Non-protein amino acids in peptide design

An overview of the use of non-protein amino acids in the design of conformationally well-defined peptides, based on work from the author’s laboratory, is discussed. The crystal structures of several designed oligopeptides illustrate the useα-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) in the construction of helices, D-amino acids in the design of helix termination segments and^DPro-Xxx segments for nucleating ofβ-hairpin structures.β- andγ-amino acid residues have been used to expand the range of designed polypeptide structures. Dedicated to Professor C N R Rao on his 70th birthday     

Ground-state complex formation of perylene with pyromellitic dianhydride studied by static fluorescence quenching

The association of complex formation with static quenching in CT systems was investigated. Evaluation of the data made evident that the inner filter effect must be allowed for. Time-resolved and temperature-dependent stationary measurements of fluorescence led to the separation of dynamic and static quenching components. The static quenching constant is discussed with respect to the equilibrium constant of complex formation determined by absorption spectroscopy.     

屋顶绿化的自动灌溉系统设计

屋顶绿化对提高城市空气质量、减少“热岛效应”、改善居住环境有积极的意义，但其灌溉环节与普通园林绿化灌溉相比有更高的要求．为了增强屋顶灌溉的科学性，根据其特点提出了建立自动灌溉系统的设想，并对灌溉过程建立了混杂自动机模型，从离散事件动态系统与连续变量动态系统的角度共同描述了自动灌溉的过程，最后给出了自动灌溉系统的工程设计方案，对屋顶绿化自动化、精细化程度的提高具有一定的启示意义．     

在可交换四元数空间中的双曲方程的特征边值问题

讨论了一阶和二阶双曲复方程的特征边值问题.对其中两种线性方程,分别在不同的情况下获得通解和可解条件.而对于拟线性的二阶双曲复方程,证明了解的存在性和唯一性.     

Andreev-Fano Effect in a Hybrid Normal-Metal/Superconductor Interferometer

We report on a new type of Fano effect, named as Andreev-Fano effect, in a hybrid normal-metal/supeeconductor (N/S) interferometer embedded with a quantum dot. Compared with the conventional Fano effect, AndreevFano effect has some new features related to the characteristics of Andreev reflection. In the Iinear response regime, the line shape is the square of the conventional Fano shape, while in the nonlinear transport, a sharp resonant structure is superposed on an expanded interference pattern, which is qualitatively different from the conventional Fano effect. The phase dependence of the hybrid N/S interferometer is also distinguished from those of all-N or all-S interferometers.     

Study on the Baryon State X Produced in the Process J／ψ→p＋X,X→p＋P

The decay process J/ψ→p X X→p P，where p,p and P are the proton,antiproton and pseudoscalar states,respectively,has been studied in terms of the angular distribution and the generalized moment analysis methods.The result shows that we can identify the spin,but cannot determine the parity of the baryon resonance state X produced in the process J/ψ→p X X→p P.     

松纵坑切梢小蠹虫害的仿真模型与生态防治的优化策略

根据松纵坑切梢小蠹的主要生物学特征,通过分析抚育间伐持续控制松纵坑切梢小蠹虫害的机理,应用复杂适应系统(CA S)理论,建立了模拟松纵坑切梢小蠹虫害的一种动态演化数学模型,并讨论了模型的收敛性.然后选用昆明小哨林场为背景,进行了各种抚育间伐决策的仿真,从中优选抚育间伐决策.结果表明:模拟优化方案与实际调查统计分析结果一致:均为弱度间伐与中弱度间伐控制蠹害效果最好.最后通过森林积材量与虫害程度之间的优化,给出了抚育间伐的优化策略.     

Ultrasonic evaluation of anisotropic damage in multiaxially textile-reinforced thermoplastic composites made from hybrid yarns

The basic damage and failure models of multiaxially reinforced composites with a thermoplastic matrix are presented and verified. Within the framework of continuum damage mechanics, a phenomenological model is introduced, where the damage is defined as a change in the elasticity tensor. For damage identification, a specific ultrasonic device was developed. A combination of an immersion set-up and a contact coupling device formed a system for an efficient determination of stiffness-tensor components from convenient sets of velocity measurements. Linked to a tensile machine, it allowed us to measure the anisotropic damage of the new materials group caused by tensile loading. Russian translation published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 42, No. 2, pp. 221–234, March–April, 2006.     

Evolution in complex systems

What features characterize complex system dynamics? Power laws and scale invariance of fluctuations are often taken as the hallmarks of complexity, drawing on analogies with equilibrium critical phenomena. Here we argue that slow, directed dynamics, during which the system's properties change significantly, is fundamental. The underlying dynamics is related to a slow, decelerating but spasmodic release of an intrinsic strain or tension. Time series of a number of appropriate observables can be analyzed to confirm this effect. The strain arises from local frustration. As the strain is released through “quakes,” some system variable undergoes record statistics with accompanying log‐Poisson statistics for the quake event times. We demonstrate these phenomena via two very different systems: a model of magnetic relaxation in type II superconductors and the Tangled Nature model of evolutionary ecology and show how quantitative indications of aging can be found. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 10: 49–56, 2004