Selective formation of AAB- and ABC-type heterotrimeric alpha-helical coiled coils

The alpha-helical coiled coils have a representative amino acid sequence of (abcdefg)(n) heptad repeats. We previously reported that two peptides named IZ-2A and IZ-2W formed an (IZ-2A)(2)/IZ-2W heterotrimer with an Ala-Ala-Trp interaction in the hydrophobic core. In this paper, we describe the selective formation of AAB- and ABC-type heterotrimers. To increase the selectivity of the AAB-type heterotrimeric formation, Lys residues at the f position were mutated to either an Ala or a Gln residue to form IZ-2A(fA) or IZ-2W(fQ). Separately, both IZ-2A(fA) and IZ-2W(fQ) have a random structure at pH 7 and 20 degrees C. However, together IZ-2A(fA) and IZ-2W(fQ) form a 2:1 complex with a thermal transition midpoint (Tm) of 48 degrees C. This procedure was applied to prepare the ABC-type heterotrimer, in which two sets of Ala-Ala-Trp interactions were designed in the hydrophobic core. Interhelical interaction between the e and g positions and the alpha-helical propensity of the amino acid at the f position were also considered in the design. The resultant three peptides selectively formed the ABC-type heterotrimer with a Tm of 51 degrees C. Other peptide combinations had random coil properties.     

Effect of the Coil Angle in an Inductively Coupled Plasma Torch: A Novel Two-Dimensional Model

A two-dimensional model has been developed for the calculation of the electromagnetic (EM) fields generated by spiral coil currents, in order to obtain a better representation of the actual configuration used in a typical inductively coupled plasma (ICP) torch. In order to obtain the EM fields in a two-dimensional model, the change of EM field in tangential direction is neglected and the coil is assumed to be a concentric cylinder. In order to justify our assumption, the EM, flow and temperature fields resulting from five-ring coil and concentric cylinder coil are compared and the results are almost the same except for the EM field in the vicinity of the coil. In the case of the spiral coil, the coil current is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane. Therefore current in the cylinder coil is assumed to have the same inclined angle, which is split into tangential and axial components. The axial electric field and hence an axial current in plasma is induced by the axial component of the spiral coil current. Charge density is accumulated in the plasma, since the axial current cannot form a loop. In order to obtain the EM field and the charge distribution in the plasma generated by the spiral coil, the equations of axial vector potential and electrostatic potential have been derived. Due to the swirling Lorentz force (J_z×B_r) an axisymmetrical swirling fluid model is used to simulate the plasma flow in an axisymetrical configuration. With an inclined angle of the coil current being 3.7° and the frequency being 3 MHz, computational results show that the swirling Lorentz force causes plasma swirling with a maximum speed of 3.41 m/s near the plasma center when the injected sheath gas and central gas are not swirling. In these conditions, the real and imaginary parts of the maximum electrostatic potential are 0.95 V and 1.66 V, respectively. When the electrostatic field is neglected, the swirling velocity of the plasma is 3.95 m/s.     

A strategy for synthesis of polymer-protective bimetallic colloids

A strategy for the synthesis of polymer-protective bimetallic sols is proposed which has the advantage of the strong protective effect of the polymer agent on one of the composites to stabilize the bimetallic colloidal particles. This strategy is certified to be useful to the predication of the formation of stable bimetallic colloids protected by polymer and to the control of the particle size to a certain extent. A series of new PVP-protective bimetallic colloidal dispersions containing noble metal element (Pt, Rh, Pd), light transition metal element (Co, Fe), and boron are obtained from the corresponding salts by the methods of reduction by stage and coreduction, using the NaBH4 as reductant. The TEM, XRD and EPMA measurements indicate the formation of bimetallic colloids. An interesting kind of coil aggregation is observed in the systems of PVP-Pt-Co and PVP-Rh-Co prepared by the method of reduction by stage.     

Chemical modifiers in arsenic determination in biological materials by tungsten coil electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Palladium, iridium, and rhodium are evaluated as possible chemical modifiers in the determination of As in digest solutions of biological materials (human hair and clam) by tungsten coil electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry (TCA-AAS). The modifier in solution was applied onto the coil and thermally pre-reduced; the pre-reduction conditions, the amount of modifier, and the thermal program were optimized. Palladium was not satisfactory, whereas Ir and Rh were effective modifiers and rendered better relative sensitivity for As by a factor of 1.4 and 1.9, respectively compared to the case without modifier. Upon optimization of thermal conditions for As in pre-reduced Ir (2.0 µg) and Rh (2.0 µg) modifiers and in the digest solutions of the study matrices, Rh (2.0 µg) was more effective modifier and was selected as such. The mean within-day repeatability was 2.8% in consecutive measurements (25–100 µg L^–1) (3 cycles, each of n=6) and confirmed good short-term stability of the absorbance measurements. The mean reproducibility was 4.4% (n=20 in a 3-day period) and the detection limit (3 _blank/slope) was 29 pg (n=15). The useful coil lifetime in Rh modifier was extended to 300–400 firings. Validation was by determination of As in the certified reference material (CRM) of Oyster tissue solution with a percentage relative error (E _rel%) of 2% and percentage relative standard deviation (RSD%) of 3% (n=4), and by analytical recovery of As spiked in CRM of human hair [94±8% (n=4)]. The methodology is simple, fast (sample readout frequency 21 h^–1), reliable, of low cost, and was applied to the determination of As in hair samples of exposed and unexposed workers.     

Radiation formation of polymeric nanogels

An alternative method of synthesis of polymeric nanogels is proposed, based not on polymerization, but on intramolecular crosslinking of polymer chains, initiated by pulse irradiation in dilute aqueous solutions. Kinetic data show that for many water-soluble polymers irradiation under these conditions result in intramolecular crosslinking. Preliminary product studies on poly(vinyl alcohol) indicate that in fact internally crosslinked macromolecules can be obtained by this technique.     

一种新型可连续调节的消弧线圈

采用可连续调节的消弧线圈不仅解决了高压电感调节系统的价格昂贵和调节系统十分复杂的问题，还可以使经消弧线圈接地系统的优越性充分发挥。文中着重介绍了如何采用低耐压的晶闸管连续调节6-66kV的消弧线圈的一种新方法。对新型消弧线圈的电感调节量的计算进行了理论推导，并对其产生的稳态电流谐波分量进行了分析，用Saber软件对所设计的消弧线圈的理论依据进行了仿真实验验证和实物实验验证。     

各向异性磁介质中载流矩形线圈空间磁场

在给出的各向异性的毕奥－萨伐尔定律的基础上，求出载流矩形线圈在各向异性磁介质中的空间磁场，为研究磁各向异性的磁场提供了实例。     

安培力及其特点的分析

通过对安培力特点的分析，给出一种判断载流线回受安培力作用时线圈运动或形变总趋势的一般结论．     

FBT线圈平绕机的自动编程系统

介绍了FBT线圈平绕的工艺特点和控制参数。阐述了PX6080数控手绕机的自动编程系统，其中包括用户接口、走线轨迹编辑和编程语言系统。实际应用结果表明，该自动编程系统比人工编程提高工作效率几十倍，且运行可靠。     

多导脑部磁刺激仪的设计与仿真

大脑神经系统可由外部的时变磁场加以无创刺激，考虑到要对大脑多个不同部位同时进行刺激的情况，提出了一种由多线圈组成的多导脑部磁刺激系统．用有限元分析软件ANSYS模拟了线圈阵列工作时所产生的磁场，并与实验测得的磁场进行了比较．结果表明，软件仿真的数据精度误差在6％以内，并总结出变化规律：随着刺激线圈个数的增加，中心线圈轴线上同位置处的磁感应强度逐渐加大，与单线圈工作时相比，磁刺激深度得到了有效改善．