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In this article, it is discovered that when the switching frequency increases, the current source rectifier (CSR) will suffer from a grid-side current distortion problem at the sector boundary. One of the reasons for this problem is the presence of narrow pulse at the sector boundary. To overcome this problem, a narrow pulse compensation solution is proposed. The solution attempts to alleviate the negative effects of narrow pulse from two aspects: 1) Avoiding the switch with an on-type narrow pulse in the drive signal to affect the turn-on/-off times of the corresponding bridge legs. 2) Improving the switching performance of the switch with an off-type narrow pulse in the drive signal by using a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor with lower blocking voltage to make the actual switching characteristics closer to the ideal switching characteristics. An analysis of the generation mechanism of narrow pulse and its impact on the grid-side current is presented in this article. A 3 kW industrial prototype is also built to verify the effectiveness of the proposed solution. The test result shows that the proposed solution can effectively suppress the grid-side current distortion phenomenon, and improve the performance of CSR at high-switching frequency.

Existing methods for remote-sensing image dehazing and thin cloud removal treat this image restoration task as a clear pixel estimation problem, yielding a single prediction result through a deterministic pipeline. However, image restoration is a highly ill-posed problem, as the sharp pixel value corresponding to the input cannot be uniquely determined solely from the degraded image. In this article, we present a novel algorithm for haze and thin cloud removal using conditional variational autoencoders (CVAEs) to generate multiple realistic restored images for each input. By sampling from the latent space to capture the pixel diversity, the proposed method mitigates the limitations arising from inaccuracies in a single estimation. In this uncertainty pipeline, we can generate a more accurate restored image based on these multiple predictions. Furthermore, we have developed a dynamic fusion network (DFN) for combining multiple plausible outcomes to obtain a more accurate result. DFN dynamically predicts the kernels used for restored result generation conditioned on inputs, improving haze and thin cloud thanks to its adaptive nature. Quantitative and qualitative experiments demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms existing state-of-the-art techniques by a significant margin on dehazing and thin cloud removal benchmarks.

AbstractThe N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors belongs to the family of ionotropic glutamate receptors, which could mediate most excitatory synaptic transmission in the brain. It is interesting to know if some available drugs have regulatory effects on the NMDARs. Herein, the present study reports the discovery of drugs targeting NMDAR using virtual screening. In this study, talniflumate with the EC50 value at 61.49 nM was successfully screened. The interaction analysis of this compound was further explored through molecular dynamics simulation. It is indicated that talniflumate could form stable interactions with GluN1-GluN2B NMDA receptors. In particular, H-bond interactions with high occupancies between GluN1-GluN2B NMDA receptors and talniflumate were observed. Compared to de novo drug discovery, this approach could be an alternative choice for development of safety and efficiency NMDAR inhibitors from available drugs.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

The counts and phenotypes of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in whole blood are useful for disease monitoring and prognostic assessment of cancer. However, phenotyping CTCs in the blood is difficult due to the presence of a large number of background blood cells, especially some blood cells with features similar to those of tumor cells. Herein, we presented a viscoelastic-sorting integrated deformability cytometer (VSDC) for high-throughput label-free sorting and high-precision mechanical phenotyping of tumor cells. A sorting chip for removing large background blood cells and a detection chip for detecting multiple cellular mechanical properties were integrated into our VSDC. Our VSDC has a sorting efficiency and a purity of over 95% and over 81% for tumor cells, respectively. Furthermore, multiple mechanical parameters were used to distinguish tumor cells from white blood cells using machine learning. An accuracy of over 97% for identifying tumor cells was successfully achieved with the highest identification accuracy of 99.4% for MCF-7 cells. It is envisioned that our VSDC will open up new avenues for high-throughput and label-free single-cell analysis in various biomedical applications.

ABSTRACTBECN2 is a mammal-specific homolog of BECN1. Both proteins serve as a scaffolding molecule in the class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase complex (PtdIns3K) to promote macroautophagy/autophagy and endolysosomal trafficking. Our previous studies have shown that the BECN1 coiled-coil domain forms a metastable homodimer and readily self-dissociate to form the BECN1-ATG14 or BECN1-UVRAG coiled-coil complex as part of the scaffolding “arm” of the PtdIns3K complex. Here we report the crystal structure of the BECN2 coiled-coil domain, which forms a metastable homodimer similar to BECN1 but shows reduced stability and large deviation from the ideal coiled-coil geometry due to extra “imperfect” residues. We also report the crystal structure of BECN2-ATG14 coiled-coil complex, which is structurally similar to the BECN1-UVRAG coiled-coil complex we reported previously but functionally distinct. The potent BECN2-ATG14 interaction is selectively critical for endolysosomal degradation of the GPRASP1-associated DRD2/D2R but shows limited effect on EGFR, a cargo that depends on the BECN1-UVRAG interaction. We designed stapled peptides that selectively interacted with the BECN2 coiled-coil domain to enhance the BECN2-ATG14 or BECN1-UVRAG interaction. One such peptide specifically promoted BECN2-dependent processes including autophagy and endolysosomal degradation of DRD2/D2R but did not affect BECN1-dependent EGFR degradation. Our findings suggest that, despite high sequence identity to BECN1, BECN2 coiled-coil domain has unique structural features and the BECN2-ATG14 interaction selectively promotes autophagic or endolysosomal degradation of BECN2-specific cargos including GPRASP1-associated GPCRs.AbbreviationsAMBRA1 autophagy and beclin 1 regulator 1; ATG14 autophagy related 14; ATG5 autophagy related 5; ATG7 autophagy related 7; BECN1 beclin 1; BECN2 beclin 2; CC coiled-coil; CQ chloroquine CNR1/CB1R cannabinoid receptor 1 DAPI 4ʹ,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole; dCCD delete CCD; DRD2/D2R dopamine receptor D2 GPRASP1/GASP1 G protein-coupled receptor associated sorting protein 1 GPCR G-protein coupled receptor; ITC isothermal titration calorimetry; IP immunoprecipitation; KD knockdown; KO knockout; MAP1LC3/LC3 microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3; NRBF2 nuclear receptor binding factor 2; OPRD1/DOR opioid receptor delta 1 PIK3C3/VPS34 phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase catalytic subunit type 3; PIK3R4/VPS15 phosphoinositide-3-kinase regulatory subunit 4; PtdIns3K class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; PtdIns3P phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate; RUBCN rubicon autophagy regulator; SQSTM1/p62 sequestosome 1; UVRAG UV radiation resistance associated; VPS vacuolar protein sorting; WT wild type.

AbstractInteraction between the SARS-COV-2 (2019 novel coronavirus) spike protein and ACE2 receptors expressed on cellular surfaces initialises viral attachment and consequent infection. Blocking this interaction shows promise for blocking or ameliorating the virus’ pathological effects on the body. By contrast to work focusing on the coronavirus, which has significant potential diversity through possible accumulation of mutations during transmission, targeting the conserved ACE2 protein expressed on human cells offers an attractive alternative route to developing pharmacological prophylactics against viral invasion. In this study, we screened a virtual database of natural peptides in silico, with ACE2 as the target, and performed structural analyses of the interface region in the SARS-COV-2 RBD/ACE2 complex. These analyses have identified 15 potentially effective compounds. Analyses of ACE2/polypeptide interactions suggest that these peptides can block viral invasion of cells by stably binding in the ACE2 active site pocket. Molecular simulation results for Complestatin and Valinomycin indicate that they may share this mechanism. The discovery of this probable binding mechanism provides a frame of reference for further optimization, and design of high affinity ACE2 inhibitors that could serve as leads for production of drugs with preventive and therapeutic effects against SARS-COV-2. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Steel slag, as a major solid waste in the steel industry, and its rational disposal is of significant meaning to the carbon emissions of the steel industry. Using steel slag as the carbon sequestration material to absorb the carbon dioxide from flue gases in the production process can realize the waste reuse and at the same time slow down the process of global warming. Although there have been many reports on the carbonation of steel slag, there is a lack of systematic reviews on the process and effect of steel slag carbonation. In this paper, the carbonation methods of steel slag and the evaluation methods of carbonation sequestration are reviewed in detail, and the effect of environmental factors on carbonation of steel slag are described. The mineral transformation and mechanism during carbonation are investigated, and the environmental and social benefits of steel slag carbonation are briefly explained. The study shows that aqueous carbonation is a widely used technical route, and temperature is the most significant factor affecting the carbonation effect of steel slag. Steel slag carbonation has a very broad application prospect and has significant technological advantages in the global warming background.

ABSTRACTExtracellular vesicles (EVs) are a promising new therapeutic platform. However, the low cargo-loading efficiency limits their clinical translation. In this study, we developed a high-yield EV cargo-loading device and explored its ability to encapsulate gene editing proteins. A series of fusion protein-based systems were constructed and their cargo loading efficiencies were compared by a NanoGlo luciferase assay. A myristoylated (Myr) peptide tag cloned from the N-terminal region of charged multivesicular body protein 6 (CHMP6), termed Myr(CHMP6), outcompeted CD9, ARRDC1, and other short polypeptides as an active packaging device. As determined by nanoparticle tracking analysis and transmission electron microscopy, the overexpression of Myr(CHMP6) increased small EV (sEV) production in Lenti-X 293T  cells without altering sEV morphology. The high passive packaging efficiency of Myr(CHMP6) was also elucidated for unmodified cargo loading. Western blotting revealed that Myr(CHMP6) facilitated the loading of Cre and Cas9 into sEVs without the generation of packaging device-cargo fusion proteins. Furthermore, Myr(CHMP6)-modified sEVs loaded with Cre or Cas9 promoted gene-editing in recipient cells, as observed using a fluorescence reporter system. Subsequent investigation demonstrated a dose-dependent effect of Myr(CHMP6) tag-induced cargo-loading. Mechanistically, N-myristoylation alone was necessary but not sufficient for the effective packaging of proteins into EVs. Thus, our results indicated that Myr(CHMP6) induces sEV production and may be effective in loading gene editing proteins into sEVs for therapeutic purposes.

This review (with 126 references) aims at providing an updated overview of the recent developments and innovations of the preparation and application of magnetic nanoparticles for food safety analysis. During the past two decades, various magnetic nanoparticles with different sizes, shapes, and surface modifications have been designed, synthesized, and characterized with the prospering development of material science. Analytical scientists and food scientists are among the ones who bring these novel materials from laboratories to commercial applications. Powerful and versatile surface functional groups and high surface to mass ratios make these magnetic nanoparticles useful tools for high-efficiency capture and preconcentration of certain molecules, even when they exist in trace levels or complicated food matrices. This is why more and more methods for sensitive detection and quantification of hazards in foods are developed based on these magic magnetic tools. In this review, the principles and superiorities of using magnetic nanoparticles for food pollutant analysis are first introduced, like the mechanism of magnetic solid phase extraction, a most commonly used method for food safety-related sample pretreatment. Their design and preparation are presented afterward, alongside the mechanisms underlying their application for different analytical purposes. After that, recently developed magnetic nanoparticle-based methods for dealing with food pollutants such as organic pollutants, heavy metals, and pathogens in different food matrices are summarized in detail. In the end, some humble outlooks on future directions for work in this field are provided.

Beclin 1 is an essential autophagy gene and a haploinsufficient tumor suppressor. Beclin 1 is the scaffolding member of the Class III phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase complex (PI3KC3) and recruits two positive regulators Atg14L and UVRAG through its coiled-coil domain to upregulate PI3KC3 activity. Our previous work has shown that hydrocarbon-stapled peptides targeted to the Beclin 1 coiled-coil domain reduced Beclin 1 homodimerization and promoted the Beclin 1-Atg14L/UVRAG interaction. These peptides also induced autophagy and enhanced the endolysosomal degradation of cell surface receptors like EGFR. Here, we present the optimization of these Beclin 1-targeting peptides by staple scanning and sequence permutation. Placing the hydrocarbon staple closer to the Beclin 1-peptide interface enhanced their binding affinity by ∼10- to 30-fold. Optimized peptides showed potent antiproliferative efficacy in cancer cells that overexpressed EGFR and HER2 by inducing necrotic cell death but not apoptosis. Our Beclin 1-targeting stapled peptides may serve as effective therapeutic candidates for EGFR- or HER2-driven cancer.

Pyrylium salts are considered efficient chemical tags for amino groups. However, the apparent steric selectivity of pyrylium salts limits their application in the field of chemical labeling, especially during the labeling of sterically hindered compounds like amino acids, peptides, and proteins. Herein, we have investigated the effects of the α-substitution of pyrylium salts on their reactivity. We have also investigated the mechanism of nucleophilic reactions with pyrylium salts and further proposed that the reactivity of pyrylium salts mainly depends on the position and type of their substituents. A series of pyrylium salts were synthesized, and a highly active α-monosubstituted pyrylium salt, 2,4,5-triphenylpyrylium, was developed for efficient chemical labeling. All of the 15 amino acids studied were efficiently labeled under optimized reaction conditions. The 2,4,5-triphenylpyrylium salt was highly efficient in comparison to the previously reported 2,4,6-triphenylpyrylium salt developed for lysine-specific modifications. Furthermore, we successfully used 2,4,5-triphenylpyrylium salt for the hydrophobic labeling of peptides and protein hydrolysates. The most striking observation was that the ionization efficiency of short-chain multilabeled peptides in mixed samples, after derivatization, increased by up to 60 times. The increase in ionization efficiency gradually decreased with increasing peptide chain length. During the “soft” collision-induced dissociation (CID) process, the peptide was tagged at the N-terminus with 2,4,5-triphenylpyrylium, producing abundant a-type ions and b-type ions (Δ = 28), which eases the peptide resequencing process and assists in cracking the peptide codes. Moreover, 2,4,5-triphenylpyrylium has been utilized for the proteomic analysis of HeLa cell digests. In addition, 215 additional proteins were identified in the labeled products and the coverage of most proteins was improved.

Peptides have diverse and important physiological roles in plants and are ideal markers for species identification. It is unclear whether there are specific peptides in Panax quinquefoliusL. (PQ). The aims of this study were to identify Quinetides, a series of diverse posttranslational modified native peptides of the ribonuclease-like storage protein (ginseng major protein), from PQ to explore novel peptide markers and develop a new method to distinguish PQ from Panax ginseng.

Lithium metal anode is regarded as the ultimate choice for next-generation energy storage systems, due to the lowest negative electrochemical potential and super high theoretical specific capacity. However, the growth of lithium dendrite during the cycling process is still one of the most critical bottlenecks for its application. In this work, a slurry-like hybrid electrolyte is proposed towards the application for lithium metal anode, which is composed of a liquid electrolyte part and a nanometric silane-Al2O3particle part. The hybrid electrolyte shows high ionic conductivity (3.89 × 10−3 S cm−1at 25 °C) and lithium-ion transference number (0.88). Especially, the resistance of hybrid electrolyte decreases compared to that of liquid electrolyte, while the viscosity of hybrid electrolyte increases. It is demonstrated that the hybrid electrolyte can effectively suppress the growth of lithium dendrite. Stable cycling of Li/Li cells at a current density up to 1 mA cm−2is possible. The hybrid electrolyte helps to uniform the lithium ion flux inside the battery and partly comes from the formation of a rigid and highly conductive hybrid interfacial layer on the surface of lithium metal. This work not only provides a fresh way to stabilize lithium metal anode but also sheds light on further research for electrolyte optimization and design of lithium metal battery system.

The growth conditions and age of Panax ginsengare vital for determining the quality of the ginseng plant. However, the considerable difference in price according to the cultivation method and period of P. ginsengleads to its adulteration in the trade market. We herein focused on ginseng peptides and the possibility of these peptides to be used as biomarker(s) for discrimination of P. ginseng. We applied an ultraperformance liquid chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry-based peptidomics approach to characterize ginseng peptides and discover novel peptide biomarkers for authentication of mountain-cultivated ginseng (MCG). We identified 52 high-confidence peptides and screened 20 characteristic peptides differentially expressed between MCG and cultivated ginseng (CG). Intriguingly, 6 differential peptides were expressed significantly in MCG and originated from dehydrins that accumulated during cold or drought conditions. In addition, 14 other differential peptides that were significantly expressed in CG derived from ginseng major protein, an essential protein for nitrogen storage. These biological associations confirmed the reliability and credibility of the differential peptides. Additionally, we determined several robust peptide biomarkers for discrimination of MCG through a precise selection process. These findings demonstrate the potential of peptide biomarkers for identification and quality control of P. ginsengin addition to ginsenoside analysis.

Coal gasification technology is the core of clean and efficient utilization of coal, while coal gasification fine ash (CGFA) is the solid waste inevitably produced in the coal gasification process. Due to the high residual carbon content and water retention of CGFA, the solubility of its silica-aluminium-calcium-containing minerals is poor, which affects its potential cementing properties in construction materials. In this paper, the basic physicochemical properties were investigated, and it was found that small particles of CGFA (CGFA-S) had more active mineral components, lower residual carbon content (17.17%) and weaker water retention (6.91%), which facilitated the removal of impurities and water. In addition, the best effects were achieved at a heat treatment temperature of 650 °C, which exposed the minerals and increased the solution solubility, and the leaching concentrations of Si4+, Al3+, and Ca2+increased by 21.2%, 44.6%, and 97.8%, respectively. However, when the temperature was too high (815 °C), the minerals recrystallized, leading to structural instability and dissolution difficulties, and the concentrations of the three major ions were reduced by 84.4%, 82.0%, and 42.2%, respectively, compared with the control.Finally, the optimal heat treatment temperature was 650 °C, with the highest exothermic hydration rate (11.92 mW/g) and the highest cumulative exothermic heat (199.81 J/g). The hydration products were tightly bound, and the cement mortar specimens had the highest compressive strength, with a 28d strength of 45.4 MPa.

Neurotransmitters (NTs) and neuromodulators (NMs) are two of the most important neurochemicals in the brain, and their imbalances in specific brain regions are thought to underlie certain neurological disorders. We present an on-tissue chemoselective derivatization mass spectrometry imaging (OTCD-MSI) method for the simultaneous mapping of NTs and NMs. Our derivatization system consists of a pyridiniumyl-benzylboronic acid based derivatization reagent and pyrylium salt, which facilitate covalent charge labeling of molecules containing cis-diol and primary amino, respectively. These derivatization systems improved the detection sensitivity of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-MSI and simplified the identification of amino NTs and nucleoside NMs by the innate chemoselectivity of derivatization reagents and the unique isotopic pattern of boron-derivative reagents. We demonstrated the ability of the developed method on brain sections from a hypoxia mouse model and control. The simultaneous imaging of NTs and NMs provided a method for exploring how hypoxic stress and drugs affect specific brain regions through neurotransmitter modulation.

Network Functions Virtualization (NFV ) is an attempt to help operators more effectively manage their networks by implementing traditional network functions embedded in specialized hardware platforms in term of virtualized software instances. But, existing novel network appliances designed for NFV infrastructure are always architected on a general-purpose x86 server, which makes the performance of network functions limited by the hosted single server. To address this challenge, we propose ApplianceBricks, a novel NFV-enable network appliance architecture that is used to explore the way of consolidating multiple physical network functions into a clustered network appliance, which is able to improve the processing capability of NFV-enabled network appliances.

In this study, a facile strategy for preparing nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) was developed. A novel N-CD-sensitized, three-dimensionally ordered, porous TiO2 inverse opal structure (IOS) using a polystyrene (PS) opal as the template was constructed for the first time. The as-prepared N-CDs/TiO2 IOS shows enhanced photoelectrochemical performance and photocatalytic activity. The photo-response range of the composite film is expanded to the visible region due to the addition of N-CDs and the highly ordered void structure. The photocurrent density of the N-CDs/TiO2 IOS is approximately 6 times higher than that of TiO2 IOS and 18 times that of TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs). The photocurrent density is also enhanced 2-fold through sensitization of the N-CDs compared with that of CDs. In addition, the N-CDs/TiO2 IOS shows better photocatalytic activity in degrading organic dyes than CDs/TiO2 IOS, TiO2 IOS and TiO2 NPs. The good photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic performance makes N-CDs/TiO2 IOS a promising material in clean energy, water treatment and other applications.

Cr and Ce promoted Ni–W–B amorphous catalysts were prepared by the chemical reduction method of the corresponding precursors with sodium borohydride. The resulting catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen sorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Adding Cr or Ce into Ni–W–B amorphous catalyst could increase the content of WO3on the catalyst surface and then enhance its deoxygenation activity in the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of C=O in cyclopentanone. Ce–Ni–W–B exhibited higher HDO activity than Ni–W–B and Cr–Ni–W–B, which was attributed to its amorphous structure, higher relative content of Ni0, more electron transfer between Ni0and B0, and more WO3Brønsted acid sites on the catalyst surface. The pseudo-first order reaction rate constant of the cyclopentanone transformation on Ce–Ni–W–B amorphous catalyst was high to 0.31 mL/(g catalyst s). The HDO of cyclopentanone on these Ni–W–B amorphous catalysts proceeded with hydrogenation–dehydration route to produce cyclopentene and cyclopentane.

The chronic use of nicotine, the main psychoactive ingredient of tobacco smoking, alters diverse physiological processes and consequently generates physical dependence. To understand the impact of chronic nicotine on neuropeptides, which are potential molecules associated with dependence, we conducted qualitative and quantitative neuropeptidomics on the rat dorsal striatum, an important brain region implicated in the preoccupation/craving phase of drug dependence. We used extensive LC-FT-MS/MS analyses for neuropeptide identification and LC-FT-MS in conjunction with stable isotope addition for relative quantification. The treatment with chronic nicotine for 3 months led to moderate changes in the levels of endogenous dorsal striatum peptides. Five enkephalin opioid peptides were up-regulated, although no change was observed for dynorphin peptides. Specially, nicotine altered levels of nine non-opioid peptides derived from precursors, including somatostatin and cerebellin, which potentially modulate neurotransmitter release and energy metabolism. This broad but selective impact on the multiple peptidergic systems suggests that apart from the opioid peptides, several other peptidergic systems are involved in the preoccupation/craving phase of drug dependence. Our finding permits future evaluation of the neurochemical circuits modulated by chronic nicotine exposure and provides a number of novel molecules that could serve as potential therapeutic targets for treating drug dependence.

We have demonstrated an interesting approach for the one-pot synthesis of cupric oxide (CuO) nanourchins with sub-100 nm through a sequential dissolution–precipitation process in a water/ethanol system. The first stage produces a precursory crystal [Cu7Cl4(OH)10H2O] that is transformed into monoclinic CuO nanourchins during the following stage. Water is a required reactant for the morphology-controlled growth of different CuO nanostructures. When evaluated for their nonenzymatic glucose-sensing properties, these CuO nanourchins manifest higher sensitivity. Significantly, this water-dependent precursor transformation method may be widely used to effectively control the growth of other metal oxide nanostructures.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for approximately 90% of primary liver cancer cases and ranks as the second leading cause of cancer related death. Multiple receptor tyrosine kinases such as EGFR, FGFR and c-MET have been shown to drive tumorigenesis and progression of HCC. However, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) that target these kinases, including the FDA-approved sorafenib, only offer limited clinical success. Resistance to sorafenib and other TKIs also readily emerge in HCC patients, further limiting the usage of these drugs. Novel therapeutic strategies are needed to address the urgent unmet medical need for HCC patients.

A capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method has been developed for investigating the physicochemical characteristics of five Strychnosalkaloids in Strychnos nux-vomica L. Firstly, the dissociation constants of the five Strychnosalkaloids were determined, based on the relation between the effective mobility of the solutes and the buffer pH. The mathematical relationship was strictly deduced from the fundamental electrophoretic theory and the dissociation equilibrium. Secondly, an equation describing the relation between the migration time of alkaloids of similar structure and their molecular weights was developed and used to predict the migration order and to calculate the electrosomotic velocity. The results predicted by the theory agreed with those from experiments.

Abstract: A general method is developed for optimal application of dampers and actuators by installing them at optimal location on seismic-resistant structures. The study includes development of a statistical criterion, formulation of a general optimization problem and establishment of a solution procedure. Numerical analysis of the seismic response in time-history of controlled structures is used to verify the proposed method for optimal device application and to demonstrate the effectiveness of seismic response control with optimal device location. This study shows that the proposed method for the optimal device application is simple and general, and that the optimally applied dampers and actuators are very efficient for seismic response reduction.

A facile and novel method for the fabrication of core‐shell nanoparticles (PTMA@SiO2) based on a poly(2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidinyloxy‐4‐yl methacrylate) (PTMA) core and a porous SiO2shell is reported. The core‐shell nanoparticles are further self‐assembled with negatively charged multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), which results in the formation of a free‐standing cathode electrode. The porous SiO2shell not only effectively improves the stability of the linear PTMA redox polymer with low molar mass in organic electrolytes but also leads to the uniform dispersion of PTMA active units in the MWCNTs conductive network. The PTMA@SiO2@MWCNT composite electrode exhibits a specific capacity as high as 73.8 mAh g at 1 C and only 0.11% capacity loss per cycle at a rate of 2 C. This study discloses the fabrication of nanoparticles made of redox polymer cores surrounded by stabilizing porous silica shells, that are dispersed in a conductive net work of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes. Because of their well‐controlled morphology, the resulting composite electrodes exhibit a high specific capacity and a long cycling life.

Core‐shell nanoparticles are fabricated based on a redox polymer core and a porous SiO2shell and embedded homogeneously into carbon nanotubes conductive networks. Due to the uniform dispersion of active units, the resulting free‐standing composite electrode exhibits a high specific capacity at 10C and a long cycling life. More details can be found in article number 1901040by He Jia, Jean‐François Gohy, and co‐workers.

In this study, a facile strategy for preparing nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) was developed. A novel N-CD-sensitized, three-dimensionally ordered, porous TiO2inverse opal structure (IOS) using a polystyrene (PS) opal as the template was constructed for the first time. The as-prepared N-CDs/TiO2IOS shows enhanced photoelectrochemical performance and photocatalytic activity. The photo-response range of the composite film is expanded to the visible region due to the addition of N-CDs and the highly ordered void structure. The photocurrent density of the N-CDs/TiO2IOS is approximately 6 times higher than that of TiO2IOS and 18 times that of TiO2nanoparticles (NPs). The photocurrent density is also enhanced 2-fold through sensitization of the N-CDs compared with that of CDs. In addition, the N-CDs/TiO2IOS shows better photocatalytic activity in degrading organic dyes than CDs/TiO2IOS, TiO2IOS and TiO2NPs. The good photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic performance makes N-CDs/TiO2IOS a promising material in clean energy, water treatment and other applications.

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode-array detection interfaced to atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI)-mass spectrometry (MS) is applied to analyze phthalides from Chuanxiong (the rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong). This herb material, containing plenty of phthalide compositions, is selected as the analytical target in this paper for its hematological activity. Some of the phthalides are not stable and are difficult to analyze by gas chromatography-MS. Under optimized LC-MS-MS conditions, six phthalides in the methanol extract of Chuanxiong are unambiguously identified, and characteristic fragments are obtained using homemade reference standards. Ten other phthalides in the extract are confirmed by means of LC-APCI-MS with positive-negative ion mode and collision-induced dissociation in combination with UV spectrophotometry. The results show that LC-MS-MS is a method of choice for fast detection and detailed structural analysis of such mixtures in the crude extract of Chuanxiong.