Computer-based engineering of thermostabilized antibody fragments

We used the molecular modeling program Rosetta to identify clusters of amino acid substitutions in antibody fragments (scFvs and scAbs) that improve global protein stability and resistance to thermal deactivation. Using this methodology, we increased the melting temperature (T_m) and resistance to heat treatment of an antibody fragment that binds to the Clostridium botulinum hemagglutinin protein (anti-HA33). Two designed antibody fragment variants with two amino acid replacement clusters, designed to stabilize local regions, were shown to have both higher T_m compared to the parental scFv and importantly to retain full antigen binding activity after 2 hr of incubation at 70°C. The crystal structure of one thermostabilized scFv variants was solved at 1.6 Å and shown to be in close agreement with the RosettaAntibody model prediction.     

The Effect of Spray-Freeze Drying of Montmorillonite on the Morphology,Dispersion, and Crystallization in Polypropylene Nanocomposites

The spray-freeze drying (SFD) technique was applied to sonicated aqueous suspensions of spray-dried montmorillonite clay (MMT) to produce highly porous agglomerates (SFD-MMT). Both MMT (used as a reference) and SFD-MMT were subsequently incorporated in polypropylene (PP) via melt compounding to produce 2 wt % nanocomposites with and without maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MA). Polypropylene nanocomposites containing SFD-MMT exhibited thinner silicate flake layers compared to large agglomerates in PP/MMT nanocomposites. SFD-MMT particles became even more finer in the presence of PP-g-MA (i.e., in PP/PP-g-MA /SFD-MMT) where it hindered PP crystallization instead of serving as nucleation sites for the PP crystallization during rapid cooling. SFD-MMT improved the thermal stability of PP/PP-g-MA by 30°C compared to only 5–8°C for MMT/nanocomposites. MMT acts as a heterogeneous nucleating agent in the nucleation-controlled PP nanocomposites, but the hindrance effect was observed for the PP/PP-g-MA with SFD-MMT. PP/PP-g-MA/SFD-MMT exhibited twice the edge surface energy as compared to PP/PP-g-MA/MMT. The incorporation of both types of MMT raised the tensile moduli of PP and PP/PP-g-MA, with no improvement in their tensile strength and a decrease in the elongation at break. The PP/PP-g-MA/SFD-MMT showed brittle failure. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 60:168–179, 2020. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Transparent Mirror

正Western Han Dynasty(206 BC–8 AD)Diameter:12.1 cm;weight:280 g High-tin bronze This marvelous artifact is a cast metal circular disc with interesting relief patterns on the back.When sunlight falls on the surface of the mirror,made 2,000 years ago,the reflected image on a wall shows the pattern on the back of the mirror.     

Facile non-aqueous synthesis of high color rendering C@ZrSiO4 encapsulation pigment with carbon-containing precursors as in-situ carbon sources

A zircon encapsulated carbon black (C@ZrSiO₄) pigment with high color rendering was synthesized via facile non-aqueous acetic acid (NAA) assisted sol-gel method using carbon-containing precursors (zirconium n-propoxide and tetraethoxysilane) as in-situ carbon sources. The effects of the NAA amount and heat treatment temperature on the structure and properties of the synthesized encapsulation pigments were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, FE-SEM, HR-TEM, EDS, XPS and CIELAB colorimeter, respectively. The results showed that the C@ZrSiO₄ encapsulated pigments heating at 1000?°C for 2?h in N₂ atmosphere presented a dense and stable encapsulation structure as well as deep dark hue when the mole ratio of NAA and Zr (NAA/Zr) was 3:1, and the chromaticity values were L*?= 21.20, a*?= 0.56, b*?= ?0.09 and C_ab =?0.57, respectively, which were contributed to the high homogeneity at atomic level in ZrSiO₄ sol and the tight bonding between carbon black carbonized by carbon containing group and zircon matrix. In addition, the pigment exhibited excellent chemical stability, thermal stability and tinctorial strength when it was used in water, acid, alkali, organic solvents and ceramic glaze. Especially, these pigments improved the utilization of raw materials and avoided the use of heavy metals or transition metals as coloring agent, which was an environment-friendly black ceramic pigment.     

Effective size-controlled synthesis and electrochemical characterization of ordered Pt nanopattern arrays from self-assembling block copolymer template

This work offers an effective size-controlled synthesis of platinum nanoparticle (Pt NP) arrays for electrocatalyst through self-assembled nanopatterns of block copolymers on titanium (Ti) wafers. Size, spacing and uniformity of Pt NP with loading of Pt to a minimum were investigated to be controlled and adjusted in order to improve the electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) and ECSA stability, and Pt concentration in copolymer/chloroplatinic acid (H₂PtCl₆) solution was verified to be one of the most important factors to control the arrays’ structure. In our case, the Pt NPs with predictable size of 5–16.5 nm could be obtained when the Pt concentration is larger than 0.05 mg ml^?1, which the dominant diameter is proved to be proportional to one-third power of the Pt concentration according to the linear relation of templates’ Pt/N mass ratio versus Pt concentration, and the Pt NPs remain highly ordered arrays with predictable spacing when the Pt concentration is larger than 0.125 mg ml^?1. Decrease in Pt concentration from 2 to 0.125 mg ml^?1 is an effective method to improve the ECSA and durability simultaneously. The Pt NP arrays exhibit not only a remarkable initial ECSA value of 106.2 m² g^?1, but also a pseudo-zero particle aggregation possibility during 3000-cycle voltammetry, which is attributed to the high Pt NP dispersion and the ordered arrays that improve the Pt utilization and lower the possibility of aggregation.     

Zr-4合金板材真空退火温度场的数值模拟

分析Zr-4合金板材真空退火过程中的传热方式,计算锆合金板材径向传热系数,利用ABAQUS对Zr-4合金板材退火温度场进行数值模拟,分析工装夹具对锆合金板材退火的影响,结果表明,工装夹具能改善锆合金板材温度场分布均匀性,使锆合金板材温度分布的最高温差由70 ℃降低至35 ℃,升温过程更加稳定,并且数值模拟结果与实测结果有较好的一致性。     

小粒径油雾发生装置研制

针对现有的油雾发生装置油雾粒径(7~40 μm)不符合中国船级社《钢制海船入级规范》关于油雾发生装置油雾粒径不得超过5 μm的规范要求,研制了一种小粒径油雾发生装置。经测量验证:所研制的油雾发生装置油雾粒径可控制在5 μm以内，并能控制油雾浓度、雾化温度及油雾流量，可为油雾探测器研制提供平台试验条件。     

Effect of microwave sintering on the properties of copper oxide doped Y-TZP ceramics

The effect of various amounts of copper oxide (CuO) up to 1?wt% on the densification behaviour and mechanical properties of 3?mol% yttria-tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP) were studied by using microwave (MW) sintering method. The MW sintering was performed at temperatures between 1100?°C and 1400?°C, with a heating rate of 30?°C/min. and holding time of 5?min. The beneficial effect of MW in enhancing densification was also compared for the undoped and 0.2?wt% CuO-doped Y-TZP when subjected to conventional sintering (CS) method. The results showed that significant enhancement in the relative density and Vickers hardness were observed for the undoped Y-TZP when MW-sintered between 1100?°C and 1250?°C. It was revealed that the 0.2?wt% CuO-doped Y-TZP and MW sintered at 1250–1300?°C could attain ≥?99.8% of theoretical density, Vickers hardness of about 14.4?GPa, fracture toughness of 7.8 MPam^1/2 and exhibited fine equiaxed tetragonal grain size of below 0.25?µm. In contrast, the addition of 1?wt% CuO was detrimental and the samples exhibited about 50% monoclinic phase upon sintering coupled with poor bulk density and mechanical properties. The study also revealed that the addition of 0.2?wt% CuO and subjected to conventional sintering produced similar densification as that obtained for microwave sintering, thus indicating that the dopant played a more significant role than the sintering method.