Unusual Two-Step Assembly of a Minimalistic Dipeptide-Based Functional Hypergelator

Self-assembled peptide hydrogels represent the realization of peptide nanotechnology into biomedical products. There is a continuous quest to identify the simplest building blocks and optimize their critical gelation concentration (CGC). Herein, a minimalistic, de novo dipeptide, Fmoc-Lys(Fmoc)-Asp, as an hydrogelator with the lowest CGC ever reported, almost fourfold lower as compared to that of a large hexadecapeptide previously described, is reported. The dipeptide self-assembles through an unusual and unprecedented two-step process as elucidated by solid-state NMR and molecular dynamics simulation. The hydrogel is cytocompatible and supports 2D/3D cell growth. Conductive composite gels composed of Fmoc-Lys(Fmoc)-Asp and a conductive polymer exhibit excellent DNA binding. Fmoc-Lys(Fmoc)-Asp exhibits the lowest CGC and highest mechanical properties when compared to a library of dipeptide analogues, thus validating the uniqueness of the molecular design which confers useful properties for various potential applications.     

Crosslinked,biodegradable polyurethanes for precision-porous biomaterials: Synthesis and properties

Crosslinked poly(ester urethane)s and their acrylate derivatives based on trifunctional polycaprolactone and trifunctional aliphatic isocyanates were synthesized. Biodegradable scaffolds with uniform, controlled micron-scale porosity were fabricated with these materials. Mechanical and swelling properties of monolithic and microporous materials were studied. Cytotoxicity, hydrolytic, and enzymatic degradation and their effects on mechanical properties of the biodegradable scaffolds were investigated. The polymer degradation products were found not to be cytotoxic at moderate concentrations and to permit cell attachment and spreading. Degradation rates and mechanical properties could be tuned to desired performance criteria for a given application by adjusting crosslink density and the ratio of hard segment to soft segment. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48943.     

Mesure de la resistance des terrains dans un sondage: Le SAIGNOFOR

Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment - Un appareil appelé SAIGNOFOR a été développé pour évaluer la résistance à la compression des terrains...     

裂解C9预加氢催化剂研制

研制一种新型耐硫、抗胶质镍系加氢催化剂，在固定床液相加氢装置评价催化剂性能，考察催化剂制备方法、载体和助剂种类对裂解C₉馏分加氢性能的影响。结果表明，浸渍法制备的催化剂活性较高，添加稀土分子筛及助剂后的催化剂低温活性更好。在反应器入口温度（60～80） ℃、空速1.5 h^-1、反应压力3.0 MPa和氢油体积比500∶1条件下，对催化剂进行240 h稳定性实验，裂解C₉馏分的双烯值由5.3 g-I₂·（100g）^-1降至约0.60 g-I₂·（100g）^-1，溴值由57.2 g-Br₂·（100g）-^-1降至约25.5 g-Br₂·（100g）^-1，稳定性良好。     

Continuous input nonlocal games

We present a family of nonlocal games in which the inputs the players receive are continuous. We study three representative members of the family. For the first two a team sharing quantum correlations (entanglement) has an advantage over any team restricted to classical correlations. We conjecture that this is true for the third member of the family as well.     

声光调QCO_2激光器的理论计算和实验研究

采用谐振腔内插入声光调制器的方法进行了小型CO2激光器的调Q实验,并根据影响激光器输出的诸多因素,利用调Q脉冲激光器速率方程对该激光器输出的主要技术参数进行了理论计算,据此提出了声光调QCO2激光器优化设计的途径和方法。设计制成的声光调QCO2激光器获得峰值功率超过4000 W,激光脉冲宽度为180 ns,与理论计算基本一致。激光器脉冲重复频率调节范围1 Hz~100 kHz。理论分析和实验结果均证明,调Q晶体中超声场的渡越时间并不会影响输出激光的脉冲宽度,因此无需在腔内插入光学透镜进行光束直径的压缩变换;渡越时间的影响只是体现在延长了激光脉冲的建立时间上;激光器的最佳工作频率在1 kHz左右,这与CO2分子0001能级大约1 ms的辐射寿命相匹配,当频率超过1 kHz时,激光的脉冲宽度随着频率的增加而开始加宽。激光器通过光栅选线的设计方式实现了9.2~10.8μm的全波段波长调谐,测得激光输出谱线超过60条。     

超光滑光学基底表面原子力显微镜测试方法

原子力显微镜(AFM)是评价亚纳米级表面粗糙度σRMS最主要的测试仪器,但其测试结果会因采样条件(采样间距、采样点数)及测量点位置变化而改变。以AFM测试超光滑光学基底随机表面为例,应用累积功率谱理论建立了确定合理采样条件的方法,避免了采样条件选取不当带来的数据丢失或冗余;通过全局优化选取测量点和局部优化选取测量点相结合,降低了样品表面区域性差异给测试结果带来的不确定性,并大大减少了获得可靠测试结果所需的测试量。上述工作为超光滑光学基底AFM测试提供了有效方案。     

The Topology,in Model Membranes,of the Core Peptide Derived from the T‐Cell Receptor Transmembrane Domain

The T‐cell receptor–CD3 complex (TCR–CD3) serves a critical role in protecting organisms from infectious agents. The TCR is a heterodimer composed of α‐ and β‐chains, which are responsible for antigen recognition. Within the transmembrane domain of the α‐subunit, a region has been identified to be crucial for the assembly and function of the TCR. This region, termed core peptide (CP), consists of nine amino acids (GLRILLLKV), two of which are charged (lysine and arginine) and are crucial for the interaction with CD3. Earlier studies have shown that a synthetic peptide corresponding to the CP sequence can suppress the immune response in animal models of T‐cell‐mediated inflammation, by disrupting proper assembly of the TCR. As a step towards the understanding of the source of the CP activity, we focused on CP in egg phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol (9:1, mol/mol) model membranes and determined its secondary structure, oligomerization state, and orientation with respect to the membrane. To achieve this goal, 15‐residue segments of TCRα, containing the CP, were synthesized and spin‐labeled at different locations with a nitroxide derivative. Electron spin‐echo envelope modulation spectroscopy was used to probe the position and orientation of the peptides within the membrane, and double electron–electron resonance measurements were used to probe its conformation and oligomerization state. We found that the peptide is predominantly helical in a membrane environment and tends to form oligomers (mostly dimers) that are parallel to the membrane plane.     

Observations of Twelve USEPA Priority Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Aitken Size Range (10–32 nm D p )

Particle size distribution measurements of twelve USEPA priority pollutant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)—collected in Riverside, California, down to 10 nm aerodynamic diameter (D_p)—observed on integrated nocturnal samples (7:00 p.m.-6:30 a.m.) revealed that between 46 and 100% of the mass of particles in the Aitken size range was found in the 10–18 nm size bin. Particles in this size range have high alveolar deposition efficiency.     

Pilot study of high‐performance air filtration for classroom applications

A study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of three air purification systems in reducing the exposure of children to air contaminants inside nine classrooms of three Southern California schools. Continuous and integrated measurements were conducted to monitor the indoor and outdoor concentrations of ultrafine particles (UFPs), fine and coarse particulate matter (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀, respectively), black carbon (BC), and volatile organic compounds. An heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC)‐based high‐performance panel filter (HP‐PF), a register‐based air purifier (RS), and a stand‐alone air cleaning system (SA) were tested alone and in different combinations for their ability to remove the monitored pollutants. The combination of a RS and a HP‐PF was the most effective solution for lowering the indoor concentrations of BC, UFPs, and PM_2.5, with study average reductions between 87% and 96%. When using the HP‐PF alone, reductions close to 90% were also achieved. In all cases, air quality conditions were improved substantially with respect to the corresponding baseline (preexisting) conditions. Data on the performance of the gas‐absorbing media included in the RS and SA unit were inconclusive, and their effectiveness, lifetime, costs, and benefits must be further assessed before conclusions and recommendations can be made.