Insight-HXMT on-orbit thermal control status and thermal deformation impact analysis

Purpose: The Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope is China's first X-ray astronomy satellite launched on June 15th, 2017, dubbed Insight-HXMT. Active and passive thermal control measures are employed to keep devices at suitable temperatures. In this paper, we analyzed the on-orbit thermal monitoring data of the first 5 years and investigated the effect of thermal deformation on the point spread function (PSF) of the telescopes. Methods: We examined the data of the on-orbit temperatures measured using 157 thermistors placed on the collimators, detectors and their support structures and compared the results with the thermal control requirements. The thermal deformation was evaluated by the relative orientation of the two star sensors installed on the main support structure. its effect was estimated with evolution of the PSF obtained with calibration scanning observations of the Crab nebula. Conclusion: The on-orbit temperatures met the thermal control requirements thus far, and the effect of thermal deformation on the PSF was negligible after the on-orbit pointing calibration.Comment: 25 pages, 35 figures, submitte

Novel Evolved Immunoglobulin (Ig)-Binding Molecules Enhance the Detection of IgM against Hepatitis C Virus

Detection of specific antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the most widely available test for viral diagnosis and monitoring of HCV infections. However, narrowing the serologic window of anti-HCV detection by enhancing anti-HCV IgM detection has remained to be a problem. Herein, we used LD5, a novel evolved immunoglobulin-binding molecule (NEIBM) with a high affinity for IgM, to develop a new anti-HCV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using horseradish peroxidase-labeled LD5 (HRP-LD5) as the conjugated enzyme complex. The HRP-LD5 assay showed detection efficacy that is comparable with two kinds of domestic diagnostic kits and the Abbott 3.0 kit when tested against the national reference panel. Moreover, the HRP-LD5 assay showed a higher detection rate (55.9%, 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) 0.489, 0.629) than that of a domestic diagnostic ELISA kit (Chang Zheng) (53.3%, 95% CI 0.463, 0.603) in 195 hemodialysis patient serum samples. Five serum samples that were positive using the HRP-LD5 assay and negative with the conventional anti-HCV diagnostic ELISA kits were all positive for HCV RNA, and 4 of them had detectable antibodies when tested with the established anti-HCV IgM assay. An IgM confirmation study revealed the IgM reaction nature of these five serum samples. These results demonstrate that HRP-LD5 improved anti-HCV detection by enhancing the detection of anti-HCV IgM, which may have potential value for the early diagnosis and screening of hepatitis C and other infectious diseases

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Technical and economic analysis of an oil shale comprehensive utilization process with solid heat carrier technology

To relieve the shortage of oil, exploration of oil shale attracts increasingly attention from different countries, especially in China. Facing with the disadvantages of conventional oil shale retorting technology, more and more attention has been paid to the comprehensive utilization of oil shale for utilizing oil shale efficiently and in an environment-friendly manner. However, there are few systematic studies on comprehensive utilization of oil shale. Thus, this paper is focused on establishing the complete mathematical model of an oil shale comprehensive utilization process with solid heat carrier technology (OSCU-SHC). Moreover, its techno-economic performance is analyzed and compared to a conventional oil shale retorting process with solid heat carrier (OSR-SHC). Several key parameters are investigated and optimized during the simulation process. For example, the optimal retorting temperature is set to 500 °C. The comparison results show that the OSCU-SHC process has better techno-economic performance since it increases the exergy efficiency by 9.26%, total income by 29.02%, and return on investment by 4.85%. Keywords: Oil shale, Retorting, Comprehensive utilization, Process modeling, Techno-economic analysi

Anti-inflammatory effects of shikonin in human periodontal ligament cells

Context: Shikonin (SHI), an active component extracted from Radix Arnebiae, has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory properties in various cells. However, its effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs) is unknown. Objective: To investigate the effects of SHI on the expression of inflammatory related cytokines in LPS-stimulated hPDLCs. Materials and methods: The effects of SHI (0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 μg/mL) on hPDLCs proliferation for 1, 3 and 7 days were measured using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The expression of interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were detected in hPDLCs following SHI treatment (0.25 and 0.5 μg/mL) using Quantitative Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). The signaling pathways triggered by SHI in hPDLC were evaluated using western blotting. Results: LD50 of SHI is 1.7 μg/mL (day 1) and 1.1 μg/mL (day 3 and 7) in hPDLCs. No morphological changes were observed when hPDLCs were treated with LPS only (1 μg/mL) or LPS with SHI (0.25 and 0.5 μg/mL). Data from qRT-PCR suggests that SHI attenuates LPS-induced increases of IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, MMP-2, MMP-9 and COX-2 in hPDLCs. Down-regulation of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and up-regulation of I-κB, were observed in LPS-stimulated hPDLCs after exposed to SHI at 0.25 or 0.5 μg/mL. Discussion and conclusions: SHI possesses anti-inflammatory effects in LPS-stimulated hPDLCs via phospho-ERK and NF-κB/I-κB signaling pathways; this suggests that SHI may hold potential as an anti-inflammatory agent against periodontitis

Transcriptomic Analysis of Resistant and Susceptible Bombyx mori Strains Following BmNPV Infection Provides Insights into the Antiviral Mechanisms

Purpose. To decipher transcriptomic changes and related genes with potential functions against Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus infection and to increase the understanding of the enhanced virus resistance of silkworm on the transcriptomic level. Methods. We assembled and annotated transcriptomes of the Qiufeng (susceptible to infection) and QiufengN (resistant to infection) strains and performed comparative analysis in order to decipher transcriptomic changes and related genes with potential functions against BmNPV infection. Results. A total of 78,408 SNPs were identified in the Qiufeng strain of silkworm and 56,786 SNPs were identified in QiufengN strain. Besides, novel AS events were found in these 2 strains. In addition, 1,728 DEGs were identified in the QiufengN strain compared with Qiufeng strain. These DEGs were involved in GO terms related to membrane, metabolism, binding and catalytic activity, cellular processes, and organismal systems. The highest levels of gene representation were found in oxidative phosphorylation, phagosome, TCA cycle, arginine and proline metabolism, and pyruvate metabolism. Additionally, COG analysis indicated that DEGs were involved in “amino acid transport and metabolism” and “carbohydrate transport and metabolism.” Conclusion. We identified a series of major pathological changes in silkworm following infection and several functions were related to the antiviral mechanisms of silkworm

Hierarchical mesoporous/microporous carbon with graphitized frameworks for high-performance lithium-ion batteries

A hierarchical meso-/micro-porous graphitized carbon with uniform mesopores and ordered micropores, graphitized frameworks, and extra-high surface area of ∼2200 m2/g, was successfully synthesized through a simple one-step chemical vapor deposition process. The commercial mesoporous zeolite Y was utilized as a meso-/ micro-porous template, and the small-molecule methane was employed as a carbon precursor. The as-prepared hierarchical meso-/micro-porous carbons have homogeneously distributed mesopores as a host for electrolyte, which facilitate Li+ ions transport to the large-area micropores, resulting a high reversible lithium ion storage of 1000 mA h/g and a high columbic efficiency of 65% at the first cycle

Highly Active IrO_<i>x</i> Nanoparticles/Black Si Electrode for Efficient Water Splitting with Conformal TiO₂ Interface Engineering

Here we report a highly active electrochemical water splitting electrode fabricated from colloidal IrO_<i>x</i> nanoparticles and nanoporous Si stabilized by conformal TiO₂. The colloidal amorphous IrO_<i>x</i> nanoparticles are highly active for oxygen evolution reaction. However, their application for water splitting has a dilemma that the traditional annealing process could lead to low activities but the nanoparticles based electrode without annealing usually exhibited low stability. This nanostructured water splitting electrode exhibited both the high activities as the colloidal IrO_<i>x</i> nanoparticles and comparable stability as a traditional thermal annealing fabricated electrode. The impedance study revealed that conformal TiO₂ significantly inhibits the interface oxidation and maintains the high activity of colloidal IrO_<i>x</i> nanoparticles catalysts. The conformal TiO₂ interface engineering combined with nanocatalysts would be a promising strategy to achieve balanced activities and stability for water splitting

CdTe/CdS Core/Shell Quantum Dots Cocatalyzed by Sulfur Tolerant [Mo₃S₁₃]^2– Nanoclusters for Efficient Visible-Light-Driven Hydrogen Evolution

CdTe quantum dots (QDs) have an extended absorbance region compared to that of CdSe or CdS QDs for solar utilization; however, their low activities, especially the chemical stability, limit their applications in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. We report on enhanced visible-light-driven hydrogen evolution based on CdTe QDs via forming CdTe/CdS core/shell and using sulfur tolerant catalysts of the [Mo₃S₁₃]^2– nanocluster. The aqueous synthesized CdTe/CdS QDs exhibit much better photocorrosion resistance than regular CdTe QDs for photocatalytic hydrogen generation. The sulfur compound covered CdTe/CdS QDs are facilely decorated with the low cost sulfur tolerant [Mo₃S₁₃]^2– nanoclusters to exhibit enhanced visible-light photocatalytic H₂ generation than the CdTe QDs catalyzed with classical cocatalysts of Pt. In all, the combination of sulfur tolerant [Mo₃S₁₃]^2– nanoclusters and CdTe/CdS core/shell structure significantly enhance the activity and stability of CdTe QDs for visible-light photocatalytic hydrogen evolution