Bio-Based,Self-Crosslinkable Eucommia ulmoides Gum/Silica Hybrids with Body Temperature Triggering Shape Memory Capability

At present, the synthesis of body temperature triggering shape memory polymers usually requires elaborate structural design, which limits their wide application. Herein, starting from bio-based Eucommia ulmoides gum (EUG), a series of EUG/silica hybrids (ESHs) are prepared through a facile one-pot process, in which EUG is epoxied and then self-crosslinked with SiO₂ by epoxy ring-open reaction. Varying the amount of H₂O₂, the shape memory transition temperature (T_trans) of ESHs is adjusted to 47.4–36.6 ℃, which is close to human body temperature (37 ℃). Among them, ESH-17 exhibited the best body temperature triggering shape memory ability (T_trans = 36.6 ℃), which can restore the permanent shape within 60 s at 37 ℃ with a shape fixity ratio of 99% and shape recovery ratio near 100%. In addition, the shape memory mechanism is discussed and shows some application scenarios of ESHs. The as-produced materials can be used as smart biomaterials such as self-tightening sutures, self-sealing root canal filling materials, and so on.     

Comparison between fluctuation of floating potential gradient and velocity of blob structure on HL-2A tokamak

Several results based on the Langmuir probes' data on the HL-2A tokamak are presented. The blob structures' radial and poloidal drift velocities, estimated by the gradient of floating potential and by time delay evaluation, are compared in different line-averaged density and electron cyclotron resonance heating conditions. A positive correlation is observed in the comparison between blobs' radial velocity estimated by the two methods mentioned above, regardless of the situation differences mentioned above. Correlation is also observed in the comparison between the blobs' poloidal velocity estimated by the two methods in different situations, while a shift due to the different line-averaged density is observed. These results imply that the radial gradient of floating potential may have some value as a reference during data analysis in low-parameter discharge.     

核磁共振波谱法测定臭氧化橄榄油中的活性成分含量

以橄榄油为原料,经臭氧氧化制备臭氧化橄榄油。利用核磁共振(NMR)采集碳谱数据,积分碳谱特征峰,计算橄榄油被氧化成分的相对含量。结果表明:臭氧化橄榄油与橄榄油碳谱有明显的区别,臭氧化橄榄油在δ103.1处出现新峰,对应δ130.1处的峰高减弱,这是由于橄榄油中的不饱和双键被氧化。采用该方法测得5个臭氧化油中活性成分含量分别为21.46%、21.03%、21.31%、18.71%和24.42%。采用核磁共振波谱法测定臭氧化橄榄油的活性成分含量具有操作简单,不需要预处理,结果可靠的优点。     

基于GIS单线图的配网停电单模拟操作应用研究

配电网停电会造成电力系统供配电可靠性以及服务质量下降,研究基于地理信息系统(GIS)单线图的配网停电单模拟操作应用。利用网格长度作为基本单位建立坐标系,以选取起始点与终止点为基础,通过四参数法将GIS坐标映射至图纸网格内,实现配网内设备初步布局,将杆塔、站房和整体均匀分布作为优化目标,设置多目标优化目标函数实现GIS单线图最终优化。选取某电力公司配网作为单模拟操作应用对象,模拟结果表明,单模拟操作配网停电后,该配网各负荷点年故障率、次平均停电时间以及年停电时间均有所减少,可有效提升配网的供配电可靠性。     

In Vivo Simultaneous Analysis of Gene Expression by Dual-Color Luciferases in Caenorhabditis elegans

Both fluorescent and luminescent observation are widely used to examine real-time gene expression patterns in living organisms. Several fluuorescent and luminescent proteins with specific optical properties have been developed and applied for simultaneous, multi-color observation of more than two gene expression profiles. Compared to fluorescent proteins, however, the application of multi-color luminescent imaging in living organisms is still limited. In this study, we introduced two-color luciferases into the soil nematode C. elegans and performed simultaneous analysis of two gene expression profiles. Using a green-emitting luciferase Eluc (emerald luciferase) and red-emitting luciferase SLR (stable luciferase red), the expression patterns of two genes were simultaneously observed in single animals from embryonic to adult stages over its whole life span. In addition, dual gene activities were observed at the single embryo level, with the simultaneous observation of morphological changes. These are the first application of a two-color luciferase system into a whole animal and suggest that precise relationship of expression patterns of multiple genes of interest can be analyzed over the whole life of the animal, dependent on the changes in genetic and/or environmental conditions.     

Human DDX17 Unwinds Rift Valley Fever Virus Non-Coding RNAs

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a mosquito-transmitted virus from the Bunyaviridae family that causes high rates of mortality and morbidity in humans and ruminant animals. Previous studies indicated that DEAD-box helicase 17 (DDX17) restricts RVFV replication by recognizing two primary non-coding RNAs in the S-segment of the genome: the intergenic region (IGR) and 5′ non-coding region (NCR). However, we lack molecular insights into the direct binding of DDX17 with RVFV non-coding RNAs and information on the unwinding of both non-coding RNAs by DDX17. Therefore, we performed an extensive biophysical analysis of the DDX17 helicase domain (DDX17_135–555) and RVFV non-coding RNAs, IGR and 5’ NCR. The homogeneity studies using analytical ultracentrifugation indicated that DDX17_135–555, IGR, and 5’ NCR are pure. Next, we performed small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) experiments, which suggested that DDX17 and both RNAs are homogenous as well. SAXS analysis also demonstrated that DDX17 is globular to an extent, whereas the RNAs adopt an extended conformation in solution. Subsequently, microscale thermophoresis (MST) experiments were performed to investigate the direct binding of DDX17 to the non-coding RNAs. The MST experiments demonstrated that DDX17 binds with the IGR and 5’ NCR with a dissociation constant of 5.77 ± 0.15 µM and 9.85 ± 0.11 µM, respectively. As DDX17_135–555 is an RNA helicase, we next determined if it could unwind IGR and NCR. We developed a helicase assay using MST and fluorescently-labeled oligos, which suggested DDX17_135–555 can unwind both RNAs. Overall, our study provides direct evidence of DDX17_135–555 interacting with and unwinding RVFV non-coding regions.