A Fluorimetric Readout Reporting the Kinetics of Nucleotide‐Induced Human Ribonucleotide Reductase Oligomerization

Human ribonucleotide reductase (hRNR) is a target of nucleotide chemotherapeutics in clinical use. The nucleotide‐induced oligomeric regulation of hRNR subunit α is increasingly being recognized as an innate and drug‐relevant mechanism for enzyme activity modulation. In the presence of negative feedback inhibitor dATP and leukemia drug clofarabine nucleotides, hRNR‐α assembles into catalytically inert hexameric complexes, whereas nucleotide effectors that govern substrate specificity typically trigger α‐dimerization. Currently, both knowledge of and tools to interrogate the oligomeric assembly pathway of RNR in any species in real time are lacking. We therefore developed a fluorimetric assay that reliably reports on oligomeric state changes of α with high sensitivity. The oligomerization‐directed fluorescence quenching of hRNR‐α, covalently labeled with two fluorophores, allows for direct readout of hRNR dimeric and hexameric states. We applied the newly developed platform to reveal the timescales of α self‐assembly, driven by the feedback regulator dATP. This information is currently unavailable, despite the pharmaceutical relevance of hRNR oligomeric regulation.     

Dielectric properties of porous silicon for use as a substrate for the on-chip integration of millimeter-wave devices in the frequency range 140 to 210?GHz

In this work, the dielectric properties of porous Si for its use as a local substrate material for the integration on the Si wafer of millimeter-wave devices were investigated in the frequency range 140 to 210 GHz. Broadband electrical characterization of coplanar waveguide transmission lines (CPW TLines), formed on the porous Si layer, was used in this respect. It was shown that the dielectric parameters of porous Si (dielectric permittivity and loss tangent) in the above frequency range have values similar to those obtained at lower frequencies (1 to 40 GHz). More specifically, for the samples used, the obtained values were approximately 3.12 ± 0.05 and 0.023 ± 0.005, respectively. Finally, a comparison was made between the performance of the CPW TLines on a 150-μm-thick porous Si layer and on three other radiofrequency (RF) substrates, namely, on trap-rich high-resistivity Si (trap-rich HR Si), on a standard complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) Si wafer (p-type, resistivity 1 to 10 Ω.cm) and on quartz.

PACS

84.40.-x; 77.22.Ch; 81.05.Rm     

设置EPS柔性垫层的刚性挡土墙土压力研究

建立有限差分数值模型对设置EPS(发泡聚苯乙烯)柔性垫层的刚性挡土墙的土压力进行研究,分别对挡土墙后填土的静止、主动及被动三种位移状态进行了研究,并对不同挡土墙位移时EPS垫层减小土压力的效果进行了分析。研究结果表明:EPS对主动状态所需要的位移影响较小。静止–主动状态时,EPS减小土压力的效果随着位移的增大而减弱;静止–被动状态时,EPS减小土压力的效果随着位移的增大先增强后减弱。     

Study on self‐adjustable variable pendulum tuned mass damper

Pendulum tuned mass damper (PTMD) is usually used to control the horizontal vibration of a tall building. However, traditional PTMD is highly sensitive to frequency deviation and difficult to adjust its frequency. In order to improve this problem of traditional PTMD and protect a tall building more effectively, a novel PTMD, called self‐adjustable variable pendulum tuned mass damper (SAVP‐TMD), is proposed in this paper. On the basis of the acceleration ratio between TMD and primary structure, the SAVP‐TMD can retune itself by varying the length of the pendulum according to the improved acceleration ratio‐based adjustment algorithm. PTMD and primary structural accelerations are obtained from two accelerometers respectively, and the acceleration ratio is calculated in a microcontroller, then, the stepper motor will adjust the pendulum under the guidance of the microcontroller under a specific harmonic excitation. The improved acceleration ratio‐based adjustment algorithm is proposed and compared to solve the nonconvergent retuning problem. The SAVP‐TMD can be regarded as a passive damper including a frequency adjustment device. A single‐degree‐of‐freedom structure model is used to verify the effectiveness of SAVP‐TMD through both experimental study and numerical simulation. In order to further verify the effect of SAVP‐TMD in the MDOF structure, a five‐storey structure coupled with an SAVP‐TMD is proposed as a case study. The results of experiment, simulation, and case study all show that SAVP‐TMD can retune itself to the primary structural dominant frequency robustly, and the retuned PTMD has a better vibration control effect than the mistuned one.     

Coupled shear‐flexural model for dynamic analysis of fixed‐base tall buildings with tuned mass dampers

An equivalent discrete model is developed for time domain dynamic analysis of uniform high‐rise shear wall‐frame buildings with fixed base and carrying any number of tuned mass dampers (TMDs). The equivalent model consists of a flexural cantilever beam and a shear cantilever beam connected in parallel by a finite number of axially rigid members that allow the consideration of intermediate modes of lateral deformation. The proposed model was validated by a building whose lateral resisting system consists of a combination of shear walls and braced frames. The results showed the effectiveness of TMDs to reduce the peak displacements, interstory drift ratio, and accelerations when the building is subjected to a seismic load. The root mean square accelerations due to along‐wind loads also decrease if TMDs are attached to the building.     

钝性金属表面共价结合自组装膜制备及耐蚀性研究进展

海洋环境中的Cl-是影响不锈钢和铝合金等钝性金属钝化膜稳定性的关键因素。共价结合分子自组装膜具有环境友好、成本低、热力学稳定性好、工艺简单的特点,是提升钝化膜稳定性的有效策略且已成为近年来的研究热点。共价结合自组装膜虽然厚度只有几纳米,但结合力好,可实现层层自组装,为不锈钢的腐蚀防护注入了新的活力。综述了常见的单分子体系组装膜和复合体系组装膜,探讨了各种组装膜的组装机理、影响组装膜质量的因素及在腐蚀防护中的潜在应用。其中单分子体系组装膜主要包括硅烷类、膦酸化合物类、羟基化合物、儿茶酚类衍生物、芳基重氮类化合物等。单分子体系组装膜,由于致密性、均一性、覆盖度等尚未达到理想要求,因此逐步向多分子体系组装膜发展,以进一步优化组装膜的综合性能。未来工作需进一步发展适用于评价组装膜机理和组装过程的原位实时表征技术,结合量子化学计算和先进的材料表征手段,从微纳米尺度和原子尺度搞清成键形式、分子取向等重要信息。开发新型可有效阻隔H2O分子和Cl-传输的功能性有机分子或聚合物,为实现金属材料的主动腐蚀防护提供科学依据。     

电动直线负载模拟系统建模与混合校正分析

为测试直线舵机的综合性能,设计了一种由永磁同步电机和滚珠丝杠副进行中间力转换的电动直线负载模拟系统,并建立了该系统的数学模型,结合系统的控制方程,分析了系统的稳定性和多余力矩产生机制,并提出了一种速度环补偿策略,有效抑制了多余力矩;为提高系统加载精度和动态性能,采用非均匀三角隶属度函数的模糊PID控制取代传统PID控制。实验结果表明:该控制算法能够提高力加载跟踪精度和系统动态性能,满足"双十指标",具有一定的工程参考价值。     

Learning to live in a smart home

ABSTRACT

Smart homes promise to significantly enhance domestic comfort, convenience, security and leisure whilst simultaneously reducing energy use through optimized home energy management. Their ability to achieve these multiple aims rests fundamentally on how they are used by householders, yet very little is currently known about this topic. The few studies that have explored the use of smart homes have tended to focus on special-interest groups and be quite short-term. This paper reports on new in-depth qualitative data that explore the domestication of a range of smart home technologies in 10 households participating in a nine-month field trial. Four core themes emerge: (1) smart home technologies are both technically and socially disruptive; (2) smart homes require forms of adaptation and familiarization from householders that can limit their use; (3) learning to use smart home technologies is a demanding and time-consuming task for which there is currently very little support available; and (4) there is little evidence that smart home technologies will generate substantial energy savings and, indeed, there is a risk that they may generate forms of energy intensification. The paper concludes by discussing the implications of these findings for policy, design and further research.     

基于能量回馈与最小励磁电流的电梯节能研究

提出了基于能量回馈与最小励磁电流相结合的电梯节能控制方案,对电梯运行工况及节能方案进行了探讨。设计了基于dsPIC单片机的能量回馈控制系统,给出了相关电路的工作原理及设计方法并进行了实验,结果表明能量回馈系统设计合理。提出了基于最小励磁电流原理的电梯矢量节能控制策略,并进行了仿真实验研究。该方案可以实现电梯四个象限节能控制。     

Automatic Coagulation Control at Water-Treatment Plants in the North-West Region of England

North West Water has evaluated several automatic coagulation control systems covering a range of raw waters and treatment facilities.
The experiences have shown that streaming-current type systems are effective in controlling coagulant dose automatically, provided that appropriate plant conditions exist. In particular, rapid fluctuations in flow or poor mixing of chemicals can lead to unstable signals. Recent investigations indicate that for some waters streaming-current voltage is sensitive to small changes in pH, and precise control of pH is therefore necessary.
The main observed benefits have been treated water of a more consistent high quality, together with improved security of service, as the systems will respond reliably and effectively over long periods. Significant savings in coagulant usage can be obtained in certain cases.