The Mechanism of Biochemical NO-Sensing: Insights from Computational Chemistry

The binding of small gas molecules such as NO and CO plays a major role in the signaling routes of the human body. The sole NO-receptor in humans is soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) – a histidine-ligated heme protein, which, upon NO binding, activates a downstream signaling cascade. Impairment of NO-signaling is linked, among others, to cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases. In the present work, we use a combination of theoretical tools such as MD simulations, high-level quantum chemical calculations and hybrid QM/MM methods to address various aspects of NO binding and to elucidate the most likely reaction paths and the potential intermediates of the reaction. As a model system, the H-NOX protein from Shewanella oneidensis (So H-NOX) homologous to the NO-binding domain of sGC is used. The signaling route is predicted to involve NO binding to form a six-coordinate intermediate heme-NO complex, followed by relatively facile His decoordination yielding a five-coordinate adduct with NO on the distal side with possible isomerization to the proximal side through binding of a second NO and release of the first one. MD simulations show that the His sidechain can quite easily rotate outward into solvent, with this motion being accompanied in our simulations by shifts in helix positions that are consistent with this decoordination leading to significant conformational change in the protein.     

Differentiating bulk nanobubbles from nanodroplets and nanoparticles

History has shown that it is not as easy as one might think to differentiate between bulk nanobubbles and nanodroplets or nanoparticles. It is generally easy to detect colloids (i.e. something that looks different, e.g. scatters light differently than its surrounding solvent), but less easy to determine the nature of these colloids. This has led to misinterpretations in the literature, where nanodroplets or nanoparticles have mistakenly been assumed to be nanobubbles. In this paper, we review a multitude of experimental methods and approaches to prove the existence of bulk nanobubbles. We conclude that combinations of optical detection with physical perturbations such as pressure or ultrasound, or phase-sensitive holographic methods are the most promising and convenient approaches.     

类Liu系统在水声微弱信号检测中的应用研究

利用三阶混沌系统构造了一种新的微弱信号检测系统——类Liu系统, 对类Liu 系统进行了深度的理论分析. 类Liu系统中, 当输入待测信号幅值大于某临界值时, 系统可达到平衡点S₀, S₀中系统变量x平衡于摄动力信号, 系统变量y, z收敛于零态, 且S₀ 对应的Lyapunov指数小于零. 通过Matlab仿真、Multisim电路仿真以及实际电路证明了类Liu系统的周期态收敛性及广域检测性, 解决了传统Duffing系统进行微弱信号检测时周期态不收敛、只能进行窄域检测等问题, 同时谱级信噪比范围仍可达-46.57 dB. 类Liu系统采用了全新的设计理念, 具有较高的实用价值, 对未来海洋物联网中的水声通信有一定参考价值.     

A realization of digital wireless transmission for MRI signals based on 802.11b

In this paper, a digital wireless transmission system based on 802.11b standard for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) application is designed and built for the first time to eliminate the interference aroused by coil array cables. The analysis shows that the wireless receiver has a very high sensitivity to detect MRI signals. The modulation technique of differential quadrature phase shift keyed (DQPSK) can be applied to MRI data transmission with rate of 2 Mbps and bandwidth of 2 MHz. The bench test verifies that this wireless link has a dynamic range over 86 dB supporting up to 3 T MRI system data transmission. The 2D spin echo imaging of phantom is performed and the SNR of the image obtained by the wireless transmission can be comparable with that got by the coaxial cables.     

Electrical actuation of dielectric droplets by negative liquid dielectrophoresis

This paper presents an electrical actuation scheme of dielectric droplet by negative liquid dielectrophoresis. A general model of lumped parameter electromechanics for evaluating the electromechanical force acting on the droplets is established. The model reveals the influence of actuation voltage, device geometry, and dielectric parameter on the actuation force for both conductive and dielectric medium. Using this model, we compare the actuation forces for four liquid combinations in the parallel-plate geometry and predict the low voltage actuation of dielectric droplets by negative dielectrophoresis. Parallel experimental results demonstrate such electric actuation of dielectric droplets, including droplet transport, splitting, merging, and dispending. All these dielectric droplet manipulations are achieved at voltages < 100 V_rms. The frequency dependence of droplet actuation velocity in aqueous solution is discussed and the existence of surfactant molecules is believed to play an important role by realigning with the AC electric field. Finally, we present coplanar manipulation of oil and water droplets and formation of oil-in-water emulsion droplet by applying the same low voltage.     

Development of microscale pattern for digital image correlation up to 1400 °C

Speckle patterns to be used for digital image correlation (DIC) at the micrometer level up to 1400 °C were fabricated by several methods. The quality of the patterns before and after heating was evaluated in terms of the mean intensity gradient (MIG) and the speckle size distribution. The displacement accuracy in simulative translation of images showed that the MIG alone was not enough to evaluate the pattern properties; a large MIG, an even speckle size distribution, and a wide speckle size range pattern were required for a good DIC. The reaction between the patterning material and substrate, the cracking of speckles, and the plastic flow of patterning material may cause changes in the pattern morphology at high temperature. Two patterning methods, spraying a mixture of ceramics powder and binder by a fine-nozzle air brush and abrading a polished surface, yielded a small pattern with high MIG values and even size distributions that was stable at 1400 °C. The potential of the fabricated patterns was shown by measuring the coefficient of thermal expansion of polycrystalline Al₂O₃ from 800 °C to 1400 °C.     

Main Components of Xinjiang Lavender Essential Oil Determined by Partial Least Squares and Near Infrared SpectroscopySCIEI北大核心CSCD

This work was undertaken to establish a quantitative analysis model which can rapid determinate the content of linalool, linalyl acetate of Xinjiang lavender essential oil. Totally 165 lavender essential oil samples were measured by using near infrared absorption spectrum(NIR), after analyzing the near infrared spectral absorption peaks of all samples, lavender essential oil have abundant chemical information and the interference of random noise may be relatively low on the spectral intervals of 7100-4 500 cm(-1). Thus, the PLS models was constructed by using this interval for further analysis. 8 abnormal samples were eliminated. Through the clustering method, 157 lavender essential oil samples were divided into 105 calibration set samples and 52 validation set samples. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used as a tool to determine the content of linalool and linalyl acetate in lavender essential oil. Then the matrix was established with the GC-MS raw data of two compounds in combination with the original NIR data. In order to optimize the model, different pretreatment methods were used to preprocess the raw NIR spectral to contrast the spectral filtering effect, after analysizing the quantitative model results of linalool and linalyl acetate, the root mean square error prediction(RMSEP) of orthogonal signal transformation (OSC) was 0.226, 0.558, spectrally, it was the optimum pretreatment method. In addition, forward interval partial least squares (FiPLS) method was used to exclude the wavelength points which has nothing to do with determination composition or present nonlinear correlation, finally 8 spectral intervals totally 160 wavelength points were obtained as the dataset. Combining the data sets which have optimized by OSC-FiPLS with partial least squares(PLS) to establish a rapid quantitative analysis model for determining the content of linalool and linalyl acetate in Xinjiang lavender essential oil, numbers of hidden variables of two components were 8 in the model. The performance of the model was evaluated according to root mean square error of cross-validation (RMSECV) 9 root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP). In the model, RESECV of linalool and linalyl acetate were 0.170 and 0.416, respectively; RMSEP were 0.188 and 0.364. The results indicated that raw data was pretreated by OSC and FiPLS, the NIR-PLS quantitative analysis model with good robustness, high measurement precision; it could quickly determine the content of linalool and linalyl acetate in lavender essential oil. In addition, the model has a favorable prediction ability. The study also provide a new effective method which could rapid quantitative analysis the major components of Xinjiang lavender essential oil.     

基于3G-ASCX的小型飞行器异常导航信号检测系统设计

传统方法在异常导航信号信噪比较低时对小型飞行器异常导航信号的检测效果不理想。设计并实现了一种基于3G-ASCX的小型飞行器异常导航信号检测系统,硬件设计时着重于ASCX传感器模块、异常导航信号检测模块、主控基站模块、3G/GPRS传输模块的研究,3G/GPRS传输模块的硬件设计中,通过功耗低体积小的CC1100完成异常导航信号的收发,传输过程中通过芯片STC12C5410AD完成电容的平衡转换,选取了MC3486进行电压的转换,最终实现异常信号数据的安全快速传输;软件设计中,系统软件流程设计及异常导航信号检测模块软件设计,最后进行仿真实验,实验结果证明,相比传统系统,所设计系统检测到的小型飞行器异常导航信号同实际测量的异常导航信号具有较高的匹配度,与实际值相比,误差小于1dB,适合推广使用。     

基于AltiVec技术的PowerPC处理器矢量运算性能测试

基于AltiVec技术的PowerPC处理器,在很多嵌入式信号处理领域已经取代传统的DSP处理器成为信号处理器件的首选。为了评估基于AltiVec技术的PowerPC处理器的矢量运算性能和信号处理能力,选取MPC8641D处理器为硬件测试平台,采用符合VSIPL标准的VSI/Pro Core矢量库和ixlibsav矢量库,通过测试复乘和FFT典型算法不同类型的运算时间,对AltiVec处理单元的矢量运算性能进行了测试评估。通过对测试结果的分析,基于AltiVec技术的PowerPC处理器具备强大的矢量运算处理性能,可以满足嵌入式数字信号处理技术对高性能处理器的需求。     

适用于波前处理器的自适应光学系统非共光路像差补偿方法

提出了一种适合硬件形式波前处理器的非共光路像差校正方法.讨论了非共光路像差的产生原因和运用相位差异技术检测非共光路像差的方法.根据波前处理器的工作流程,推导了将非共光路像差折算到波前探测器参考点偏移量的算法,编写了实现算法的主控计算机软件模块.在望远镜光路中以光源为目标开展实验,用本文算法校正后,目标能量集中度提高了17.6%,证明了该方法的可行性.