Amyloid Formation in Nanoliter Droplets

Processes that monitor the nucleation of amyloids and characterize the formation of amyloid fibrils are vital to medicine and pharmacology. In this study, we observe the nucleation and formation of lysozyme amyloid fibrils using a facile microfluidic system to generate nanoliter droplets that can control the flow rate and movement of monomer-in-oil emulsion droplets in a T-junction microchannel. Using a fluorescence assay, we monitor the nucleation and growth process of amyloids based on the volume of droplets. Using the microfluidic system, we demonstrate that the lag phase, which is vital to amyloid nucleation and growth, is reduced at a lower droplet volume. Furthermore, we report a peculiar phenomenon of high amyloid formation at the edge of a bullet-shaped droplet, which is likely due to the high local monomer concentration. Moreover, we discovered that amyloid fibrils synthesized in the nanoliter droplets are shorter and thicker than fibrils synthesized from a bulk solution via the conventional heating method. Herein, a facile procedure to observe and characterize the nucleation and growth of amyloid fibrils using nanoliter droplets is presented, which is beneficial for investigating new features of amyloid fibril formation as an unconventional synthetic method for amyloid fibrils.     

Classification and prediction of burr formation in micro drilling of ductile metals

In the micro drilling of precision miniature holes, the formation of exit burrs is a topic of interest, especially for ductile materials. Because such burrs are difficult to remove, it is important to be able to predict various burr types and to employ burr minimisation schemes that consider burrs’ micro-scale characteristics. In the present work, an artificial neural network (ANN) was used to predict the formation of burrs in the micro drilling of copper and brass, along with burr formation/optimisation analysis specialised for micro drills. The influence of cutting conditions, including cutting speed, feed and drill diameter, upon exit micro burr characteristics such as burr size and type was observed, analysed and classified. Based on the results, an empirical equation to predict micro burr height is proposed herein. The classification results were compared with conventional burr cases using burr control charts. Then, micro burr types were predicted by means of an ANN, using the influential parameters as input vectors. The usefulness of the proposed scheme was demonstrated by comparing the experimental and prediction/analysis results.     

Effects of color display, color name, color formation and color alignment on the screen layout usability of customized product color combinations

This study investigated the effects of screen layout on the usability of a large number of color combination options for customized product. Using an L₁₈ orthogonal array, 18 interfaces were designed around four factors: color display, color name, color formation and alignment. Participants completed a color combination search task and a questionnaire concerning their satisfaction with the interfaces.Based on the search time and user satisfaction, the display of color samples by modular sections (itemized color chips) was found to be the optimal method of color selection. This arrangement reduced the number of combinations of color samples displayed on the screen and allowed efficient navigation of a large palette of color combinations. Vertical alignment aided the product color discrimination and reduced the search time. Users viewed various product color combinations directly with or without the aid of color names.

Relevance to industry

Because of the considerable observed reductions in search time and the superior reported degrees of satisfaction associated with the tested configurations for customized product color combination, the findings of this study have important ramifications for consumers and manufacturers of products as diverse as sofas, curtains, clothing, athletic shoes, cars, mobile phones and the other customized products.     

LUBRICATION FILM FORMATION MECHANISM OF SLIPPER PAIRS IN LOW SPEED HIGH TORQUE HYDRAULIC MOTORS

Pressure-flow analytical formulas of lubrication film of slipper pairs on camshaft connect- ing rod type low speed high torque (LSHT) hydraulic motors are put forward. The bottom surface of slipper pairs is rectangle, and the effect of squeeze flow and pressure differential flow is considered. The dynamic process of lubrication film formation through squeezing is numerically studied by com- puter simulation. Effects of supply pressure, initial lubrication film thickness, velocity damping coef- ficient, loading impact and gravity, etc are studied. Advantages of novel slipper pairs with large oil cavity area are pointed out.     

白藜芦醇糖苷类衍生物的设计与合成

以白藜芦醇及其类似物紫檀芪为原料,采用Schmidt成苷法、相转移催化法,分别与溴代糖和乙酰氨基糖反应,得紫檀芪乙酰葡萄糖苷和(E)-5,4'-二叔丁基二甲基硅基-3-(2"-乙酰氨基-3",4",6"-三乙酰葡萄糖二苯乙烯,其结构经红外光谱、核磁共振氢谱和质谱表征.     

Uterine Deletion of Bmal1 Impairs Placental Vascularization and Induces Intrauterine Fetal Death in Mice

Recently, it was demonstrated that the expression of BMAL1 was decreased in the endometrium of women suffering from recurrent spontaneous abortion. To investigate the pathological roles of uterine clock genes during pregnancy, we produced conditional deletion of uterine Bmal1 (cKO) mice and found that cKO mice could receive embryo implantation but not sustain pregnancy. Gene ontology analysis of microarray suggested that uterine NK (uNK) cell function was suppressed in cKO mice. Histological examination revealed the poor formation of maternal vascular spaces in the placenta. In contrast to WT mice, uNK cells in the spongiotrophoblast layer, where maternal uNK cells are directly in contact with fetal trophoblast, hardly expressed an immunosuppressive NK marker, CD161, in cKO mice. By progesterone supplementation, pregnancy could be sustained until the end of pregnancy in some cKO mice. Although this treatment did not improve the structural abnormalities of the placenta, it recruited CD161-positive NK cells into the spongiotrophoblast layer in cKO mice. These findings indicate that the uterine clock system may be critical for pregnancy maintenance after embryo implantation.     

煅烧温度对环保型莫来石多孔陶瓷结构和性能的影响

莫来石多孔陶瓷因其高强度和耐腐蚀等性能得到广泛地应用。然而,由于合成莫来石的原料高岭土的不可再生性及持续上涨的价格,寻找廉价易得的替代原料对于合成莫来石多孔陶瓷迫在眉睫。建筑废弃物的成分与高岭土相似,可作为高岭土的可行替代品之一。以建筑废弃物和Al₂O₃为主要原料,AlF₃为晶须催化剂,B₂O₃为烧结助剂,成功制备了环保型莫来石多孔陶瓷。通过阿基米德排水法、XRD和SEM等表征手段,深入探究了多孔陶瓷的晶相、微观形貌和物理化学特性。同时,研究了煅烧温度对莫来石多孔陶瓷结构和性能的影响规律及作用机制。结果表明,适当提升煅烧温度有助于莫来石晶须的生成,但过高的温度会导致晶须粗化和晶粒增大。当煅烧温度为1 200 ℃时,莫来石晶须的生长形貌最佳,晶须直径约为0.05—0.1 μm、长度为0.5—1 μm、长径比在15—20之间。随着煅烧温度增加,莫来石多孔陶瓷的开口孔隙率不断降低,抗折强度不断增强。当煅烧温度为1 200 ℃时,样品的开口孔隙率达到（61.78±0.72 ）%,抗折强度达到（3.74±0.46） MPa。因此,以建筑废弃物为主要原料可成功制备具有高气孔率的莫来石多孔陶瓷。本研究为建筑废弃物合成莫来石多孔陶瓷提供了可靠的理论支持,对降低生产成本及推动建筑废弃物资源化再利用等有重要理论价值和实际意义。     

黄河某水电站库区泥石流特征及工程影响研究

黄河某水电站库区泥石流沟道发育,对该水电站运行安全带来不利影响。结合国内外有关研究成果,根据库区内泥石流的具体特征,以杏儿沟、官亭沟和喇家沟为重点研究对象,分析研究了这几条沟泥石流的形成条件及运动特征,包括泥石流的流速、流量等,并将泥石流对工程的危害作出评价。研究成果对水电站建设具有重要指导意义。