Polymer nanoparticles with a sensitive CO2‐responsive hydrophilic/hydrophobic surface

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanoparticles with a sensitive CO₂‐responsive hydrophilic/hydrophobic surface that confers controlled dispersion and aggregation in water were prepared by emulsion polymerization at 50 °C under CO₂ bubbling using amphiphilic diblock copolymers of 2‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) and N‐isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAAm) as an emulsifier. The amphiphilicity of the hydrophobic–hydrophilic diblock copolymer at 50 °C was triggered by CO₂ bubbling in water and enabled the copolymer to serve as an emulsifier. The resulting PMMA nanoparticles were spherical, approximately 100 nm in diameter and exhibited sensitive CO₂/N₂‐responsive dispersion/aggregation in water. Using copolymers with a longer PNIPAAm block length as an emulsifier resulted in smaller particles. A higher concentration of copolymer emulsifier led to particles with a stickier surface. Given its simple preparation and reversible CO₂‐triggered amphiphilic behavior, this newly developed block copolymer emulsifier offers a highly efficient route toward the fabrication of sensitive CO₂‐stimuli responsive polymeric nanoparticle dispersions. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 2149–2156     

First principles investigations of Fe,Co, Ni in model honeycomb carbon networks

The behaviors of ferromagnetic transition metals of the first period: Fe, Co and Ni are examined within density functional theory calculations in two dimensional carbon extended networks using model structure LiC₆. Around geometry optimized structures, the energy-volume equations of states considering non magnetic and spin polarized configurations established ferromagnetic ground states with magnetizations –reduced with respect to the metals’– of 2 μ_B for FeC₆ and 1 μ_B for CoC₆ while no magnetic solution could be identified for NiC₆. In the D_6h point group of the P6/mmm space group l_m decomposition of the d states results with increasing energy into doublet state E_1g with d(x²-y²) and d(xy); singlet state A_1g d(z²) and doublet state E_2g d(xz) and d(yz) lying on E_F and responsible of the onset of magnetic moments. This was mirrored via molecular orbital approach with a construct of Fe embedded between two extended carbon networks thus validating the model structure proposed for TC₆ compounds. The 100% polarization in one spin channel allows proposing potential uses in spintronics applications.     

Methods and approaches for determination and enantioseparation of (RS)‐propranolol

Propranolol, a β‐adrenergic receptor antagonist, is a chiral compound that is marketed as a racemate, but only the (S)‐(?)‐enantiomer is responsible for the β‐adrenoceptor blocking activity. Different chromatographic methods have been applied for separation and determination of enantiomers of (RS)‐propranolol. In this article a review is presented on different liquid chromatographic methods used for enantioseparation of (RS)‐propranolol, using both HPLC and TLC. In addition, some aspects of enantioseparation under achiral phases of liquid chromatography have been briefly mentioned.     

无人机视角下的林木爆燃火特性研究

森林火灾“爆燃”现象的特征是突然发生的高强度、高蔓延速度的燃烧。目前为止，关于“爆燃火”的原因还没有达成共识。以无人机视角下对林木爆燃火特性研究，以四川木里特大森林火灾为研究对象，通过分析凉山州某森林扑火部队3月31日木里森林火灾当天KWT（科卫泰）无人机航拍火场画面，结合无人机实时影像及实地调研数据，分析了峡谷地形林火蔓延时空特征，探讨了峡谷中风向风速变化时空分布规律，研究了地形变化条件下，不同海拔高度风速特征，建立了无人机倾角测量风速模型（其中为风速m·s-1，为无人机倾角°）。结果表明，高山峻岭特殊地形环境下每天4:00—12:00时间段为静风期，为峡谷林火扑救最佳时期；午后15:00—17:00和晚上20:00—22:00为山谷地形风速活跃期；仿真软件数据显示山顶、谷底与山腰不同海拔位置的风速风向不统一，谷底会产生乱流现象，且风速与海拔不存在正相关关系，小气候在复杂地形中占主导影响地位；在谷口至山谷深处的中间位置会出现气流速度的波峰状态，并易形成乱流，为爆燃火发生提供了客观必要条件。该研究可为复杂地形环境下，森林草原火灾扑救安全提供数据和技术支撑。     

Oxidative dehydrogenation of n-octane over a vanadium–magnesium oxide catalyst: Influence of the gas hourly space velocity

Oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of n-octane was carried out over a vanadium–magnesium oxide catalyst in a continuous flow fixed bed reactor. The catalyst was characterized by ICP–OES, powder XRD and SEM. The catalytic tests were carried out at different gas hourly space velocities (GHSVs), viz. 4000, 6000, 8000, and 10,000 h^?1. The best selectivity for octenes was obtained at the GHSV of 8000 h^?1, while that for C8 aromatics was attained at the GHSV of 6000 h^?1 at high temperatures (500 and 550 °C). The catalytic testing at the GHSV of 10,000 h^?1 showed the lowest activity, while that at the GHSV of 4000 h^?1 consistently showed the lowest ODH selectivity. Generally, the best ODH performance was obtained by the catalytic testing at the GHSVs of 6000 and 8000 h^?1. No phasic changes were observed after the catalytic testing.     

Self‐emulsion polymerization of amphiphilic monomers—a green route to synthesis of polymeric nanoscaffolds

Self‐emulsion polymerization (SEP), a green route developed by us for the polymerization of amphiphilic monomers, does not require any emulsifier or an organic solvent except that the water‐soluble initiators such as 2,2′‐azobis[2‐(2‐imidazolin‐2‐yl)propane]dihydrochloride (VA‐044) and potassium persulfate (KPS) are only used. We report here the polymer nanoscaffolds from a number of amphiphilic monomers, which can be used for in situ encapsulation of a variety of nanoparticles. As a demonstration of the efficacy of these nanoscaffolds, the synthesis of a biocompatible hybrid nanoparticle (nanohybrid), prepared by encapsulating Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticle (Fe₃O₄ MNPs) in poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) in water, for MRI application is presented. The nanohybrid prepared following the SEP in the form of an emulsion does not involve the use of any stabilizing agent, crosslinker, polymeric emulsifier, or surfactant. This water‐soluble, spherical, and stable nanohybrid containing Fe₃O₄ MNPs of average size 10 ± 2 nm has a zeta potential value of ?41.89 mV under physiological conditions. Magnetic measurement confirmed that the nanohybrid shows typical magnetic behavior having a saturation magnetization (Ms) value of 32.3 emu/g and a transverse relaxivity (r2) value of 29.97 mM^?1 s^?1, which signifies that it can be used as a T2 contrast agent in MRI. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019     

Lone-Pair Enhanced Birefringence in an Alkaline-Earth Metal Tin(II) Phosphate BaSn2(PO4)2

The first alkaline-earth metal tin(II) phosphate, BaSn₂(PO₄)₂, has been discovered, which consists of layered structures constructed from strictly alternating [SnO₃]⁴⁻ and [PO₄]³⁻ moieties. This compound is expected to have a large birefringence with Δn≈0.071 at 1064 nm, owing to the presence of stereochemically active lone pair metal cations.     

On the swelling behavior of poly(N-Isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels exposed to perfluoroalkyl acids

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have rapidly accumulated in the environment due to their widespread use prior to commercial discussion in the early 21st century, and their slow degradation has magnified concerns of their potential toxicity. Monitoring their distribution is, therefore, necessary to evaluate and control their impact on the health of exposed populations. This investigation evaluates the capability of a simple polymeric detection scheme for PFAS based on crosslinked, thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) hydrogels. Surveying swelling perturbations induced by several hydrotropes and comparable hydrocarbon analogs, tetraethylammonium perfluorooctane sulfonate (TPFOS) showed a significantly higher swelling ratio on a mass basis (65.5 ± 8.8 at 15°C) than any of the other analytes tested. Combining swelling with the fluorimetric response of a solvachromatic dye, nile red, revealed the fluorosurfactant to initiate observable aggregation (i.e., its critical aggregation concentration) at 0.05 mM and reach saturation (i.e., its charge neutralization concentration) at 0.5 mM. The fluorosurfactant was found to homogeneously distribute throughout the polymer matrix with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, marking the swelling response as a peculiar nexus of fluorinated interfacial positioning and delocalized electrostatic repulsion. Results from the current study hold promise for exploiting the physiochemical response of PNIPAM to assess TPFOS's concentration.     

Global strong solution of 3D tropical climate model with damping

We establish the global well-posedness of a strong solution to the 3D tropical climate model with damping. We prove that there exists the global and unique solution for α, β, γ satisfying one of the following three conditions: (1) \alpha ,\beta \ge \mathrm{4}; (2) ; (3) .     

Distribution dependent stochastic differential equations

Due to their intrinsic link with nonlinear Fokker-Planck equations and many other applications, distribution dependent stochastic differential equations (DDSDEs) have been intensively investigated. In this paper, we summarize some recent progresses in the study of DDSDEs, which include the correspondence of weak solutions and nonlinear Fokker-Planck equations, the well-posedness, regularity estimates, exponential ergodicity, long time large deviations, and comparison theorems.