Systematic convergence of nonlinear stochastic estimators on the Special Orthogonal Group SO(3)

This paper introduces two novel nonlinear stochastic attitude estimators developed on the Special Orthogonal Group with the tracking error of the normalized Euclidean distance meeting predefined transient and steady‐state characteristics. The tracking error is confined to initially start within a predetermined large set such that the transient performance is guaranteed to obey dynamically reducing boundaries and decrease smoothly and asymptotically to the origin in probability from almost any initial condition. The proposed estimators produce accurate attitude estimates with remarkable convergence properties using measurements obtained from low‐cost inertial measurement units. The estimators proposed in continuous form are complemented by their discrete versions for the implementation purposes. The simulation results illustrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed estimators against uncertain measurements and large initialization error, whether in continuous or discrete form.     

Development of mobile miniature natural gas liquefiers

With increasing consumption of natural gas (NG), small NG reservoirs, such as coalbed methane and oil field associated gas, have recently drawn significant attention. Owing to their special characteristics (e.g., scattered distribution and small output), small-scale NG liquefiers are highly required. Similarly, the mixed refrigerant cycle (MRC) is suitable for small-scale liquefaction systems due to its moderate complexity and power consumption. In consideration of the above, this paper reviews the development of mobile miniature NG liquefiers in Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry (TIPC), China. To effectively liquefy the scattered NG and overcome the drawbacks of existing technologies, three main improvements, i.e., low-pressure MRC process driven by oil-lubricated screw compressor, compact cold box with the new designed heat exchangers, and standardized equipment manufacturing and integrated process technology have been made. The development pattern of “rapid cluster application and flexible liquefaction center” has been eventually proposed. The small-scale NG liquefier developed by TIPC has reached a minimum liquefaction power consumption of about 0.35 kW·h/Nm³. It is suitable to exploit small remote gas reserves which can also be used in boil-off gas reliquefaction and distributed peak-shaving of pipe networks.     

Efficiency and effectiveness enhancement of an intercooler of two‐stage air compressor by low‐cost Al2O3/water nanofluids

The present study was aimed to utilize low‐cost alumina (Al₂O₃) nanoparticles for improving the heat transfer behavior in an intercooler of two‐stage air compressor. Experimental investigation was carried out with three different volume concentrations of 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1.0% Al₂O₃/water nanofluids to assess the performance of the intercooler, that is, counterflow heat exchanger at different loads. Thermal properties such as thermal conductivity and overall heat transfer coefficient of nanofluid increased substantially with increasing concentration of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles. Specific heat capacity of nanofluids were lower than base water. The intercooler performance parameters such as effectiveness and efficiency improved appreciably with the employment of nanofluid. The efficiency increased by about 6.1% with maximum concentration of nanofluid, that is, 1% at 3‐bar compressor load. It is concluded from the study that high concentration of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles dispersion in water would offer better heat transfer performance of the intercooler.     

Multicellular Tumor Spheroids (MCTS) as a 3D In Vitro Evaluation Tool of Nanoparticles

Multicellular tumor spheroid models (MCTS) are often coined as 3D in vitro models that can mimic the microenvironment of tissues. MCTS have gained increasing interest in the nano‐biotechnology field as they can provide easily accessible information on the performance of nanoparticles without using animal models. Considering that many countries have put restrictions on animals testing, which will only tighten in the future as seen by the recent developments in the Netherlands, 3D models will become an even more valuable tool. Here, an overview on MCTS is provided, focusing on their use in cancer research as most nanoparticles are tested in MCTS for treatment of primary tumors. Thereafter, various types of nanoparticles—from self‐assembled block copolymers to inorganic nanoparticles, are discussed. A range of physicochemical parameters including the size, shape, surface chemistry, ligands attachment, stability, and stiffness are found to influence nanoparticles in MCTS. Some of these studies are complemented by animal studies confirming that lessons from MCTS can in part predict the behaviour in vivo. In summary, MCTS are suitable models to gain additional information on nanoparticles. While not being able to replace in vivo studies, they can bridge the gap between traditional 2D in vitro studies and in vivo models.     

Random poly(ε‐caprolactone‐L‐alanine) by direct melt copolymerization

A series of random polyesteramides (PEAs) with a range of molar composition from 90/10 to 50/50 were synthesized by direct melt polycondensation of ε‐caprolactone and l ‐alanine. Their structure was fully characterized by Fourier transform IR and NMR spectroscopy. The resulting copolymers are completely amorphous with the exception of PEA‐90/10 which possesses a semicrystalline structure. These PEAs present increasing glass transition temperatures at increasing l ‐alanine contents and exhibit fairly good thermal stability with 10% mass loss temperatures reaching 315 °C. © 2020 Society of Industrial Chemistry     

APOBEC 家族的功能研究进展

APOBEC是人体内具有胞嘧啶脱氨酶活性的家族，共11个成员，是人体的天然防御者。 APOBEC通过与DNA和RNA结合，使底物上的胞嘧啶C脱氨基，可完成其各自不同的功能。 APOBEC1编辑载脂蛋白B的mRNA，AID在抗体成熟中的体细胞超突变和类别转换重组中起关键作用，APOBEC3可抑制反转录病毒复制，而APOBEC2和APOBEC4的功能还不完全清楚。采用文献综述法，比较分析近年来国内外关于APOBEC家族各成员的结构和功能研究的新进展，为进一步研究APOBEC家族的抗病毒功能和艾滋病等疾病的治疗提供参考。     

Theoretical Prediction of Chiral 3D Hybrid Organic–Inorganic Perovskites

Hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites (HOIPs), in particular 3D HOIPs, have demonstrated remarkable properties, including ultralong charge‐carrier diffusion lengths, high dielectric constants, low trap densities, tunable absorption and emission wavelengths, strong spin–orbit coupling, and large Rashba splitting. These superior properties have generated intensive research interest in HOIPs for high‐performance optoelectronics and spintronics. Here, 3D hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites that implant chirality through introducing the chiral methylammonium cation are demonstrated. Based on structural optimization, phonon spectra, formation energy, and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, it is found that the chirality of the chiral cations can be successfully transferred to the framework of 3D HOIPs, and the resulting 3D chiral HOIPs are both kinetically and thermodynamically stable. Combining chirality with the impressive optical, electrical, and spintronic properties of 3D perovskites, 3D chiral perovskites is of great interest in the fields of piezoelectricity, pyroelectricity, ferroelectricity, topological quantum engineering, circularly polarized optoelectronics, and spintronics.     

药用辅料对CYP3A活性的影响及其对仿制药质量和疗效一致性评价的指导作用

药物制剂的处方和工艺是保证药物质量和疗效的基础，药用辅料是药物制剂处方的重要组成部分。部分药用辅料可影响CYP3A的活性，继而可能影响其底物在体内的代谢和生物利用度。在中国和美国，相对生物利用度是仿制药研究的关键内容。我国正在推进仿制药质量和疗效一致性评价。因此，了解药用辅料对CYP3A的影响及其对一致性评价的指导作用具有十分重要的现实意义。     

Annealing and doping-dependent magnetoresistance in single layer poly(3-hexyl-thiophene) organic semiconductor device

We compare the current density–voltage (J–V) and magnetoconductance (MC) response of a poly(3-hexyl-thiophene) (P3HT) device (Au/P3HT(350 nm)/Al) before and after annealing above the glass transition temperature of 150 °C under vacuum. There is a decrease of more than 3 orders of magnitude in current density due to an increase of the charge injection barriers after de-doping through annealing. An increase, approaching 1 order of magnitude, in the negative MC response after annealing can be explained by a shift in the Fermi level due to de-doping, according to the bipolaron mechanism. We successfully tune the charge injection barrier through re-doping by photo-oxidation. This leads to the charge injection and transport transitioning from unipolar to ambipolar, as the bias increases, and we model the MC response using a combination of bipolaron and triplet-polaron interaction mechanisms.