Design of dynamic genetic memory

In electronic systems, dynamic random access memory (DRAM) is one of the core modules in the modern silicon computer. As for a bio‐computer, one would need a mechanism for storage of bio‐information named ‘data’, which, in binary logic, has two levels, logical high and logical low, or in the normalised form, ‘1’ and ‘0’. This study proposes a possible genetic DRAM based on the modified electronic configuration, which uses the biological reaction to fulfil an equivalent RC circuit constituting a memory cell. The authors implement fundamental functions of the genetic DRAM by incorporating a genetic toggle switch for data hold. The results of simulation verify that the basic function can be used on a bio‐storage module for the future bio‐computer.Inspec keywords: DRAM chips, genetic engineering, biocomputers, bioinformatics, equivalent circuits, RC circuitsOther keywords: dynamic genetic memory design, electronic systems, dynamic random access memory, modern silicon computer, biocomputer, bioinformation, binary logic, logical high level, logical low level, normalised form, genetic DRAM, modified electronic configuration, biological reaction, equivalent RC circuit, memory cell, fundamental functions, genetic toggle switch, data hold, biostorage module     

Proline-derived in situ synthesis of nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanosheets with encaged Fe2O3@Fe3C nanoparticles for lithium-ion battery anodes

The homogeneous incorporation of heteroatoms into two-dimensional C nanostructures, which leads to an increased chemical reactivity and electrical conductivity as well as enhanced synergistic catalysis as a conductive matrix to disperse and encapsulate active nanocatalysts, is highly attractive and quite challenging. In this study, by using the natural and cheap hydrotropic amino acid proline—which has remarkably high solubility in water and a desirable N content of ~12.2 wt.%—as a C precursor pyrolyzed in the presence of a cubic KCl template, we developed a facile protocol for the large-scale production of N-doped C nanosheets with a hierarchically porous structure in a homogeneous dispersion. With concomitantly encapsulated and evenly spread Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles surrounded by two protective ultrathin layers of inner Fe₃C and outer onion-like C, the resulting N-doped graphitic C nanosheet hybrids (Fe₂O₃@Fe₃C-NGCNs) exhibited a very high Li-storage capacity and excellent rate capability with a reliable and prolonged cycle life. A reversible capacity as high as 857 mAh•g^–1 at a current density of 100 mA•g^–1 was observed even after 100 cycles. The capacity retention at a current density 10 times higher—1,000 mA•g^–1—reached 680 mAh•g^–1, which is 79% of that at 100 mA•g^–1, indicating that the hybrids are promising as anodes for advanced Li-ion batteries. The results highlight the importance of the heteroatomic dopant modification of the NGCNs host with tailored electronic and crystalline structures for competitive Li-storage features.

     

A series of nanoparticles with phase-separated structures by 1,1-diphenylethene controlled one-step soap-free emulsion copolymerization and their application in drug release

A facile one-step approach to synthesize various phase-separated porous, raspberry-like, flower-like, core–shell and anomalous nanoparticles and nanocapsules via 1,1-diphenylethene (DPE) controlled soap-free emulsion copolymerization of styrene (S) with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), or acrylic acid (AA) is reported. By regulating the mass ratio of S/GMA, transparent polymer solution, porous and anomalous P(S-GMA) particles could be produced. The P(S-GMA) particles turn from flower-like to raspberry-like and then to anomalous structures with smooth surface as the increase of divinylbenzene (DVB) crosslinker. Transparent polymer solution, nanocapsules and core–shell P(S-AA) particles could be obtained by altering the mole ratio of S/AA; anomalous and raspberry-like P(S-AA) particles are produced by adding DVB. The unpolymerized S resulted from the low monomer conversion in the presence of DPE aggregates to form nano-sized droplets, and migrates towards the external surfaces of the GMA-enriched P(S-GMA) particles and the internal bulk of the AA-enriched P(S-AA) particles. The nano-sized droplets function as in situ porogen, porous P(S-GMA) particles and P(S-AA) nanocapsules are produced when the porogen is removed. This novel, facile, one-step method with excellent controllability and reproducibility will inspire new strategies for creating hierarchical phase-separated polymeric particles with various structures by simply altering the species and ratio of comonomers. The drug loading and release experiments on the porous particles and nanocapsules demonstrate that the release of doxorubicin hydrochloride is very slow in weakly basic environment and quick in weakly acidic environment, which enables the porous particles and nanocapsules with promising potential in drug delivery applications.

Open image in new window

     

超声冲击诱发表面纳米化及其对表面完整性的影响

采用不同超声冲击参数处理SMA490BW钢,研究了冲击后试样在低、高倍下的微观组织特征、残余应力及硬度分布等表面完整性能的变化。实验结果表明,经过超声冲击表面处理后,样品表面层晶粒细化为纳米晶,平均晶粒尺寸约为30nm;并在试样表层引入残余压应力,数值最大约为255.5MPa;超声冲击对SMA490BW钢表面能够起到明显的强化作用,与未经处理的试样相比,处理后试样表面硬度最大提高了约66.7%。超声冲击强化处理改善SMA490BW钢的表面完整性的效果与冲击电流、冲击时间之间的关系不遵循单调变化规律,超声冲击参数为20min/1.5A时,试样具有较好的表面完整性,冲击影响层深度约为320μm。     

60°镜面光泽测量值不确定度的评定

本文采用光泽度仪对漆膜的60°镜面光泽进行了测量,对产生测量不确定度的因素进行了分析,并对其A类和B类不确定度进行了分别评定,最终获得其测量结果的扩展不确定度。     

Preliminary Study on Quantitative Research Methods of Discussion-based Teaching: CAD/CAM Course

Computer-aided design and manufacturing,or CAD/CAM,in a narrow sense,is the use of a computer for component design and machining. As a specialized course for students,CAD/CAM course is a required course for undergraduates majoring in mechanical engineering and related engineering majors and also the core technical skills to be mastered during the undergraduate study. Based on the teaching practices of CAD/CAM course,this paper tries to introduce the discussion-based method in curriculum design and the implementation of the course,and enhance the interaction between teachers and students through using new information interaction tools such as We Chat group and course homepage to stimulate students' interest,and also expand the learning space and time. Thus,the problems students have will be solved in real time. In this study,for the first time,the statistical methods are used to record detailed the speaking time,keywords and the frequency of teachers and students' interaction,and also carries out quantitative analysis in order to explore the interactive patterns between teacher and students in discussion-based teaching,so as to improve communication and learning efficiency between teacher and students. Meanwhile,this paper also discussed the advantages and the disadvantages of using discussion-based teaching in the hope that it can provide reference for the following discussion-based teaching of CAD/CAM course in mechanical or related engineering majors.     

Physics-Informed Multistage Machine Learning Strategy for the Nanomachining-Induced Plastic Deformation Behavior

The evolution of the dislocation density induced by the nanomachining process dominates the plastic deformation behaviors of materials, thus affecting the mechanical properties significantly. However, a challenging topic related to how to establish an accurate model for predicting the dislocation density based on the limited simulations and experiments arises due to the complicated thermal–mechanical coupling mechanism during the machining process. Herein, a multistage method integrating machine learning, physics, and high-throughput atomic simulation is proposed to investigate the effect of cutting speed on the dislocation behavior in polycrystal copper. Compared with the traditional one-step machine learning method, the constraint of physical features effectively improves the accuracy and generalization ability of the model. The results indicate that the dislocation behaviors depend on the competition between the cutting force and temperature. In the low-cutting speed, the predominated role of the cutting temperature leads to a rapid decline of the dislocation density. In contrast, the dislocation density tends to be stable under a high-speed cutting process due to the dynamic balance between the effects of the cutting force and temperature. Notably, the proposed strategy provides a new and universal framework to design the machining parameters to obtain high-quality products.     

Monitored high-dose azathioprine treatment reduces acute rejection episodes after renal transplantation

A novel complex mutation consisting of a small deletion/insertion (3958del5ins4) was found in the breast cancer-1 gene (BRCA-1) in three unrelated French breast and/or ovarian cancer families. These mutations occurred at the same nucleotide position of the 3' end of exon 11. The wild-type sequence, CTCAG, was deleted and replaced by AGGC in the three families. The consequence is the generation of a stop codon, TAG, resulting in a truncated protein. We propose two different mechanisms to explain the generation of this complex mutation: (i) the simultaneous occurrence of a deletion and an insertion in a stem-loop structure and (ii) the abortive integration of a human transposable element (Tigger 1) that deleted 5 nucleotides and inserted a 4-nucleotide "scar", corresponding to the 5' extremity of the transposon.