Further Ramanujan-like series containing harmonic numbers and squared binomial coefficients

The Ramanujan Journal - The Gauss summation theorem and an extended $$_3F_2$$ -series of Watson and Whipple type are examined by means of power series expansions. Numerous Ramanujan-like series...     

Strong Pauli paramagnetic effect in the upper critical field of KCa2Fe4As4F2

Recently, 12442 system of Fe-based superconductors has attracted considerable attention owing to its unique double-Fe As-layer structure. A steep increase in the in-plane upper critical field with cooling has been observed near the superconducting transition temperature, Tc, in KCa2Fe4As4F2 single crystals. Herein, we report a high-field investigation on upper critical field of this material over a wide temperature range, and both out-of-plane(H∥c, Hc2c) and in-plane(H∥ab, Hc2ab ) directions have been measured.A sublinear temperature-dependent behavior is observed for the out-of-plane Hc2c , whereas strong convex curvature with cooling is observed for the in-plane Hc2ab . Such behaviors could not be described by the conventional Werthamer-Helfand-Hohenberg(WHH) model. The data analysis based on the WHH model by considering the spin aspects reveals a large Maki parameter α=9,indicating that the in-plane upper critical field is affected by a very strong Pauli paramagnetic effect.     

Stability analysis of a rotor–bearing system with time-varying bearing stiffness due to finite number of balls and unbalanced force

Previous investigations have indicated that the finite number of balls can cause the bearing stiffness to vary periodically. However, effects of unbalanced force in a rotor–bearing system on the bearing stiffness have not received sufficient attention. The present work reveals that the unbalanced force can also make the bearing stiffness vary periodically. The parametric excitations from the time-varying bearing stiffness can cause instability and severe vibration under certain operating conditions. Therefore, the determination of the operating conditions of parametric instability is crucial to the design of high speed rotating machinery. In this paper, an extended Jones–Harris stiffness model is presented to ascertain the stiffness of the angular contact ball bearing considering five degrees of freedom. Stability analysis of a rigid rotor–bearing system is performed utilizing the discrete state transition matrix (DSTM) method. The effects of unbalanced force, bearing loads and damping on the instability regions are discussed thoroughly. Investigations mainly show that the time-varying bearing stiffness fluctuates sinusoidally due to finite number of balls and unbalanced force. The locations and widths of the instability regions caused by these two parametric excitations differ distinctly. Unbalanced force could change the widths of the instability regions, but without altering their central positions. The axial and radial loads of the bearing only change the positions of the instability regions, without affecting their widths. Besides, damping can reduce the widths of the instability regions.     

Superstructure in chemically etched poly(ethylene terephthalate)

The new technique of contact etching has been utilized to study the bulk morphology of polyethylene terephthalate by the echant, n-propylamine. A variety of films and fibers with different mechanical and thermal histories have been subjected to contact etching. The sample surfaces have been studied principally by scanning electron microscopy. A network superstructure with its characteristic dimension (thickness) of from 700 to 3000 Å, depending on sample history, has been observed. In the oriented samples the network superstructure aligns perpendicular to the direction of sample orientation. A simple model is proposed to describe the network superstructure which is believed to be moderately crystalline.     

Fine tuning the assembly and gel behaviors of PEGylated polypeptide conjugates by the copolymerization of l‐alanine and γ‐benzyl‐l‐glutamate N‐carboxyanhydrides

Tuning the secondary structure of polypeptide is an effective strategy to modulate the assembly behaviors of polypeptide‐based copolymers. In this study, ring‐opening polymerization of l ‐alanine (Ala) and γ‐benzyl‐l ‐glutamate (BLG) N‐carboxyanhydrides was adopted using mPEG‐NH₂ as the initiator to prepare mPEG‐poly(l ‐alanine‐co‐γ‐benzyl‐l ‐glutamate) (PEAB) copolymers with various Ala to BLG ratios. ¹H NMR spectra and GPC test confirmed their well‐defined chemical structures. FT‐IR spectra indicated that at the powder state, all copolymers adopted both β‐sheet and α‐helical conformations. With the content of PBLG increased, the crystallization temperature and melting points of PEAB copolymers first rose then fell indicated by DSC curves. The self‐assembly of PEAB copolymers in dilute aqueous solution studied by DLS, TEM and circular dichroism spectra showed that PEAB copolymers self‐assembled into nanostructures with diverse morphologies and sizes due to distinct polypeptide conformations. Rheological analysis indicated that the alteration of the polypeptide composition can effectively modulate the modulus of PEAB assemblies in concentrated solutions. In all, copolymerization of two hydrophobic amino acid N‐carboxyanhydrides into the polypeptide block maybe an effective approach for modulating the assembly properties of PEGylated polypeptide. Besides, nanosilver‐encapsulated PEA or PEAB hydrogel showed promising antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtillis. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 1512–1523     

Synthesis and Application of Epoxidized Natural Rubber

Abstract

North Vietnamese NR latexes were successfully epoxidized using peracetic acid at moderate temperature and pH range. The epoxide contents of pure epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) are from 5 to 70 mol%. The ENR products were characterized and determined by spectral and thermal analysis besides the chemical titration. Conditions of longlasting or excessive temperature, or high acidic pH led to side ring opened products, proved easily by IR, ¹H-NMR, and DSC analysis. The ENR were vulcanized using a semiefficient system. The epoxidation increased the adhesion between rubber and tire cord and metal. This effect becomes stronger beyond 25 mol% and tends to be limited at over 60 mol%. The ENRs were used to formulate special-purpose adhesives. The shear strength of the adhesive ranges from 32 to 45 kg/cm² for bonding rubber to nylon and rubber to metal, respectively.     

Anhydrous Deprotection of Dimethyl Acetals with Acetyl Chloride/ZnCl2

Dimethyl acetals are converted to the corresponding aldehyde in THF with acetyl chloride/zinc chloride in the presence of dimethyl sulfide     

Bounds for the perimeter of an ellipse

In this paper, we present several bounds for the perimeter of an ellipse, which improve some well-known results.