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Eight hundred and twenty-six human G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) mediate the actions of two-thirds of the human hormones and neurotransmitters and over one-third of clinically used drugs. Studying the structure and dynamics of human GPCRs in lipid bilayer environments resembling the native cell membrane milieu is of great interest as a basis for understanding structure–function relationships and thus benefits continued drug development. Here, we incorporate the human A2A adenosine receptor (A2AAR) into lipid nanodiscs, which represent a detergent-free environment for structural studies using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in solution. The [15N,1H]-TROSY correlation spectra confirmed that the complex of [u-15N, ~70% 2H]-A2AAR with an inverse agonist adopts its global fold in lipid nanodiscs in solution at physiological temperature. The global assessment led to two observations of practical interest. First, A2AAR in nanodiscs can be stored for at least one month at 4 °C in an aqueous solvent. Second, LMNG/CHS micelles are a very close mimic of the environment of A2AAR in nanodiscs. The NMR signal of five individually assigned tryptophan indole 15N–1H moieties located in different regions of the receptor structure further enabled a detailed assessment of the impact of nanodiscs and LMNG/CHS micelles on the local structure and dynamics of A2AAR. As expected, the largest effects were observed near the lipid–water interface along the intra- and extracellular surfaces, indicating possible roles of tryptophan side chains in stabilizing GPCRs in lipid bilayer membranes.

In order to better serve the users of wood desks in open-plan offices, the Kano model is used to analyze the problems encountered by users in the office. Combined with quality function deployment (QFD), this study conducted an analysis of the weighted average of users’ needs and the importance of engineering measures of product technical characteristics. The proposed system uses an integrated Kano–QFD model to identify users’ specific needs and scene experience with a more complete service system. Through the hybrid approach of the Kano model and QFD development and design technology, the wood desks in open-plan offices are optimized to improve the rationality and scientific nature of office furniture and enhance its market competitiveness.

Although the characteristics of the traveling 10-day waves (10DWs) above the middle stratosphere have been well explored, little research has been performed on the counterpart in the troposphere and lower stratosphere (TLS). In the present study, we use radiosonde observations and MERRA-2 data from 2020 to characterize traveling 10DWs in mid-latitudes in the TLS. Single-site observations in both hemispheres show that strong 10DW activities are always accompanied by strong eastward jets (10–13 km). MERRA-2 data indicate that in the troposphere, the eastward-propagating modes with larger wavenumbers, i.e., E3, E4, E5 and E6 are dominant, while in the lower stratosphere, the eastward- and westward-propagating modes with small zonal wavenumbers, e.g., 1 and 2, are dominant. Further research on E3, E4, E5 and E6 modes in the troposphere of both hemispheres shows that all the wave activities are positively correlated to the background zonal wind. The refractive index squared reveals that a strong eastward jet is suitable for these four modes to propagate. However, just above the jet, the eastward wind decreases with altitude, and a thick evanescence region emerges above 15 km. E3, E4, E5 and E6 10DWs cannot propagate upward across the tropopause; as such, this can explain why these four modes are weak or even indiscernible in the stratosphere and above. In the troposphere, E5 10DW at 32° S was the most dominant mode in 2020. A case study of the anomalously strong E5 10DW activity on 12 May 2020 indicates that the wave amplification resulted from the upward and equatorward transmission of wave energy flows. Moreover, the tropopause and equatorial region can prevent the propagations of wave energy flows of E5 10DW. The upward-propagating wave energy is deposited near the tropopause, resulting in significant short-term variability in the tropopause height.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a large membrane protein family found in higher organisms, including the human body. GPCRs mediate cellular responses to diverse extracellular stimuli and thus control key physiological functions, which makes them important targets for drug design. Signaling by GPCRs is related to the structure and dynamics of these proteins, which are modulated by extrinsic ligands as well as by intracellular binding partners such as G proteins and arrestins. Here, we review some basics of using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in solution for the characterization of GPCR conformations and intermolecular interactions that relate to transmembrane signaling.

With the development of wireless power transfer (WPT), the wireless charging has become a research hotspot. This paper proposes a novel single-switch hybrid compensation topology, which can change the compensation network to realize the constant-current (CC) and constant-voltage (CV) output. The zero voltage switching (ZVS) margin can be designed to increase the stability of the system. In addition, the magnetic coupler adopts a composite shielding structure composed of ferrite, nanocrystalline, and aluminium foil. The composite shielding structure has a better shielding effect on magnetic flux leakage, and its weight is lighter. The composite shielding structure is expected to be used in the wireless charging system of electric vehicles (EVs). Finally, an experimental prototype is built to verify the theoretical analysis, and the maximum efficiency can reach 91.4%.