The peridynamic differential operator for solving time-fractional partial differential equations

Nonlinear Dynamics - In this paper, the numerical solution of time-fractional convection diffusion equations (TF-CDEs) is considered as a generalization of classical ones, nonexponential relaxation...     

d-Orbital Reconstructions Forced by Double Bow-Shaped Deformations and Second Coordination Sphere Effects of Cu(II) Heme Analogs in HER**

Both geometric architecture and electronic configurations of heme proteins contribute to its activity. In this work we designed and synthesized a series of four copper(II) porphyrin complexes ( 4 -, 3 -, 2 - and 1 -Cu) where the molecular conformations are modulated by a pair of stepwise shortened straps on the same porphyrin side (cis-ortho) to give double bow-shaped skeletons. Single crystal structures demonstrate that the straps gradually increase the saddle deformation and the deviation of the metal centers, which is in accordance with two, unusual d-orbital reconstructions of two different ground states, as revealed by 4 K EPR and DFT calculations. In the study of the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), 1 -Cu, with the shortest straps, showed the most apparent improvement of activity. Second coordination sphere (SCS) effects created by the double bow-shaped architecture and the strong saddle porphyrin core in 1 -Cu are found to play key roles in proton trapping during the catalytic process. The work contributes a novel strategy to improve the catalytic performance of heme analogs through ligand geometric modulation.     

Influence of Nano-Bioactive Glass (NBG) Content on Properties of Gelatin-Hyaluronic Acid/NBG Composite Scaffolds

The development of three-dimensional (3-D) scaffolds with highly open porous structure is one of the most important issues in tissue engineering. A novel nanocomposite scaffold of gelatin (Gel), hyaluronic acid (HA), and nano-bioactive glass (NBG) was prepared by blending NBG with a Gel and HA solution followed by lyophilization. The effects of NBG content on the properties of the Gel-HA/NBG composite scaffolds, including the morphologies, porosity, compressive strength, swelling behavior, cell viability and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, were investigated. Porous composite scaffolds with interconnected pores were obtained and the pores became cylindrical with increasing NBG content. The porosity percent and swelling ability decreased with increasing NBG content; however, the compressive strength, cell viability and ALP activity were enhanced. All the results showed the addition of NBG particles can improve the physicochemical and biological properties and the Gel-HA/NBG composite scaffolds exhibited good potential for tissue engineering applications.     

Synthesis of MgAl2O4 Spinel Nanometer Powder via Biology Polysaccharide Assisted Sol-Gel Process

A novel and cost-effective sol-gel process for preparation of MgAl₂O₄ spinel nanometer powders has been developed in this study. A solution of magnesium and aluminum nitrates in stoichiometric proportion was successfully embraced in the biology polysaccharide gel network, formed by the synergistic interaction between xanthan gum (XG) and locust bean gum (LBG) utilizing their broad-spectrum stability of salt tolerance and character of transformation from sol to gel on the condition of proper temperature and relative proportion of polymeric components. Dry gel could be obtained by vacuum dehydration of aqueous gel at low temperatures. Monolithic MgAl₂O₄ spinel nanometer powders were produced by calcining the dry gel above 800°C, with average crystallite size of 20 nanometers.     

Time-weighted average water sampling with a diffusion-based solid-phase microextraction device

A new diffusion-based solid-phase microextraction (SPME) time-weighted average (TWA) field water sampling device was developed and investigated by field trial. The sampler is constructed with copper tube and caps and a commercial SPME fiber assembly. The device possesses all advantages of SPME; it is solvent-free, reusable, combines sampling, isolation and enrichment into one step, and the fiber can be directly injected into a gas chromatograph for analysis with a commercial SPME fiber holder, without further treatment. Field trials in Laurel Creek (Waterloo, Ont., Canada) and Hamilton Harbour (Hamilton, Ont., Canada) illustrated that the device is durable, easy to deploy, and the mass uptake of the device is independent of the face velocity. The device provides good precision [relative standard deviations (RSDs) are less than 20%] and the data obtained with this device are quite comparable to those obtained with the spot sampling method, which demonstrates that the newly developed SPME water sampling device is suitable for long-term monitoring of organic pollutants in water.     

Isotropic polynomial invariants of Hall tensor

The Hall tensor emerges from the study of the Hall effect, an important magnetic effect observed in electric conductors and semiconductors. The Hall tensor is third-order and three-dimensional, whose first two indices are skew-symmetric. This paper investigates the isotropic polynomial invariants of the Hall tensor by connecting it with a second-order tensor via the third-order Levi-Civita tensor. A minimal isotropic integrity basis with 10 invariants for the Hall tensor is proposed. Furthermore, it is proved that this minimal integrity basis is also an irreducible isotropic function basis of the Hall tensor.     

以葡萄糖为碳源合成生物降解性聚酯的研究

利用从油田土壤中筛选的菌种ＤＧ１７ 以葡萄糖为碳源通过微生物发酵法合成了具有不同结构单元的新型生物可降解性聚合物———聚羟基脂肪酸酯（ＰＨＡｓ） ．初步研究了ＤＧ１７ 以葡萄糖为碳源的生物合成规律,并借助ＧＣ、ＮＭＲ 等分析手段对合成的聚合物进行了结构的分析表征,另外还研究了ＰＨＡｓ 的活性污泥降解情况．研究表明,在限氮条件下,只有碳氮比高于５后,ＤＧ１７ 才能在其体内合成ＰＨＡｓ．在过量碳源的存在下,氮磷比低,得到的聚合物是一种具长侧链的聚（ 羟基辛酸 ｃｏ 羟基癸酸） 的共聚物,为一种热塑性弹性体．在硫酸铵浓度为０－５ｇ／Ｌ,碳氮比为２０ 条件下合成的Ｐ（ＨＯ ｃｏ ＨＤ） 热塑性弹性体的数均分子量为１－１６ ×１０ － ５ ,分子量分散指数为２－４３ ．其玻璃化温度及熔融温度分别为Ｔｇ ＝ － ５２ ℃,Ｔｍ ＝ ５０ ℃．氮磷比高,则合成热塑性塑料ＰＨＢ．结果表明培养基中氮源与磷酸盐的相对浓度是影响ＤＧ１７ 生物合成路径的重要条件．     

LIMITATION OF AVERAGE ESHELBY TENSOR AND ITS APPLICATION IN ANALYSIS OF ELLIPSE APPROXIMATION

By the aid of irreducible decomposition, the average Eshelby tensor can be expressed by two complex coefficients in 2D Eshelby problem. This paper proved the limitation of complex coefficients based on the span of elastic strain energy density. More discussions yielded the constraints on the sampling of module and phase difference of complex coefficients. Using this information, we obtained that the maximum relative error is 65.78% after an ellipse approximation. These results, as a supplement to our previous paper, further implied that Eshelby's solution for an ellipsoidal inclusion could not be applied to non-ellipsoidal inclusions without taking care.     

Recasting theory of elasticity with micro-finite elements

In the classical theory of elasticity,a body is initially modeled as a homogeneous and dense assemblage of constituent "material particles".The kernel concept of elastic deformation is the displacement of the particle that associates the current configuration with the reference one.In this paper,we exploit an alternative constituent "micro-finite element",and use the stretch of the element as the essential quality to recast the theory of elasticity.It should be realized that such a treatment means that the elastic body can be modeled as a finite covering of elements and consequently characterized by a manifold.The recasting of the elasticity theory becomes more feasible for dealing with defects and topological evolution.     

Fabrication and Properties of Gelatin/Chitosan Microspheres Loaded with 5-Fluorouracil

The use of microspheres as drug delivery vehicles for anticancer therapeutics has great potential to revolutionize the future of cancer therapy. The present paper describes the influence of process variables on the encapsulation and loading efficiency of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) in gelatin/chitosan (Gel/Cs) microspheres. The influences of preparation parameters, including the contents of the emulsifier Span-80, the cross-linking agent and 5-FU, and the stirring speed, on drug loading and encapsulation efficiency of the microspheres were investigated. The experimental results indicated that drug loading and encapsulation efficiency of microspheres increased with increasing concentration of the cross-linking agent; and then decreased when the concentration of the cross-linking agent was higher than 0.3 ml·g^?1 of Gel/Cs. Drug loading and encapsulation efficiency increased with increasing concentration of Span-80; they reached the maximum value when the concentration of the emulsifier was 0.012 g·ml^?1. The loading and encapsulation efficiency of the microspheres also increased with increasing stirring speed. In addition, drug loading and encapsulation efficiency increased with increasing concentration of 5-FU; however, the encapsulation efficiency decreased when the concentration of 5-FU was higher than 40 mg·ml^?1.