Towards Efficient Nonenzymatic DNA Ligation: Comparing Key Parameters for Maximizing Ligation Rates and Yields with Carbodiimide Activation**

Chemical ligation is an important tool for the generation of synthetic DNA structures, which are used for a wide range of applications. Surprisingly, reported chemical ligation yields can range from 30 to 95 % for the same chemical activating agent and comparable DNA structures. We report a systematic study of DNA ligation by using a well-defined bimolecular test system and a water-soluble carbodiimide (EDC) as a phosphate-activating agent. Our results emphasize the interplay between template-substrate complex stability and the rates of the chemical steps of ligation, with 3′ phosphate substrates providing yields near 100 % after 24 hours for particularly favorable reaction conditions. Ligation rates are also shown to be sensitive to the identity of the base pairs flanking a nick site, with as much as threefold variation. Finally, the observation that DNA substrates are modified by EDC at rates that can be comparable with ligation rates emphasizes the importance of considering side reactions when designing protocols to maximize ligation yields.     

Effect of hyperbranched poly(citric polyethylene glycol) with various polyethylene glycol chain lengths on starch plasticization and retrogradation

A series of hyperbranched poly(citric polyethylene glycol) (PCPEG) materials with varied polyethylene glycol (PEG) chain lengths as plasticizers were mixed with maize starch (MS) via cooking and film‐forming. The structure, pasting property, plasticization, aging property, moisture absorption and compatibility of plasticized starches were studied by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, rapid viscosity analysis, tension testing, moisture absorption measurements and scanning electron microscopy. Compared with PEG and citric acid, PCPEG was more effective in promoting starch chain movement and inhibiting the retrogradation of starch film. Also, PCPEG/MS had smaller moisture content. The longer the plasticizer chain, the better were the aging resistance and moisture resistance of starch. But with an increase of PEG chain length, mechanical properties of PCPEG/MS deteriorated and the compatibility between PCPEG and MS decreased. The hyperbranched derivative of PEG with longer chain exhibited improved plasticization and compatibility with starch. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry     

基于RBF网络滑模的电动助力制动系统液压力控制

针对汽车电动助力制动系统（Electro-booster，EBooster）的液压力控制中液压负载的非线性和不一致性问题，提出一种基于径向基函数（Radial based function，RBF）神经网络的滑模变结构控制方法。设计EBooster系统压力控制架构，建立液压制动系统等效结构简化模型，据此设计基于RBF网络滑模变结构的液压力控制方法，通过设计RBF网络的自适应律来实现系统滑模控制参数的自适应调整，并利用李雅普诺夫函数方法分析算法的稳定性。最后搭建电动助力制动系统的快速原型试验平台来验证算法的有效性。试验结果表明，采用RBF神经网络滑模变结构的控制策略对电动助力制动系统液压力的控制误差在2%以内，具有良好的控制效果。研究成果为EBooster系统的压力控制提出一种具有良好自适应性的算法设计思路。     

变厚度板中水平剪切波的传播特性分析

为研究超声导波在储罐壁板等变壁厚结构中的传播特性，建立了SH波在空间自由边界中的传播模型，基于各向同性弹性介质Navier-Stokes方程，推导了变厚度板中SH波的频散方程，分析了变厚度板中水平剪切波走时t与倾斜角θ间的相互作用关系；通过简谐点源的远场响应并引入板厚与传播位移的非线性关系，得出了变厚度板中SH波的远场响应方程。在此基础上，仿真分析和实验验证了水平剪切波在不同倾斜角变厚度板中的传播特性，结果表明：在变厚度板的薄端激励水平剪切波并沿结构表面传播时，无频散现象，且无波包分离现象；但随着变厚度板倾斜角θ增大，水平剪切波的走时和接收信号幅值均逐渐递减，且呈非线性关系。     

拉锻式摩擦塞焊的热力耦合解析模型和试验验证

为快速得到拉锻式摩擦塞焊的焊接工艺参数，对焊接过程进行预测，建立了摩擦塞焊过程的扭矩、轴向力、功率和能量等指标的力学模型和热力耦合解析模型。模型的输入量为焊接塞棒的几何参数、材料属性、焊接转速和进给速度，输出量为焊接过程的扭矩、轴向力、功率和能量等。在自主设计的拉锻式摩擦塞焊设备上进行了焊接试验。通过将试验数据的输入和输出指标与理论模型值进行对比分析，验证了理论解析模型的可行性。     

磁悬浮控制力矩陀螺高速转子的高精度位置控制

在受到陀螺效应、动框架效应等影响后产生的磁力非线性问题是磁悬浮控制力矩陀螺(MSCMG)高速转子位置精度下降的主要因素。为解决以上问题,提高转子位置精度,本文分析了转子所受磁力的特性,建立了转子系统非线性动力学模型,提出了神经网络滑模控制方法。设计滑模控制律,采用径向基函数神经网络逼近控制律中的非线性模型,自适应算法根据误差在线调整神经网络的权值,同时可以保证整个系统的稳定性。仿真和实验结果表明,所提出方法的转子位置精度达到99%,稳态误差为0.000 2 mm。神经网络滑模控制可以实现MSCMG转子系统的高精度位置控制。     

Proteome changes in lamb semimembranosus muscles associated with the inclusion of sunflower cake in their diet

A diet based on sunflower cake for lambs was assayed in order to reuse biodiesel industrial by-products with the aim of reducing livestock costs and evaluating their influence on meat quality. To achieve these goals, sixteen male lambs were fed diets containing different levels of sunflower cake (control, 5%, 10% and 15%). Afterwards, their semimembranosus muscles were analysed by two-dimensional electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry and their functional protein association was examined using STRING. Structural and metabolic proteins in the lambs’ proteomes changed significantly according to their diet. Fifteen proteins showed significant changes caused by the inclusion of sunflower cake, and the most differentially abundant structural proteins were detected in 2-DE gels from the lambs. Differentially abundant metabolic proteins such as ENO3 (enolase 3), MDH1 (malate dehydrogenase) and ALDH1A1 (retinal dehydrogenase) have been proposed as biomarkers of quality parameters in other species.     

One step method of structure engineering porous graphitic carbon nitride for efficient visible-light photocatalytic reduction of Cr(Ⅵ)

Porous g-C3N4 nanosheets (PCN) were prepared by the nickel-assisted one-step thermal polymerization method.Hydrogen (H2) which was produced by the reaction between nickel (Ni) foam and ammonia (NH3) defined the structure and properties of PCN.During the formation of PCN,the participation of H2 not only enhanced the spacing between layers but also boosted the specific surface area that more active sites were exposed.Additionally,H2 promoted pores formation in the nanosheets,which was beneficial to the transfer of photons through lamellar structure and improved the absorption efficiency of visible light.Remarkably,the obtained PCN possessed better Cr(Ⅵ) photocatalytic reduction efficiency than pure g-C3N4.The reaction rate constant (k) of PCN (0.013 min-1) was approximately twice that of bare g-C3N4 (0.007 min-1).Furthermore,the effects of original pH and concentration of Cr(Ⅵ)-containing solution on removal efficiency of Cr(Ⅵ) were explored.A possible photocatalytic mechanism was proposed based on the experiments of radical scavengers and photoelectrochemical characterizations.