Engineering topics

Zhang, Xiaolei

Publications and source records attributed to Zhang, Xiaolei.

9 records

DOE OSTI2022

Integrated lignocellulosic biorefinery for efficient production of furans and photothermal materials

Integrated lignocellulosic biorefineries offer a great potential to valorize all the components in lignocellulose into products, including fuels, chemicals, and materials. However, because of lignocellulose recalcitrance, conversion of bioresources remains a techno-economic challenge for many lignocellulosic biorefineries. In this work, we have proposed a sustainable and profitable biorefinery strategy for lignocellulose fractionation and conversion. In this design, a biphasic solvent consisting of a molten salt hydrate LiCl·4H 2 O and γ-valerolactone (GVL) was initially used for separating hemicellulose from lignocellulose. More interestingly, 100 wt% of biorefinery products from lignin were directly converted to functional photothermal materials by coordinating with Fe 3+ for solar-thermal-electricity conversion. Attributed to this rational design, we report the techno-economic analysis predicts a revenue of 439.3 USD by processing 100 kg of lignocellulosic biomass using the above developed method.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2021

Glucocorticoids suppressed osteoblast differentiation by decreasing Sema3A expression via the PIK3/Akt pathway

Highlights: • Dex decreased Sema3A expression by suppressing the PI3K/Akt pathway. • Sema3A reversed Dex-induced suppression of osteoblast differentiation. • Sema3A reversed the Dex-mediated reduced transcriptional activity of β-catenin. Glucocorticoids(GCs) are extensively used to treat inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Excessive prolonged exposure to glucocorticoids is associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis. The inhibition of osteoblast differentiation by GCs is suggested as a major cause for GCs-induced osteoporosis (GIO). However, the precise mechanism underlying the role of GCs in osteoblasts differentiation is not fully elucidated. Semaphorin 3A (Sema3A), a secreted member of the Semaphorin family, enhances bone formation and promotes fracture healing, which is known to increase osteoblastic differentiation and stimulate osteogenesis in bone metabolism. Here, the present study explored the effect of Sema3A in osteoblast differentiation using dexamethasone (Dex) treatment of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). Dex treatment decreased Sema3A expression in BMSCs in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, Dex stimulation suppressed the differentiation of osteoblasts by reducing alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, osteoblastic marker genes expression and mineralization, but all of these effects were ameliorated by exogenous recombinant Sema3A administration. Furthermore, exogenous Sema3A administration reversed the Dex-mediated decrease in nuclear accumulation of β-catenin and β-catenin activity in BMSCs. Meanwhile, Dex was capable of simultaneously suppressing the phosphorylation of protein kinase B(Akt) and the expression level of Sema3A in BMSCs. These changes were significantly abolished by the PI3K/Akt agonist. These results suggest that Dex inhibits osteoblast differentiation by suppressing Sema3A expression via the PI3K/Akt pathway. These data provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of Dex-induced osteoblast differentiation inhibition.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2018

Nucleolar localization signal and histone methylation reader function is required for SPIN1 to promote rRNA gene expression

Highlights: • A NoLS in the N-terminus of SPIN1 mediates its nucleolar localization and function. • The H3R8me2a-recognizing capacity of SPIN1 is indispensable for its promotion of rRNA expression. • SPIN1 is involved the formation of SL1 complex on rDNA loci. Spindlin1 (SPIN1), a histone modification reader protein, was enriched in the cell nucleolus and facilitated rRNA expression. However, how SPIN1 localizes to the nucleolus and its functional role in rRNA gene expression remain unresolved. Here, we identified a nucleolar localization signal in the N-terminal region of SPIN1 that is essential for its enrichment and function in the nucleolus. We also discovered that, in addition to its H3K4me3 recognizing activity, the H3R8me2a-recognizing capacity of SPIN1 is also indispensable for stimulating rRNA expression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation results indicated that SPIN1 is required for the association or assembly of selective factor 1 (SL1) complex, probably facilitating the initiation of rDNA transcription through its H3 K4me3-R8me2a reader function.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2018

Chemical and biological conversion of crude glycerol derived from waste cooking oil to biodiesel

Highlights: • Crude glycerol was converted to biodiesel by chemical and biological method. • Purified glycerol is a promising carbon source for lipid production from microbe. • The study created a green cycle of crude glycerol application in energy production. - Abstract: In this study, crude, purified, and pure glycerol were used to cultivate Trichosporon oleaginosus for lipid production which was then used as feedstock of biodiesel production. The purified glycerol was obtained from crude glycerol by removing soap with addition of H{sub 3}PO{sub 4} which converted soap to free fatty acids and then separated from the solution. The results showed that purified glycerol provided similar performance as pure glycerol in lipid accumulation; however, crude glycerol as carbon source had negatively impacted the lipid production of T. oleaginosus. Purified glycerol was later used to determine the optimal glycerol concentration for lipid production. The highest lipid yield 0.19 g/g glycerol was obtained at 50 g/L purified glycerol in which the biomass concentration and lipid content were 10.75 g/L and 47% w/w, respectively. An energy gain of 4150.51 MJ could be obtained with 1 tonne of the crude glycerol employed for biodiesel production through the process proposed in this study. The biodiesel production cost estimated was 6.32 US $/gal. Fatty acid profiles revealed that C16:0 and C18:1 were the major compounds of the biodiesel from the lipid produced by T. oleaginosus cultivated with crude and purified glycerol. The study found that purified glycerol was promising carbon source for biodiesel production.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2017

Oxygen vacancies enabled enhancement of catalytic property of Al reduced anatase TiO{sub 2} in the decomposition of high concentration ozone

The catalytic decomposition of gaseous ozone (O{sub 3}) is investigated using anatase TiO{sub 2} (A-TiO{sub 2}) and Aluminum-reduced A-TiO{sub 2} (ARA-TiO{sub 2}) at high concentration and high relative humidity (RH) without light illumination. Compared with the pristine A-TiO{sub 2}, the ARA-TiO{sub 2} sample possesses a unique crystalline core-amorphous shell structure. It is proved to be an excellent solar energy “capture” for solar thermal collectors due to lots of oxygen vacancies. The results indicate that the overall decomposition efficiency of O{sub 3} without any light irradiation has been greatly improved from 4.8% on A-TiO{sub 2} to 100% on ARA-TiO{sub 2} under the RH=100% condition. The ozone conversion over T500/ARA-TiO{sub 2} catalyst is still maintained at 95% after a 72 h test under the reaction condition of 18.5 g/m{sup 3} ozone initial concentration, and RH=90%. The results can be explained that T500/ARA-TiO{sub 2} possesses the largest amorphous contour, the lowest crystallinity, the most surface-active Ti{sup 3+}/T{sup i4+}couples, and the most oxygen vacancies. This result opens a new door to widen the application of TiO{sub 2} in the thermal-catalytic field. - Graphical abstract: The anatase-TiO{sub 2} with various oxidation states and oxygen vacancies have been obtained by aluminum-reduction, and the decomposition efficiency of O{sub 3} has been greatly improved from 4.8% to 100% without irradiation under the RH=100% condition. - Highlights: • The decomposition of gaseous ozone over Al reduced TiO2 (ARA-TiO{sub 2}) is firstly reported. • The decomposition efficiency is up to 100% without any light irradiation on ARA-TiO{sub 2} under RH=100% condition. • The ozone conversion is maintained at 95% after a 72 h test, when C{sub inlet}=18.5 g/m{sup 3} and RH=90%.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2014

Alternative splicing variants of human Fbx4 disturb cyclin D1 proteolysis in human cancer

Highlights: • The expression of Fbx4 was significantly lower in HCC tissues. • Novel splicing variants of Fbx4 were identified. • These novel variants are much more abundant in human cancer tissues and cells. • The novel Fbx4 isoforms could promote cell proliferation and migration in vitro. • These isoforms showed less capability for cyclin D1 binding and degradation. - Abstract: Fbx4 is a specific substrate recognition component of SCF ubiquitin ligases that catalyzes the ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of cyclin D1 and Trx1. Two isoforms of human Fbx4 protein, the full length Fbx4α and the C-terminal truncated Fbx4β have been identified, but their functions remain elusive. In this study, we demonstrated that the mRNA level of Fbx4 was significantly lower in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues than that in the corresponding non-tumor tissues. More importantly, we identified three novel splicing variants of Fbx4: Fbx4γ (missing 168–245nt of exon1), Fbx4δ (missing exon6) and a N-terminal reading frame shift variant (missing exon2). Using cloning sequencing and RT-PCR, we demonstrated these novel splice variants are much more abundant in human cancer tissues and cell lines than that in normal tissues. When expressed in Sk-Hep1 and NIH3T3 cell lines, Fbx4β, Fbx4γ and Fbx4δ could promote cell proliferation and migration in vitro. Concordantly, these isoforms could disrupt cyclin D1 degradation and therefore increase cyclin D1 expression. Moreover, unlike the full-length isoform Fbx4α that mainly exists in cytoplasm, Fbx4β, Fbx4γ, and Fbx4δ locate in both cytoplasm and nucleus. Since cyclin D1 degradation takes place in cytoplasm, the nuclear distribution of these Fbx4 isoforms may not be involved in the down-regulation of cytoplasmic cyclin D1. These results define the impact of alternative splicing on Fbx4 function, and suggest that the attenuated cyclin D1 degradation by these novel Fbx4 isoforms provides a new insight for aberrant cyclin D1 expression in human cancers.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

NASA NTRS2003

The Fizeau Interferometer Testbed

The Fizeau Interferometer Testbed (FIT) is a collaborative effort between NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, the Naval Research Laboratory, Sigma Space Corporation, and the University of Maryland. The testbed will be used to explore the principles of and the requirements for the full, as well as the pathfinder, Stellar Imager mission concept. It has a long term goal of demonstrating closed-loop control of a sparse array of numerous articulated mirrors to keep optical beams in phase and optimize interferometric synthesis imaging. In this paper we present the optical and data acquisition system design of the testbed, and discuss the wavefront sensing and control algorithms to be used. Currently we have completed the initial design and hardware procurement for the FIT. The assembly and testing of the Testbed will be underway at Goddard's Instrument Development Lab in the coming months.

OPTICS DESIGN↗

NASA NTRS2003

The Fizeau Interferometer Testbed (FIT) for Stellar Imager

Goddard Space Flight Center is pursuing the development of space-based, long-baseline (less than 0.5km) UV-optical Fizeau imaging interferometers to enable the next major stride toward very high angular resolution astronomical observations. This effort includes the development and operation of the Fizeau Interferometer Testbed (FIT), in collaboration with the Naval Research Lab/NPOI, Univ. of MD, and Sigma Space Corporation. The FIT will be used to explore the principles of and requirements for the Stellar Imager (SI) mission concept (http://hires.gsfc.nasa.gov/-si) and other such Fizeau Interferometers/Sparse Aperture Telescope missions. The primary FIT goal is to demonstrate closed-loop control of a many-element (7 - 30) system which keeps the optical beams in phase and thus enables high quality imaging. The FIT will also be used to assess various wavefront reconstruction and sensing and image reconstruction algorithms for utility and accuracy by application to real data generated by the Testbed. In this paper, we describe the design and goals of the system, provide a status report on its construction, and note our future plans. The FIT development is supported by NASA-ROSS/SARA grants to GSFC, UMD, and NRL and by internal GSFC R&D funds.

Carpenter, Kenneth G.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Wideband fixed-tuned SIS receiver for 200-GHz operation

We report on the design and development of a heterodyne receiver, designed to cover the frequency range 176-256 GHz. This receiver incorporates a niobium superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) tunnel junction mixer, which, chiefly for reasons of reliability and ease of operation, is a fixed-tuned waveguide design. On-chip tuning is provided to resonate out the junction's geometric capacitance and produce a good match to the waveguide circuit. Laboratory measurements on the first test receiver indicate that the required input bandwidth (about 40%) is achieved with an average receiver noise temperature of below 50 K. Mixer conversion gain is observed at some frequencies, and the lowest measured receiver noise is less than 30 K. Furthermore, the SIS mixer used in this receiver is of simple construction, is easy to assemble and is therefore a good candidate for duplication.

RECEIVER NOISE TEMPERATURE↗