Crossing the Border: From Keto- to Imine Reduction in Short-Chain Dehydrogenases/Reductases

The family of NAD(P)H-dependent short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDRs) comprises numerous biocatalysts capable of C=O or C=C reduction. The highly homologous noroxomaritidine reductase (NR) from Narcissus sp. aff. pseudonarcissus and Zt_SDR from Zephyranthes treatiae, however, are SDRs with an extended imine substrate scope. Comparison with a similar SDR from Asparagus officinalis (Ao_SDR) exhibiting keto-reducing activity, yet negligible imine-reducing capability, and mining the Short-Chain Dehydrogenase/Reductase Engineering Database indicated that NR and Zt_SDR possess a unique active-site composition among SDRs. Adapting the active site of Ao_SDR accordingly improved its imine-reducing capability. By applying the same strategy, an unrelated SDR from Methylobacterium sp. 77 (M77_SDR) with distinct keto-reducing activity was engineered into a promiscuous enzyme with imine-reducing activity, thereby confirming that the ability to reduce imines can be rationally introduced into members of the “classical” SDR enzyme family. Thus, members of the SDR family could be a promising starting point for protein approaches to generate new imine-reducing enzymes.     

钴/镍复合中间层真空扩散连接钨与钢

以钴粉/镍箔为复合中间层，采用800，900和1 000 ℃等三种连接温度，加压10 MPa并保温120 min的工艺条件，对钨/钢真空扩散连接. 研究了接头的微观组织、成分分布、力学性能及断口特征. 结果表明，连接温度为800 ℃和900 ℃时，钨/中间层界面金属间化合物生成很少，对应接头抗剪强度分别为186 MPa和172 MPa，断口均位于钨母材中近界面的位置，为典型解理断裂形貌；当连接温度升至1 000 ℃时，钨/中间层界面生成厚度小于2 μm的连续金属间化合物层，接头抗剪强度降至115 MPa，断裂也发生在钨母材中近界面的位置，断口大部分区域为沿晶断裂特征.     

Two-step pyrolytic engineering to form porous nitrogen-rich carbons with a 3D network structure for Zn-air battery oxygen reduction electrocatalysis

It is of great urgency to design inexpensive and high-performance oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts derived from biowastes as substitutes for Pt-based materials in electrochemical energy-conversion devices. Here we propose a strategy to synthesize three-dimensional (3D) porous nitrogen-doped network carbons to catalyze the ORR from two-step pyrolysis engineering of biowaste scale combined with the use of a ZnCl₂ activator and a FeCl₂ promotor. Electrochemical tests show that the synthesized network carbons have exhibited comparable ORR catalytic activity with a half-wave potential (~0.85 V vs. RHE) and outstanding cyclical stability in comparison to the Pt/C catalyst. Beyond that, a high electron transfer number (~3.8) and a low peroxide yield (<7.6%) can be obtained, indicating a four-electron reaction pathway. The maximum power density is ~68 mW cm^?2, but continuous discharge curves (at a constant potential of ~1.30 V) for 12 h are not obviously declined in Zn-air battery tests using synthesized network carbons as the cathodic catalyst. The formation of 3D porous structures with high BET surface area can effectively expose the surface catalytic sites and promote mass transportation to boost the ORR activity. This work may open a new idea to prepare porous carbon-based catalysts for some important reactions in new energy devices.     

Effects of interphase on tensile strength of polymer/CNT nanocomposites by Kelly–Tyson theory

The micromechanics models for composites usually underpredict the tensile strength of polymer nanocomposites. This paper establishes a simple model based on Kelly–Tyson theory for tensile strength of polymer/CNT nanocomposites assuming the effect of interphase between polymer and CNT. In addition, Pukanszky model is joined with the suggested model to calculate the interfacial shear strength (τ), interphase strength (σ_i) and critical length of CNT (L_c).The proposed approach is applied to calculate τ, σ_i and L_c for various samples from recent literature. It is revealed that the experimental data are well fitted to calculations by new model which confirm the important effect of interphase on the properties of nanocomposites. Moreover, the derived equations demonstrate that dissimilar correlations are found between τ and B (from Pukanszky model) as well as L_c and B. It is shown that a large B value obtained by strong interfacial adhesion between polymer and CNT is adequate to reduce L_c in polymer/CNT nanocomposites.     

某柴油机油底壳仿真计算分析

本文利用ABAQUS结构仿真软件对某发电用柴油机油底壳进行模态、强度计算。在发动机实际运行工况下,油底壳底部为悬空状态,模态计算结果显示油底壳一阶模态距发动机点火激励频率点较近,低于激励频率的1.2倍,模态不满足设计要求;在发动机装配过程中,油底壳底部压在装配台上,发动机在上下方向三倍的重力加速度冲击载荷工况下,油底壳产生的应力最大值低于对应材料的屈服强度极限,强度满足设计要求。通过对油底壳两种状态下的仿真分析,验证和确保了油底壳结构设计的可行性,有效避免了发动机装配和实际运行过程中故障的发生。     

Improvement of dielectric breakdown strength and energy storage performance in Er2O3–modified 0.95Sr0.7Ba0.3Nb2O6-0.05CaTiO3 lead-free ceramics

In this study, 0.95?Sr_0.7Ba_0.3Nb₂O₆-0.05CaTiO₃-x wt% Er₂O₃ ceramics (SBNCTEx; x?=?0–5) were synthesized using traditional solid-state method, and we investigated the microstructure, energy storage properties as well as the relationship between dielectric breakdown strength and interfacial polarization. As compared with pure 0.95?Sr_0.7Ba_0.3Nb₂O₆-0.05CaTiO₃ ceramics, the Er₂O₃ dopants suppressed the grain growth of SBNCTEx, and the doped ones showed the dense microstructure. The secondary phase was found for x?≥?1 according to the EDS results, and the influence of the secondary phase on relative dielectric breakdown strength has also been studied. The dielectric breakdown strength increased from 18.1?kV/mm to 34.4?kV/mm, which is good for energy storage. The energy storage density of 0.28?J/cm³ and the energy storage efficiency of 91.4% were obtained in the SBNCTE5 ceramics. The results indicate that SBNCTE ceramics can be used as energy storage capacitors.     

A novel Ag–CuAlO2 sealant for reactive air brazing of 3YSZ and AISI 310S

Based on reactive air brazing (RAB), we designed a new type of sealant (Ag–xCuAlO₂) for joining 3 mol.% yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) ceramics and AISI 310S stainless steel. The CuAlO₂ content affected the wettability of the sealant on the YSZ surface, and the joints had a high shear strength when Ag–2 wt.%CuAlO₂, which had a small contact angle on the YSZ substrate, was used as the sealant. In addition, the thickness of the oxide layer was reduced compared to that for the Ag–CuO sealant. The effects of the processing parameters on the microstructure and shear strength of the joints were investigated, and the as-brazed joints reached their highest shear strength (93.7 MPa) when brazed at 1040 °C for 30 min. After high-temperature oxidation at 800 °C for 200 h, the shear strength of the joints remained at 50 MPa, and no apparent change in the microstructure was observed, proving that the joints possessed excellent oxidation resistance.     

罩式退火温度对高强IF钢组织及性能的影响

为研究不同退火温度下高强IF钢的组织性能及织构的变化规律,采用温箱式电阻炉加热模拟罩式退火工艺,研究了不同退火温度下高强IF钢210P1冷轧板力学性能;对不同退火温度钢板的r90进行了统计并对其进行显微组织观察;采用X射线衍射仪及热场发射扫描电镜对不同退火温度的罩式退火成品板进行了织构分析。结果表明,在高强IF钢210P1冷轧板的罩式退火过程中,提高退火温度将使晶粒明显长大。随着退火温度的升高,屈服强度及抗拉强度下降,伸长率升高,n值略有上升,板材横向r值增加较明显,有利织构{111}取向密度增加,不利织构{100}取向密度降低。     

Effects of corrosion in liquid fluoride salt on the tensile strength of domestic SiC fibers

The relationship between the tensile strength of corroded domestic second-generation (2ed-gen) SiC fibers at various temperatures for 500 h in 46.5LiF-11.5NaF-42.0KF (mol. %) eutectic salt and the typical microstructure was studied. Weibull theory was used to analyze the critical defects that caused the tensile fracture, and the microstructure of fibers before and after corrosion was characterized. It is concluded that the decrease of tensile strength after corrosion at 800 °C is caused by the surface injury of fibers, which led to the shift of critical defects from the internal defects of virgin fibers to surface defects. Moreover, corrosion at higher temperature accelerates the corrosion process and dissolve the surface O-contained layer thoroughly. This shifts the critical defects back to the internal defects and will be helpful for the recovery of tensile strength of corroded fibers at the higher temperature.     

含齿形裂隙类岩石材料单轴压缩试验研究

为研究含齿形裂隙岩石在单轴压缩下的破坏特征及强度特性，制作了含不同裂隙倾角和起伏角的齿形裂隙类岩石材料试件，并采用岩石力学伺服试验机进行单轴压缩试验。试验结果表明：（1）试件主要产生拉伸、剪切和拉剪复合裂纹，且根据裂纹的扩展路径可划分为A型（拉伸破坏）、B型（剪切破坏）、C型（复合破坏）3种破坏模式，裂隙倾角对试件最终破坏模式影响显著；（2）当裂隙倾角较小时，试件应力—应变曲线为多峰曲线，随着裂隙倾角的增大，曲线呈单峰形式，表现为延性减弱，脆性增强，而裂隙倾角相同但起伏角不同的试件应力—应变曲线大致相同；（3）当裂隙起伏角相同时，试件当量峰值强度随裂隙倾角的增大呈先减小后增大的规律，且裂隙起伏角对试件当量峰值强度的影响小于裂隙倾角。