Fermentation characteristics and the dynamic trend of chemical components during fermentation of Massa Medicata Fermentata

As a representative of traditionally fermented Chinese medicine, Massa Medicata Fermentata (MMF) shows the functions of invigorating the spleen and stomach and promoting digestion, which plays an important role in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. The fermentation mechanism and the key factors that affect the quality of MMF have not been revealed yet, which has become an urgent issue that limits its clinical application. This article aims to systematically and comprehensively reveal the transformation of physical properties and the dynamic trend of chemical components including substrate components, volatile components, and lactic acid as anaerobic fermentation product during MMF fermentation. Along with obvious hyphae growth observed for MMF, the weight of MMF decreased, and the moisture and temperature increased. Through the quantified 14 components from substrate, ferulic acid increased from 45.53 ± 6.94 to 141.89 ± 78.40 μg/g, while glycosides and phenolic acids declined except caffeic acid. Also, within the 66 volatile components analyzed, alcohols and acids increased, while aldehydes and ketones decreased. Lactic acid was not detected in the fermentation substrate, but an apparent increase in lactic acid content was observed along with the increased fermentation days, resulting in 2.54 ± 0.15 mg/g on day 8. Based on the tested components, the fermentation process of MMF was discriminated into three distinct stages by principal component analysis, and an optimal fermentation time of four days was proposed. The results of this study will be of great significance to clarify the characteristics of fermentation and conduce to improving quality standards of MMF.     

Synthesis of heliannuol D, an allelochemical from Helianthus annus

A synthesis of heliannuol D 1 is described involving regioselective oxidation of the benzoxabicyclo[3.2.1]octanone 20 followed by hydrogenolysis to generate the benzoxepane ring system of 1.     

New Phase in the Bi–Sr–Ca–Cu–O System

Cooling a melt of a Bi–Sr–Ca–Cu–O system (Bi:Sr:Ca:Cu = 4:3:3:4 or 2:2:2:4) from 1000°C-1050°C yielded crystals of a new red-colored nonsuperconducting phase, accompanying the superconducting 2212 and 2201 phases. Based on the EPR spectra, it was concluded that copper is univalent in this compound. The new phase has a composition Bi_2.2Sr_1.6Ca_1.3Cu₂Ox. The X-ray diffraction pattern has been indexed, and the unit cell parameters of the phase have been determined: space group P2/m, a = 12.93, b = 4.55, c = 10.94 ; = 102.72°.     

Sequential extraction of phosphorus in soil and sediment using a continuous-flow system

Distribution and mobility of phosphorus in soil and sediment are usually studied by sequential extraction. In the extraction procedure, a sample is treated with a series of reagents to distinguish the phases to which phosphorus is associated such as carbonate and iron or manganese oxides, etc. There have been a number of extraction schemes presented for phosphorus. At present, all of the existing schemes are carried out batchwise. Phosphorus contents derived from all sequences are operationally defined and depend on experimental conditions.An extraction procedure, which is a continuous-flow-based technique, was recently proposed by our group for metals in soils and sediments. The extraction is carried out in a closed chamber through which extractants are passed sequentially. In this paper, the system was investigated using the extraction scheme of Hieltjes and Lijklema to study distribution of phosphorus in three certified reference materials (CRMs). A number of fractions were collected for each reagent for subsequent colorimetric determination. The results are compared with those obtained from a batch extraction. The summation of phosphorus contents of all phases were compared with the certified values and with the values obtained from total digestion. These results have demonstrated that the continuous extraction system developed is also applicable for fractionation of phosphorus. Advantage and disadvantage are discussed.     

Liquid-liquid extraction of copper (I) and copper (II) as ion-paired complexes with acyclic 2-thienyl-containing polythioether and triphenylmethane dye anion

Three acyclic polythioethers containing 2-thienyl units at both ends were synthesized and the effect of substituent on the extraction of copper(II) was studied. The methyl groups in the terminal thiophene ring have imparted an appreciable degree of increase in the percent extraction of copper(II), while the introduction of chlorine atoms into the 2-thienyl unit resulted in the reverse effect. Among the counter dye anions examined, tetrabromophenolphthalein ethylester was the best one for copper(II) extraction. The composition of extracted species was evaluated to be 122 (Cu(II)/polythioether/dye anion). Quantitative extraction of copper(I) was attained as complexes with various triphenylmethane dyes, i.e., bromocresol green, bromothymol blue, bromo-phenol blue and pyrogallol red. Copper(I) in organic phase was completely back-extracted with 2 mole/l sulfuric acid containing 10% hydrogen peroxide.     

The preparation of thick-film glass capillary columns

A detailed method for the routine preparation of glass capillary columns is presented. The method consists of coating a glass tube with quartz powder prior to pulling the tube into a capillary. The inner surface of the capillary consists of an even distribution of quartz particles fused to the walls. This surface has been found readily deactivated by standard procedures and ideal for the preparation of thick-film glass capillary columns. The method has been thoroughly tested in two independent laboratories to ensure that the procedures described are reproducible.     

Earthshaker: A mobile rescue robot for emergencies and disasters through teleoperation and autonomous navigation

To deal with emergencies and disasters without rescue workers being exposed to dangerous environments, this paper presents a mobile rescue robot, Earthshaker. As a combination of a tracked chassis and a six-degree-of-freedom robotic arm, as well as miscellaneous sensors and controllers, Earthshaker is capable of traversing diverse terrains and fulfilling dexterous manipulation. Specifically, Earthshaker has a unique swing arm—dozer blade structure that can help clear up cumbersome obstacles and stabilize the robot on stairs, a multimodal teleoperation system that can adapt to different transmission conditions, a depth camera-aided robotic arm and gripper that can realize semiautonomous manipulation and a LiDAR aided base that can achieve autonomous navigation in unknown areas. It was these special systems that supported Earthshaker to win the first Advanced Technology & Engineering Challenge (A-TEC) championships, standing out of 40 robots from the world and showing the efficacy of system integration and the advanced control philosophy behind it.     

凹坑板式空气预热器的传热特性及多目标优化

以全焊接型凹坑板式空气预热器为对象,基于最优设计试验方案,运用Workbench Fluent软件数值模拟凹坑板片特征结构参数对传热流阻性能的影响。基于参数敏感度分析,得到单因素作用下对传热流阻性能的影响程度为凹坑的纵向间距>长轴>横向间距>深度。基于响应曲面法分析,得到多因素协同作用时,凹坑之间的结构参数横纵距对性能影响比凹坑自身的结构参数深径比大。基于遗传算法以摩擦因子f最小、努塞尔数Nu与综合换热因子J_F最大为优化目标,得到给定范围内的3组较优结构组合。     

自动网格体系在柱体绕流大涡模拟中的适用性评估

为了评估基于snappyHexMesh方法生成的自动网格体系在二维柱体绕流大涡模拟中的适用性,比较了该自动网格体系与人工网格体系对于Re为3 900圆柱绕流和Re为22 000方柱绕流的数值模拟结果。通过设置合理的计算域以及数值格式,采用snappyHexMesh自动网格以及人工网格的算例都表现出良好的数值稳定性。将不同网格体系的数值模拟结果与物理试验结果进行对比,结果表明,采用snappyHexMesh网格可以提高数值求解效率;圆柱绕流对网格体系的变化比较敏感,不同密度的snappyHexMesh网格会显著影响圆柱气动力特征以及尾流区域的流场结果;snappyHexMesh网格体系可以准确预测方柱绕流,在方柱绕流大涡模拟中具有相较于圆柱绕流更好的适用性。     

基于PiggyBac转座系统的低溢漏诱导型Tet-On过表达体系的建立及应用

为避免诱导基因稳定表达的Tet-On诱导表达系统溢漏表达,实现简便且高效的外源基因稳定诱导表达, 本研究拟在Tet-On调控的转录水平基础上,将基于稳定配体Shield-1的不稳定结构域FK506结合蛋白引入目的基因的N端,从蛋白水平控制其本底表达水平.为验证该系统的效果,本研究以荧光蛋白TdTomato为报告基因,经流式分析结果证明优化后的体系较原体系的溢漏表达在蛋白水平上降低7倍左右.将该系统应用于基于小鼠胚胎干细胞的体外牙向分化模型,在诱导因子Dox和稳定配体Shield-1的协同作用下,诱导表达牙齿发育相关转录因子Hand2提高了牙向分化诱导的完成度.