The organization of biological sequences into constrained and unconstrained parts determines fundamental properties of genotype–phenotype maps

Biological information is stored in DNA, RNA and protein sequences, which can be understood as genotypes that are translated into phenotypes. The properties of genotype–phenotype (GP) maps have been studied in great detail for RNA secondary structure. These include a highly biased distribution of genotypes per phenotype, negative correlation of genotypic robustness and evolvability, positive correlation of phenotypic robustness and evolvability, shape-space covering, and a roughly logarithmic scaling of phenotypic robustness with phenotypic frequency. More recently similar properties have been discovered in other GP maps, suggesting that they may be fundamental to biological GP maps, in general, rather than specific to the RNA secondary structure map. Here we propose that the above properties arise from the fundamental organization of biological information into ‘constrained'' and ‘unconstrained'' sequences, in the broadest possible sense. As ‘constrained'' we describe sequences that affect the phenotype more immediately, and are therefore more sensitive to mutations, such as, e.g. protein-coding DNA or the stems in RNA secondary structure. ‘Unconstrained'' sequences, on the other hand, can mutate more freely without affecting the phenotype, such as, e.g. intronic or intergenic DNA or the loops in RNA secondary structure. To test our hypothesis we consider a highly simplified GP map that has genotypes with ‘coding'' and ‘non-coding'' parts. We term this the Fibonacci GP map, as it is equivalent to the Fibonacci code in information theory. Despite its simplicity the Fibonacci GP map exhibits all the above properties of much more complex and biologically realistic GP maps. These properties are therefore likely to be fundamental to many biological GP maps.     

Sequence-Dependent Nanofiber Structures of Phenylalanine and Isoleucine Tripeptides

The molecular design of short peptides to achieve a tailor-made functional architecture has attracted attention during the past decade but remains challenging as a result of insufficient understanding of the relationship between peptide sequence and assembled supramolecular structures. We report a hybrid-resolution model to computationally explore the sequence–structure relationship of self-assembly for tripeptides containing only phenylalanine and isoleucine. We found that all these tripeptides have a tendency to assemble into nanofibers composed of laterally associated filaments. Molecular arrangements within the assemblies are diverse and vary depending on the sequences. This structural diversity originates from (1) distinct conformations of peptide building blocks that lead to different surface geometries of the filaments and (2) unique sidechain arrangements at the filament interfaces for each sequence. Many conformations are available for tripeptides in solution, but only an extended β-strand and another resembling a right-handed turn are observed in assemblies. It was found that the sequence dependence of these conformations and the packing of resulting filaments are determined by multiple competing noncovalent forces, with hydrophobic interactions involving Phe being particularly important. The sequence pattern for each type of assembly conformation and packing has been identified. These results highlight the importance of the interplay between conformation, molecular packing, and sequences for determining detailed nanostructures of peptides and provide a detailed insight to support a more precise design of peptide-based nanomaterials.     

Tuning effect of silicon substitution on magnetic and high frequency electromagnetic properties of R2Fe17 and their composites

In this work, we report the tuning effect of the Si substitution on the magnetic and high frequency electromagnetic properties of R₂Fe₁₇ compounds and their paraffin composites. It is found that the introduction of Si can remarkably improve the magnetic and electromagnetic properties of the R₂Fe₁₇ compounds, making the R₂Fe_17–xSi_x-paraffin composites excellent microwave absorption materials (MAMs). By introducing the Si element, their saturation magnetizations decrease slightly, while much higher Curie temperatures are obtained. Furthermore, better impedance match is reached due to the decrease of the high-frequency permittivity ε′ by about 40%–50%, which finally enhances the performance of the microwave absorption. The peak frequency (f_RL) of the reflection loss (RL) curve moves toward high frequency domain and the qualified bandwidth (QB, RL ≤ ?10 dB) increases remarkably. The maximum QB of 3.3 GHz (12.0–15.3 GHz) is obtained for the Sm_1.5Y_0.5Fe₁₅Si₂-paraffin composite (d = 1.0 mm) and the maximum RL of ?53.6 dB is achieved for Nd₂Fe₁₅Si₂-paraffin composite (d = 2.2 mm), both surpassing most of the reported MAMs. Additionally, a distinguished dielectric microwave absorption peak is observed, which further increases the QB in these composites.     

Formation of a protective layer against corrosion on Mg alloy via alkali pretreatment followed by vanillic acid treatment

Although Mg alloy possesses high specific strength, low density, and good biocompatibility, poor corrosion resistance hinders its further applications. In the present study, an innovative protective layer against corrosion was prepared on the AZ31 Mg alloy via alkali pretreatment followed by vanillic acid treatment. The alkali pretreatment supplied –OH for the AZ31 Mg alloy surface to react with vanillic acid. The vanillic acid treatment played a crucial role in enhancing the corrosion resistance due to the excellent ability to act as a barrier and retard aqueous solution penetration, which effectively isolated the underlying Mg alloy from the corrosive environment. The corrosion current density of alkali and vanillic acid-treated Mg alloy (AZ31V) almost showed two orders of magnitude lower values in comparison with that of the AZ31 Mg alloy, and the corrosion potential of AZ31V Mg alloy increased from −1.41 to −1.25 V. The immersion tests proved that there was no occurrence of severe corrosion. Hence, the alkali pretreatment and vanillic acid treatment may represent a promising method to improve the corrosion resistance of Mg alloy.     

Isolation of the effect of the hairy layer length on the mechanical properties of waterborne coatings

The effect of the acidic hairy layer length on the interdiffusion of polymer between particles and as a consequence on the mechanical properties of the films produced from waterborne coatings has been studied. In order to isolate this effect, latexes with the same particle diameter and molecular weight but stabilized with poly(acrylic acid)-block-poly(butyl acrylate) (PAA-b-PBA) block copolymers of controlled and different lengths were prepared. Tensile strength measurements showed at the macroscopic level that the presence of AA chains in the particle surface reduced the mechanical properties of the films dried at room temperature, being its effect worse the longer the AA chain length. Higher annealing temperatures erased the negative effect of the acidic hairy layer on mechanical properties. The neutralization with NaOH instead of with NH₄OH also led to worse mechanical properties. These macroscopic results were supported by Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) experiments that showed that at the microscopic level, the extent of interdiffusion occurred slower when the AA chains in the particles surface increased, the annealing temperature was lower and when NaOH was used as neutralizing agent instead of NH₄OH.     

基于开源技术的城市地理信息平台构建方法研究

摘 要：针对城市地理信息平台构建过程中存在的数据获取困难、研发成本较高等问题， 引入开源技术，对基于开源数据、开源开发平台与开源工具的城市地理信息平台构建技术进行 研究。所提出的城市地理信息平台由数据模块与可视化模块 2 部分组成。为构建数据模块，由 开源地理信息项目(OSM)获取了建筑与区划数据，并设计了建筑合并算法以提升数据质量。建 筑数据随之基于行政区划分级存储，通过由 ASP. NET 构建的数据接口提供给具体应用。可视 化模块则基于开源地理信息系统(GIS)项目 Cesium 实现，并设计了完善的用户界面。以北京市 为例，完成了原型系统的开发与测试，证实了该技术体系的可行性，通过开源技术降低平台研 发成本，推进城市地理信息平台的研究与应用。     

High-efficiency Silicon Solar Cells: A Review

Over the past few decades, crystalline silicon solar cells have been extensively studied due to their high efficiency, high reliability, and low cost. In addition, these types of cells lead the industry and account for more than half of the market. For the foreseeable future, Si will still be a critical material for photovoltaic devices in the solar cell industry. In this paper, we discuss key issues, cell concepts, and the status of recent high-efficiency crystalline silicon solar cells.     

Fatal Attraction: How Bacterial Adhesins Affect Host Signaling and What We Can Learn from Them

The ability of bacterial species to colonize and infect host organisms is critically dependent upon their capacity to adhere to cellular surfaces of the host. Adherence to cell surfaces is known to be essential for the activation and delivery of certain virulence factors, but can also directly affect host cell signaling to aid bacterial spread and survival. In this review we will discuss the recent advances in the field of bacterial adhesion, how we are beginning to unravel the effects adhesins have on host cell signaling, and how these changes aid the bacteria in terms of their survival and evasion of immune responses. Finally, we will highlight how the exploitation of bacterial adhesins may provide new therapeutic avenues for the treatment of a wide range of bacterial infections.     

动态高压微射流处理对方竹笋膳食纤维理化及结构特性的影响

以方竹笋中提取的膳食纤维为研究对象，采用动态高压微射流（dynamic high-pressure micro-fluidization, DHPM）在不同压力条件（0，50，100，150，200 MPa）下进行处理，探究其对竹笋膳食纤维（bamboo shoots dietary fiber, BSDF）理化和结构特性的影响。结果表明，随着处理压力的增大，BSDF粒径先增大后减小，当处理压力为150 MPa时，粒径最小，为（370±11） nm，此条件下BSDF的持水力、持油力和膨胀力达到最大，较对照组分别提高了47.74%，50.54%，61.27%，且差异显著（P<0.05）。红外光谱分析表明DHPM处理不会改变BSDF的官能团，但会使BSDF内部的部分氢键断裂和半纤维素、木质素等发生降解；X射线衍射和热重分析表明DHPM处理不会引起BSDF的晶体结构改变，但晶体有序度会下降，进而导致其热稳定性降低；微观结构分析显示DHPM处理会使BSDF颗粒尺寸减小、表面粗糙、组织松散，且当处理压力为200 MPa时，颗粒发生团聚。综上，DHPM可以有效改善BSDF的理化性质，在膳食纤维改性方面具有一定的应用价值。