Characterizing Aciniform Silk Repetitive Domain Backbone Dynamics and Hydrodynamic Modularity

Spider aciniform (wrapping) silk is a remarkable fibrillar biomaterial with outstanding mechanical properties. It is a modular protein consisting, in Argiope trifasciata, of a core repetitive domain of 200 amino acid units (W units). In solution, the W units comprise a globular folded core, with five α-helices, and disordered tails that are linked to form a ~63-residue intrinsically disordered linker in concatemers. Herein, we present nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy-based ¹⁵N spin relaxation analysis, allowing characterization of backbone dynamics as a function of residue on the ps–ns timescale in the context of the single W unit (W₁) and the two unit concatemer (W₂). Unambiguous mapping of backbone dynamics throughout W₂ was made possible by segmental NMR active isotope-enrichment through split intein-mediated trans-splicing. Spectral density mapping for W₁ and W₂ reveals a striking disparity in dynamics between the folded core and the disordered linker and tail regions. These data are also consistent with rotational diffusion behaviour where each globular domain tumbles almost independently of its neighbour. At a localized level, helix 5 exhibits elevated high frequency dynamics relative to the proximal helix 4, supporting a model of fibrillogenesis where this helix unfolds as part of the transition to a mixed α-helix/β-sheet fibre.     

Water density formulations and their effect on gravimetric water meter calibration and measurement uncertainties

In the gravimetric calibration method of water meters, the volume of water that has passed through the equipment under test (EUT) is generally collected into a tank and the quantity (mass) determined by weighing. The mass of water collected is then converted into a volume. This conversion of mass into volume requires knowledge of the water density, which can be estimated, measured directly or determined by other means. The error of measurement of the EUT is determined by comparing the volume recorded by the EUT and the volume collected in the tank. The density of water is, therefore, one of the major causes of measurement uncertainty in laboratory calibration of water meters using the gravimetric method. Water meter calibration facilities commonly use density formulations proposed by the International Standards Organisation (ISO) and the Organisation for International Legal Metrology (OIML). In Australia, additional guidance in water density determination is provided by the National Measurement Institute (NMI). In this study, testing was undertaken using ten positive displacement water meters arranged in series in the test rig to evaluate some of the common water density formulations used in Australia. The effect of these different formulations on the water meter error measurement was determined, as well as the effect on the measurement uncertainties. The results shows that the use of these different density formulations evaluated do not significantly affect the water meter error of measurement or the uncertainty of measurement. There was no apparent correlation between the water meter error and the meter position in the test rig. It was also determined that if the water density was adjusted only for temperature effects, a maximum of 0.05 and 0.15% drift in meter error and measurement uncertainty respectively, can be expected.     

Thickness dependent barrier performance of permeation barriers made from atomic layer deposited alumina for organic devices

Organic devices like organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) or organic solar cells degrade fast when exposed to ambient air. Hence, thin-films acting as permeation barriers are needed for their protection. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is known to be one of the best technologies to reach barriers with a low defect density at gentle process conditions. As well, ALD is reported to be one of the thinnest barrier layers, with a critical thickness – defining a continuous barrier film – as low as 5–10 nm for ALD processed Al₂O₃. In this work, we investigate the barrier performance of Al₂O₃ films processed by ALD at 80 °C with trimethylaluminum and ozone as precursors. The coverage of defects in such films is investigated on a 5 nm thick Al₂O₃ film, i.e. below the critical thickness, on calcium using atomic force microscopy (AFM). We find for this sub-critical thickness regime that all spots giving raise to water ingress on the 20 × 20 μm² scan range are positioned on nearly flat surface sites without the presence of particles or large substrate features. Hence below the critical thickness, ALD leaves open or at least weakly covered spots even on feature-free surface sites. The thickness dependent performance of these barrier films is investigated for thicknesses ranging from 15 to 100 nm, i.e. above the assumed critical film thickness of this system. To measure the barrier performance, electrical calcium corrosion tests are used in order to measure the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), electrodeposition is used in order to decorate and count defects, and dark spot growth on OLEDs is used in order to confirm the results for real devices. For 15–25 nm barrier thickness, we observe an exponential decrease in defect density with barrier thickness which explains the likewise observed exponential decrease in WVTR and OLED degradation rate. Above 25 nm, a further increase in barrier thickness leads to a further exponential decrease in defect density, but an only sub-exponential decrease in WVTR and OLED degradation rate. In conclusion, the performance of the thin Al₂O₃ permeation barrier is dominated by its defect density. This defect density is reduced exponentially with increasing barrier thickness for alumina thicknesses of up to at least 25 nm.     

低烈度区低配筋多层剪力墙结构抗震性能分析

为研究低烈度区多层剪力墙结构采用比现行规范规定偏低配筋时的抗震性能和工程应用可能性，针对4种不同平面布置形式的多层剪力墙结构，依据现行结构设计规范，分别按抗震设防烈度6度、7度（0.10g和0.15g）进行抗震设计，并减少结构设计规范要求的墙身构造钢筋量，形成低配筋多层剪力墙结构。经对设计完成的相同平面布置的低配筋剪力墙结构的截面和配筋情况进行对比，发现6度和7度（0.10g）设防区的构件截面和配筋完全相同，而与7度（0.15g）设防区稍有差别。采用Perform-3D程序对设防烈度7度区低配筋多层剪力墙结构进行非线性动力反应分析，结果表明：结构在7度罕遇地震作用下的地震反应很小，进入非线性的区域不大，结构损伤轻微；对比墙身配筋率显著小于低配筋多层剪力墙结构的剪力墙试件试验结果发现，在7度罕遇地震作用下，低配筋多层剪力墙结构中剪力墙的损伤很小，且最大层间位移角远小于其极限位移角。因此，低配筋多层剪力墙结构的抗震性能良好，可以在低烈度抗震设防区（6度和7度区）采用。另外，根据分析结果，建议墙体水平和竖向分布钢筋配筋率分别为0.15%和0.10%。     

低温驯化速度对鲫鱼离水储藏酶活性的影响

为研究低温驯化及储藏温度对鲫鱼活体离水后储藏的影响,成年鲫鱼(Carassius carassius)放置于水箱中,采用每小时5℃和1℃速率,由25℃匀速降温降至0℃,分别在4℃和0℃冷库中离水储藏24 h,测定鲫鱼新陈代谢及抗氧化相关酶的活力,并探讨低温驯化及离水储藏对鱼体生理状态的影响。结果表明,1℃/h降温有利于乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)活力的保存。经过1℃/h降温驯化后,0℃储藏异柠檬酸脱氢酶活力功能得到了一定保存,脑琥珀酸脱氢酶(SDH)未受影响。丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)活力体现为受储藏温度影响,0℃下其活力得到保存。0℃储藏导致丙二醛(MDA)的积聚,同时低温储藏中血液过氧化氢酶(CAT)集聚而肝脏未表现出明显变化。     

基于云概率密度分布估计的大坝监测数据分析

大坝运行监测易受自然环境和监测条件影响，存在时间和空间上的变异性，监测数据具有不确定性。以云理论的随机性和不确定性分析方法为基础，并与空间数据辐射思想相结合，建立了云滴概率密度分布估计模型，然后导出云概率密度分布函数，依据样本监测数据推求母体空间数据的分布特征，并设计了基于逆向云算法云变换的计算程序。分析陆浑水库1979~1999年测压管监测数据和位移变形数据的云概率密度分布特征和云数字特征，得出了20 a来大坝的数据分布特征和运行状态。监测数据分析结果表明，云概率密度分布估计不仅能有效合理地分析大坝的运行状态，而且能够依据云数字特征来判断监测状态和监测环境的异常变化。      

多功能润滑油添加剂聚甲基丙烯酸酯的研制

In this paper, four kinds of polymethacrylates(PMAs) used as multifunctional additives were synthesized from quaternary C1—C14 methacrylate, among which sample 4 exhibited relatively better performance. According to the methacrylate ratio of sample 4, the optimized reaction conditions of PMA were explored by orthogonal experiments comprising 4 factors and 3 levels, and the optimized reaction conditions covered an initiator dosage of 0.8 %, a molecular weight regulator dosage of 0.4%, a reaction temperature of 95 ℃ and a reaction time of 8.5 h. When the optimized PMA samples were used to formulate the 75W/90 automotive gear base oil, they exhibited improved shear stability and good low temperature property. In comparison with foreign commercial polymethacrylate GP, the optimized PMA samples exhibited better thickening ability, similar shear stability and slightly weak low temperature property, with their performance being the same as GP's on the whole. The slight difference in the performance between the optimized PMA and GP was attributed to the difference of chain length of copolymers and the distribution of relative molecular mass between them.