Effect of polymer solution structure on displacement efficiency

In this paper, a series of experiments, including atomic force microscope （AFM）, environmental scanning electron microscope （ESEM）, and core displacement tests were conducted to investigate the effect of polymer solution structure on solution properties and oil displacement efficiency. The results show that in the HPAM solution polymer coils were formed and then aggregated into a loose structure, while the HAP2010 solution formed a strong network structure, which would significantly improve the solution viscosity and flow resistance so as to upgrade the capacity of piston-like oil displacement in highly permeable porous media. Meanwhile, the retention of the HAP2010 solution at pore throats were also enhanced, which could reduce water production during subsequent water flooding and enlarge the swept volume during polymer flooding. Therefore, enhancing the interaction among polymer molecules is an effective way to improve the displacement efficiency of polymer solutions in heavy oil reservoirs with high permeability.

Tuning the solution structure of electrolyte for optimal solid-electrolyte-interphase formation in high-voltage lithium metal batteries

The continuous reduction of electrolytes by Li metal leads to a poor lifespan of lithium metal batteries(LMBs). Low Coulombic efficiency(CE) and safety concern due to dendrite growth are the challenging issues for LMB electrolyte design. Novel electrolytes such as highly concentrated electrolytes(HCEs) have been proposed for improving interphase stability. However, this strategy is currently limited for high cost due to the use of a large amount of lithium salts as well as their high viscosity, reduced ion mobility, and poor wettability. In this work, we propose a new type of electrolyte having a moderate concentration. The electrolyte has the advantage of HCEs as the anion is preferentially reduced to form inorganic solidelectrolyte-interphase(SEI). Such optimization has been confirmed through combined spectroscopic and electrochemical characterizations and supported with the first-principle molecular dynamics simulation. We have shown the intrinsic connections between solution structure and their electrochemical stability. The 2.0 M LiDFOB/PC electrolyte, as predicted by our characterizations and simulations, allows stable charge–discharge of LNMO|Li cells at 5C for more than 1500 cycles. The 2.0 M electrolyte generates a dense layer of SEI containing fluoro-oxoborates, Li_(3)BO_(3), LiF, Li_(2)CO_(3), and some organic species effectively passivating the lithium metal, as confirmed by electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance.

Solution Structure of SECIS, the mRNA Element Required for Eukaryotic Selenocysteine Insertion──Interaction Studies Withthe SECIS-Binding Protein SBP

Selenocysteine, a selenium-containing analog of cysteine, is found in the prokaryotic and eukaryotic kingdoms in active sites of enzymes involved in oxidation-reduction reactions. This aminoacid is cotranslationally incorporated at UGA codons which usually act as translation stop codons. In eukaryotes, decoding of selenocysteine necessitates the participation of the selenocysteine insertion sequence (SECIS), an element lying in the 3' -untranslated region of selenoprotein mRNAs. A detailed experimental study of the secondary structures of the SECIS elements of rat and human type 1 iodothyronine deiodinases and rat glutathione peroxidase was performed. Enzymatic and chemical structure probing led us to propose a secondary structure model, supported by sequence comparison of 23 SECIS mRNAs. The secondary structure model revealed the existence of a novel type of RNA motif composed of four consecutive non-Watson-Crick base-pairs. Using gel shift experiments, we identified in several mammalian cell type extracts the protein SBP,for SECIS-binding protein, that specifically recognizes the iodothyronine deiodinases and glutathione peroxidase SECIS elements. The structural model that we derived for the SECIS RNAs discloses RNA features possibly implicated in the binding of SBP and/or SECIS function

Structure of MgSO_4 in Concentrated Aqueous Solutions by X-Ray Diffraction

Detailed time-and-space-averaged structure of MgSO4 in the concentrated aqueous solutions was investigated via X-ray diffraction with an X’pert Pro θ-θ diffractometer at 298 K, yielding structural function and radial distribution function（RDF）. The developed KURVLR program was employed for the theoretical investigation in consideration of the ionic hydration and ion association. Multi-peaks Gaussian fitting method was applied to deconvolving the overlapping bands of Differential radial distribution function（DRDF）. The calculation of the geometric model shows that octahedrally six-coordinated Mg（H2O）62＋, with an Mg2＋…OW bond length of 0.201 nm dominates in the solutions. There exists contact ion-pair（CIP） in the more concentrated solution（1：18, H2O/salt molar ratio） with a coordination number of 0.8 and a characteristic Mg…S distance of 0.340 nm. The result indicates the hydrated SO42– ion happens in the solution. The S…OW bond distance was determined to be 0.382 nm with a coordination number of 13. The fraction of CIP increases significantly with the increasing concentration. The symmetry of the hydration structure of sulfate ion is lowered by forming complex with magnesium ion.

Solution structure and function of proteins relevant to pre-mRNA splicing

Pre-mRNA splicing is a dynamic process. It is catalyzed by the spliceosome which is a large machine formed by an ordered interactions of several small nuclear ribonucleoproteins, U1,

Theoretical study on electronic structure and thermoelectric properties of PbS_xTe_(1-x)(x = 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75) solid solution

The electronic structure and thermoelectric（TE） properties of PbS_xTe_（1-x）（x = 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75） solid solution have been studied by combining the first-principles calculations and semi-classical Boltzmann theory. The special quasirandom structure（SQS） method is used to model the solid solutions of PbS_xTe_（1-x）, which can produce reasonable electronic structures with respect to experimental results. The maximum zT value can reach 1.67 for p-type PbS0.75Te0.25 and 1.30 for PbS0.5Te0.5 at 800 K, respectively. The performance of p-type PbS_xTe_（1-x） is superior to the n-type ones, mainly attributed to the higher effective mass of the carriers. The z T values for PbS_xTe_（1-x） solid solutions are higher than that of pure Pb Te and Pb S, in which the combination of low thermal conductivity and high power factor play important roles.

MOLECULAR DYNAMICS STUDY OF STRUCTURE IN MOLTEN SALT SOLUTION NaF-CaF_2

The NaF-CaF_2 system has been studied by molecular dynamics simulation.The pair correlation functions between cations and anions and the bond angle distributions of cation and anion triplets have been obtained.The bridging and complexing in the system are discussed based on the pair correlation functions and bond angle distributions.The results simulated show that the F^- ions around a Ca^(2+)ion do not form tetrahedron coordination,so some of small complexing clusters such as CaF_4^(2-)are hardly found.A possible structure of F^- ions around Ca^(2+)ions is that three Ca^(2+)ions constitute an equilateral triangle through three Ca-F-Ca bridges and two F^- ions are located over and under the center of the right triangle,respectively.Meanwhile,on the outside of the triangle,every Ca^(2+)ion has other two F^- ions as its neighbors.

SIMILARITY TRANSFORMATION, THE STRUCTURE OF THE TRAVELING WAVES SOLUTION AND THE EXISTENCE OF A GLOBAL SMOOTH SOLUTION TO GENERALIZED KURAMOTO SIVASHINSKY TYPE EQUATIONS

The existence of a global smooth solution for the initial value problem of generalized Kuramoto-Sivashinsky type equations have been obtained. Similarty siolutions and the structure of the traveling waves solution for the generalized KS equations are discussed and analysed by using the qualitative theory of ODE and Lie's infinitesimal transformation respectively.

Nonlinear analysis of slow drift extreme responses of a compliant offshore structure

This paper first demonstrates that the accuracy and efficiency of the method of numerical simulation often used is not very high in predicting the slow drift surge extreme responses of a compliant offshore structure. Next, the slow drift surge extreme responses of the structure are analyzed via the path integral solution racy and efficiency of the PIS （PIS） method, and the accumethod is found to be higher than those of the numerical simulation method. A compound PIS （CPIS） method is first proposed in this article to further improve the efficiency of the path integral solution method, and the accuracy and efficiency of the CPIS method is validated.

Pyranine Fluorescence Quenching for the Characterization of Solutions

Fluorescence quenching of pyranine by tryptophan, phenylalanine, and nicotinic acid was investigated by using steady state and time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. On a comparative basis, nicotinic acid is a very strong quencher of pyranine fluorescence, tryptophan is a moderate quencher and phenylalanine is a weak quencher. The strong quenching is the result of the hydrogen bonding complex between pyranine and amine which existed in both tryptophan and nicotinic acid. Contact complex will form between phenylalanine and pyranine which is the reason of quenching of pyranine by phenylalanine. Associates will form in tryptophan and phenylalanine due to the zwitterion +H3NRCOO- or/and hydrogen bond. Higher concentrations favor the formation of aggregates in the supersaturated solution which made the quenching curve different from unsaturated solution dramatically.

Structural Probing on the Sn-C(C5 ring)Bond of the Sn(Ⅱ)Metallocenes in Both the Solid State and the Temperature-dependent Solution Relaxation State

Various bond modes of the M-C（C5 ring） exist in metallocene compounds of group 14 heavier elements,mostly due to an intricate interaction between the lone electron pairs at the M center and the 6 p-electrons of the C5 ring.The tin（Ⅱ） metallocene complexes LSn R（L = HC[CMe（N-2,6-iPr2C6H3）]2,R = cyclopentadienyl,C5H5（1）; indenyl,C9H7（2）; fluorenyl,C（13）H9（3）） stabilized by the β-diketiminato ligand were prepared and utilized in the study on their solid and solution state structures.X-ray single-crystal diffraction data revealed an η~1-mode of the Sn-C（C5 ring） bond in each 1~3.However,the room temperature ~1H NMR spectral studies disclosed such a fluxional bonding mode in solution.The 119 Sn NMR studies suggested a quadruple coordination nature of the Sn center in 1 while the triple coordination manner was for the Sn atom in both 2 and 3.Then the variable-temperature（25~–75 ℃） ~1H NMR spectral studies for each 1~3 were performed,which detected the relaxation state structures of 1~3 at lower temperature.All of these results indicate a stereochemical activity of the lone electron pairs at the tin（Ⅱ） atom that definitely has an electronic interaction with the 6 p-electrons of the C5 ring.The observed Sn-C（C5 ring） bond modes appear influenced by either the metallocene size or the compound state existed.

ANALYSIS OF THE STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES OF THE SOLUTIONS TO SPEED GRADIENT TRAFFIC FLOW MODEL

In this paper,we carry out an analysis of the structural properties of the solutions to the speed gradient(SG)traffic flow model.Under the condition that the relaxation effect can be neglected,it is shown that a 1-shock or a 1-rarefaction is associated with the first characteristic,but on the other hand,a contact discontinuity rather than a 2-shock or a 2-rarefaction is associated with the second characteristic.Since the existence of a 2-shock or 2-rarefaction violates the physical mechanism of the traffic flow,the SG model is more reasonable.If the relaxation effect cannot be neglected,it is somewhat difficult to carry out the analytical analysis and the numerical simulation results should be obtained.

Bifurcation of non-negative solutions for an elliptic system

In the paper, we consider a nonlinear elliptic system coming from the predator-prey model with diffusion. Predator growth-rate is treated as bifurcation parameter. The range of parameter is found for which there exists nontrivial solution via the theory of bifurcation from infinity, local bifurcation and global bifurcation.

Analytical solution of basic equations set of atmospheric motion

On condition that the basic equations set of atmospheric motion possesses the best stability in the smooth function classes, the structure of solution space for local analytical solution is discussed, by which the third-class initial value problem with typ- icality and application is analyzed. The calculational method and concrete expressions of analytical solution about the well-posed initial value problem of the third-kind are given in the analytic function classes. Near an appointed point, the relevant theoretical and computational problems about analytical solution of initial value problem are solved completely in the meaning of local solution. Moreover, for other type ofproblems for determining solution, the computational method and process of their stable analytical solution can be obtained in a similar way given in this paper.

Two-Dimensional Riemann Problems:Transonic Shock Waves and Free Boundary Problems

We are concerned with global solutions of multidimensional(M-D)Riemann problems for nonlinear hyperbolic systems of conservation laws,focusing on their global configurations and structures.We present some recent developments in the rigorous analysis of two-dimensional(2-D)Riemann problems involving transonic shock waves through several prototypes of hyperbolic systems of conservation laws and discuss some further M-D Riemann problems and related problems for nonlinear partial differential equations.In particular,we present four different 2-D Riemann problems through these prototypes of hyperbolic systems and show how these Riemann problems can be reformulated/solved as free boundary problems with transonic shock waves as free boundaries for the corresponding nonlinear conservation laws of mixed elliptic-hyperbolic type and related nonlinear partial differential equations.

Experimental Observation of the Ore-Forming Fluid NaCl-H_2O System in the Earth Interior

The NaCl-H_2O binary system is a major component of solutions coexisting with ores. Observation ofsaturated solutions of NaCl-H_2O by using the method of hydrothermal diamond anvil cell (HDAC) is a new approach tothe study of ore-forming fluids. The salinities of NaCl-H_2O solutions in experimental observation are in a range of 32-55%. The observed temperature range is 25℃-850℃, and the pressure range 1 atm-10 kb. In this temperature-pressure range, the supercritical single phase, two phases (L,V) close to the critical state and two-phased (L+V) immis-cible region were observed. And for the salinity of 35% the two phase L+V immiscible region of NaCl-H_2O solutionwas observed in a range of 253-720℃. Another temperature range, 400-817℃, was observed for the immiscible two-phased region of 50% salinity solution. In the high-temperature part of the two-phased immiscible region, the phase na-ture is very unstable. A "critical phenomenon" was observed when the heating path was very close to the critical state.It is possible to observe a 'critical phenomenon': an "explosion" occurred almost constantly at the interface between theliquid and vapour and the interface is rather obscure. A continuous transition between phases L and V could be foundin the immiscible L+V phase while heating continuously. Moreover, as the NaCl-H_2O solution was separated into liq-uid and vapour phases, static charges surrounding each vapour bubble could be seen, and these bubbles were attractedtogether by the static charges to form a special solution structure. Besides, critical states of different salinities of NaCl-H_2O were observed in order to study the properties of the fluids occurring in the rocks in the earth interior, the origin ofore-bearing fluids and the significance of supercritical fluid with respect to the ore formation. The comparison of the sa-linity data of the fluid inclusions in the minerals of ore deposits with observations of NaCl-H_2O under HDAC in theconditions of high temperatures and pressures, combined with further thermodynamic analysis of ore-formation condi-tions would explain in depth the factors determining the ore formation.

NMR Analysis of the Structure of Leucine Enkephalin in Solution

To investigate the interaction between membranes and polypeptides, the structure of the polypeptide must be known first. Enkephalin, a natural ligand for opiate receptors is composed of the pentapeptides H 2N Tyr Gly Gly Phe Met OH and H 2N Tyr Gly Gly Phe Leu OH. Two dimensional 1 H NMR techniques can be used to determine the structure of Leucine Enkephalin in solution and to build a foundation for research on the interaction between Enkephalin and the membrane. Complete proton resonance assignments were obtained using 2 D COSY, TOCSY, and NOESY techniques.

DNA binding mechanism of WhiB4 from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb),the pathogen of tuberculosis,has latently infected about one-third of the world's population and may lead to severe clinical symptoms and death.The WhiB4 protein,a transcription factor,plays a crucial role in the survival and pathology of Mtb.WhiB4 leads to the condensation of mycobacterial nucleoids and regulates the expression of genes involved in central metabolism,respiration,and maintaining redox homeostasis.Here,we report the solution structure of reduced apo-WhiB4 monomer,which consists of an unstructured N-terminal domain with four cysteine residues and a helix-turnhelix C-terminal domain that plays a major role in DNA binding.The C-terminal domain of WhiB4 binds DNA at the minor groove,with five positively charged lysine/arginine residues contacting DNA sugar-phosphate backbones through electrostatic interactions.AT-rich DNA sequences with narrower minor grooves are more preferred by WhiB4.The binding affinity of a single C-terminal domain of WhiB4 is weak.When oxidized,WhiB4 can form dimers and oligomers in different forms through disulfide bonds,which should significantly enhance its DNA binding ability through multivalent effect and change the local structure of target genes and influence their transcription.These structural features form the basis for WhiB4 to function as a redox-sensitive transcription factor in Mtb.

Modelling the 3D Structure of PEDOT:PSS Supramolecular Assembly in Aqueous Dispersion Based on SAXS with Synchrotron Light

In this work,we study the poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate)(PEDOT:PSS)structure in aqueous dispersion with small-angle X-ray scattering(SAXS).In-depth structure analysis is achieved based on a set of complementary and sophisticated algorithms,which provide not only shape and packing of chains but also 3D structure of the colloids.The structure information of the PEDOT chain was extracted from the well-known Guinier,Porod and pair distance distribution function(PDDF)analysis of the SAXS data,while the 3D modelling was achieved with the DAMMIF and DAMAVER programs in ATSAS software package.To the best of our knowledge,we first establish the 3D model of the PEDOT:PSS colloids’structure that will help people to understand the supramolecular assembly in aqueous dispersion,which sheds light on the solution structure study of polymers that are widely used in daily life.

Unveiling anneal hardening in dilute Al-doped Al_(x)CoCrFeMnNi(x = 0,0.1) high-entropy alloys

Anneal hardening has been one of the approaches to improve mechanical properties of solid solution alloys with the face-centered cubic(FCC) structure,whereby a considerable strengthening can be attained by annealing of cold-worked alloys below the recrystallization temperature(T_(rx)).Microscopically,this hardening effect has been ascribed to several mechanisms,i.e.solute segregation to defects(dislocation and stacking fault) and short-range chemical ordering,etc.However,none of these mechanisms can well explain the anneal hardening recently observed in phase-pure and coarse-grained FCC-structured high-entropy alloys(HEAs).Here we report the observations,using high-resolution electron channeling contrast imaging and transmission electron microscopy,of profuse and stable dislocation substructures in a cold-rolled CoCrFeMnNi HEA subject to an annealing below T_(rx).The dislocation substructures are observed to be thermally stable up to T_(rx),which could arise from the chemical complexity of the high-entropy system where certain elemental diffusion retardation occurs.The microstructure feature is markedly different from that of conventional dilute solid solution alloys,in which dislocation substructures gradually vanish by recovery during annealing,leading to a strength drop.Furthermore,dilute addition of 2 at.% Al leads to a reduction in both microhardness and yield strength of the cold-rolled and subsequently annealed(≤500℃) HEA.This Al induced softening effect,could be associated with the anisotropic formation of dislocation substructure,resulting from enhanced dislocation planar slip due to glide plane softening effect.These findings suggest that the strength of HEAs can be tailored through the anneal hardening effect from dislocation substructure strengthening.