A stranded wires helical spring is formed of a multilayer and coaxial strand of several wires twisted together with the same direction of spiral. Compared with the conventional single wire spring, the stranded wires h...A stranded wires helical spring is formed of a multilayer and coaxial strand of several wires twisted together with the same direction of spiral. Compared with the conventional single wire spring, the stranded wires helical spring has the notable predominance in strength, damping and vibration reduction, which is usually used in aircraft engines, automatic weapons, etc. However, due to its complicated structure, the precise computation of its strength and rigidity need be a correct mathematical model, which then will be imported to finite element analysis software for solutions. Equations on solving geometric parameters, such as external diameters of strands and screw pitches of wires, are put forward in the paper. It also proposes a novel methodology on solving geometric parameters and establishing entity models of the stranded wires helical spring, which provides foundation of computing mechanical parameters by FEA. Then mathematical models on the centre line of the strand and the surface curve of each wire, after closing two ends in a spring, are proposed. Finally, geometric parameters are solved in a case study, and a 3D entity model of a spring with 3 layers and 16 wires is established, which has validated the accuracy of the proposed methodology and the 3D entity mathematical model. The method provides a new way to design stranded wire helical spring.展开更多
The dynamic behavior of the stranded wire helical spring is described by a modified Bouc-Wen model while the model parameters must be identified using an identification method and experimental data. Existing identific...The dynamic behavior of the stranded wire helical spring is described by a modified Bouc-Wen model while the model parameters must be identified using an identification method and experimental data. Existing identification methods usually relies either solely nonlinear iterative algorithms or manually trial and error. Therefore, the identification process can be rather time consuming and effort taking. As a result, these methods are not ideal for engineering applications. To come up with a more practical method, a three-stage identification method is proposed. Periodic loading and identification simulations are carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. Noises are added to the simulated data to test the performance of the proposed method when dealing with noise contaminated data. The simulation results indicate that the proposed method is able to give satisfying results when the noise levels are set to be 0.01, 0.03, 0.05 and 0.07. In addition, the proposed method is also applied to experimental data and compared with an existing method. The experimental data is acquired through a periodic loading test. The experiment results suggest that the proposed method features better accuracy compared with the existing method. An effective approach is proposed for identifying the model parameters of the stranded wire helical spring.展开更多
A large portion of world＇s natural gas reserves are ＂stranded＂ resources, the drive to monetize these resources leads to the development of gas-to-liquids （GTL） and liquefied natural gas （LNG） technologies. LNG...A large portion of world＇s natural gas reserves are ＂stranded＂ resources, the drive to monetize these resources leads to the development of gas-to-liquids （GTL） and liquefied natural gas （LNG） technologies. LNG has the advantage of having been developed for the past 40 years and having an excellent safety record. GTL on the other hand is another option with substantial benefits, but its development stage and commercial viability are far behind LNG. This paper presents a techno-economic comparison of GTL with LNG, including technical development, plant efficiency, market potential for the products, and capital cost for the infrastructure. The aim is to give an overall view on both LNG and GTL and provide a perspective on the profitability of these two technologies.展开更多
The double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) probe contains two different protein binding sites. One is for DNA- binding proteins to be detected and the other is for a DNA restriction enzyme. The two sites were arranged together w...The double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) probe contains two different protein binding sites. One is for DNA- binding proteins to be detected and the other is for a DNA restriction enzyme. The two sites were arranged together with no base interval. The working principle of the capturing dsDNA probe is described as follows: the capturing probe can be cut with the DNA restriction enzyme (such as EcoR I) to cause a sticky terminal, if the probe is not bound with a target protein, and the sticky terminal can be extended and labeled with Cy3-dUTP by DNA polymerase. When the probe is bound with a target protein, the probe is not capable to be cut by the restriction enzyme because of space obstruction. The amount of the target DNA binding proteins can be measured according to the variations of fluorescent signals of the corresponding probes.展开更多
Objective： To describe the characteristics of short interfering double stranded RNA （dsRNA） against hepatitis C virus （HCV） and to fred out the determining factors in design for desirable inhibitory efficacy. Met...Objective： To describe the characteristics of short interfering double stranded RNA （dsRNA） against hepatitis C virus （HCV） and to fred out the determining factors in design for desirable inhibitory efficacy. Methods： The data were collected and analyzed by retrieval of 229 published short dsRNAs designed for degradation ofHCV RNA. Results： Statistical analyses showed that the most frequently involved short dsRNAs were directing against 5＇NTR/core and genotype lb, accounting for 64.2% and 69.9%, respectively. Inhibitory efficacy varied with the structural characteristics of short dsRNAs, of which the most potential were those directed against HCV core region with inhibitory efficacy of 70.2%. Moreover, the mean inhibitory efficacy of short dsRNAs with GC contents from 30% to 52% was higher than that of those with GC contents out of this range. Conclusion： Based on this pooled data in a relatively large sample, the present results provided clues to design for short dsRNAs with more potent inhibitory efficacy.展开更多
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. In 2030, 26.4 million new cases will be diagnosed, with 17 million deaths accounted worldwide. Prostate cancer is the sixth most common type in the world, and the second m...Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. In 2030, 26.4 million new cases will be diagnosed, with 17 million deaths accounted worldwide. Prostate cancer is the sixth most common type in the world, and the second most commom in men. For Brazil, the number of new cases of prostate cancer in 2010 is estimated to 52,350. Treatment of prostate cancer may be by surgery, radiation or even vigilant observation. A method of radiotherapy which has been extensively used is brachytherapy, where Iodine-125 seeds are placed inside or next to the area requiring treatment. Iodine seeds can be introduced loose seeds or stranded in bioabsorbable polymers in order to increase the dosimetric coverage of the prostate and reducing the chance of seed migration. Data were gathered concerning the commercialization of loose seeds and stranded seeds, between 2005 and 2011, in Brazil. It was noted that the number of stranded seeds commercialized in Brazil (around 80%) has always been much greater than the number of loose seeds, reaching 90% last year. The main reason is the reduction of the seed migration events into other parts of the body, since there is a potential hazard even considering that no harmful effect has been observe. The data regarding dosimetry are still controversial, since the seeds that migrate is normally no more than 1%.展开更多
At the beginning of this century, with the development of materials industry, new heat-resistant conductors appeared, mainly including rod-shaped carbon fiber composite core conductor (ACCC) and stranded carbon fiber ...At the beginning of this century, with the development of materials industry, new heat-resistant conductors appeared, mainly including rod-shaped carbon fiber composite core conductor (ACCC) and stranded carbon fiber composite core conductor (ACMCC). At present, China can independently produce 7-core, 19-core, 37-core and 61-core stranded carbon fiber core, and can cooperate with aluminum wires to form stranded carbon fiber overhead conductors of 95/20-2000/400 mm in various specifications. It can be used for new construction, capacity expansion and reconstruction, extra-large span, extra-high voltage, extra-large cross-section and other lines. Stranded carbon fiber conductor (ACMCC) is composed of stranded carbon fiber core and aluminum/aluminum alloy conductor. The core of carbon fiber is composed of a plurality of T700 and T800 carbon fiber tows, which are impregnated with high-temperature resistant epoxy resin and wrapped with high-temperature resistant fibers to form strands;then several strands are twisted into 7-core, 19-core, 37-core and 61-core carbon fiber cores, which are cured at high temperature. Stranded carbon fiber wire has the advantages of light weight, high breaking force, high temperature resistance, high elastic modulus and low linear expansion coefficient. When the conductor cross-sectional area is the same, the maximum cross-sectional flow is 2.6 times of that of ordinary steel-reinforced aluminum stranded wire. When the cross-sectional area of the conductor is the same, taking the sag at 160℃ as an example, it is 0.7 times that of the heat-resistant road alloy conductor (the smaller the sag, the better). When the cross-sectional area of the wire is the same, its weight is 0.8 times that of other wires.展开更多
Crosstalk between the nervous system and cancer plays an important role in tumor metastasis yet is poorly understood.Recently,Padmanaban et al.demonstrated a novel mechanism for nerve-induced metastasis.Sensory nerve-...Crosstalk between the nervous system and cancer plays an important role in tumor metastasis yet is poorly understood.Recently,Padmanaban et al.demonstrated a novel mechanism for nerve-induced metastasis.Sensory nerve-derived substance P could induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells that overexpressed tachykinin receptors.Single-stranded RNAs(ssRNAs)leaking from dying cells subsequently interact with toll-like receptor 7(TLR7)on other cancer cells and finally promoted metastasis.This notable study displays a delicate loop between the nervous system and cancer and,more importantly,amplifies the conception of apoptosis-induced metastasis.Over the past years,a mass of breakthrough studies have proven the pivotal role of the nervous system in tumorigenesis and cancer progression thereby contributing to the creation of a new disciplinecancer neuroscience[1].Hanahan and Monje discussed in detail the interactions between the nervous system and tumors based on the theoretical framework of the cancer hallmarks,focused on nerve-mediated proliferation,angiogenesis,immune evasion,cell death resistance,and metastasis[2].展开更多
Coronaviruses are single-stranded,positive-sense RNA enveloped viruses that have posed a significant threat to human health over the past few decades,particularly severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus(SARS-CoV...Coronaviruses are single-stranded,positive-sense RNA enveloped viruses that have posed a significant threat to human health over the past few decades,particularly severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus(SARS-CoV),Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus(MERS-CoV),and SARS-CoV-2.These viruses have caused widespread infections and fatalities,with profound impacts on global economies,social life,and public health systems.Due to their broad host range in natural settings and the consequent high potential for zoonotic spillover events,a thorough investigation of the common viral mechanisms and the identification of druggable targets for pan-coronavirus antiviral development are of utmost importance.展开更多
RNA interference(RNAi)has emerged as a powerful technology for pest management.Previously,we have shown that plastid-mediated RNAi(PM-RNAi)can be utilized to control the Colorado potato beetle,an insect pest in the Ch...RNA interference(RNAi)has emerged as a powerful technology for pest management.Previously,we have shown that plastid-mediated RNAi(PM-RNAi)can be utilized to control the Colorado potato beetle,an insect pest in the Chrysomelidae family;however,whether this technology is suitable for controlling pests in the Coccinellidae remained unknown.The coccinellid 28-spotted potato ladybird(Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata;HV)is a serious pest of solanaceous crops.In this study,we identified three efficient target genes(β-Actin,SRP54,and SNAP)for RNAi using in vitro double-stranded RNAs(dsRNAs)fed to HV,and found that dsRNAs targetingβ-Actin messenger RNA(dsACT)induced more potent RNAi than those targeting the other two genes.We next generated transplastomic and nuclear transgenic potato(Solanum tuberosum)plants expressing HV dsACT.Long dsACT stably accumulated to up to 0.7%of the total cellular RNA in the transplastomic plants,at least three orders of magnitude higher than in the nuclear transgenic plants.Notably,the transplastomic plants also exhibited a significantly stronger resistance to HV,killing all larvae within 6 d.Our data demonstrate the potential of PM-RNAi as an efficient pest control measure for HV,extending the application range of this technology to Coccinellidae pests.展开更多
A native RNA is a single polynucleotide strand. It has been shown by X-ray diffraction analysis data that a single-stranded RNA can be folded to double helical structure in part by hydrogen bonds between pairing bases...A native RNA is a single polynucleotide strand. It has been shown by X-ray diffraction analysis data that a single-stranded RNA can be folded to double helical structure in part by hydrogen bonds between pairing bases (mainly A-U and G-C) and to form loop region in part between unpaired bases. So the high structure of proper alternate arrangement of helical and loop structure can be formed in a single-展开更多
Due to the nucleosides and nucleotides located in different positions of nucleic acids, there will be different Cotton effects; therefore, the determination of the circular dichroism is one of the most sensitive metho...Due to the nucleosides and nucleotides located in different positions of nucleic acids, there will be different Cotton effects; therefore, the determination of the circular dichroism is one of the most sensitive methods to study the structure of polynucleotides. The triple stranded DNA (triplex DNA or braid-like DNA), as a specific DNA structure, will be dif-展开更多
As prestressed concrete(PC)structures age,long-termeffects,e.g.,creep,shrinkage,and prestress losses,compromise their structural performance.Strengthening these aged PC beams has become a crucial matter.One effective ...As prestressed concrete(PC)structures age,long-termeffects,e.g.,creep,shrinkage,and prestress losses,compromise their structural performance.Strengthening these aged PC beams has become a crucial matter.One effective solution is to use externally bonded fiber-reinforced polymer(FRP)sheets;however,limited research has been done on aged PC beams using the FRP,especially for beams with unbonded prestressing strands(UPC beams).Therefore,this research investigates the flexural strengthening efficacy of external FRP sheets on aged UPC beams with unbonded tendons.Aging minimally affected the failure modes of UPC beams,with nonstrengthened beams showing flexural failure via rebar yielding and concrete crushing,and FRP-strengthened beams failing due to FRP debonding and tensile reinforcement yielding,though tendons in the aged beams did not yield due to prestress losses,unlike the new beams.The U-wrap anchor curbed widespread debonding,leading to tensile reinforcement yielding and FRP rupture.Aging hastened crack growth and stiffness loss,increasing deflections and reducing load resistance,but FRP reinforcement mitigated these effects,enhancing cracking resistance by 14%over the unstrengthened aged beams and 7%over the new beams while boosting ultimate resistance by 9%above the non-strengthened new beams.Compared to the new FRP-strengthened beams,the aged counterparts had lower cracking resistance,stiffness and capacity—showing 20%higher deflections,7–9%lower serviceability loads,7%–17%reduced ultimate strength and 17%less deformability—due to prestress losses and premature FRP debonding.展开更多
Finless porpoises(FPs)serve as flagship species and key ecological indicators for assessing environmental quality.However,FPs are challenging to survey due to their elusive behavior and lack of distinctive features.St...Finless porpoises(FPs)serve as flagship species and key ecological indicators for assessing environmental quality.However,FPs are challenging to survey due to their elusive behavior and lack of distinctive features.Stranding and sighting events offer essential information on species diversity,distribution patterns,and potential threats.In this study,records from 1986 to 2023 were analyzed to assess the temporal and spatial distribution patterns of FP strandings and sightings in the Qiantang River Estuary,China.Results show an increase in the number of recorded events over time.Seasonal variations were evident,with a peak in strandings and sightings occurring in late winter.The frequency of records was higher during spring and moderate tides compared to neap tides,particularly in hydrologically normal years.Rapidly receding tides and sediment accumulation appear to restrict the activity space of FPs,thereby increasing the frequency of these events.Localized conditions associated with stranding and sighting events were classified into four categories:bifurcation zones,confluence zones,separation zones,and deep channels adjacent to concave banks.Deep channels,which are optimal for shipping,also elevate the risk of FP strandings.These findings offer valuable insights for the development and design of conservation strategies tailored to the needs of FPs in estuarine environments.展开更多
To tackle the issue of notch frequency and center frequency drift of the L(0,1)mode guided wave in ultra⁃sonic guided wave⁃based stress monitoring of prestressed steel strands,a method using higher⁃order mode plateau ...To tackle the issue of notch frequency and center frequency drift of the L(0,1)mode guided wave in ultra⁃sonic guided wave⁃based stress monitoring of prestressed steel strands,a method using higher⁃order mode plateau fre⁃quencies is adopted.First,the correlation between group velocity peaks and phase velocities at these plateau frequen⁃cies is analyzed.This analysis establishes a quantitative rela⁃tionship between phase velocity and stress in the steel strand,providing a theoretical foundation for stress monitor⁃ing.Then the two⁃dimensional Fourier transform is em⁃ployed to separate wave modes.Dynamic programming techniques are applied in the frequency⁃velocity domain to extract higher⁃order modes.By identifying the group veloc⁃ity peaks of these separated higher⁃order modes,the plateau frequencies of guided waves are determined,enabling indi⁃rect measurement of stress in the steel strand.To validate this method,finite element simulations are conducted under three scenarios.Results show that the higher⁃order modes of transient signals from three different positions can be ac⁃curately extracted,leading to successful cable stress moni⁃toring.This approach effectively circumvents the issue of guided wave frequency drift and improves stress monitoring accuracy.Consequently,it significantly improves the appli⁃cation of ultrasonic guided wave technology in structural health monitoring.展开更多
BACKGROUND Accurate preoperative T staging is essential for determining optimal treatment strategies in colorectal cancer(CRC).Low-keV virtual monoenergetic images(VMIs)have been shown to enhance lesion conspicuity.Th...BACKGROUND Accurate preoperative T staging is essential for determining optimal treatment strategies in colorectal cancer(CRC).Low-keV virtual monoenergetic images(VMIs)have been shown to enhance lesion conspicuity.This study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of dual-layer spectral computed tomography(CT)-derived VMIs,in combination with multiplanar reformation(MPR)and evaluation of peritumoral fat stranding(PFS),for improving the accuracy of T staging in CRC.AIM To assess the diagnostic performance of dual-layer spectral CT(DLSCT)VMIs,particularly at low energy levels,and their integration with personalized MPR for preoperative T staging of CRC.METHODS In this retrospective study,157 patients with pathologically confirmed CRC(mean age:63.5±12.1 years)underwent DLSCT within 1 week before surgery.VMIs ranging from 40 keV to 70 keV(at 10 keV intervals)and conventional polyenergetic images(PEIs)were reconstructed.Objective image quality parameters,including image noise,signal-to-noise ratio(SNR),and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR),were quantified,alongside subjective image quality scores using a 5-point Likert scale.Interobserver agreement was evaluated usingκstatistics.Taking histopathology as the reference standard,the diagnostic accuracy of T staging(T1-2 vs T3-4)was compared across PEIs and VMIs,both with and without MPR and PFS.RESULTS Low-keV VMIs(40-70 keV)demonstrated significantly higher SNR and CNR than PEIs(all P<0.001).Notably,40-keV VMIs achieved noise levels comparable to PEIs(8.17±3.63 vs 8.53±2.90;P=0.673).Subjective image quality peaked at 40-50 keV VMIs(Likert scores 4.85-4.88 vs 3.97 for PEIs;P<0.001),supported by excellent interobserver agreement(κ=0.812-0.913).The combination of 40-50 keV VMIs with MPR yielded the highest T staging accuracy(94.27%)compared to axial PEIs(70.7%),with a sensitivity and specificity of 83.87%and 96.83%,respectively(Youden index=0.81;P<0.05).While PFS enhanced staging accuracy on PEIs(up to 77.07%with MPR),it provided no significant additional benefit for VMIs.CONCLUSION DLSCT VMIs at 40-50 keV significantly enhanced image quality and improved preoperative T staging accuracy of CRC when combined with MPR.These findings underscored the clinical value of low-keV spectral imaging in tailoring individualized treatment strategies.展开更多
Strand displacement reaction is a crucial component in the assembly of diverse DNA-based nanodevices,with the toehold-mediated strand displacement reaction representing the prevailing strategy.However,the single-stran...Strand displacement reaction is a crucial component in the assembly of diverse DNA-based nanodevices,with the toehold-mediated strand displacement reaction representing the prevailing strategy.However,the single-stranded Watson-Crick sticky region that serves as the trigger for strand displacement can also cause leakage reactions by introducing crosstalk in complex DNA circuits.Here,we proposed the toeless and reversible DNA strand displacement reaction based on the Hoogsteen-bond triplex,which is compatible with most of the existing DNA circuits.We demonstrated that our proposed reaction can occur at pH 5 and can be reversed at pH 9.We also observed an approximately linear relationship between the degree of reaction and pH within the range of pH 5-6,providing the potential for precise regulation of the reaction.Meanwhile,by altering the sequence orientation,we have demonstrated that our proposed reaction can be initiated or regulated through the same toeless mechanism without the requirement for protonation in low pH conditions.Based on the proposed reaction principle,we further constructed a variety of DNA nanodevices,including two types of DNA logic gates that rely on pH 5/pH 9 changes for initiating and reversing:the AND gate and the OR gate.We also successfully constructed a DNA Walker based on our proposed reaction modes,which can move along a given track after the introduction of a programmable DNA sequence and complete a cycle after 4 steps.Our findings suggest that this innovative approach will have broad utility in the development of DNA circuits,molecular sensors,and other complex biological systems.展开更多
Dynamic DNA nanotechnology plays a significant role in nanomedicine and information science due to its high programmability based on Watson-Crick base pairing and nanoscale dimensions.Intelligent DNA machines and netw...Dynamic DNA nanotechnology plays a significant role in nanomedicine and information science due to its high programmability based on Watson-Crick base pairing and nanoscale dimensions.Intelligent DNA machines and networks have been widely used in various fields,including molecular imaging,biosensors,drug delivery,information processing,and logic operations.Encoders serve as crucial components for information compilation and transfer,allowing the conversion of information from diverse application scenarios into a format recognized and applied by DNA circuits.However,there are only a few encoder designs with DNA outputs.Moreover,the molecular priority encoder is hardly designed.In this study,we introduce allosteric DNAzyme-based encoders for information transfer.The design of the allosteric domain and the recognition arm allows the input and output to be independent of each other and freely programmable.The pre-packaged mode design achieves uniformity of baseline dynamics and dynamics controllability.We also integrated non-nucleic acid molecules into the encoder through the aptamer design of the allosteric domain.Furthermore,we developed the 2^(n)-n encoder and the EndoⅣ-assisted priority encoder inspired by immunoglobulin's molecular structure and effector patterns.To our knowledge,the proposed encoder is the first enzyme-free DNA encoder with DNA output,and the priority encoder is the first molecular priority encoder in the DNA reaction network.Our encoders avoid complex operations on a single molecule,and their simple structure facilitates their application in complex DNA circuits and biological scenarios.展开更多
Strand displacement reaction enables the construction of enzyme-free DNA reaction networks,thus has been widely applied to DNA circuit and nanotechnology.It has the characteristics of high efficiency,universality and ...Strand displacement reaction enables the construction of enzyme-free DNA reaction networks,thus has been widely applied to DNA circuit and nanotechnology.It has the characteristics of high efficiency,universality and regulatability.However,the existing regulation tools cannot enable effective control of the reaction sequence,which undoubtedly limits the construction of complex nucleic acid circuits.Herein,we developed a regulation tool,toehold lock,and achieved strict control of reaction sequence without loss of the main reaction signal output.Furthermore,we applied the tool to scenarios such as seesaw circuits,AND/OR logic gates,and entropy-driven circuits,and respectively demonstrated its significant superiority compared to the original method.We believe that the proposed toehold lock has greatly optimized the efficiency of DNA strand displacement-based networks,and we anticipate that the tool will be widely used in multiple fields.展开更多
DNA circuits are powerful tools in various applications such as logical computation,molecular diagnosis and synthetic biology.Leakage is a major problem in constructing complex DNA circuits.It directly affects the out...DNA circuits are powerful tools in various applications such as logical computation,molecular diagnosis and synthetic biology.Leakage is a major problem in constructing complex DNA circuits.It directly affects the output signal and harms the circuit’s performance significantly.In the traditional DNA circuits,the gate complex is a duplex structure.There are insufficient energy barriers to prevent spontaneous detachment of strands,resulting in a leak prone.Herein,we have developed triplex-structure based DNA circuit with ultra-low leakage and high signal-to-noise ratio(SNR).The triplex structure improves the stability in the absence of input.At the same time,the driving force of the strand displacement cascades reduces the influence of the triplex structure on the desired reaction.The SNR of the DNA circuit was increased to 695,while the desired reaction rate remained 90%of the conventional translator circuit.The triplex-structure mediated leakage prevention strategy was further tested at different temperatures and in DNA translator and seesaw circuits.We also constructed modular basic logic gates with a high efficiency and low leakage.On this basis,we further constructed triplex-structure based tertiary DNA logic circuits,and the SNR reached 295,which,to the best of our knowledge,was among the highest of the field.We believe that our scheme provides a novel,valid,and general tool for reducing leakages,and we anticipate that it will be widely adopted in DNA nanotechnology.展开更多
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholar of China (Grant No. 50925518)National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 50775226)+1 种基金Key Project of Ministry of Education of China(Grant No. 109129)Chongqing Municipal Key Scientific and Technological Project of China (Grant No. CSTC2009AC3049)
文摘A stranded wires helical spring is formed of a multilayer and coaxial strand of several wires twisted together with the same direction of spiral. Compared with the conventional single wire spring, the stranded wires helical spring has the notable predominance in strength, damping and vibration reduction, which is usually used in aircraft engines, automatic weapons, etc. However, due to its complicated structure, the precise computation of its strength and rigidity need be a correct mathematical model, which then will be imported to finite element analysis software for solutions. Equations on solving geometric parameters, such as external diameters of strands and screw pitches of wires, are put forward in the paper. It also proposes a novel methodology on solving geometric parameters and establishing entity models of the stranded wires helical spring, which provides foundation of computing mechanical parameters by FEA. Then mathematical models on the centre line of the strand and the surface curve of each wire, after closing two ends in a spring, are proposed. Finally, geometric parameters are solved in a case study, and a 3D entity model of a spring with 3 layers and 16 wires is established, which has validated the accuracy of the proposed methodology and the 3D entity mathematical model. The method provides a new way to design stranded wire helical spring.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.51375508,51375517)the Key Technologies R&D Program of China(Grant No.2012BAF12B09)the Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University of Ministry of Education of China(Grant No.IRT1196)
文摘The dynamic behavior of the stranded wire helical spring is described by a modified Bouc-Wen model while the model parameters must be identified using an identification method and experimental data. Existing identification methods usually relies either solely nonlinear iterative algorithms or manually trial and error. Therefore, the identification process can be rather time consuming and effort taking. As a result, these methods are not ideal for engineering applications. To come up with a more practical method, a three-stage identification method is proposed. Periodic loading and identification simulations are carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. Noises are added to the simulated data to test the performance of the proposed method when dealing with noise contaminated data. The simulation results indicate that the proposed method is able to give satisfying results when the noise levels are set to be 0.01, 0.03, 0.05 and 0.07. In addition, the proposed method is also applied to experimental data and compared with an existing method. The experimental data is acquired through a periodic loading test. The experiment results suggest that the proposed method features better accuracy compared with the existing method. An effective approach is proposed for identifying the model parameters of the stranded wire helical spring.
文摘A large portion of world＇s natural gas reserves are ＂stranded＂ resources, the drive to monetize these resources leads to the development of gas-to-liquids （GTL） and liquefied natural gas （LNG） technologies. LNG has the advantage of having been developed for the past 40 years and having an excellent safety record. GTL on the other hand is another option with substantial benefits, but its development stage and commercial viability are far behind LNG. This paper presents a techno-economic comparison of GTL with LNG, including technical development, plant efficiency, market potential for the products, and capital cost for the infrastructure. The aim is to give an overall view on both LNG and GTL and provide a perspective on the profitability of these two technologies.
文摘The double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) probe contains two different protein binding sites. One is for DNA- binding proteins to be detected and the other is for a DNA restriction enzyme. The two sites were arranged together with no base interval. The working principle of the capturing dsDNA probe is described as follows: the capturing probe can be cut with the DNA restriction enzyme (such as EcoR I) to cause a sticky terminal, if the probe is not bound with a target protein, and the sticky terminal can be extended and labeled with Cy3-dUTP by DNA polymerase. When the probe is bound with a target protein, the probe is not capable to be cut by the restriction enzyme because of space obstruction. The amount of the target DNA binding proteins can be measured according to the variations of fluorescent signals of the corresponding probes.
基金Supported by Grants from the Committee of Science and Technology of Shanghai, China (No.10ZR1413100, and No.114119a1400)
文摘Objective： To describe the characteristics of short interfering double stranded RNA （dsRNA） against hepatitis C virus （HCV） and to fred out the determining factors in design for desirable inhibitory efficacy. Methods： The data were collected and analyzed by retrieval of 229 published short dsRNAs designed for degradation ofHCV RNA. Results： Statistical analyses showed that the most frequently involved short dsRNAs were directing against 5＇NTR/core and genotype lb, accounting for 64.2% and 69.9%, respectively. Inhibitory efficacy varied with the structural characteristics of short dsRNAs, of which the most potential were those directed against HCV core region with inhibitory efficacy of 70.2%. Moreover, the mean inhibitory efficacy of short dsRNAs with GC contents from 30% to 52% was higher than that of those with GC contents out of this range. Conclusion： Based on this pooled data in a relatively large sample, the present results provided clues to design for short dsRNAs with more potent inhibitory efficacy.
文摘Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. In 2030, 26.4 million new cases will be diagnosed, with 17 million deaths accounted worldwide. Prostate cancer is the sixth most common type in the world, and the second most commom in men. For Brazil, the number of new cases of prostate cancer in 2010 is estimated to 52,350. Treatment of prostate cancer may be by surgery, radiation or even vigilant observation. A method of radiotherapy which has been extensively used is brachytherapy, where Iodine-125 seeds are placed inside or next to the area requiring treatment. Iodine seeds can be introduced loose seeds or stranded in bioabsorbable polymers in order to increase the dosimetric coverage of the prostate and reducing the chance of seed migration. Data were gathered concerning the commercialization of loose seeds and stranded seeds, between 2005 and 2011, in Brazil. It was noted that the number of stranded seeds commercialized in Brazil (around 80%) has always been much greater than the number of loose seeds, reaching 90% last year. The main reason is the reduction of the seed migration events into other parts of the body, since there is a potential hazard even considering that no harmful effect has been observe. The data regarding dosimetry are still controversial, since the seeds that migrate is normally no more than 1%.
文摘At the beginning of this century, with the development of materials industry, new heat-resistant conductors appeared, mainly including rod-shaped carbon fiber composite core conductor (ACCC) and stranded carbon fiber composite core conductor (ACMCC). At present, China can independently produce 7-core, 19-core, 37-core and 61-core stranded carbon fiber core, and can cooperate with aluminum wires to form stranded carbon fiber overhead conductors of 95/20-2000/400 mm in various specifications. It can be used for new construction, capacity expansion and reconstruction, extra-large span, extra-high voltage, extra-large cross-section and other lines. Stranded carbon fiber conductor (ACMCC) is composed of stranded carbon fiber core and aluminum/aluminum alloy conductor. The core of carbon fiber is composed of a plurality of T700 and T800 carbon fiber tows, which are impregnated with high-temperature resistant epoxy resin and wrapped with high-temperature resistant fibers to form strands;then several strands are twisted into 7-core, 19-core, 37-core and 61-core carbon fiber cores, which are cured at high temperature. Stranded carbon fiber wire has the advantages of light weight, high breaking force, high temperature resistance, high elastic modulus and low linear expansion coefficient. When the conductor cross-sectional area is the same, the maximum cross-sectional flow is 2.6 times of that of ordinary steel-reinforced aluminum stranded wire. When the cross-sectional area of the conductor is the same, taking the sag at 160℃ as an example, it is 0.7 times that of the heat-resistant road alloy conductor (the smaller the sag, the better). When the cross-sectional area of the wire is the same, its weight is 0.8 times that of other wires.
文摘Crosstalk between the nervous system and cancer plays an important role in tumor metastasis yet is poorly understood.Recently,Padmanaban et al.demonstrated a novel mechanism for nerve-induced metastasis.Sensory nerve-derived substance P could induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells that overexpressed tachykinin receptors.Single-stranded RNAs(ssRNAs)leaking from dying cells subsequently interact with toll-like receptor 7(TLR7)on other cancer cells and finally promoted metastasis.This notable study displays a delicate loop between the nervous system and cancer and,more importantly,amplifies the conception of apoptosis-induced metastasis.Over the past years,a mass of breakthrough studies have proven the pivotal role of the nervous system in tumorigenesis and cancer progression thereby contributing to the creation of a new disciplinecancer neuroscience[1].Hanahan and Monje discussed in detail the interactions between the nervous system and tumors based on the theoretical framework of the cancer hallmarks,focused on nerve-mediated proliferation,angiogenesis,immune evasion,cell death resistance,and metastasis[2].
基金supported by the Key Research and Development Program,Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China(Nos.2023YFC2606500,2023YFE0206500).
文摘Coronaviruses are single-stranded,positive-sense RNA enveloped viruses that have posed a significant threat to human health over the past few decades,particularly severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus(SARS-CoV),Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus(MERS-CoV),and SARS-CoV-2.These viruses have caused widespread infections and fatalities,with profound impacts on global economies,social life,and public health systems.Due to their broad host range in natural settings and the consequent high potential for zoonotic spillover events,a thorough investigation of the common viral mechanisms and the identification of druggable targets for pan-coronavirus antiviral development are of utmost importance.
基金supported by grants from the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province(2020CFA012)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32271912)to J.Z。
文摘RNA interference(RNAi)has emerged as a powerful technology for pest management.Previously,we have shown that plastid-mediated RNAi(PM-RNAi)can be utilized to control the Colorado potato beetle,an insect pest in the Chrysomelidae family;however,whether this technology is suitable for controlling pests in the Coccinellidae remained unknown.The coccinellid 28-spotted potato ladybird(Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata;HV)is a serious pest of solanaceous crops.In this study,we identified three efficient target genes(β-Actin,SRP54,and SNAP)for RNAi using in vitro double-stranded RNAs(dsRNAs)fed to HV,and found that dsRNAs targetingβ-Actin messenger RNA(dsACT)induced more potent RNAi than those targeting the other two genes.We next generated transplastomic and nuclear transgenic potato(Solanum tuberosum)plants expressing HV dsACT.Long dsACT stably accumulated to up to 0.7%of the total cellular RNA in the transplastomic plants,at least three orders of magnitude higher than in the nuclear transgenic plants.Notably,the transplastomic plants also exhibited a significantly stronger resistance to HV,killing all larvae within 6 d.Our data demonstrate the potential of PM-RNAi as an efficient pest control measure for HV,extending the application range of this technology to Coccinellidae pests.
文摘A native RNA is a single polynucleotide strand. It has been shown by X-ray diffraction analysis data that a single-stranded RNA can be folded to double helical structure in part by hydrogen bonds between pairing bases (mainly A-U and G-C) and to form loop region in part between unpaired bases. So the high structure of proper alternate arrangement of helical and loop structure can be formed in a single-
基金Project supported by the "85" Key Project Grant of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
文摘Due to the nucleosides and nucleotides located in different positions of nucleic acids, there will be different Cotton effects; therefore, the determination of the circular dichroism is one of the most sensitive methods to study the structure of polynucleotides. The triple stranded DNA (triplex DNA or braid-like DNA), as a specific DNA structure, will be dif-
基金support by the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam for this research,under grant no.B2023-MBS-02.
文摘As prestressed concrete(PC)structures age,long-termeffects,e.g.,creep,shrinkage,and prestress losses,compromise their structural performance.Strengthening these aged PC beams has become a crucial matter.One effective solution is to use externally bonded fiber-reinforced polymer(FRP)sheets;however,limited research has been done on aged PC beams using the FRP,especially for beams with unbonded prestressing strands(UPC beams).Therefore,this research investigates the flexural strengthening efficacy of external FRP sheets on aged UPC beams with unbonded tendons.Aging minimally affected the failure modes of UPC beams,with nonstrengthened beams showing flexural failure via rebar yielding and concrete crushing,and FRP-strengthened beams failing due to FRP debonding and tensile reinforcement yielding,though tendons in the aged beams did not yield due to prestress losses,unlike the new beams.The U-wrap anchor curbed widespread debonding,leading to tensile reinforcement yielding and FRP rupture.Aging hastened crack growth and stiffness loss,increasing deflections and reducing load resistance,but FRP reinforcement mitigated these effects,enhancing cracking resistance by 14%over the unstrengthened aged beams and 7%over the new beams while boosting ultimate resistance by 9%above the non-strengthened new beams.Compared to the new FRP-strengthened beams,the aged counterparts had lower cracking resistance,stiffness and capacity—showing 20%higher deflections,7–9%lower serviceability loads,7%–17%reduced ultimate strength and 17%less deformability—due to prestress losses and premature FRP debonding.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract Nos 42176214 and 42176170the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China under contract Nos LZJWZ22E090002 and LZJWY22E090006the Key Program of the President of the Zhejiang Institute of Hydraulics and Estuaries under contract No.ZIHE21Z001.
文摘Finless porpoises(FPs)serve as flagship species and key ecological indicators for assessing environmental quality.However,FPs are challenging to survey due to their elusive behavior and lack of distinctive features.Stranding and sighting events offer essential information on species diversity,distribution patterns,and potential threats.In this study,records from 1986 to 2023 were analyzed to assess the temporal and spatial distribution patterns of FP strandings and sightings in the Qiantang River Estuary,China.Results show an increase in the number of recorded events over time.Seasonal variations were evident,with a peak in strandings and sightings occurring in late winter.The frequency of records was higher during spring and moderate tides compared to neap tides,particularly in hydrologically normal years.Rapidly receding tides and sediment accumulation appear to restrict the activity space of FPs,thereby increasing the frequency of these events.Localized conditions associated with stranding and sighting events were classified into four categories:bifurcation zones,confluence zones,separation zones,and deep channels adjacent to concave banks.Deep channels,which are optimal for shipping,also elevate the risk of FP strandings.These findings offer valuable insights for the development and design of conservation strategies tailored to the needs of FPs in estuarine environments.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52278303).
文摘To tackle the issue of notch frequency and center frequency drift of the L(0,1)mode guided wave in ultra⁃sonic guided wave⁃based stress monitoring of prestressed steel strands,a method using higher⁃order mode plateau fre⁃quencies is adopted.First,the correlation between group velocity peaks and phase velocities at these plateau frequen⁃cies is analyzed.This analysis establishes a quantitative rela⁃tionship between phase velocity and stress in the steel strand,providing a theoretical foundation for stress monitor⁃ing.Then the two⁃dimensional Fourier transform is em⁃ployed to separate wave modes.Dynamic programming techniques are applied in the frequency⁃velocity domain to extract higher⁃order modes.By identifying the group veloc⁃ity peaks of these separated higher⁃order modes,the plateau frequencies of guided waves are determined,enabling indi⁃rect measurement of stress in the steel strand.To validate this method,finite element simulations are conducted under three scenarios.Results show that the higher⁃order modes of transient signals from three different positions can be ac⁃curately extracted,leading to successful cable stress moni⁃toring.This approach effectively circumvents the issue of guided wave frequency drift and improves stress monitoring accuracy.Consequently,it significantly improves the appli⁃cation of ultrasonic guided wave technology in structural health monitoring.
基金Supported by Jiangsu Province 333 Talent Key Industry Field Talent Project,No.[2022]21Key Scientific Research Program of Jiangsu Provincial Health Committee,No.ZD2021059+2 种基金Nantong Key Laboratory Project,No.[2020]163The Project of Nantong City Health Committee,No.MS2023027Young Medical Talents Fund of Health and Family Planning Commission of Nantong,No.QA2019006 and No.QNZ2023027.
文摘BACKGROUND Accurate preoperative T staging is essential for determining optimal treatment strategies in colorectal cancer(CRC).Low-keV virtual monoenergetic images(VMIs)have been shown to enhance lesion conspicuity.This study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of dual-layer spectral computed tomography(CT)-derived VMIs,in combination with multiplanar reformation(MPR)and evaluation of peritumoral fat stranding(PFS),for improving the accuracy of T staging in CRC.AIM To assess the diagnostic performance of dual-layer spectral CT(DLSCT)VMIs,particularly at low energy levels,and their integration with personalized MPR for preoperative T staging of CRC.METHODS In this retrospective study,157 patients with pathologically confirmed CRC(mean age:63.5±12.1 years)underwent DLSCT within 1 week before surgery.VMIs ranging from 40 keV to 70 keV(at 10 keV intervals)and conventional polyenergetic images(PEIs)were reconstructed.Objective image quality parameters,including image noise,signal-to-noise ratio(SNR),and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR),were quantified,alongside subjective image quality scores using a 5-point Likert scale.Interobserver agreement was evaluated usingκstatistics.Taking histopathology as the reference standard,the diagnostic accuracy of T staging(T1-2 vs T3-4)was compared across PEIs and VMIs,both with and without MPR and PFS.RESULTS Low-keV VMIs(40-70 keV)demonstrated significantly higher SNR and CNR than PEIs(all P<0.001).Notably,40-keV VMIs achieved noise levels comparable to PEIs(8.17±3.63 vs 8.53±2.90;P=0.673).Subjective image quality peaked at 40-50 keV VMIs(Likert scores 4.85-4.88 vs 3.97 for PEIs;P<0.001),supported by excellent interobserver agreement(κ=0.812-0.913).The combination of 40-50 keV VMIs with MPR yielded the highest T staging accuracy(94.27%)compared to axial PEIs(70.7%),with a sensitivity and specificity of 83.87%and 96.83%,respectively(Youden index=0.81;P<0.05).While PFS enhanced staging accuracy on PEIs(up to 77.07%with MPR),it provided no significant additional benefit for VMIs.CONCLUSION DLSCT VMIs at 40-50 keV significantly enhanced image quality and improved preoperative T staging accuracy of CRC when combined with MPR.These findings underscored the clinical value of low-keV spectral imaging in tailoring individualized treatment strategies.
基金financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2021YFC2701402)the Open Research Fund of State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics,Southeast University(No.Sklb2021-k06)+1 种基金the Open Foundation of NHC Key Laboratory of Birth Defect for Research and Prevention(Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital)(No.KF2020007)the Open Foundation of Translational Medicine National Science and Technology Infrastructure(Shanghai)(No.TMSK-2021-141)。
文摘Strand displacement reaction is a crucial component in the assembly of diverse DNA-based nanodevices,with the toehold-mediated strand displacement reaction representing the prevailing strategy.However,the single-stranded Watson-Crick sticky region that serves as the trigger for strand displacement can also cause leakage reactions by introducing crosstalk in complex DNA circuits.Here,we proposed the toeless and reversible DNA strand displacement reaction based on the Hoogsteen-bond triplex,which is compatible with most of the existing DNA circuits.We demonstrated that our proposed reaction can occur at pH 5 and can be reversed at pH 9.We also observed an approximately linear relationship between the degree of reaction and pH within the range of pH 5-6,providing the potential for precise regulation of the reaction.Meanwhile,by altering the sequence orientation,we have demonstrated that our proposed reaction can be initiated or regulated through the same toeless mechanism without the requirement for protonation in low pH conditions.Based on the proposed reaction principle,we further constructed a variety of DNA nanodevices,including two types of DNA logic gates that rely on pH 5/pH 9 changes for initiating and reversing:the AND gate and the OR gate.We also successfully constructed a DNA Walker based on our proposed reaction modes,which can move along a given track after the introduction of a programmable DNA sequence and complete a cycle after 4 steps.Our findings suggest that this innovative approach will have broad utility in the development of DNA circuits,molecular sensors,and other complex biological systems.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82172372)the Opening Research Fund of State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering(No.2023-M04)。
文摘Dynamic DNA nanotechnology plays a significant role in nanomedicine and information science due to its high programmability based on Watson-Crick base pairing and nanoscale dimensions.Intelligent DNA machines and networks have been widely used in various fields,including molecular imaging,biosensors,drug delivery,information processing,and logic operations.Encoders serve as crucial components for information compilation and transfer,allowing the conversion of information from diverse application scenarios into a format recognized and applied by DNA circuits.However,there are only a few encoder designs with DNA outputs.Moreover,the molecular priority encoder is hardly designed.In this study,we introduce allosteric DNAzyme-based encoders for information transfer.The design of the allosteric domain and the recognition arm allows the input and output to be independent of each other and freely programmable.The pre-packaged mode design achieves uniformity of baseline dynamics and dynamics controllability.We also integrated non-nucleic acid molecules into the encoder through the aptamer design of the allosteric domain.Furthermore,we developed the 2^(n)-n encoder and the EndoⅣ-assisted priority encoder inspired by immunoglobulin's molecular structure and effector patterns.To our knowledge,the proposed encoder is the first enzyme-free DNA encoder with DNA output,and the priority encoder is the first molecular priority encoder in the DNA reaction network.Our encoders avoid complex operations on a single molecule,and their simple structure facilitates their application in complex DNA circuits and biological scenarios.
基金the financial support from the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2021YFC2701402)the Open Research Fund of State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics,Southeast University(No.Sklb2021-k06)+2 种基金the Open Foundation of NHC Key Laboratory of Birth Defect for Research and Prevention(Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital)(No.KF2020007)Hunan Province Assisted Reproduction and Regenerative Medicine Clinical Demonstration Center Funded Project(No.2020SK4019)the Open Foundation of Translational Medicine National Science and Technology Infrastructure(Shanghai)(No.TMSK-2021-141)。
文摘Strand displacement reaction enables the construction of enzyme-free DNA reaction networks,thus has been widely applied to DNA circuit and nanotechnology.It has the characteristics of high efficiency,universality and regulatability.However,the existing regulation tools cannot enable effective control of the reaction sequence,which undoubtedly limits the construction of complex nucleic acid circuits.Herein,we developed a regulation tool,toehold lock,and achieved strict control of reaction sequence without loss of the main reaction signal output.Furthermore,we applied the tool to scenarios such as seesaw circuits,AND/OR logic gates,and entropy-driven circuits,and respectively demonstrated its significant superiority compared to the original method.We believe that the proposed toehold lock has greatly optimized the efficiency of DNA strand displacement-based networks,and we anticipate that the tool will be widely used in multiple fields.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81871732)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2021YFC2701402)+4 种基金the Open Research Fund of State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics,southeast University(No.Sklb2021-k06)the Open Foundation of NHC Key Laboratory of Birth Defect for Research and Prevention(Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital)(No.KF2020007)the Open Foundation of Translational Medicine National Science and Technology Infrastructure(Shanghai)(No.TMSK-2021-141)the Open Fund from Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology(Shanxi Medical University)Ministry of Education,China(No.CPOF202103).
文摘DNA circuits are powerful tools in various applications such as logical computation,molecular diagnosis and synthetic biology.Leakage is a major problem in constructing complex DNA circuits.It directly affects the output signal and harms the circuit’s performance significantly.In the traditional DNA circuits,the gate complex is a duplex structure.There are insufficient energy barriers to prevent spontaneous detachment of strands,resulting in a leak prone.Herein,we have developed triplex-structure based DNA circuit with ultra-low leakage and high signal-to-noise ratio(SNR).The triplex structure improves the stability in the absence of input.At the same time,the driving force of the strand displacement cascades reduces the influence of the triplex structure on the desired reaction.The SNR of the DNA circuit was increased to 695,while the desired reaction rate remained 90%of the conventional translator circuit.The triplex-structure mediated leakage prevention strategy was further tested at different temperatures and in DNA translator and seesaw circuits.We also constructed modular basic logic gates with a high efficiency and low leakage.On this basis,we further constructed triplex-structure based tertiary DNA logic circuits,and the SNR reached 295,which,to the best of our knowledge,was among the highest of the field.We believe that our scheme provides a novel,valid,and general tool for reducing leakages,and we anticipate that it will be widely adopted in DNA nanotechnology.
