Protein adsorption studied by neutron reflection

This article reviews recent development in the use of neutron reflection to study protein adsorption. The phenomenon of protein adsorption will be introduced, followed by the outline of the technological relevance of the interfacial molecular events. As lysozyme and albumins are widely used in recent adsorption studies, these model systems will be taken to demonstrate how interfacial structural details are affected by different surface chemical nature. The prospect of neutron reflection in revealing interfacial structural conformations of biologically more relevant proteins is highlighted.     

Multiple positive solutions for discrete nonlocal boundary value problems

In this paper, we investigate a second-order nonlinear difference equation with sign-changing nonlinearity subject to two different sets of nonlocal boundary conditions. The explicit expressions of the associated Green's functions are presented. By using a recently developed fixed point theorem, we establish sufficient conditions for the existence of multiple positive solutions of the boundary value problem.     

四阶和一般偶数阶奇异边值问题正解的存在性

在本文中得到了四阶和一般偶数阶非线性方程奇异边值问题正解的存在性。从而推广了［１］［２］中的结果。     

Rescheduling with release dates to minimize makespan under a limit on the maximum sequence disruption

In this paper, we consider the rescheduling problem for jobs on a single machine with release dates to minimize makespan under a limit on the maximum sequence disruption. We show that the considered problem can be solved in polynomial time.     

A New Generalized Riccati Equation Rational Expansion Method to Generalized Burgers-Fisher Equation with Nonlinear Terms of Any Order

In this paper, based on a new more general ansatz, a new algebraic method, named generalized Riccati equation rational expansion method, is devised for constructing travelling wave solutions for nonlinear evolution equations with nonlinear terms of any order. Compared with most existing tanh methods for finding travelling wave solutions, the proposed method not only recovers the results by most known algebraic methods, but also provides new and more general solutions. We choose the generalized Burgers-Fisher equation with nonlinear terms of any order to illustrate our method. As a result, we obtain several new kinds of exact solutions for the equation. This approach can also be applied to other nonlinear evolution equations with nonlinear terms of any order.     

A study of luminescence properties in the boron-doped lead tungstate

The present work is focused on the enhancement of luminescence in PbWO₄ by boron (B) ions doping. A series of boron-doped PbWO₄ polycrystals were synthesized by solid-state reaction in air atmosphere. The crystal structure of PbWO₄ was decided from powder X-ray diffraction data. The X-ray excited luminescence, UV excitation and emission spectra measurements were conducted on these samples under the same conditions to evaluate the doping effects of luminescence on PbWO₄. The B-doped PbWO₄ gave an enhanced broad emission band centered between 420 and 520 nm depending on different doping concentration. Another scintillating crystal, Bi₄Ge₃O₁₂, was also introduced to compare the effects of luminescence with B-doped PbWO₄. The doping mechanism of B ions in the PbWO₄ lattices was briefly discussed according to the present experimental results.     

Preparation of magnetic poly(methylmethacrylate–divinylbenzene–glycidylmethacrylate) microspheres by spraying suspension polymerization and their use for protein adsorption

Moderately uniform magnetic poly(methylmethacrylate–divinylbenzene–glycidylmethacrylate) microspheres (poly(MMA–DVB–GMA) microspheres) were prepared by spraying suspension copolymerization of methyl methacrylate, divinylbenzene and glycidyl methacrylate in the presence of Fe₃O₄ magnetic fluid. A protein adsorption assay indicated that these magnetic microspheres could significantly improve the capacity of protein adsorption.     

p-adic Transcendence and p-adic Transcendence Measures for the Values of Mahler Type Functions

We prove the p-adic transcendence and p-adic transcendence measures for the values of some Mahler type functions.     

Mixed-potential-type zirconia-based NOx sensor using Rh-loaded NiO sensing electrode operating at high temperatures

The improvement in sensing characteristics of mixed-potential-type NO₂ sensor based on an yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) plate was examined by an addition of noble metal to NiO sensing-electrode. Among the various noble metals (Pt, Rh, Ir, Pd and Ru) examined, Rh was found to give a significant enhancement in NO₂ sensitivity. In addition, this enhancement was maximum when the Rh content in NiO-SE was 3 wt.%. The sensitivity (emf) to 50 ppm NO₂ was as high as about 77 mV for the sensor using the 3 wt.% Rh-loaded NiO-SE at 800 °C under the wet condition (5 vol.% H₂O). The NO₂ sensitivity was hardly affected by the change of H₂O and CO₂ concentration in the examined range of 5–15 and 5–20 vol.%, respectively, and was almost stable for about 50 days tested at 800 °C. It was speculated that the improved kinetic effect of Rh loading on the cathodic reaction of NO₂ at the interface of SE/YSZ was the major contributing factor for the enhanced NO₂ sensitivity of the sensor.     

A facile way for preparing tin nanoparticles from bulk tin via ultrasound dispersion

In this paper, we reported a facile and rapid process to prepare tin nanoparticles from bulk tin via ultrasound dispersion. The morphology and structure of synthesized tin nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectrum (XPS) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results show that the morphology of tin nanoparticles is spherical and the structure of tin nanoparticles has the same crystal structure as the bulk tin. In addition, the tribological property of tin nanoparticles as additives in oil is evaluated on a four-ball tester and the results show that tin nanoparticles exhibit good performance in wear.