) in a series of normal alkane solvents at room temperature. The structural volume change due to the photoisomerization process has been estimated and compared with the same calculated from the optimized skew and trans structures. The magnitude of the structural volume change is estimated to be 22.9 ± 1.2 mL/mol. This study reveals that an expansion in volume occurs during the photoinduced isomerization process. In non-polar alkane solvents, the estimated volume change has been argued to be free from electrostrictional contribution.     

Primal Central Paths and Riemannian Distances for Convex Sets

In this paper, we study the Riemannian length of the primal central path in a convex set computed with respect to the local metric defined by a self-concordant function. Despite some negative examples, in many important situations, the length of this path is quite close to the length of a geodesic curve. We show that in the case of a bounded convex set endowed with a ν-self-concordant barrier, the length of the central path is within a factor O(ν ^1/4) of the length of the shortest geodesic curve. This paper presents research results of the Belgian Program on Interuniversity Poles of Attraction initiated by the Belgian State, Prime Minister’s Office, Science Policy Programming.     

Euler's Problem Revisited: 222 Years Later

This paper furnishes several closed-form solutions for the buckling eigenvalue problem of the columns with variable flexural rigidity along the axis. The column is either under uniformly distributed axial load or under concentrated compressive load. Sommario. Questo lavoro fornisce diverse soluzioni in forma chiusa per il problema agli autovalori dell'instabilità di colonne con rigidezza flessionale variabile lungo l'asse. La colonna è soggetta ad un carico assiale unifor-memente distribuito oppure ad una forza di compressione concentrata.     

A wavelet-based methodology for monitoring thermoelastic structures

A wavelet-based methodology for detecting critical events in displacement and temperature histories, obtained by monitoring in-situ thermoelastic structures, is proposed. It is based on the wavelet analysis of thermoelastic potentials furnishing also the possibility to detect separately cases in which sudden jumps occur in the displacement history from those in which they occur on temperature history.     

The AME 2020 atomic mass evaluation (I). Evaluation of input data,and adjustment procedures

This is the first of two articles(Part I and Part II)that presents the results of the new atomic mass evaluation,Ame2020.It includes complete information on the experimental input data that were used to derive the tables of recommended values which are given in Part II.This article describes the evaluation philosophy and procedures that were implemented in the selection of specific nuclear reaction,decay and mass-spectrometric data which were used in a least-squares fit adjustment in order to determine the recommended mass values and their uncertainties.All input data,including both the accepted and rejected ones,are tabulated and compared with the adjusted values obtained from the least-squares fit analysis.Differences with the previous Ame2016 evaluation are discussed and specific examples are presented for several nuclides that may be of interest to Ame users.     

Ultrasound regulated flexible protein materials: Fabrication,structure and physical-biological properties

Ultrasound can be used in the biomaterial field due to its high efficiency, easy operation, no chemical treatment, repeatability and high level of control. In this work, we demonstrated that ultrasound is able to quickly regulate protein structure at the solution assembly stage to obtain the designed properties of protein-based materials. Silk fibroin proteins dissolved in a formic acid-CaCl₂ solution system were treated in an ultrasound with varying times and powers. By altering these variables, the silks physical properties and structures can be fine-tuned and the results were investigated with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), gas permeability and water contact angle measurements. Ultrasonic treatment aids the interactions between the calcium ions and silk molecular chains which leads to increased amounts of intermolecular β-sheets and α-helix. This unique structural change caused the silk film to be highly insoluble in water while also inducing a hydrophilic swelling property. The ultrasound-regulated silk materials also showed higher thermal stability, better biocompatibility and breathability, and favorable mechanical strength and flexibility. It was also possible to tune the enzymatic degradation rate and biological response (cell growth and proliferation) of protein materials by changing ultrasound parameters. This study provides a unique physical and non-contact material processing method for the wide applications of protein-based biomaterials.     

Effect of ultrasound on the properties of rice bran protein and its chlorogenic acid complex

Ultrasound technology was used to treat rice bran protein (RBP), and the structural and functional properties of ultrasonically treated RBP (URBP) and its chlorogenic acid (CA) complex were studied. When ultrasonic power of 200 W was applied for 10 min, the maximum emission peak λ_max of the URBP-CA complex in the fluorescence spectrum was red-shifted by 3.6 nm compared to that of the untreated complex. The atomic force microscope (AFM) analysis indicated that the surface roughness of the complex was minimized (3.89 nm) at the ultrasonic power of 200 W and treatment time of 10 min. Under these conditions, the surface hydrophobicity (H₀) was 1730, the contents of the α-helix and β-sheet in the complex were 2.97% and 6.17% lower than those in the untreated sample, respectively, the particle size decreased from 106 nm to 18.2 nm, and the absolute value of the zeta-potential increased by 11.0 mV. Therefore, ultrasonic treatment and the addition of CA changed the structural and functional properties of RBP. Moreover, when ultrasonic power of 200 W was applied for 10 min, the solubility, emulsifying activity index (EAI), and emulsion stability index (ESI) were 68%, 126 m²/g, and 37 min, respectively.     

Effect of ultrasonic treatment on the structure and functional properties of mantle proteins from scallops (Patinopecten yessoensis)

In this study, scallop mantle protein was treated by ultrasound at different powers, and then analyzed by ANS fluorescent probes, circular dichroism spectroscopy, endogenous fluorescence spectrum, DNTB colorimetry and in-vitro digestion model to elucidate the structure–function relationship. The results indicated that ultrasound can significantly affect the secondary structure of scallop mantle protein like enhancing hydrophobicity, lowering the particle size, increasing the relative contents of α-helix and decreasing contents of β-pleated sheet, β-turn and random coil, as well as altering intrinsic fluorescence intensity with blue shift of maximum fluorescence peak. But ultrasound had no effect on its primary structure. Moreover, the functions of scallop mantle protein were regulated by modifying its structures by ultrasound. Specifically, the protein had the highest performance in foaming property and in-vitro digestibility under ultrasonic power of 100 W, oil binding capacity under 100 W, water binding capacity under 300 W, solubility and emulsification capacity under 400 W, and emulsion stability under 600 W. These results prove ultrasonic treatment has the potential to effectively improve functional properties and quality of scallop mantle protein, benefiting in comprehensive utilization of scallop mantles.     

黄土构造节理研究及其应用

作者发现大量不同力学性质的黄土构造节理后，识别了它们的区域性、系统性特征；认定其两组扭裂面代表新构造应力场最大剪切应力方向，利用黄土构造节理系及由其控制的土层沟槽网络恢复了相应地区Q3-4构造应力场；提出构造节理是黄土区地下水运移的主要通道和赋存的场所；发现构造节理是黄土区地裂缝、滑坡、崩塌和水土流失等地质灾害的构造基础之一，证实构造节理是黄土地层的软弱面，风化和继之而来的应力侵蚀就由此开始，进而逐步塑造黄土碟、穴、井、桥、柱、墙、沟等潜蚀地貌和部分侵蚀地貌。研究黄土构造节理对恢复新构造应力场、帮助预测地裂乃至地震活动、控制水土流失和滑塌灾害、进行工程乃至区域稳定性评价、重新认识黄土潜蚀地貌发育规律、指导干旱半干旱黄土区找水，既有理论意义又有实际意义。     

On-line identification of 4″-isovalerylspiramycin I in the genetic engineered strain of S. spiramyceticus F21 by liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry,ultraviolet absorbance detection and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry

LC-hyphenated techniques were applied to the on-line identification of isovalerylspiramycin I (isp I), a spiramycin-like macrolide in the crude extract of fermentation broth from a genetically engineered strain of S. spiramyceticus F21. In the structural characterization of the large molecular secondary metabolite of isp I, LC–DAD-UV–ESI-MSⁿ analysis played a crucial role, and stop-flow LC–¹H NMR measurement, with bitespiramycin used as reference, was a valuable complement approach. This rational approach proved to be an efficient means for the rapid and accurate structural determination of known microbial secondary metabolites, by which targeted isolation of component(s) of interest can be subsequently performed for further biological and pharmacological studies in drug development.