Alignments of a Microparticle Pair in a Glow Discharge

Stability of a vertically aligned microparticle pair in a stratified glow DC discharge is experimentally investigated. Using laser perturbations, it is shown that, for the same discharge parameters, a pair of microparticles can be suspended in two stable configurations: vertical and horizontal. The interparticle interaction and the electric field of the stratum in the region of particle levitation are quantitatively investigated for the first time. The decharging effect of the lower (downstream) particle by the ion flow wake is also observed for the first time in a glow discharge. The obtained experimental data made it possible to check the analytical criteria for the configurational stability of the system.

Research on the Influence of Haze Weather on Audible Noise of HVDC Transmission Line

In order to study the influence of haze weather on audible noise of HVDC transmission line, a calculation model of ion flow field of HVDC transmission line considering the influence of haze is established, and then the relationship between different haze levels, different haze particle concentrations and audible noise is analyzed by taking the maximum potential gradient on the conductor surface as the intermediary. Then a ± 800kV DC transmission line is simulated and the results show that the audible noise will be more prominent with the increase of haze concentration, and the increment is more obvious at higher haze concentration; The charging of haze particles is the principal origin for the increase of audible noise, and the effect of PM2.5 is the most significant.

Formaldehyde and Glyoxal Measurement Deploying a Selected Ion Flow Tube Mass Spectrometer (SIFT-MS)

Formaldehyde (FM) and glyoxal (GL) are important atmospheric species of indoor and outdoor environments. They are either directly emitted in the atmosphere or they are formed through the oxidation of organic compounds by indoor and/or outdoor atmospheric oxidants. Despite their importance, the real-time monitoring of these compounds with soft ionization mass spectrometric techniques, e.g. proton transfer mass spectrometry (PTR-MS), remains problematic and is accompanied by low sensitivity. In this study, we evaluate the performance of a multi-ion selected ion flow tube mass spectrometer (SIFT-MS) to monitor in real-time atmospherically relevant concentrations of FM and GL under controlled experimental conditions. The SIFT-MS used is operated under standard conditions (SC), as proposed by the supplier, and customized conditions (CC), to achieve higher sensitivity. In the case of FM, SIFT-MS sensitivity is marginally impacted by RH, and the detection limits achieved are below 200 ppt. Contrariwise, in the case of GL, a sharp decrease of instrument sensitivity is observed with increasing RH when the H3O+ ion is used. Nevertheless, the detection of GL using NO+ precursor ion is moderately impacted by moisture with an actual positive sensitivity response. Therefore, we recommend the use of NO+ precursor for reliable detection and quantitation of GL. This work evidences that SIFT-MS can be considered as an efficient tool to monitor the concentration of FM and GL using SIFT-MS in laboratory experiments and potentially in indoor or outdoor environments. Furthermore, SIFT-MS technology still allows great possibilities for sensitivity improvement and high potential for monitoring low proton transfer affinity compounds.

AtCRY2 Negatively Regulates the Functions of AtANN2 and AtANN3 in Drought Tolerance by Affecting Their Subcellular Localization and Transmembrane Ca2+ Flow

Annexins are a multifunctional class of calcium-binding proteins in plants, and their physiological functions and regulation in response to drought stress remain to be elucidated. Here, we found that AtANN2 and AtANN3 conferred to drought tolerance under short-day and long-day conditions, respectively. Under their functional photoperiod, AtANN2 and AtANN3 gene expression was enhanced in the mannitol-treated roots, and their encoded proteins were rapidly targeted to the plasma membrane, and mediated significant Ca2+ flows across the plasma membrane. Cryptochromes as photoreceptors can not only sense the photoperiod and regulate ion channels on the plasma membrane to influence ion flow but also induce downstream physiological responses. AtCRY2 repressed the functions of AtANN2 and AtANN3 by affecting their plasma membrane localization and inhibited AtANN2- and AtANN3-dependent transmembrane Ca2+ flow in response to drought stress. Taken together, these results uncover a mechanism linking Annexins-AtCRY2 to transmembrane Ca2+ flow and resulting in enhanced drought tolerance in Arabidopsis.

A Study on Nano-Flow Control of Bio-Inspired Nanosized Ion Channel

This study presents the possibility of control of nanofluidics in the bio-inspired nanosized ion channel using a field effect transistor (FET) structure. We analyzed effects from main dominant factors to control the ion flow in nanosized channel such as electro-osmosis, diffusion effect, Coulomb force between ions and pressure force. Additionally, we suggest a strategy to control the ion flow accurately at the specific position in the nanochannel by handling the viscosity, ion molecular density, pressure, gate and trans-cis voltages of FET structure.

Differential ion dehydration energetics explains selectivity in the non-canonical lysosomal K+ channel TMEM175

Structures of the human lysosomal K+ channel TMEM175 in open and closed states revealed a novel architecture lacking the canonical K+ selectivity filter motif present in previously known K+ channel structures. A hydrophobic constriction composed of four isoleucine residues was resolved in the pore and proposed to serve as the gate in the closed state, and to confer ion selectivity in the open state. Here, we achieve higher-resolution structures of the open and closed states and employ molecular dynamics simulations to analyze the conducting properties of the putative open state, demonstrating that it is capable of permeating K+ ions at the expected rate. Monovalent cations must dehydrate significantly to penetrate the narrow hydrophobic constriction, but ion flow is assisted by a favorable electrostatic field generated by the protein that spans the length of the pore. The balance of these opposing energetic factors explains why permeation is feasible, and why TMEM175 is selective for K+ over Na+, despite the absence of the canonical selectivity filter. Accordingly, mutagenesis experiments reveal an exquisite sensitivity of the channel to perturbations that mitigate the constriction. Together, these data reveal a novel mechanism for selective permeation of ions by TMEM175 that is unlike that of other K+ channels.

Effect of pulsed soft X-ray radiation on the surface topography of some metals

Effect of the pulsed soft X-ray fluxes (PSXF) on the surface topography of metals (Mg and Cu) has been investigated. Soft pulse X-ray irradiation (energy quanta of 0.1-1.0 keV) were carried out on a high-current MIG generator. The sample of magnesium was located at a distance of 10 cm from the X-ray source. Since the distance to the sample significantly exceeded the size of the X-ray beam, it can be assumed that the density of the X-ray radiation flow to the magnesium sample was uniform. The duration of the radiation pulse was 100 ns, and the radiation energy density in the pulse varied from 13 to 19 J/cm2. As a result of melting under the action of PSXF of the near-surface layer of metals and subsequent solidification, a wavy relief is formed on their surface. Defects in the form of craters, which usually occur after the impact of a powerful pulsed ion flow on metals, were not detected.