Growth and inhibition of zinc anode dendrites in Zn-air batteries:Model and experiment

Zinc(Zn)-air batteries are widely used in secondary battery research owing to their high theoretical energy density,good electrochemical reversibility,stable discharge performance,and low cost of the anode active material Zn.However,the Zn anode also leads to many challenges,including dendrite growth,deformation,and hydrogen precipitation self-corrosion.In this context,Zn dendrite growth has a greater impact on the cycle lives.In this dissertation,a dendrite growth model for a Zn-air battery was established based on electrochemical phase field theory,and the effects of the charging time,anisotropy strength,and electrolyte temperature on the morphology and growth height of Zn dendrites were studied.A series of experiments was designed with different gradient influencing factors in subsequent experiments to verify the theoretical simulations,including elevated electrolyte temperatures,flowing electrolytes,and pulsed charging.The simulation results show that the growth of Zn dendrites is controlled mainly by diffusion and mass transfer processes,whereas the electrolyte temperature,flow rate,and interfacial energy anisotropy intensity are the main factors.The experimental results show that an optimal electrolyte temperature of 343.15 K,an optimal electrolyte flow rate of 40 ml·min^(-1),and an effective pulse charging mode.

<i>Blastomyces dermatitidis</i>: Chitinase Homology Model, <i>in Silico</i>Docking, and Inhibition Assay

Blastomyces dermatitidis is a thermally dimorphic fungus that causes the disease blastomycosis. Currently there are a limited number of effective treatments, many of which have harsh side effects. Chitin, a component of the fungal cell wall is often broken down and recycled for cell wall remodeling and growth. Chitinase is the digestive enzyme capable of chitin hydrolysis. By inhibiting the chitinase we predicted that cells wouldn’t be able to divide and multiply normally, thereby leading to possible anti-fungal treatments. For this study we modeled the structure of B. dermatitidis chitinase, using homology modeling. By predicting a three-dimensional structure we were able to do additional analyses of the active site of the chitinase and predict the binding of a possible small molecule, acetazolamide, in silico. This binding allowed us to predict that this molecule might be capable of inhibiting the chitinase of B. dermatitidis. This inhibition was tested in vivo. No difference in the growth curves of the test and control organisms was observed, however there was a difference within the cell walls of the yeast cells. The cell walls appeared thicker with additional differences in cell wall orderly growth. These changes are consistent with changes that may occur as B. dermatitidis chitinases are inhibited.

Unification of the Quadratic Model Equations of the Inhibition Characteristics of Acidified Ocimum Basilicum on the Corrosion Behaviour of Mild Steel

An attempt has been made at unifying the resulting quadratic models from the study of the correlation behavior of the inhibition characteristics of acidified ocimum basilicum on conventional mild steel. Weight-loss corrosion technique was employed in obtaining the corrosion penetration rate using the equation: cpr = . Subsequently, the quadratic models were developed by using a computer-aided statistical modeling technique (International Business Machine (IBM)’s SPSS version 17.0). The results obtained showed a nearly perfect positive correlation with a correlation coefficient in the range of 0.986 ≤ R ≤ 0.996 which depicts that R ≥ 1. Also, the coefficient of determination fell within the range of 0.972 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.992 showing that approximately 97% to 99% of the total variation in passivation rate was accounted for by corresponding variation in exposure time, leaving out only between 3% and 1% to extraneous factors that are not incorporated into the model equations. The equations were further unified into a generalized form using MathCAD 7.0 and the resulting equation was y = 1.032 - 0.002t + 1.899?× 10-6t2 with a R2 value of 0.935 indicating a well-correlated relationship. With this, a new frontier on corrosion studies has emerged typifying a classical departure from previously long-held assumption that corrosion behaviours at room temperature were only logarithmic.

Modelling the Hydrogen Inhibition Effect on Ammonia Decomposition

Recently ammonia has been investigated as a fuel for SOFCs （solid oxide fuel cells）. Ammonia is widely produced and transported globally, and stores hydrogen in its bonds making it an excellent fuel for fuel cells. The high temperature of SOFCs allows for internal decomposition of ammonia. Previous models of ammonia-fed SOFCs treat ammonia decomposition as having first order dependence on ammonia partial pressure, and ignore the effect of hydrogen inhibition. However, research has shown that at low temperatures （≤ 600 ℃） and low ammonia partial pressures, the rate of ammonia decomposition is inhibited by the presence of hydrogen. This hydrogen inhibition effect was studied and implemented in a model of an ammonia decomposition reactor. Results showed that it may significantly decrease the rate of hydrogen generation. This work sets the foundation for more accurate modelling of intermediate temperature ammonia-fed SOFCs.

Indirect tension test of epoxy asphalt mixtureusing microstructural finite-element model

A finite-element model of the thermosetting epoxy asphalt mixture（EAM） microstructure is developed to simulate the indirect tension test（IDT）.Image techniques are used to capture the EAM microstructure which is divided into two phases：aggregates and mastic.A viscoelastic constitutive relationship,which is obtained from the results of a creep test,is used to represent the mastic phase at intermittent temperatures.Model simulation results of the stiffness modulus in IDT compare favorably with experimental data.Different loading directions and velocities are employed in order to account for their influence on the modulus and the localized stress of the microstructure model.It is pointed out that the modulus is not consistent when the loading direction changes since the heterogeneous distribution of the mixture internal structure,and the loading velocity affects the localized stress as a result of the viscoelasticity of the mastic.The study results can provide a theoretical basis for the finite-element method,which can be extended to the numerical simulations of asphalt mixture micromechanical behavior.

A blockchain bee colony double inhibition labor division algorithm for spatio-temporal coupling task with application to UAV swarm task allocation

It is difficult for the double suppression division algorithm of bee colony to solve the spatio-temporal coupling or have higher dimensional attributes and undertake sudden tasks.Using the idea of clustering,after clustering tasks according to spatio-temporal attributes,the clustered groups are linked into task sub-chains according to similarity.Then,based on the correlation between clusters,the child chains are connected to form a task chain.Therefore,the limitation is solved that the task chain in the bee colony algorithm can only be connected according to one dimension.When a sudden task occurs,a method of inserting a small number of tasks into the original task chain and a task chain reconstruction method are designed according to the relative relationship between the number of sudden tasks and the number of remaining tasks.Through the above improvements,the algorithm can be used to process tasks with spatio-temporal coupling and burst tasks.In order to reflect the efficiency and applicability of the algorithm,a task allocation model for the unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV)group is constructed,and a one-to-one correspondence between the improved bee colony double suppression division algorithm and each attribute in the UAV group is proposed.Task assignment has been constructed.The study uses the self-adjusting characteristics of the bee colony to achieve task allocation.Simulation verification and algorithm comparison show that the algorithm has stronger planning advantages and algorithm performance.

Modeling of the Second Indirect Effect of Anthropogenic Aerosols in East Asia

This study investigated the second indirect climatic effect of anthropogenic aerosols,including sulfate,organic carbon(OC) ,and black carbon(BC) ,over East Asia.The seasonal variation of the climatic response to the second indirect effect was also characterized.The simulation period for this study was 2006.Due to a decrease in autoconversion rate from cloud water to rain as a result of aerosols,the cloud liquid water path(LWP) ,and radiative flux(RF) at the top of the atmosphere(TOA) changed dramatically,increasing by 14.3 g m-2 and decreasing by-4.1 W m-2 in terms of domain and annual average.Both LWP and RF changed most in autumn. There were strong decreases in ground temperature in Southwest China,the middle reaches of the Yangtze River in spring and autumn,while maximum cooling of up to-1.5 K occurred in the Chongqing district.The regional and annual mean change in ground temperature reached-0.2 K over eastern China.In all seasons except summer,precipitation generally decreased in most areas north of the Yangtze River,whereas precipitation changed little in South China.Precipitation changed most in summer,with alternating bands of increasing(～40 mm) and decreasing(～40 mm) precipitation appearing in eastern China.Precipitation decreased by 1.5-40 mm over large areas of Northeast China and the Huabei Plain.The domain and annual mean change in precipitation was approximately-0.3 mm over eastern China.The maximum reduction in precipitation occurred in summer,with mean absolute and relative changes of-1.2 mm and-3.8%over eastern China.This study revealed considerable climate responses to the second indirect effect of aerosols over specific regions of China.

Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor sertraline inhibits bone healing in a calvarial defect model

Bone wound healing is a highly dynamic and precisely controlled process through which damaged bone undergoes repair and complete regeneration. External factors can alter this process, leading to delayed or failed bone wound healing. The findings of recent studies suggest that the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs) can reduce bone mass, precipitate osteoporotic fractures and increase the rate of dental implant failure. With 10% of Americans prescribed antidepressants, the potential of SSRIs to impair bone healing may adversely affect millions of patients’ ability to heal after sustaining trauma. Here, we investigate the effect of the SSRI sertraline on bone healing through pre-treatment with(10 mg·kg-1sertraline in drinking water, n = 26) or without(control, n = 30) SSRI followed by the creation of a 5-mm calvarial defect. Animals were randomized into three surgical groups:(a) empty/sham,(b) implanted with a DermaMatrix scaffold soak-loaded with sterile PBS or(c) DermaMatrix soak-loaded with542.5 ng BMP2. SSRI exposure continued until sacrifice in the exposed groups at 4 weeks after surgery. Sertraline exposure resulted in decreased bone healing with significant decreases in trabecular thickness, trabecular number and osteoclast dysfunction while significantly increasing mature collagen fiber formation. These findings indicate that sertraline exposure can impair bone wound healing through disruption of bone repair and regeneration while promoting or defaulting to scar formation within the defect site.

Inhibition effect of Chinese herbal medicine on transcription of hepatitis C virus structural gene in vitro

AIM: To investigate the inhibitory effect of Chinese herbal medicine on the transcription of hepatitis C virus (HCV) structural gene in Hela D cells.METHODS: Hela cell line was transfected with recombinant pBK-CMV-HCV containing HCV structural gene by Lipofectamine. RT-nested-PCR and Western blot assay were used to testify the HCV gene expression in Hela cells. The Hela cells expressing HCV structural protein were named Hela D cells. Prescriptions of Xiao chaihu Decoction (XCHD),Fufang Huangqi (FFHQ) and Bingganling (BGL) wererespectively added to Hela D cells in various concentrations. Semi-quantitative RT-nested-PCR product analysis was performed according to the fluorescent density between HCV DNA band and GAPDH DNA band in gel electrophoresisafter screened. RESULTS: Recombinant pBK-CMV-HCV could correctly express the HCV structural gene in Hela D cells. After coculture of Hela D cells with three prescriptional different concentrations for 48 h respectively, the transcription of HCVgene decreased with increasing of the concentration of each prescription. The lightness ratio of HCV product bands to GAPDH product bands was 0.24, 0.10 and 0.12 in Hela D cells incubated with 0.1 g/mL of XCHD, FFHQand BGL respectively and the lightness ratio HCV product bands to GAPDH product bands was 0.75, 0.67 and 0.61respectively in the control cells. CONCLUSION: The prescriptions of XCHD, FFHQ and BGL partly inhibit the transcription of HCV structural gene inHela D cells.

Aerosol Indirect Effects on Warm Clouds in the Grid-Point Atmospheric Model of IAP LASG(GAMIL)

Aerosol indirect effects on warm clouds are estimated in the Grid-point Atmospheric Model of the State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics,Institute of Atmospheric Physics(IAP LASG)(GAMIL) with a new two-moment cloud microphysics scheme using two different physically-based aerosol activation parameterizations:Abdul-Razzak and Ghan,and Nenes and Seinfeld.The annual global mean changes in shortwave cloud forcing from preindustrial times to present day(a measure of the aerosol indirect effects) estimated from these two parameterizations are remarkably similar:0.76 W m?2 with the Abdul-Razzak and Ghan parameterization,and 0.78 W m?2 with the Nenes and Seinfeld parameterization.Physically-based parameterizations can provide robust representations of aerosol effects on droplet nucleation,meaning that aerosol activation is no longer the most uncertain factor in modeling aerosol indirect effects.

A novel indirect inhibitive immunoassay for sulfamethoxazole

A new indirect inhibitive immunoassay using surface plasmon resonance（SPR） coupled with molecularly imprinted polymer（MIP） was developed.A sulfamethoxazole（SMX） MIP coating capillary was produced and used as an in-tube solid phase extraction（SPE） device.The MIP coating formed a nanometer film on the inner wall of the capillary.The anti-SMX mono-antibody was inhibited by SMX extracted by the MIP coating in a dose-dependent manner.The calibration curve was generated by linear fit over the range of 0.04-10.00 ng/mL.The limit of detection was 0.01 ng/mL.This method has high sensitivity and can be performed automatically.

The Synergistic Effect of Quaternary Ammonium Canons on the Corrosion Inhibition of Fe by Inorganic Anions

The synergistic effect of tetrabutylammonium canon(TBA+)or N-hexadecylpyridinium cation(HDP+)and SCN-or I-in 0. 5 mol. L-1 H2SO4 solution on the corrosion inhibition or Armco iron was investigated by potentiodynamic polarization and polarization resistance measurements. The results show that the synergistic effect of HDP+ containing v-electron and anion is stronger than that of TBA+ and anion.The Joint adsorption models of canon and anion at electrode-solution interface are related to the structure and property of both ions by analyzing the desorption behaviours of both ions when the electrode is polarized anodically.

Investigation on Purine Corrosion Inhibitions via Quantum Chemical Calculation

Corrosion inhibition performances of three purine derivatives were investigated systematically by employing DFT and molecular modeling.The relationship between macroscopic inhibition efficiency and quantum chemical properties was discussed from multiple perspectives,based on frontier orbital theory,and Fukui function theories.Comparative experimental and theoretical studies were taken,indicating the inhibition efficiency could be analyzed in the order of guanine<2,6-diaminopurine<2,6-dithiopurine.The sulphur atom(S5)was validated to be the most susceptible site for electrophile via quantitative surface analysis.

A Systematic Analysis Approach to Discrete-time Indirect Model Reference Adaptive Control

这份报纸论述间接模型引用的设计和分析有为分离时间的系统的一个类的规范的适应法律的适应控制(MRAC ) 。主要工作包括三部分。第一，构造工厂参数评价算法不仅拥有传统的评价算法的象那些的一样的性质而且在零避免分割的可能性。第二，由发现在工厂参数之间的关系，估计和控制器参数估计并且用工厂参数的性质估计，控制器参数估计的类似的性质也被建立。第三，基于关系，在使正常化之间的性质发信号并且在靠近环的系统并且在分离时间的系统上的一些重要数学工具上的所有信号作为在连续时间的盒子中，到分离间接 MRAC 计划的系统的稳定性和集中分析途径严厉地被开发。

Analytical Expressions for Steady-State Concentrations of Substrate and Product in an Amperometric Biosensor with the Substrate Inhibition—The Adomian Decomposition Method

A mathematical model of an amperometric biosensor with the substrate inhibition for steady-state condition is discussed. The model is based on the system of non-stationary diffusion equation containing a non-linear term related to non-Michaelis–Menten kinetics of the enzymatic reaction. This paper presents the analytical expression of concentrations and current for all values of parameters φ2s φ2s α and β . Here the Adomian decomposition method (ADM) is used to find the analytical expressions for substrate, product concentration and current. A comparison of the analytical approximation and numerical simulation is also presented. A good agreement between theoretical predictions and numerical results is observed.

The Biochemical Impact by Covalent Shielding of the Anionic Oxygen of the Phosphate Group in DNA and RNA as Methylated Phosphotriester Linkage on the Inhibition of DNA Duplication and on HIV-1 RNA Viral Infectivity Has Been Seriously Overlooked

With the help of model experiments, we are able to offer a detailed proposal for the inhibition of DNA duplication and no inhibition of RNA viral infectivity. As a backbone, we introduced methyl phosphotriester (MPTE). Duplex formation according to the traditional Watson and Crick base-pairing: [(MPTE)n−1 DNA] * DNA and [(MPTE)n−1 DNA] * RNA, where n = number of DNA and RNA bases. However, in the latter case, inhibition is obtained by reduction of the number of MPTE linkages, as is confirmed with model experiments and under biological conditions with micro (mi)RNA substrates. The latter results have recently been published. One or more single MPTEs are disseminated over different places of DNA without neighbour MPTEs (Prof. Wen-Yih Chen and his group, Taiwan).

Promoting or Inhibiting?Influence of Railway Container Transportation on Regional Economic Development

In the context of building a country with a strong transportation network,railway container transportation(RCT)is an important means of reducing costs,increasing efficiency,and adjusting transportation structures.Thus,its impact on regional economic development is important.Based on data from railway container-handling stations and spatial econometric models,this study discusses the differences in the development of RCT and their impact on regional economic development at different leves.This study has three main findings:first,there are significant regional differences in the development of the RCT.The intra-regional differences between the eastern and central regions of China(which do not include Hong Kong,Macao and Taiwan)are gradually narrowing,while the regional differences in the western region are widening.Meanwhile,the intra-regional differences in important economic zones such as Pearl River Delta Economic Zone(PRDEZ),Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Zone(CYEZ),Bohai Rim Economic Zone(BHEZ),and Yangtze River Delta Economic Zone(YRDEZ)are narrowing daily.Second,the development differences of RCT in regional level and important economic regions level show different trends.The unbalanced features of large regions are increasingly evident,whereas the differences in economic regions are decreasing.However,the problem of overlapping RCT remains prominent.Third,the transformation of RCT development mode and fierce competition among transportation modes cause RCT to have a restraining effect on the regional economy at three levels.Rational allocation of resources and other means must be used to guide the transformation from inhibition to promotion,and by formulating targeted policies that will promote the development of RCT,which will improve the transportation structure and help construct a country with a strong transportation system.

Numerical study of fatigue damage of asphalt concrete using cohesive zone model

In order to investigate the fatigue behavior of asphalt concrete, a new numerical approach based on a bi-linear cohesive zone model （CZM） is developed. Integrated with the CZM, a fatigue damage evolution model is established to indicate the gradual degradation of cohesive properties of asphalt concrete under cyclic loading. Then the model is implemented in the finite element software ABAQUS through a user-defined subroutine. Based on the proposed model, an indirect tensile fatigue test is finally simulated. The fatigue lives obtained through numerical analysis show good agreement with laboratory results. Fatigue damage accumulates in a nonlinear manner during the cyclic loading process and damage initiation phase is the major part of fatigue failure. As the stress ratio increases, the time of the steady damage growth stage decreases significantly. It is found that the proposed fatigue damage evolution model can serve as an accurate and efficient tool for the prediction of fatigue damage of asphalt concrete.

汉麻籽多肽靶向抑制胰脂肪酶/胆固醇酯酶的分子作用机制

采用酶活动力学、联合抑制、荧光光谱、等温滴定量热法和分子对接等技术系统探究两种多肽(APAM和RLPA)对胰脂肪酶(pancreatic lipase,PL)和胆固醇酯酶(cholesterol esterase,CE)活性调控效果及分子结合机制。结果表明,RLPA对PL和CE具有更强的抑制活性,其半抑制浓度分别为(79.62±3.20)μmol/L和(301.27±14.40)μmol/L。抑制动力学分析表明APAM对两种酶的抑制机制为竞争性抑制,而RLPA则为混合性抑制。联合抑制表明APAM和RLPA在低浓度下均可与奥利司他协同抑制PL和CE,但在高浓度下协同作用减弱,甚至出现拮抗现象。荧光光谱结果表明两种多肽可以通过与PL和CE发生结合产生静态猝灭,改变了酶中脂肪族氨基酸的疏水环境。等温滴定量热法证明多肽与酶的结合过程是自发且放热,主要通过氢键和静电相互作用实现。分子对接模拟进一步分析表明氢键、盐桥和阳离子-π相互作用在多肽与酶的结合中起着至关重要的作用。这项研究丰富了对多肽与PL和CE的相互作用机制的认识,为开发基于汉麻籽蛋白的功能性食品提供了科学依据。

基于机器学习筛选猪活体肌内脂肪含量间接选育和构建预测模型的关键性状

[目的]本研究旨在探究猪断奶重、屠宰前活体重、背膘厚等性状因素对猪肌内脂肪(intramuscular fat,IMF)含量的影响,确定影响猪IMF含量的关键性状因素。[方法]以805头皮特兰×[杜洛克×(长白×大白)]四元商品猪群为试验对象,记录性别,测定初生重、断奶重、屠宰前活体重和IMF含量等14个性状,然后通过相关性分析从14个性状中初步筛选出影响IMF含量的性状因素,再通过随机森林模型评估各性状因素对IMF含量影响的重要性,进一步通过LASSO回归和逐步回归筛选出影响IMF含量的关键性状因素;在此基础上,利用广义线性模型(generalized linear model,GLM)分析关键性状因素不同水平对IMF含量的影响。[结果]相关性分析结果显示,猪IMF含量与断奶重(r=0.13, P<0.001)和屠宰前活体重(r=0.22, P<0.001)呈显著相关;与不同位置背膘厚呈极显著相关(P<0.001),相关系数为0.21~0.26。另外,IMF含量与肉色红度值a*、黄度值b*、色调角H0和色度C*值也呈显著相关(P<0.05),相关系数为0.08~0.13。随机森林模型分析结果显示,胸腰结合处背膘厚对IMF含量的贡献最大,其次是屠宰前活体重。LASSO回归和逐步回归分别筛选出9个和5个显著影响IMF含量的性状因素,其中性别、断奶重、屠宰前活体重、胸腰椎结合处背膘厚4个活体可测性状为2种方法共同筛选出的关键性状因素。GLM分析结果显示,4个活体可测性状对IMF含量均具有显著影响,并且阉公猪平均IMF含量(2.52%)显著高于母猪(2.41%)(P<0.05);断奶重小于5 kg组平均IMF含量(2.24%)显著低于其他3组(P<0.05);屠宰前活体重小于85 kg组的平均IMF含量(2.27%)显著低于115 kg以上组(2.67%)(P<0.05),当屠宰前活体重大于100 kg后,各水平组间平均IMF含量差异不显著(P>0.05)。胸腰椎结合处背膘厚大于26 mm组的平均IMF含量(2.73%)显著高于其他背膘厚组(P<0.05),而5~12 mm与12~19 mm背膘厚组的平均IMF含量差异不显著(P>0.05)。[结论]本研究通过机器学习确定了性别、断奶重、屠宰前活体重和胸腰椎结合处背膘厚4个与IMF含量显著相关的活体可测定性状,并发现平均IMF含量随着屠宰前活体重和胸腰椎结合处背膘厚的增加呈明显的上升趋势。