Breaking a Couple: Disulfide Reducing Agents

Cysteine is present in a large number of natural and synthetic (bio)molecules. Although the thiol side chain of Cys can be in a free form, in most cases it forms a disulfide bond either with a second Cys (bridge) or with another thiol, as in the case of protecting groups. Efficient reduction of these disulfide bridges is a requirement for many applications of Cys-containing molecules in the fields of chemistry and biochemistry. Here we review reducing methods for disulfide bonds, taking into consideration the solubility of the substrates when selecting the appropriate reducing reagent.     

Stochastic collocation-based nonlinear analysis of concrete bridges with uncertain parameters

This paper focuses on the stochastic response of concrete bridges considering uncertainty in bearing and abutment stiffness. A multi-span simply supported bridge with concrete girders is selected. A 3D-dimensional model is prepared, and nonlinear response history analyses are performed. For the numerical dynamic simulation, the non-sampling stochastic method based on generalized polynomial chaos (gPC) expansion is utilised. The uncertain parameters include the vertical and shear stiffness of bearings and the lateral stiffness of abutments are presented by the truncated gPC expansions. Furthermore, the system response such as base shear, acceleration, velocity and displacement in different columns is presented by gPC expansion with unknown deterministic coefficients. The stochastic Galerkin projection is employed to calculate a set of deterministic equations. A non-intrusive solution, as a set of collocation points, determines the unknown gPC coefficients of the system response and the results are compared with Monte Carlo simulations. The key advantage of spectral discretization is the combination of the mentioned method with the spatial discretization, e.g. finite element model. This study also emphasises the accuracy in results and time efficiency of the proposed non-sampling method for uncertainty quantification of stochastic systems comparing to sampling procedure (e.g. Monte Carlo simulation).     

Fire hazard in transportation infrastructure: Review,assessment, and mitigation strategies

This paper reviews the fire problem in critical transportation infrastructures such as bridges and tunnels. The magnitude of the fire problem is illustrated, and the recent increase in fire problems in bridges and tunnels is highlighted. Recent research undertaken to address fire problems in transportation structures is reviewed, as well as critical factors governing the performance of those structures. Furthermore, key strategies recommended for mitigating fire hazards in bridges and tunnels are presented, and their applicability to practical situations is demonstrated through a practical case study. Furthermore, research needs and emerging trends for enhancing the “state-of-the-art” in this area are discussed.     

Dimeric C34 Derivatives Linked through Disulfide Bridges as New HIV-1 Fusion Inhibitors

C34, a 34-mer fragment peptide, is contained in the HIV-1 envelope protein gp41. A dimeric derivative of C34 linked through a disulfide bridge at its C terminus was synthesized and found to display potent anti-HIV activity, comparable with that of a previously reported PEGylated dimer of C34REG. The reduction in the size of the linker moiety for dimerization was thus successful, and this result might shed some light on the mechanism of the suppression of six-helix bundle formation by these C34 dimeric derivatives. Addition of a Gly-Cys(CH₂CONH₂)-Gly-Gly motif at the N-terminal position of a C34 monomeric derivative significantly increased the anti-HIV-1 activity. This moiety functions as a new pharmacophore, and this might provide a useful insight into the design of potent HIV-1 fusion inhibitors.     

高拱坝施工期温控参数敏感性分析

在混凝土高拱坝浇筑过程中,影响坝体施工期温度场及温度应力的因素有很多,因此选用适当的浇筑方案对于节约工程成本及提高坝体安全性有着重要意义。以孟底沟水电站工程为例,选用多种施工方案,并利用三维有限元方法进行仿真分析,分析了浇筑季节、浇筑层厚、间歇时间及浇筑温度等因素对坝体施工期的敏感性。结果表明,低温季节浇筑、在防止热量倒灌的前提下尽量减小浇筑层厚度、缩短间歇时间、降低浇筑温度有助于降低温度应力,提高坝体安全性。     

公路隧道喷射混凝土套拱加固结构力学特性

为研究喷射混凝土套拱加固前后二次衬砌与混凝土套拱的受力状况,依托陕西汉中至留坝段八里关隧道,运用有限元软件建立隧道混凝土结构套拱加固分析模型,并通过现场监测获取二次衬砌与套拱间的接触压力、套拱格栅拱架钢筋应力、套拱混凝土应力,将数值模拟结果与现场测试结果相结合,得出套拱结构的一般受力变化规律。结果表明:套拱加固前衬砌结构的最不利荷载位置位于施工缝附近的拱顶、拱肩与拱脚处; 由于衬砌局部变形与温度应力的影响,套拱混凝土应力变化呈现反复“上升-下降-上升”最后趋于稳定的特点; 套拱的作用是控制二次衬砌的进一步变形,套拱施作后所承受荷载较小,套拱反作用力远小于围岩作用于衬砌的应力,在应力计算中不应将衬砌与套拱作为整体计算; 套拱结构数值模拟所得的结果与现场测试套拱结构内力(轴力、弯矩)的大小及分布相似度高,但在衬砌裂损严重部位,数值模拟所得结果误差较大,应以现场测试结果为准。     

Influence of fibers on the microstructure and compressive response of directional ice-templated alumina ceramics

Directional ice-templated ceramics have unique lamellar porous channels between ceramic walls which run from bottom to top of the samples. This highly oriented morphology results in the anisotropy in mechanical properties both parallel and perpendicular to freezing direction. In this research, fiber-enhanced ice-templated porous ceramics were fabricated by introducing fibers into alumina slurry for freezing. The trans-lamellar fiber bridges connecting adjacent ceramic walls were formed by adjusting the aspect ratio of fibers and freezing velocity, which greatly enhanced the compressive response in two directions and weakened the anisotropy in mechanical properties of the directional ice-templated ceramics. The results showed that the of fiber bridges increased with the increase of fiber aspect ratio and the longitudinal and transverse mechanical properties increased by 73.5% and 232.6%, respectively.     

基于优化神经网络的高拱坝力学参数反演

高拱坝力学性能参数变化规律复杂,使用人工智能算法进行预测已经成为反演参数的重要手段。使用遗传算法对神经网络进行优化来检验优化后算法的性能,并比较不同算法应用于参数反演中预测结果的精度。根据某高拱坝运行期变形监测数据,分别使用RBF神经网络和遗传算法优化的BP(GA-BP)神经网络对不同水位工况下的坝段分区混凝土弹性模量进行反演。基于反演结果进行有限元正分析计算,将所得结果与实测数据进行对比,检验反演精度和效率。结果表明:GA-BP网络的最大预测误差为1.8%,相比于RBF网络预测精度提高了约50%。使用神经网络进行拱坝力学参数反演实用性好,优化后的神经网络比传统BP神经网络在计算精度和效率两方面均有明显改进,且GA-BP神经网络反演比RBF神经网络反演精度更高。     

天花板碾压混凝土双曲拱坝运行期温度场及温度应力分析

温度控制是拱坝设计、施工与运行过程中均需重点考虑的因素。以天花板碾压混凝土双曲拱坝为例,分析坝体的实测温度变化规律、实际冬夏两季典型温度场、全年准稳定温度场和封拱温度场,并与设计温度荷载对比,计算和分析温度荷载差异对坝体应力的影响。研究成果可用于指导工程实践并为同类工程提供参考。