Multiplex PCR system to track authorized and unauthorized genetically modified soybean events in food and feed

A diverse range of genetic elements has been used to develop genetically modified organisms (GMOs) over the last 18 years. Screening methods that target few elements, such as the Cauliflower Mosaic Virus 35S promoter (P-35S) and Agrobacterium tumefaciens nopaline terminator (T-nos), are not sufficient to screen GMOs. In the present study, a multiplex PCR system for all globally commercialized GM soybean events was developed to easily trace the events. For this purpose, screening elements of 24 GM soybean events were investigated and 9 screening targets were selected and divided into three individual triplex PCR systems: P-35S, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase small subunit promoter of Arabidopsis thaliana, T-nos, T-35S, pea E9 terminator, open reading frame 23 terminator of A. tumefaciens, proteinase inhibitor II terminator of potato, acetohydroxy acid synthase large subunit terminator of A. thaliana, and the revealed 3′ flanking sequences of DP-305423-1. The specificity of the assays was confirmed using thirteen GM soybean events as the respective positive/negative controls. The limit of detection of each multiplex set, as determined using certified reference materials of specific GM events, ranged from 0.03 to 0.5%, depending upon target. Furthermore, 26 food samples that contained soybean ingredients, which were purchased from the USA, China, Japan, and Korea, were analyzed, 17 of which contained one or more GM soybean events. These results suggest that the developed screening method can be used to efficiently track and identify 24 GM soybean events in food and feed.     

发动机尾气余热驱动的吸附式空调系统仿真与测试

针对在高太阳辐射地区，柴油车驾驶室内使用车载空调会增加车辆发动机的耗油量、降低柴油车经济效益的问题，搭建了一套由发动机尾气余热驱动的吸附式车载空调系统。系统由填充有氯化钙/氯化锰/硫化膨胀石墨复合吸附剂的吸附床、蒸发器、冷凝器、储液罐和阀门组成，使用氨作为制冷剂，利用车辆在行驶时接触到的自然风为吸附床冷却，在发动机尾气余热的驱动下，为驾驶室内提供连续的制冷效果。结合仿真和实验测试，对所设计系统的制冷性能进行了分析，仿真结果表明，系统最优循环时间为45 min，系统的理论平均制冷功率可达3.5 kW以上，系统COP处于0.2~0.25之间。实验结果表明，在230℃的尾气温度条件下，系统能产生3 kW的平均制冷量。在40℃环境温度条件下，系统在蒸发器进出口处的平均温差为6.5℃，平均制冷量为3.2 kW。     

Flow Resistance Modeling for Coolant Distribution within Canned Motor Cooling Loops

Taylor–Couette–Poiseuille(TCP) flow dominates the inner water-cooling circulation of canned motor reactor coolant pumps. Current research on TCP flow focuses on torque behaviors and flow regime transitions through experiments and simulations. However, research on axial flow resistance in a large Reynolds number turbulent state is not sufficient, especially for the various flow patterns. This study is devoted to investigating the influence of annular flow on the axial flow resistance of liquid in the coaxial cylinders of the stator and rotor in canned motor reactor coolant pumps, and predicting the coolant flow distribution between the upper coil cooling loop and lower bearing lubricating loop for safe operation. The axial flow resistance, coupled with the annular rotation, is experimentally investigated at a flow rate with an axial Reynolds number, Rea, from 2.6 × 10~3 to 6.0 × 10~3 and rotational Reynolds number, Ret, from 1.6 × 10~4 to 4.0 × 10~4. It is revealed that the axial flow frictional coe cient varies against the axial flow rate in linear relation sets with logarithmic coordinates, which shift up when the flow has a higher Ret. Further examination of the axial flow resistance, with the Rea extending to 3.5 × 10~5 and Ret up to 1.6 × 10~5, by simulation shows gentle variation rates in the axial flow frictional coe cients against the Rea. The relation curves with different Ret values converge when the Rea exceeds 3.5 × 10~5. A prediction model for TCP flow consisting of a polygonal approximation with logarithmic coordinates is developed to estimate the axial flow resistance against different axial and rotational Reynolds numbers for the evaluation of heat and mass transfer during transition states and the engineering design of the canned motor chamber structure.     

A Review on Friction Stir Processing of Titanium Alloy: Characterization,Method, Microstructure,Properties

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B - In the past two decades, friction stir processing (FSP) technology has received considerable attention. FSP can be used to adjust and control the...     

Visible light-activated degradation of microcystin-LR by ultrathin g-C3N4 nanosheets-based heterojunction photocatalyst

Microcystins (MCs) is a harmful toxin generated by blue-green algae in water, which has seriously threatened the ecological safety of water and human body. It is urgent to develop new catalysts and techniques for the degradation of MCs. A feasible electrostatic self-assembly method was carried out to synthesize BiVO₄/g-C₃N₄ heterojunction photocatalyst with highly efficient photocatalytic ability, where BiVO₄ nanoplates with exposed {010} facets anchored to the g-C₃N₄ ultrathin nanosheets. The morphology and microstructure of the heterojunction photocatalysts were identified by XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, and BET. The g-C₃N₄ nanosheets have huge surface area over 200 m²/g and abundant mesoporous ranging from 2-20 nm, which provides tremendous contact area for BiVO₄ nanoplates. Meanwhile, the introduction of BiVO₄ led to red-shift of the absorption spectrum of photocatalyst, which was characterized by UV-vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS). Compared with pure BiVO₄ and g-C₃N₄, the BiVO₄/g-C₃N₄ heterojunction shows a drastically enhanced photocatalytic activity in degradation of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) in water. The MC-LR could be removed within 15 minutes under the optimal ratio of BiVO₄/g-C₃N₄. The outstanding performance of the photocatalyst is attributed to synergetic effect of interface Z-scheme heterojunction and high active facets {010} of BiVO₄ nanoplates, which provides an efficient transfer pathway to separate photoinduced carriers meanwhile endows the photocatalysts with strong redox ability.     

Robust proton exchange membrane for vanadium redox flow batteries reinforced by silica-encapsulated nanocellulose

High ion selectivity and mechanical strength are critical properties for proton exchange membranes in vanadium redox flow batteries. In this work, a novel sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) hybrid membrane reinforced by core-shell structured nanocellulose (CNC-SPES) is prepared to obtain a robust and high-performance proton exchange membrane for vanadium redox flow batteries. Membrane morphology, proton conductivity, vanadium permeability and tensile strength are investigated. Single cell tests at a range of 40–140 mA cm⁻² are carried out. The performance of the sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) membrane reinforced by pristine nanocellulose (NC-SPES) and Nafion® 212 membranes are also studied for comparison. The results show that, with the incorporation of silica-encapsulated nanocellulose, the membrane exhibits outstanding mechanical strength of 54.5 MPa and high energy efficiency above 82% at 100 mA cm⁻², which is stable during 200 charge-discharge cycles.     

析湿工况下翅片管式换热器表面粉尘沉积过程的数值模型

空调器采用翅片管式换热器作为蒸发器，在制冷工况下换热器表面发生析湿及粉尘沉积，导致性能衰减。建立湿翅片表面粉尘颗粒物沉积过程的数学模型，模拟冷凝水捕集颗粒物以及湿积灰层黏附颗粒物的过程。被冷凝水捕集的颗粒物数量等于运动轨迹与水表面轮廓会出现相交的入射颗粒物的数量；后续的入射颗粒物与湿积灰层碰撞时，部分入射颗粒物会发生沉积且部分被碰撞的已沉积湿颗粒物会发生移除，这两部分的颗粒物数量相减即为被湿积灰层黏附的颗粒物数量。模拟与实验结果的对比表明，预测的湿积灰层形状与实验照片的吻合度较好，预测的单位面积颗粒物沉积质量与91%的实验数据之间的误差在±20%之间，平均误差为11.8%。     

Emerging strategy recognition in agile portfolios

Agile practices become increasingly popular for projects and project portfolios offering firms a higher flexibility to adapt to dynamic environments. This study investigates the antecedents and consequences of agile practices' relevance for strategy formulation in project portfolio management processes. Building on complex adaptive systems theory, we hypothesize a positive relationship between agile capabilities and emerging strategy initiatives and eventually portfolio success. Agile capabilities refer to both the project portfolio organization's intensity of and competence in applying agile practices. Using a sample of 135 portfolios and multiple informants for each portfolio, the results support entrepreneurial orientation and voice behavior as antecedents for agile capabilities. Furthermore, the findings support an agile portfolio's positive relationship with emergence recognition and overall portfolio success. The findings contribute to the literature by identifying two significant antecedents of agile capabilities as well as empirically demonstrating the positive relationship between agile portfolios and emerging strategy recognition. For practitioners, the study encourages the application of agile practices by stressing the general positive influence of agile capabilities and underlines entrepreneurial orientation and voice behavior as important methods of empowerment for agile portfolio processes.