Piezoelectricity of the Transmembrane Protein ba3 Cytochrome c Oxidase

Controlling the electromechanical response of piezoelectric biological structures including tissues, peptides, and amino acids provides new applications for biocompatible, sustainable materials in electronics and medicine. Here, the piezoelectric effect is revealed in another class of biological materials, with robust longitudinal and shear piezoelectricity measured in single crystals of the transmembrane protein ba₃ cytochrome c oxidase from Thermus thermophilus. The experimental findings from piezoresponse force microscopy are substantiated using a range of control measurements and molecular models. The observed longitudinal and shear piezoelectric responses of ≈ 2 and 8 pm V⁻¹, respectively, are comparable to or exceed the performance of commonly used inorganic piezoelectric materials including quartz, aluminum nitride, and zinc oxide. This suggests that transmembrane proteins may provide, in addition to physiological energy transduction, technologically useful piezoelectric material derived entirely from nature. Membrane proteins could extend the range of rationally designed biopiezoelectric materials far beyond the minimalistic peptide motifs currently used in miniaturized energy harvesters, and the finding of robust piezoelectric response in a transmembrane protein also raises fundamental questions regarding the molecular evolution, activation, and role of regulatory proteins in the cellular nanomachinery, indicating that piezoelectricity might be important for fundamental physiological processes.     

Predetermination of potential plastic hinges on reinforced concrete frames using GFRP reinforcement

In the past, glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP)-reinforcement has been successfully applied in reinforced concrete (RC) structures where corrosion resistance, electromagnetic neutrality, or cuttability were required. Previous investigations suggest that the application of GFRP in RC structures could be advantageous in areas with seismic activity due to their high deformability and strength. However, especially the low modulus of elasticity of GFRP limited its wide application as GFRP-reinforced members usually exhibit considerably larger deformations under service loads than comparable steel-reinforced elements. To overcome the aforementioned issues, the combination of steel and GFRP reinforcement in hybrid RC sections has been investigated in the past. Based on this idea, this paper presents a novel concept for the predetermination of potential plastic hinges in RC frames using GFRP reinforcement. To analyze the efficiency of the concept, nonlinear finite element simulations were performed. The results underscore the high efficiency of hybrid steel-GFRP RC sections for predetermining potential plastic hinges on RC frames. The results also indicate that the overall seismic behavior of RC structures could be improved by means of GFRP as both the column base shear force during the seismic activity as well as the plastic deformations after the earthquake were considerably less pronounced than in the steel-reinforced reference structure.     

Hybrid hydrate processes for CO2/H2 mixture purification: A techno-economic analysis

In this work, hydrate based separation technique was combined with membrane separation and amine-absorption separation technologies to design hybrid processes for separation of CO₂/H₂ mixture. Hybrid processes are designed in the presence of different types of hydrate promoters. The conceptual processes have been developed using Aspen HYSYS. Proposed processes were simulated at different flow rates for the feed stream. A comprehensive cost model was developed for economic analysis of novel processes proposed in this study. Based on the results from process simulation and equipment sizing, the amount of total energy consumption, fixed cost, variable cost, and total cost were calculated per unit weight of captured CO₂ for various flow rates of feed stream and in the presence of different hydrate promoters. Results showed that combination of hydrate formation separation technique with membrane separation technology results in a CO₂ capture process with lowest energy consumption and total cost per unit weight of captured CO₂. As split fraction and heat of hydrate formation increases, the share of hydrate formation section in total energy consumption increases. When TBAB is applied as hydrate promoter, due to its higher hydrate separation efficiency, more amount of CO₂ is captured in hydrate formation section and consequently the total cost for process decreases considerably. Hybrid hydrate-membrane process in the presence of TBAB as hydrate promoter with 29.47 US$/ton CO₂ total cost is the best scheme for hybrid hydrate CO₂ capture process. Total cost for this process is lower than total cost for single MDEA-based absorption process as the mature technology for CO₂ capture.     

红心火龙果发酵液喷雾干燥工艺优化及红心火龙果籽油的研究

以红心火龙果发酵液作为研究对象,通过优化喷雾干燥工艺制备粉剂,最佳工艺条件为:20%麦芽糊精,进液量:10mL/min,进口温度为120℃,出口温度为65℃;得到的粉剂为紫红色粉末,益生菌含量达到108cfu/g以上,口感酸甜。将发酵后的火龙果籽进行提取,得到的火龙果籽油含有丰富的十六酸、亚油酸和油酸。     

科研管理项目管理系统设计与开发

信息化时代推动了我国科研水平飞速增长,为各行业、各领域提供先进的技术与设备支持,以此提升我国整体的GDP水平。文章认为在提升科研水平的过程中,科研项目管理系统起到举足轻重的作用,为科研活动的规范性、合理性与可行性提供了参考标准。     

基于秩序与非秩序理论的文创产品卡通形象设计研究

目的 从秩序与非秩序理论出发,研究文创产品卡通形象的设计方法.方法 对秩序与非秩序理论的视觉机制和创制理论进行梳理,结合实例,阐述了其与文创产品卡通形象设计之间的联系,分析文创产品卡通形象中的秩序与非秩序的表现形式,提出基于秩序与非秩序理论文创产品卡通形象设计的主要原则,归纳出一套基于秩序与非秩序理论的文创产品卡通形象设计流程与方法,指导设计实践,并验证这些理论方法在设计实践中有效性与可行性.结论 通过对秩序与非秩序理论的研究,文创产品卡通形象设计时应注意提高辨识度、亲和力和便于衍生设计的原则.探索基于秩序与非秩序理论的设计流程与方法,按照界定主题、主体形象设计、主体形象拓展、衍生品应用四个环节开展整体方案设计,为文创产品卡通形象设计提供新的思路与方法.     

基于用户体验的压路机操纵手柄交互品质研究

目的以压路机操纵手柄为对象,探讨交互品质研究方法,改进用户体验。方法对交互品质进行解析,由用户体验与交互品质的关联性,提出基于用户体验的交互品质研究方法;面向压路机操纵手柄典型任务进行用户体验研究,梳理压路机手柄的操作流程,并对交互行为进行聚类分析,结合语义分析构建用户体验词库,运用半结构式访谈与问卷调查,以定量与定性方法相结合对驾驶员的操纵体验进行调研;以专家研讨的形式进行驾驶员的操纵体验向交互特征的映射,构建交互特征集,进而对操纵手柄的交互品质进行分析与阐释。结果得出了压路机操纵手柄的交互特征与交互品质。结论通过用户体验可以映射交互特征,得到了交互品质,对于从交互品质的角度指导交互设计提供了借鉴。     

葫芦容器生态包装设计探析

目的 研究葫芦容器作为生态材料在包装设计中的运用.方法 从葫芦容器的渊源和表现形式两个方面探究,明晰了葫芦作为容器就具备存放盛装、便利实用的包装功能.分析和探讨葫芦作为包装容器的优势,体现在葫芦材质、葫芦造型、葫芦工艺方面,归纳总结出葫芦是现成的生态包装容器,材质安全无害易降解,自然培育无环境破坏压力,符合绿色环保要求.结论 结合实践设计提出葫芦容器的生态化、形态化、功能性的设计延伸再利用,以及葫芦容器的产业化生产的可行性探讨,以期使葫芦容器得到传承与推广.     

面向老龄化社会的产品服务系统设计赋能

目的 针对面向老龄化社会的产品及产品服务系统设计,将赋能的设计理念和价值引入其中,探索设计结果提升老年人能动性和参与性的赋能品质,为设计师开展设计赋能实践提供参考.方法 以设计教学中的学生设计方案作为研究材料,邀请设计研究者参与工作坊,对设计结果的赋能属性进行分析,并通过聚类获得类别化的设计属性,产生了能描述赋能品质的属性词汇表.结果 总结了包含5组形容词组的设计赋能品质集,这一集合包含"顺应性"和"激励性"两个面向.结论 研究结果为设计师进行老龄化设计提供了知识参考,有助于提升设计师的赋能意识.揭示了设计赋能充满矛盾性的品质,提出面向老龄化的设计赋能需要在"顺应"和"激励"之间找到平衡.