Effect of Discrete Macroion Charge Distributions on Electric Double Layer of a Spherical Macroion

The effect of replacing the conventional uniform macroion surface charge density with discrete macroion charge distributions on the structure of electric double layer (EDL) of a spherical macroion has been investigated by Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. Two discrete models have been investigated in addition to the central macroion charge: point charges localized on the macroion surface and finite-sized charges protruding into the solution. Both models have been studied with fixed and mobile macroion charges. The radial functions of local densities and electrostatic potential in EDL, are calculated and compared to the results obtained for the central macroion charge distribution. It is concluded that the model of charge distribution significantly affects the EDL structure close to the macroion, while the effect is much weaker at larger distances. With point charges localized on the macroion surface, counterions become stronger accumulated to the macroion, as a result the absolute values of surface potential ?₀ and zeta ξ potential are decreased. With protruding charges, the excluded volume effect dominates over the increased correlation ability; hence the counterions are less accumulated near the macroions and the absolute values of ?₀ and ξ potentials are increased.     

Mathematical Modeling and Simulation of Corrosion Processes in Nigerian Crude Oil Pipelines

In this work, a corrosion prediction mathematical model for risk assessment in oil and gas production and transportation facilities has been created. This work focuses on partial pressure of carbon (iv) oxide, CO₂ and the operating temperature in process equipment and transportation facility pipes as a function of corrosion rate. The model equation formulated was based on the principle of multiple linear regressions of data. The final model representing the corrosion rate of crude oil equipment was obtained CR = b _o + b ₁ T + b ₂ P (CO ₂). The model was simulated using polymath software. The correlation between the experimental and simulated resulted obtained using root mean square deviation (coefficient of determination) was 99.74% which is high, suggesting that the relationship between the predictor and response variables is linear. The variation in the model equation is 0.0066374. This low value of the variance shows that the model is accurate.     

CFD Simulation of Rheological Model Effect on Cuttings Transport

Foam, as a non-Newtonian fluid, plays an important role in the underbalanced drilling technique in oil field development. The rheological properties of drilling fluids, such as foam, have a direct effect on flow characteristics and hydraulic performance. Two rheological models—the Herschel–Bulkley model and power law—were fitted to two foam systems in this study. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to simulate the effect of the rheological models on solid–liquid (cuttings transport) hydraulics in concentric and eccentric annulus during the foam drilling operation. The simulation results are compared to the experimental data from previous studies. The results of CFD using the power law model are in good agreement with experimental results in horizontal annulus with respect to the Herschel–Bulkley model with relative error less than 8%. Thus, for CFD cuttings transport for simulations in inclined and horizontal annulus, it is best to use the power law's rheological model parameters.     

人类谷胱甘肽硫转移酶家族等位基因蛋白B与抑制剂作用模型的理论研究

采用分子动力学模拟方法系统地研究了谷胱甘肽硫转移酶家族(Glutathione S-transferases,GSTs)的等位基因蛋白B(GSTP1*B)与抑制剂利尿酸(EA)以及EA的谷胱甘肽(GSH)共轭物EAG(I),EAG(O)的具体结合方式.抑制剂及其谷胱甘肽共轭物与蛋白的相互作用能计算结果及分子动力学轨迹的统计分析结果表明,GSTP1*B与EA的谷胱甘肽共轭物的结合能力优于其与EA的结合能力,Phe8,Arg13,Trp38和Tyr108是作用过程中的关键残基,对稳定抑制剂及其谷胱甘肽共轭物在GSTP1*B的G和H位点的构象具有重要的作用.通过对构象的统计分析发现,残基Phe8和Tyr108与GSTP1*B酶对抑制剂的选择性密切相关.     

单壁碳纳米管对C-C键水解酶BphD的固定化性能

采用修饰与未修饰单壁碳纳米管固定C-C键水解酶BphD,并对固定化酶的相对活性、稳定性、重复使用性进行了考察.结果表明,未修饰单壁碳纳米管固定的BphD相对活性为游离态的52.5%,其热稳定性和在变性剂中的稳定性均有所提高,且重复使用10次仍可保持初始活力的90%.修饰单壁碳纳米管固定的BphD相对活性可达99.7%,但其稳定性没有明显提高.同源模建及分子对接分析结果显示,未修饰的单壁碳纳米管对BphD亚基之间的联系可能存在干扰作用,从而对其活性产生影响.     

Elementary Photoelectronic Processes at a Porphyrin Dye/Single‐Walled TiO2 Nanotube Hetero‐interface in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells: A First‐Principles Study

A unique one‐dimensional (1D) sandwich single‐walled TiO₂ nanotube (STNT) is proposed as a photoanode nanomaterial with perfect morphology and large specific surface area. We have thoroughly examined the elementary photoelectronic processes occurring at the porphyrin dye/STNT hetero‐interface in dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by theoretical simulation. It is desirable to investigate the interfacial photoelectronic processes to elucidate the electron transfer and transport mechanism in 1D STNT‐based DSSCs. We have found that the photoexcitation and interfacial charge separation mechanism can be described as follows. A ground‐state electron of the dye molecule (localized around the electron donor) is first promoted to the excited state (distributed electron donor), and then undergoes ultrafast injection into the conduction band of the STNT, leaving a hole around the oxidized dye. Significantly, the injected electron in the conduction band is transported along the STNT by means of Ti 3d orbitals, offering a unidirectional electron pathway toward the electrode for massive collection without the observation of trap states. Our study not only provides theoretical guidelines for the modification of TiO₂ nanotubes as a photoanode material, but also opens a new perspective for the development of a novel class of TiO₂ nanotubes with high power‐generation efficiency.     

聚合物单晶生长的三维相场模拟研究

利用元胞自动机方法与相场模型的结合建立新型三维模拟相场模型.同时,为模拟真实的、三维的高分子结晶的过程,采用元胞自动机方法离散方程,且元胞几何形状的选取符合真实聚合物晶格扩散方式的物理规律,以及新建立的相场模型套用间规聚丙烯的实验参数.利用该模型模拟了多种三维立方体或者薄层的晶体形貌及其相互之间的演化过程,包括正方形、长方形、菱形、六边形、多层单晶等.通过模拟结果与真实形貌作对比来证明所建立的相场模型真实可靠性.     

锌电极放电过程及失效机制数值分析

锌-空气电池是一种高能量的电池体系.实验表明, 在大功率工作条件下, 锌电极的材料利用率随电流密度的增加而急剧下降. 为探索其在大功率工作条件下的放电机理, 本文针对这一过程建立了一维数学模型, 通过数值求解模拟多个物理量如离子浓度、传递电流密度、电极孔隙度、固体氧化锌等在电极内部的分布变化情况, 在此基础上分析电极的性能. 数值结果分析表明, 固体氧化锌对电极内质量传输过程的限制是导致电极失效的根本原因. 其析出时间及在电极内部的集中分布位置对电极性能有显著影响; 而仅当其体积分数超过30%-35%的范围后才开始显著限制传质过程. 讨论了电极的优化措施, 模拟表明更高的溶液电导率,更大的电极孔隙度有利于增加大功率工作条件下电极的材料利用率. 但最重要的是保持电极内部氢氧根离子的浓度在一个较高的值,对于封闭式电极可以通过补液实现, 理想情况为设计一个电解液循环式的锌电极.     

径向电场对纳米管中水分子通量的影响

水分子在纳米通道中的运动对于生命活动、纳米器件的设计等都有着重要的意义. 现在已经证实, 在(6,6)的碳纳米管中, 水分子会以单分子水链的形式协同通过碳纳米管. 但是如何控制水分子的流量仍然是一个困难的课题. 本文研究了在径向电场作用下, 碳纳米管中水分子通量的变化趋势和碳纳米管的开关行为.发现在碳纳米管两端存在200 MPa的压力差时, 电场强度从1 V·nm^-1增加到3 V·nm^-1, 水分子通量线性减小. 当径向电场强度增加到3 V·nm^-1时, 碳纳米管处于关闭状态, 水分子无法通过碳纳米管. 进一步, 我们发现水偶极与碳纳米管管轴夹角的平均值的概率分布和翻转频率都与水分子在纳米管中的个数有很大关系.     

模型多肽Trp-Cage折叠形成机制的研究进展

蛋白质折叠是目前结构生物学领域的核心问题之一, 理解蛋白质结构折叠机制及其与生物功能之间的相互关系一直是生命科学家非常重要的研究内容, 并且该研究受到越来越多不同学科领域研究工作者的高度重视. 蛋白质大多数在数十毫秒、微秒或几秒内完成自我折叠过程, 但其折叠过程中所发生的分子结构精细转变却在纳秒甚至更短时间尺度内完成. 由于其折叠时间分辨率的限制, 目前无论是从常规实验还是理论计算角度对其研究都存在一定的难度. 本文首先概述了蛋白质折叠研究在实验和理论模拟方面存在的一些问题,然后以结构典型且可快速折叠的人工设计多肽Trp-cage为例,主要对其折叠过渡温度、折叠形成模型及其肽链上关键氨基酸残基在折叠过程中的作用三个方面进行了详细讨论, 综述了模型多肽Trp-cage的折叠动力学行为分别在实验和理论模拟方面的研究进展. 最后就如何有效化解蛋白质残基间相互作用网络进而降低其折叠机制的复杂性提出了一些新的建议, 不仅有助于阐明该迷你蛋白Trp-cage快速折叠、稳定形成的驱动力成因, 而且也能为蛋白质折叠机制研究和多肽设计提供有益参考.