Studies of tetragonal PbTiO3 subjected to uniaxial stress along the c-axis

Tetragonal PbTiO3 under uniaxial stress along the c-axis is investigated from first-principles. The structural parameters, polarization, and squares of the lowest optical phonon frequencies for E(1TO) and A(1)(1TO) modes at Gamma show abrupt changes near a stress sigma(c) of 1.04 GPa, which is related to the dramatic change of elastic constant c(33) resulting from the uniaxial stress applied along the c-axis. We also find that the uniaxial compressive stress could enhance the piezoelectric stress coefficients, whereas the uniaxial tensile stress could enhance the piezoelectric strain coefficients. It is also found that when the magnitude of uniaxial compressive stress sigma(33) is greater than 12 GPa, PbTiO3 is transformed to the paraelectric tetragonal phase.

Waterborne exposure to PFOS causes disruption of the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis in zebrafish larvae

Thyroid hormones (THs) play an important role in the normal development and physiological functions in fish. Environmental chemicals may adversely affect thyroid function by disturbing gene transcription. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), a persistent compound, is widely distributed in the aquatic environment and wildlife. In the present study, we investigated whether PFOS could disrupt the hypothalamic– pituitary–thyroid (HPT) axis. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to various concentrations of PFOS (0, 100, 200 and 400 lg L 1) and gene expression patterns were examined 15 d post-fertilization. The expression of several genes in the HPT system, i.e., corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), sodium/iodide symporter (NIS), thyroglobulin (TG), thyroid peroxidase (TPO), transthyretin (TTR), iodothyronine deiodinases (Dio1 and Dio2) and thyroid receptor (TRa and TRb), was quantitatively measured using real-time PCR. The gene expression levels of CRF and TSH were significantly up-regulated and down-regulated, respectively, upon exposure to 200 and 400 lg L 1 PFOS. A significant increase in NIS and Dio1 gene expression was observed at 200 lg L 1 PFOS exposure, while TG gene expression was down-regulated at 200 and 400 lg L 1 PFOS exposure. TTR gene expression was down-regulated in a concentration-dependent manner. Up-regulation and down-regulation of TRa and TRb gene expression, respectively, was observed upon exposure to PFOS. The whole body thyroxine (T4) content remained unchanged, whereas triiodothyronine (T3) levels were significantly increased, which could directly reflect disrupted thyroid hormone status after PFOS exposure. The overall results indicated that PFOS exposure could alter gene expression in the HPT axis and that mechanisms of disruption of thyroid status by PFOS could occur at several steps in the synthesis, regulation, and action of thyroid hormones.

Criterion of aerodynamic performance of large-scale offshore horizontal axis wind turbines

With the background of offshore wind energy projects, this paper studies aerodynamic performance and geometric characteristics of large capacity wind turbine rotors ( 1 to 10 MW), and the main characteristic parameters such as the rated wind speed, blade tip speed, and rotor solidity. We show that the essential criterion of a high-performance wind turbine is a highest possible annual usable energy pattern factor and a smallest possible dimension, capturing the maximum wind energy and producing the maximum annual power. The influence of the above-mentioned three parameters on the pattern factor and rotor geometry of wind turbine operated in China's offshore meteorological environment is investigated. The variation patterns of aerodynamic and geometric parameters are obtained, analyzed, and compared with each other. The present method for aerodynamic analysis and its results can form a basis for evaluating aerodynamic performance of large-scale offshore wind turbine rotors.

Hydroelastic dynamic characteristics of a slender axis-symmetric body

The slender axis-symmetric submarine body moving in the vertical plane is the object of our investigation. A coupling model is developed where displacements of a solid body as a Euler beam (consisting of rigid motions and elastic deformations) and fluid pressures are employed as basic independent variables, including the interaction between hydrodynamic forces and structure dynamic forces. Firstly the hydrodynamic forces, depending on and conversely influencing body motions, are taken into account as the governing equations. The expressions of fluid pressure are derived based on the potential theory. The characteristics of fluid pressure, including its components, distribution and effect on structure dynamics, are analyzed. Then the coupling model is solved numerically by means of a finite element method (FEM). This avoids the complicacy, combining CFD (fluid) and FEM (structure), of direct numerical simulation, and allows the body with a non-strict ideal shape so as to be more suitable for practical engineering. An illustrative example is given in which the hydroelastic dynamic characteristics, natural frequencies and modes of a submarine body are analyzed and compared with experimental results. Satisfactory agreement is observed and the model presented in this paper is shown to be valid.

Interweaving of single-helical and equal double-helical chains with the same helical axis in a 3D metal-organic framework

A novel metal-organic framework with unprecedented interweaving of coaxial single-helical and equal double-helical chains of opposite chirality, which features a super-connective helix simultaneously tangling with eight helices, was reported.

Preparation of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) over heteropoly acids immobilized on activated carbon (HPA/C) in the vapor phase

Heteropolyacids (HPAs) supported on the activated carbon (SiW12/C and PW12/C) have been used to study the formation of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). Compared to the conventional commercial catalysts, Amberlyst-15 resin and HZSM-5, HPAs supported catalysts have been proved to have much higher catalytic activity under lower temperature, especially selectivity to MTBE is up to 100%. It may be due to the high acid strength of HPAs as well as the specialty of heteropolyanion.

Immobilization of the heteropoly acid (HPA) H4SiW12O40 (SiW12) on mesoporous molecular sieves (HMS and MCM-41) and their catalytic behavior

Supported catalysts, consisting of SiW12 immobilized on hexagonal mesoporous silica (HMS) and its aluminum-substituted derivative (MCM-41) with different loadings and calcination temperatures, have been prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction, FT-IR and NH3-temperature programmed desorption. It is shown that SiW12 retains the Keggin structure on the mesoporous molecular sieves and no HPA crystal phase is developed, even at SiW12 loadings as high as 50 wt%. In the esterification of acetic acid by n-butanol, supported catalysts exhibit a higher catalytic activity and stability and held some promise of practical application. In addition, experimental results indicate that the loaded amount of SiW12 and the calcination temperatures have a significant influence on the catalytic activity, and the existence of aluminum has also an effect on the properties of supported catalysts.

气相酯化反应的高效催化剂──活性炭固载的杂多酸（HPA／C）

在气－固反应体系中研究了固载在活性炭上的硅钨（ＳｉＷ_（１２））和磷钨（ＰＷ_（１２））杂多酸在合成乙酸乙酯和乙酸丁酯中的催化性能。实验结果表明，反应温度、空间速度和反应物的配比均对催化活性有明显影响，并且，负载催化剂表面酸量与酯化反应活性之间存在着相应的顺变关系。催化剂在较低反应温度和相当大的流速下具有较高的酯化活性，且性能稳定，有一定的应用前景。

具有抗HIV病毒活性的杂多酸HPA－23与谷胱甘肽的作用

以谷胱甘肽作为病毒包络蛋白的模拟物，用ＮＭＲ方法研究了与具有抗爱滋病病毒活性杂多酸ＨＰＡ－２３的作用．对不同配比的ＨＰＡ－２３和谷胱甘肽混合物的１Ｈ和１８３ＷＮＭＲ谱研究结果表明，还原型和氧化型谷胱甘肽均以Ｃ末端ＣＯＯ－与ＨＰＡ－２３骨架的钨原子配位，还原型谷胱甘肽侧链上的巯基（ＳＨ）也参加配位．ＣＯＳＹ谱证明了ＳＨ配位为慢交换反应．早在七十年代初，人们就发现杂多酸具有抗病毒活性［１，２］．最近报道［ＮＨ４］１８［ＮａＳｂ９Ｗ２１Ｏ８８］·２４Ｈ２Ｏ（结构代号为ＨＰＡ－２３）具有很高的抗爱滋病病毒活性，在法国已进入临床应用［３］．但从分子水平研究杂多酸化合物抗病毒的机理．目前尚未见到国内外报道．而作为病毒可以广义地看作由一个蛋白外壳包裹，内部则为核酸．爱滋病病毒同样由两层蛋白所包裹，与宿主细胞发生吸附作用主要是通过外层包络蛋白（ＧＰ１２０）［４］，该蛋白的活性组份是一个由８个氨基酸组成的Ｔ（Ａｌａ－Ｓｅｒ－Ｔｈｒ－Ｔｈｒ－Ｔｈｒ－Ａｓｎ－Ｔｙｒ－Ｔｈｎ）肽段［５］．我们以容易得到的三肽一谷胱甘肽作为病毒包络蛋白的模拟物，用ＮＭＲ方法研究杂多酸ＨＰＡ－２３与它的作用．结果表明还原型和氧化型谷胱甘肽均以Ｃ末端Ｃ

用NMR方法研究杂多酸HPA-23与谷胱甘肽的作用

早在70年代初,人们就发现杂多酸具有抗病毒活性.例如钨锑酸钠[NaSb_9W_(21)O_(86)]~(18-)有可能成为潜在的抗病毒化合物.非常有趣的是最近报道[NH_4]_(18)[NaSb_9W_(21)O_(86)]·24H_2O(结构代号为HPA-23)具有很高的抗爱滋病病毒活性,在法国已进入临床应用.但从分子水平研究杂多酸化合物抗病毒的机理,目前尚未见到国内外报道.而作为病毒可以广义地看作由一个蛋白外壳包裹,内部则为核酸.爱滋病病毒同样由两层蛋白所包裹,与宿主细胞发生吸附作用主要是通过外层包络蛋白(GP120),该蛋白的活性组分是一个由8个氨基酸组成