A Memetic Differential Evolution Algorithm Based on Dynamic Preference for Constrained Optimization Problems

The constrained optimization problem (COP) is converted into a biobjective optimization problem first, and then a new memetic differential evolution algorithm with dynamic preference is proposed for solving the converted problem. In the memetic algorithm, the global search, which uses differential evolution (DE) as the search scheme, is guided by a novel fitness function based on achievement scalarizing function (ASF). The novel fitness function constructed by a reference point and a weighting vector adjusts preference dynamically towards different objectives during evolution, in which the reference point and weighting vector are determined adapting to the current population. In the local search procedure, simplex crossover (SPX) is used as the search engine, which concentrates on the neighborhood embraced by both the best feasible and infeasible individuals and guides the search approaching the optimal solution from both sides of the boundary of the feasible region. As a result, the search can efficiently explore and exploit the search space. Numerical experiments on 22 well-known benchmark functions are executed, and comparisons with five state-of-the-art algorithms are made. The results illustrate that the proposed algorithm is competitive with and in some cases superior to the compared ones in terms of the quality, efficiency, and the robustness of the obtained results

Fully Conjugated Phthalocyanine Copper Metal-Organic Frameworks for Sodium-Iodine Batteries with Long-Time-Cycling Durability

Rechargeable sodium-iodine (Na-I-2) batteries are attracting growing attention for grid-scale energy storage due to their abundant resources, low cost, environmental friendliness, high theoretical capacity (211 mAh g(-1)), and excellent electrochemical reversibility. Nevertheless, the practical application of Na-I-2 batteries is severely hindered by their poor cycle stability owing to the serious dissolution of polyiodide in the electrolyte during charge/discharge processes. Herein, the atomic modulation of metal-bis(dihydroxy) species in a fully conjugated phthalocyanine copper metal-organic framework (MOF) for suppression of polyiodide dissolution toward long-time cycling Na-I-2 batteries is demonstrated. The Fe-2[(2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octahydroxy phthalocyaninato)Cu] MOF composited with I-2 (Fe-2-O-8-PcCu/I-2) serves as a cathode for a Na-I-2 battery exhibiting a stable specific capacity of 150 mAh g(-1) after 3200 cycles and outperforming the state-of-the-art cathodes for Na-I-2 batteries. Operando spectroelectrochemical and electrochemical kinetics analyses together with density functional theory calculations reveal that the square planar iron-bis(dihydroxy) (Fe-O-4) species in Fe-2-O-8-PcCu are responsible for the binding of polyiodide to restrain its dissolution into electrolyte. Besides the monovalent Na-I-2 batteries in organic electrolytes, the Fe-2-O-8-PcCu/I-2 cathode also operates stably in other metal-I-2 batteries like aqueous multivalent Zn-I-2 batteries. Thus, this work offers a new strategy for designing stable cathode materials toward high-performance metal-iodine batteries

Effects of aluminum diffusion on the adhesive behavior of the Ni(111)/Cr2O3(0001) interface: First principle study

AbstractDensity functional theory was employed to investigate the structure and properties of Ni/Cr2O3 and Ni/Al2O3/Cr2O3. The O-terminated Ni(111)/Cr2O3(0001) interface was firstly found to be the most stable configuration. Based on this construction, the effects of the Al diffusion at the Ni/Cr2O3 interface were further studied. The results of total energies indicate that Al atoms originating from Ni slab prefer to diffuse into Cr2O3 slab through the interface, resulting in the formation of alumina at the Ni/Cr2O3 interface. Due to the presence of Al atoms, there was an amazing increase in the work of adhesion, whereas the Ni/Al2O3/Cr2O3 interface showed the strongest stability. Moreover, this calculated work well agrees with the reported experimental results

A two-dimensional electrophoresis protocol suitable for Medicago truncatula leaf proteome

Medicago truncatula leaves were used as the experimental materials. Total proteins of leaves were extracted by trichloracetic acid (TCA)-acetone method and proteins had a better separation using gel strips, forming an immobilized non-linear 3 to 10 pH gradient focusing 123,000 vhr combined with 12% sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The gels were stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue G-250 and digitalized gels were analyzed using the PDquest 8.0.1 software. The results indicated that 931 protein dots were detected in the gel. A technology suitable for the M. truncatula leaves protein extraction by TCA/acetone and a protocol for two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) was established, which provides technical support for M. truncatula leaf proteome research.Keywords: Medicago truncatula, proteome, two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-DE), isoelectrofocusing (IEF)African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(3), pp. 233-23

STAT1 modification improves therapeutic effects of interferons on lung cancer cells

BACKGROUND: Interferons (IFNs) have potent anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic, and immunomodulatory activities against cancer. However, the clinical utility of IFNs is limited by toxicity and pharmacokinetics making it difficult to achieve sustained therapeutic levels especially in solid tumors. METHODS: Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 1 (STAT1) or a modified STAT1 (designated STAT1-CC) that is hyper-responsive to IFN were overexpressed in lung cancer SPC-A-1 and H1299 cells using lentiviral vectors. Transduction efficiency was monitored using enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) expression. After transduction, cells were treated with interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) or interferon-beta (IFN-β) and monitored for cell proliferation, migration, and invasiveness using Cell Counting Kit-8 and transwell chamber assays and for apoptosis using Annexin V detection by flow cytometry. In addition, levels of STAT1, STAT1 Tyr-701 phosphorylation (pSTAT1), fibronectin, and β-catenin were determined using western blotting. In the case of IFN-γ stimulation, levels of S100A4, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and c-fos expression were also determined. RESULTS: We found that expression of STAT1 or STAT1-CC enhanced the effect of IFN-γ and, IFN-β on inhibition of human lung cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasiveness. Moreover, STAT1 and STAT1-CC expression caused increases in pSTAT1 and decreases in fibronectin and β-catenin levels. STAT1-CC showed increased effects compared to STAT1 on IFN-γ induced pSTAT1 and down-regulation of S100A4, PCNA, and c-fos levels. CONCLUSION: The results show that STAT1-CC exhibited more strength in improving the antitumor response of IFNs in lung cancer cells. Results from this study suggest that combined treatment of IFNs and STAT1-CC might be a feasible approach for the clinical management of lung cancer in the future

Study of slime water mixing process intensification using impingement flow regulation

slime water generally contains a large number of highly dispersed suspended particles, making solid-liquid separation difficult. Strengthening fluid mixing and particle collision by regulating turbulence is an effective way to achieve solid-liquid separation. Particle collision flocculation mostly occurs in turbulent environments where the motion of fine particles is strongly influenced by the turbulent minimum vortex scale. In this study, turbulent vortices are modulated by impinging flows to enhance the mixing of two different density suspensions and the collision of fine particles in the suspension. Two different solution models were used to simulate the mixing condition of the suspension and the distribution of the particles in the mixing drum in three dimensions. The water phase entering the mixing drum was considered as a continuous phase and the solid particles were considered as a continuous phase (suspension) or a secondary discrete phase (particles). The effects of different inlet fluid velocity ratios at different feed densities on the turbulent characteristic parameters and particle distribution in the mixing drum were analyzed. The results of the study show that the impact flow formed by the jets colliding vertically with each other can induce turbulent macro-vortices such as hairpin vortices, spanwise vortices and axial vortices. The velocity of particles moving in the turbulent macro-vortex is in the following order: Large particle size and density > Large particle size and small density > Small particle size and high density > Small particle size and density. The interaction between vortex and vortex and between vortex and the main fluid significantly increases the turbulent kinetic energy and decreases the vortex scale, resulting in a minimum scale vortex that is conducive to particle coalescence and collision; the minimum vortex scale generated in the flow field in the mixing drum is mainly smaller than the average minimum vortex scale. The minimum vortex scale tends to increase when the inlet flow rate and flow rate ratio increase from 1.258:1.87 to 1.882:1.258, independent of the inlet density. When the flow rate ratio is similar, the minimum vortex scale decreases only when the flow rate increases. An appropriate increase in the ratio of the upper and side feed flow rates helps fluid mixing and particle aggregation and collision, and the mixing density, apparent viscosity and particle coalescence are all optimal when the ratio of the upper and side feed flow rates is between 1.40 and 1.50. In addition, at the same flow rate ratio, the mixing uniformity and mixing strength are better than the case where the upper inlet feed density is greater than the side inlet feed density, which is more conducive to fluid mixing and particle collision. The study promotes slime water mixing and fine particle coalescence in mixing drums through the regulation of fluid hydraulic conditions, providing a new way of thinking about how to enhance the liquid-liquid mixing and solid-liquid separation process