Foaming and Structural Studies on the Acidic Subunit of Amaranth 11S Globulin Modified with Antihypertensive Peptides as a Function of pH and Ionic Strength

Some studies aimed at revealing the relationship between protein structure and their functional properties. However, the majority of these reports have been carried out using protein isolates. There are limited reports on the possible relationship between the functional properties and the structure of a purified protein. In this work the amaranth 11S globulin acidic subunit (AAC) and five mutations of the same protein that were modified in their variable regions with antihypertensive peptides (VYVYVYVY and RIPP), were analyzed at two ionic strength (2.9 and 17.6 g/L NaCl) and pH (3.0–7.0). Results revealed better solubility for the proteins mutated at the terminal ends (AACM.1 and AACM.4) and lower solubility for the protein inserted with RIPP peptide. Spectroscopy studies revealed an increase of β-sheet structure at high salt concentration for all proteins. It was also observed that salt concentration acted as a modulator, which allowed a better foam features for all modified proteins limiting movement of side chains and reducing red-shifted displacement of λmax. All proteins showed foam capacity ranging from 76 to 93% although foam stability was twofold better for modified proteins than for AAC at high salt concentration. This study allowed better understanding about the structural changes that influence the foaming properties of engineered proteins.     

Nano-Structured Ridged Micro-Filaments (≥100 µm Diameter) Produced Using a Single Step Strategy for Improved Bone Cell Adhesion and Proliferation in Textile Scaffolds

Textile scaffolds that are either 2D or 3D with tunable shapes and pore sizes can be made through textile processing (weaving, knitting, braiding, nonwovens) using microfilaments. However, these filaments lack nano-topographical features to improve bone cell adhesion and proliferation. Moreover, the diameter of such filaments should be higher than that used for classical textiles (10–30 µm) to enable adhesion and the efficient spreading of the osteoblast cell (>30 µm diameter). We report, for the first time, the fabrication of biodegradable nanostructured cylindrical PLLA (poly-L-Lactic acid) microfilaments of diameters 100 µm and 230 µm, using a single step melt-spinning process for straightforward integration of nano-scale ridge-like structures oriented in the fiber length direction. Appropriate drawing speed and temperature used during the filament spinning allowed for the creation of instabilities giving rise to nanofibrillar ridges, as observed by AFM (Atomic Force Microscopy). These micro-filaments were hydrophobic, and had reduced crystallinity and mechanical strength, but could still be processed into 2D/3D textile scaffolds of various shapes. Biological tests carried out on the woven scaffolds made from these nano-structured micro filaments showed excellent human bone cell MG 63 adhesion and proliferation, better than on smooth 30 µm- diameter fibers. Elongated filopodia of the osteoblast, intimately anchored to the nano-structured filaments, was observed. The filaments also induced in vitro osteogenic expression, as shown by the expression of osteocalcin and bone sialoprotein after 21 days of culture. This work deals with the fabrication of a new generation of nano-structured micro-filament for use as scaffolds of different shapes suited for bone cell engineering.     

Metabolic Engineering of Shikimic Acid Biosynthesis Pathway for the Production of Shikimic Acid and Its Branched Products in Microorganisms: Advances and Prospects

The shikimate pathway is a necessary pathway for the synthesis of aromatic compounds. The intermediate products of the shikimate pathway and its branching pathway have promising properties in many fields, especially in the pharmaceutical industry. Many important compounds, such as shikimic acid, quinic acid, chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, pyrogallol, catechol and so on, can be synthesized by the shikimate pathway. Among them, shikimic acid is the key raw material for the synthesis of GS4104 (Tamiflu^®), an inhibitor of neuraminidase against avian influenza virus. Quininic acid is an important intermediate for synthesis of a variety of raw chemical materials and drugs. Gallic acid and catechol receive widespread attention as pharmaceutical intermediates. It is one of the hotspots to accumulate many kinds of target products by rationally modifying the shikimate pathway and its branches in recombinant strains by means of metabolic engineering. This review considers the effects of classical metabolic engineering methods, such as central carbon metabolism (CCM) pathway modification, key enzyme gene modification, blocking the downstream pathway on the shikimate pathway, as well as several expansion pathways and metabolic engineering strategies of the shikimate pathway, and expounds the synthetic biology in recent years in the application of the shikimate pathway and the future development direction.     

Intensification of Double Kinetic Resolution of Chiral Amines and Alcohols via Chemoselective Formation of a Carbonate–Enzyme Intermediate

Chiral amines and alcohols are synthons of numerous pharmaceutically-relevant compounds. The previously developed enzymatic kinetic resolution approaches utilize a chiral racemic molecule and achiral acyl donor (or acyl acceptor). Thus, only one enantiodivergent step of the catalytic cycle is engaged, which does not fully exploit the enzyme’s abilities. The first carbonate-mediated example of simultaneous double chemoselective kinetic resolution of chiral amines and alcohols is described. Herein, we established a biocatalytic approach towards four optically-pure compounds (>99% ee, Enantioselectivity: E > 200) via double enzymatic kinetic resolution, engaging chiral organic carbonates as acyl donors. High enantioselectivity was ensured by extraordinary chemoselectivity in lipase-catalyzed formation of unsymmetrical organic carbonates and engaged in a process applicable for the synthesis of enantiopure organic precursors of valuable compounds. This study focused not only on preparative synthesis, but additionally the catalytic mechanism was discussed and the clear impact of this rarely observed carbonate-derived acyl enzyme was shown. The presented protocol is characterized by atom efficiency, acyl donor sustainability, easy acyl group removal, mild reaction conditions, and biocatalyst recyclability, which significantly decreases the cost of the reported process.     

4~20 K 温区固体界面导热填料接触热阻实验研究

超导量子干涉仪、 超导光子探测器等深空探测器需要液氦温区制冷技术提供极低温温度, 固体界面接触热阻的存在会增大耦合界面温度差, 进而增加制冷机系统冷损. 为定量探究4~20 K 深低温区固体接触热阻, 采用GM 作为冷源, 设计了一台可同时调节压力和低温温度的固体界面接触热阻测试实验台. 利用感压纸进行接触界面压力校核, 并对温度重复性进行验证. 实验测试了不同导热介质填充情况下, 温度和压力变化时固体接触热阻的变化规律. 基于最小二乘法对实验数据进行半经验公式拟合, 获得4 ~20 K 温区不同压力加载条件下的接触热阻的定量参考.     

基于非齐次复合Poisson过程的正交异性钢桥面板细节疲劳裂纹随机扩展研究

传统的正交异性钢桥面板疲劳损伤评估常采用确定性和可靠性分析方法,忽略了疲劳裂纹扩展的随机性影响,针对这一问题,提出钢桥面板细节疲劳随机扩展分析方法。本文以南溪长江大桥为工程背景,基于长期车辆荷载监测数据,建立了车辆荷载非齐次复合Poisson过程模型。建立钢桥面板有限元模型,采用瞬态分析方法将随机车辆荷载转化成细节疲劳应力,基于线弹性断裂力学理论推导U肋-顶板焊接细节疲劳裂纹扩展时变微分方程,实现宏观关系式疲劳应力幅次数-疲劳损伤至微观表达式应力时间序列-疲劳损伤转换,讨论了车载次序及超载对疲劳裂纹扩展的影响。研究结果表明,非齐次复合泊松过程模型能够较好描述随机车流运营状态,车辆荷载的次序对疲劳裂纹扩展速率的影响不可忽略,重车排序靠前时能够促使疲劳裂纹扩展增速,南溪长江大桥细节点的车辆超载迟滞效应修正系数取值0.804。     

转子在线自动平衡及其工程应用研究的进展

转子在线自动平衡技术可以在旋转机械运行期间调整其不平衡量来及时降低振动, 使其始终稳定运行.早期的自动平衡装置始于19世纪末, 包括液体型、环型、球型和摆锤型;20世纪60年代开始研究的自动平衡装置主要包括喷涂型、电腐蚀型、电子光束型、激光型和电化学型;20世纪后期研究的自动平衡装置主要包括电动机型和遥控型;现代的自动平衡装置主要包括液压型、电磁型和电磁轴承型.综述了国内外各种旋转机械在线自动平衡装置的结构和工作原理, 重点介绍了液压型和电磁型自动平衡装置的结构和控制原理.讨论了在线自动平衡技术最新的研究成果, 列举了在线自动平衡技术的工程应用实例, 介绍了应用电磁型自动平衡装置解决柔性弯曲转子和立式超重力机转子振动的试验.转子在线自动平衡技术已经大量应用到机械加工设备, 如磨床等, 显著提高了加工精度;有些还应用于流程工业中大型的旋转机械上, 如汽轮机、风机和压缩机等, 取得了巨大的经济效益.高可靠性的平衡执行机构和高效的控制策略等关键问题尚未完全解决.      

Structural,optical and photocatalytic properties of (Mg,Al)-codoped ZnO powders prepared by sol–gel method

Structural and optical properties of 1 at % Al-doped Zn_1−xMg_xO (x=0–8%) powders prepared by sol–gel method were systematically investigated by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet–visible absorbance measurement, photoluminescence and Raman scattering spectra. All the powders retained the hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO. The band gap and near band emission energies determined from absorbance and photoluminescence spectra increased linearly with increasing Mg content, respectively, which implied that the Mg worked effectively on ZnO band gap engineering, irrespective of Al codoping. However, according to the PL and Raman scattering studies, for the sample of x=8%, the Al doping efficiency was decreased by higher Mg codoping. On the other hand, the effect of Mg codoping on photocatalytic degradation of methylene orange was explored experimentally. The substitution of Mg ions at Zn sites shifted the conduction band toward higher energies and then enhanced the photocatalytic activity, while the incorporation of interstitial Mg ions and decreased Al doping efficiency for higher Mg doping sample (x=8%) reduced the photocatalytic activity.     

4-Ketozeinoxanthin,a novel carotenoid produced in Escherichia coli through metabolic engineering using carotenogenic genes of bacterium and liverwort

In order to produce a novel keto-carotenoid in Escherichia coli, we introduced the marine bacterial carotenoid ketolase gene (crtW) into pathway-engineered E. coli producing carotenoids of plant origin, which carried the lycopene biosynthesis genes (crtE, crtB, and crtI) from soil bacterium Pantoea ananatis and the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha genes that encode lycopene β-cyclase (MpLCYb), lycopene ε-cyclase (MpLCYe), and β-carotenoid hydroxylase (MpBHY). A novel keto-carotenoid (1) was produced by these carotenoid biosynthesis genes in E. coli along with α-echinenone, adonirubin, and adonixanthin. The structure of 1 was determined as (3S,6′R)-3-hydroxy-β,ε-caroten-4-one based on Uv–vis, MS, ¹H NMR, and CD spectral data. This compound was named 4-ketozeinoxanthin and showed anti-tumor-promoting activity.     

Comprehensive Characterization of Shredded Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Material

Herein we report on an analytical study of dry-shredded lithium-ion battery (LIB) materials with unknown composition. Samples from an industrial recycling process were analyzed concerning the elemental composition and (organic) compound speciation. Deep understanding of the base material for LIB recycling was obtained by identification and analysis of transition metal stoichiometry, current collector metals, base electrolyte and electrolyte additive residues, aging marker molecules and polymer binder fingerprints. For reversed engineering purposes, the main electrode and electrolyte chemistries were traced back to pristine materials. Furthermore, possible lifetime application and accompanied aging was evaluated based on target analysis on characteristic molecules described in literature. With this, the reported analytics provided precious information for value estimation of the undefined spent batteries and enabled tailored recycling process deliberations. The comprehensive feedstock characterization shown in this work paves the way for targeted process control in LIB recycling processes.