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Four [Ag–Ag]2+unit-encapsulated trimetallic cages 1–4were synthesized from one new tripodal ligand Land silver salts in different solvent systems by a one-pot method. The formation of coordination cages occurred simultaneously with the condensation of amino groups and ketone. The remarkable structural feature of cages 1–4is their spontaneous incorporation of [Ag–Ag]2+cationic units. Moreover, the argentophilic interactions are modulated by the uncoordinated amino substituents. The study herein shows that modification and subtle changes of the cage structures could be realized by a one-pot synthetic method.

Ketogenic diets (KDs) are increasingly utilized as treatments for epilepsy, other neurological diseases, and cancer. Despite their long history in suppressing seizures, the distinct molecular mechanisms of action of KDs are still largely unknown. The goal of this study was to identify key metabolites and pathways altered in the hippocampus and plasma of rats fed a KD versus control diet (CD) either ad libitum or calorically restricted to 90% of the recommended intake. This was accomplished using a combination of targeted methods and untargeted MS-based metabolomics analyses. Various metabolites of and related to the tryptophan (TRP) degradation pathway, such as kynurenine (KYN), kynurenic acid as well as enzyme cofactors, showed significant changes between groups fed different diets and/or calorie amounts in plasma and/or the hippocampus. KYN was significantly downregulated in both matrices in animals of the CD-calorically restricted, KD-ad libitum, and KD-calorically restricted groups compared with the CD-ad libitum group. Our data suggest that the TRP degradation pathway is a key target of the KD.

A lanthanum doped lead zirconate titanate (PLZT) ceramic specimen was prepared by the conventional solid state reaction method. The crystal phase and morphology of the PLZT specimen were characterized by XRD and SEM techniques, with the hysteresis loop by RT6000HVS system. The compressive stress was applied to the PLZT specimen through the microtest mechanical loading device. In-situ Raman spectra focused on a fixed grain under various compressive stresses were recorded for different polarization directions of the scattered light. The effects of stresses on the Raman spectra and the intensity ratio between the E+B1 and E(2TO) modes are discussed.

To deliver multiple component drugs to colon site and sustain a synchronous release for better therapeutic effect. For achieving this purpose, colon specific pellet containing total alkaloids of Sophora alopecuroides(TASA) was prepared.

A low complexity approach for binary quantization is proposed. This approach uses a multi-edge type bipartite graph of the low density generator matrix (LDGM) code with the belief propagation algorithm to encode the informations. A damping decimation is developed for the algorithm convergence. Simulation results show that our algorithm achieves near Shannon capacity performance with reduced complexity.

Prions are a special class of pathogens that cause a number of fatal neurodegenerative diseases in mammals. This paper presents a very simple and convenient biosensor for detecting prion protein, in which a prion protein aptamer was used as the molecular recognition group and gold nanoparticles were used as the signal report group. Binding of the target molecular prion protein resulted in the enhancement of resonance light scattering (RLS) by the gold nanoparticles. A linear relationship was then identified between the enhanced RLS intensity and the concentration of prion protein in the range 0.2 to 50 nmol L−1, with a limit of detection of 0.07 nmol L−1(3σ). The biosensor has very good selectivity for prion protein without interference by coexisting proteins, amino acids or metal ions. This “aptasensor” offers a rapid, selective and sensitive route for prion protein detection and has good potential for use in practical applications.

Zirconia optical films have been facilely deposited based on a modified sol-gel route, which involved solvothermal-treating a mixture of zirconyl nitrate, water, and methanol at 80 °C to produce zirconia-based sols, spin-coating the sols on K9 glass substrates, and then calcining the films at moderate temperatures. The experiments show that, at the proper volume ratio of methanol to water VM/VW (from 40/35 to 70/5), the high deprotonation-condensation reaction rate of the precursor zirconium salt, along with the moderate critical supersaturation level of the reaction medium, give rise to stable and uniform sols comprising particles with mean hydrodynamic diameter of 10-40 nm. This enables rapid deposition of zirconia-based films with a comparatively high refractive index of 1.62 (at 1064 nm). After calcination at 400 °C, the purification and crystallization of film material endow the film with a high refractive index of 1.91 (at 1064 nm).

Heteropolymolybdates-modified zirconia solid acid catalysts were prepared by dispersing molybdophosphoric acid (MPA) on zirconium hydroxide (ZH) and calcining the MPA/ZH materials at 750 °C. The initial loadings of MPA on ZH were 5-25 wt%. The catalysts were characterized by N2 adsorption, XRD, FTIR, Py-IR, and NH3-TPD analysis, and they were used as catalysts for the ring-open polymerization of tetrahydrofuran. The results show that, after calcination at 750 °C, the major molybdenum species are zirconia-anchored polymolybdate surface species and ZrMo2O8. The catalysts show both Brönsted and Lewis acidities, and the catalyst with 15% loading has the highest total acidity and catalytic activity because of the near-saturation coverage of the surface molybdenum species on support. Under the reaction conditions of 40 °C for 20 h, the catalyst sample, 15MPZ-750, gives a high polymer yield of 49% and a desirable number average molecular weight of 2262. A preliminary recycle study indicates a good reusability of these materials.

Biology sequence comparison is a fundamental task in computational biology. According to the hydropathy profile of amino acids, a protein sequence is taken as a string with three letters. Three curves of the new protein sequence were defined to describe the protein sequence. A new method to analyze the similarity/dissimilarity of protein sequence was proposed based on the conditional probability of the protein sequence. Finally, the protein sequences of ND6 (NADH dehydrogenase subunit 6) protein of eight species were taken as an example to illustrate the new approach. The results demonstrated that the method is convenient and efficient.

The iron and steel industry annually consumes about 10% of electricity in China, while the utilization efficiency is relatively low. A two-step energy-saving method for steel enterprise is proposed in this paper. The production plan is regulated to minimize the energy utilized in steel rolling. The electrical load is forecasted according to the optimized steel-rolling plan and the reactive power is compensated to minimize the active power loss and voltage fluctuation. Practical application in Jigang Group Co., Ltd shows the efficiency of the proposed method.

Based on the analysis of the rolling process in iron and steel enterprises, an optimal load distribution model is established for rolling mills. The objective function is to minimize the total energy consumption. The equipment and process constraints are considered. The particle swarm optimization (PSO) is employed to get the optimal rolling reductions. The simulation of a six-frame strip demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed method in Jinan Iron & Steel Group. The experimental result shows that the proposed method is efficiency in the optimal load distribution problems.

Al-Ti-C grain refiners have been prepared by combining self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) technique and melting-casting method. Effects of Al powder size and C/Ti ratio on the microstructures and grain-refining efficiency of Al-Ti-C grain refiners were studied by OM, XRD, SEM and EDS. The results show that when Al powder size is fine, and C/Ti ratio is 1: 8, SHS reaction among the mixed powders can easily carry on in the melt. As a result, the prepared grain refiner consists of blocky Al3Ti and fine TiC particles distributed in Al matrix, and exhibits excellent grain refining performance on commercially pure Al.

Al-Ti-C-P master alloy has been successfully fabricated by SHS-melting technology. Microstructures and phase constituent of Al-Ti-C-P master alloy were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and EDS. The results show that Al-Ti-C-P master alloy comprises TiAl3, TiC, AlP and α-Al matrix. After adding 2.0 wt% Al-Ti-C-P master alloy, microstructure and mechanical properties (after T6 treating) of ZL117 alloy has been improved dramatically: The average grain size of primary silicon decreases from 260 to 35 μm, edges and angles of primary silicon are passivated, the morphology of eutectic silicon changes from large needle-like one to fine rod-like or particle-like one, and the microstructures are noticeably refined; Room temperature tensile strength changes from 168 to 260 MPa while elevated temperature tensile strength (at 300[removed info]) varies from 88 to 125 MPa. Impact toughness and macro-hardness(HB) increases to 17 J/cm2 and 97 from the original 6.5 J/cm2 and 92.

To inhibit the detrimental diffusion of copper into silicon devices, an effective barrier is strongly demanded. In this study, copper(rhenium) alloy films were successfully electroless- and electroplated on silicon substrates for self-forming an ultrathin rhenium barrier layer. In pure copper films, the interdiffusion of copper and silicon already occurred at 400°C, forming silicides and increasing the electrical resistivity of the films. In comparison, not any silicide formation was observed in the electroless- and electroplated copper(rhenium) alloy films with minor incorporations of rhenium for 0.10 and 0.39 at% until 600 and 500°C, respectively, attributed to the prior segregation of rhenium and the self-formation of rhenium barrier layer at the copper/silicon interface at 400°C. A zero solubility of rhenium in copper and a small solubility in palladium catalysts facilitate the separation of rhenium from copper. The kinetics of rhenium segregation follows uphill diffusion, and the diffusivity of rhenium in copper at 400°C is estimated to be 1.5 × 10−17cm2/s.