Static fatigue fracture of polyethylene: A morphological analysis

The fracture properties of a number of high-density polyethylenes were evaluated and related to their morphology. The resistance to initiation of fracture is related to the resistance to voiding of the materials and the rate of coalescence of voids. The propensity of the materials to void has been shown to be related to the size of the amorphous region. The resistance to propagation of the fracture is also related to the above factors as well as the ease of stretching and rupture of fibrils. The ease of fibril formation has been shown to be related to the degree of perfection of the crystallites.     

杨石先对农药化学学科的重要贡献及其学术思想

杨石先先生一生献身于我国的教育事业与化学学科的发展,在62年中为我国培养了无数高质量的科教人才。他除了长期担任南开大学校长之外, 还创建了我国大学第一个专职研究所,即元素有机化学研究所。他率先开展了我国元素有机化学与农药化学的科学研究,领导了元素有机化学国家重点实验室的建立,是我国元素有机化学和农药化学的奠基人和开拓者。他倡导用有机化学的专业知识,科学和系统地开展农药化学研究,组建队伍获得20项科研成果,发表上百篇科学与论述性论文,为我国开展自主创新农药研究事业作出重要贡献。在农药化学学科的学术思想中,他强调要弄清该学科的交叉性、系统性和内在规律性,倡导要学习国际先进经验,要结合国情自主创新,要为国家经济服务,要对世界农药科技做出贡献。他毕生对人才培养给予了特别的重视,为我国科技事业持续发展作出了重大贡献。     

How mobile NMR can help with the conservation of paintings

The conservation of paintings is fundamental to ensure that future generations will have access to the ideas of the grand masters who created these art pieces. Many factors, such as humidity, temperature, light, and pollutants, pose a risk to the conservation of paintings. To help with painting conservation, it is essential to be able to noninvasively study how these factors affect paintings and to develop methods to investigate their effects on painting degradation. Hence, the use of mobile nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) as a method of investigation of paintings is gaining increased attention in the world of Heritage Science. In this mini-review, we discuss how this method was used to better understand the stratigraphy of paintings and the effect different factors have on the painting integrity, to analyze the different cleaning techniques suitable for painting conservation, and to show how mobile NMR can be used to identify forgeries. It is also important to keep in mind its limitations and build upon this information to optimize it to extend its applicability to the study of paintings and other precious objects of cultural heritage.     

Size-Exclusion Chromatography: A Twenty-First Century Perspective

Now in its sixth decade, size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) remains the premier method by which to determine the molar mass averages and distributions of natural and synthetic macromolecules. Aided by its coupling to a variety and multiplicity of detectors, it has also shown its ability to characterize a host of other physicochemical properties, such as branching, chemical, and sequence length heterogeneity size distribution; chain rigidity; fractal dimension and its change as a function of molar mass; etc. SEC is also an integral part of most macromolecular two-dimensional separations, providing a second-dimension size-based technique for determining the molar mass of the components separated in the first dimension according to chemical composition, thus yielding the combined chemical composition and molar mass distributions of a sample. While the potential of SEC remains strong, our awareness of the pitfalls and challenges inherent to it and to its practice must also be ever-present. This Perspective aims to highlight some of the advantages and applications of SEC, to bring to the fore these caveats with regard to its practice, and to provide an outlook as to potential areas for expansion and growth.

     

Molecular polarizability of organic compounds and their complexes: LVI. Molar volume and structure in a solution of the compounds with several axes of intramolecular rotation

Molar volumes in solutions of compounds like orthoformic esters, trialkyl phosphates, trialkylphosphites, substituted aziridines, cyclopropanes, cyclohexanes, boroxines, N-aryl-4-pyridones, decalines, and cyclooctane were determined and discussed. Conformations of alkyl substituents in the esters were found to be similar to the conformations of the corresponding alkanes. Molar volumes of aziridines and cyclopropanes were found to be additive with respect to the molar volumes of bond and group increments. The nature of solvation of the molecules of these compounds was found to be similar to that in the model systems which served for the calculations of the increments. Molar volumes of cyclohexane, decaline, and cyclooctane also were found to be additive with respect to the contributions of the molar volumes of increments of the corresponding bonds and groups. The solvation and the steric structure of substituted boroxines were found to be similar to those of the structurally analogous substituted benzenes. Conformations of N-aryl-4-pyridone and its substituted derivatives in solutions were found to be similar to the conformations of biphenyl and its derivatives. A possibility of simplification of the methods for determining the dipole moments and Kerr constants of compounds from their additive molar volumes was demonstrated.     

加深对现代分析仪器的认识提高使用与维修水平

熟悉了解仪器的总体结构性能、剖析零部件的功能、注重基础研究、弄清仪器的安全联锁保护是提高仪器使用与维修水平的关键;重视仪器的故障分析与判断、准确及时地维修、合理地使用保养是保持仪器良好运行状态的唯一手段;建立仪器档案、定期进行性能测试是了解仪器、把握仪器运行脉搏、充分利用仪器的前提.     

面向水利供给的农地制度模式选择

农田抛荒现象频发,直接原因是劳动力不足、耕种不方便等,深层原因则是种田成本日渐增高,其中最大的影响因素是水利供给。水利供给与土地制度密切相关。改革开放以来,集体土地所有权不断弱化,依附于土地的乡村治理体系随之变化,乡村组织的水利供给能力难免同时弱化。“三权分置”背景下,经营权流转并不必然带来规模经营,不能将分化的农民整合为有共同利益诉求的主体,进而有效解决水利供给问题。从各地农地制度模式的经验来看,土地制度安排应关注“水土关系”,面向水利供给,优化土地权利结构,激活种田农户与村集体的利益关联,激发农民主体性,再造集体土地所有权,重建乡村组织体系。     

经济危机如何提防和善后：奥地利学派政策的两大审视

经济危机根源于大量财富被消耗掉而致使储蓄和投资不足,经济危机的提防和善后之策也应由此展开。（1）为提防资源耗竭和储蓄不足引发的经济危机,一国需要根据其产品的需求市场审慎地引导产品和产业结构,尤其需要有意识地限制那些以国内市场为主的高级品之生产和投资,而征收奢侈税则是一个重要手段。（2）为摆脱经济危机爆发后因过度调整而陷入长期的经济萧条,一国就不能简单地诉诸纯粹市场机制而应采取积极的逆向政策,尤其需要利用凯恩斯主义政策以扩大消费而不是听从奥地利学派主张以增加储蓄,而信用体系和信贷制度则是一个重要工具。显然,锦标赛制定价体系的经济周期理论有助于我们更清晰地洞悉经济变动趋势,尤其是,它充分辨识和契合了凯恩斯主义和奥地利学派的合理成分而提出了提防和应对经济危机的更全面方略。     

Efficient analyte oxidation in an electrospray ion source using a porous flow-through electrode emitter

This article describes the components, operation, and use of a porous flow-through electrode emitter in an electrospray ion source. This emitter electrode geometry provided enhanced mass transport to the electrode surface to exploit the inherent electrochemistry of the electrospray process for efficient analyte oxidation at flow rates up to 800 microL/min. An upstream current loop in the electrospray source circuit, formed by a grounded contact to solution upstream of the emitter electrode, was utilized to increase the magnitude of the total current at the emitter electrode to overcome current limits to efficient oxidation. The resistance in this upstream current loop was altered to control the current and "dial-in" the extent of analyte oxidation, and thus, the abundance and nature of the oxidized analyte ions observed in the mass spectrum. The oxidation of reserpine to form a variety of products by multiple electron transfer reactions and oxidation of the ferroceneboronate derivative of pinacol to form the ES active radical cation were used to study and to illustrate the performance of this new emitter electrode design. Flow injection, continuous infusion, and on-line HPLC experiments were performed.     

Advancing the Drug Discovery and Development Process

The current state of affairs in the drug discovery and development process is briefly summarized and then ways to take advantage of the ever‐increasing fundamental knowledge and technical knowhow in chemistry and biology and related disciplines are discussed. The primary motivation of this Essay is to celebrate the great achievements of chemistry, biology, and medicine and to inform and inspire students and academics to enter the field of drug discovery and development while, at the same time, continue to advance the fundamentals of their disciplines. It is also meant to encourage and catalyze multidisciplinary partnerships between academia and industry as scientists attempt to merge their often complementary interests and expertise to achieve new improvements and breakthroughs in their respective fields, and the common goal of applying them to the discovery and invention of new and better medicines, especially in areas of unmet needs.     

Free-energy component analysis of 40 protein-DNA complexes: a consensus view on the thermodynamics of binding at the molecular level

Noncovalent association of proteins to specific target sites on DNA--a process central to gene expression and regulation--has thus far proven to be idiosyncratic and elusive to generalizations on the nature of the driving forces. The spate of structural information on protein--DNA complexes sets the stage for theoretical investigations on the molecular thermodynamics of binding aimed at identifying forces responsible for specific macromolecular recognition. Computation of absolute binding free energies for systems of this complexity transiting from structural information is a stupendous task. Adopting some recent progresses in treating atomic level interactions in proteins and nucleic acids including solvent and salt effects, we have put together an energy component methodology cast in a phenomenological mode and amenable to systematic improvements and developed a computational first atlas of the free energy contributors to binding in approximately 40 protein-DNA complexes representing a variety of structural motifs and functions. Illustrating vividly the compensatory nature of the free energy components contributing to the energetics of recognition for attaining optimal binding, our results highlight unambiguously the roles played by packing, electrostatics including hydrogen bonds, ion and water release (cavitation) in protein-DNA binding. Cavitation and van der Waals contributions without exception favor complexation. The electrostatics is marginally unfavorable in a consensus view. Basic residues on the protein contribute favorably to binding despite the desolvation expense. The electrostatics arising from the acidic and neutral residues proves unfavorable to binding. An enveloping mode of binding to short stretches of DNA makes for a strong unfavorable net electrostatics but a highly favorable van der Waals and cavitation contribution. Thus, noncovalent protein-DNA association is a system-specific fine balancing act of these diverse competing forces. With the advances in computational methods as applied to macromolecular recognition, the challenge now seems to be to correlate the differential (initial vs. final) energetics to substituent effects in drug design and to move from affinity to specificity.     

Diagnosis of public programs focused on herbal medicines in Brazil

The present study is aimed to diagnose the current public programs focused on herbal medicines in Brazil by means of in loco visits to 10 programs selected by means of questionnaires sent to 124 municipalities that count on herbal medicine services. The main purpose of the implementation of program programs is related to the development of medicinal herbs. 70% of them are intended for the production of herbal medicines and 50% are aimed to ensure the access of the population to medicinal plants and or herbal medicines. The initiative of the implementation of these programs was related to the managers (60%). The difficulties in this implementation were due to the lack of funding (100%) of the programs. In 60% of the programs, the physicians did not adhere to herbal medicine services due to the lack of knowledge of the subject. Training courses were proposed (80%) to increase the adhesion of prescribers to the system. Some municipalities use information obtained from patients to assess the therapeutic efficiency of medicinal plants and herbal medicines. Of the programs underway, cultivation of medicinal plants was observed in 90% and 78% of them adopt quality control. In most programs, this control is not performed in accordance with the legal requirements. The programs focused on medicinal plants and herbal medicines implemented in Brazil face some chronic problems of infrastructure, management, operational capacity and self-sustainability, which can be directly related to the absence of a national policy on medicinal plants and herbal medicines.     

Measurement of ultraviolet exposure in epidemiological studies of skin and skin cancers

As our understanding of the role of UV in causing skin cancer continues to expand, researchers and clinicians must continue to remain up to date on the various means by which UV exposure can be quantified. The purpose of this article was to review the current methods used to measure lifetime exposure to UV and to summarize the strengths and weaknesses of each of these approaches. Thus we include here a review of research articles that deal with questionnaire reliability and physical examination. We also review more technologically advanced techniques used to measure chronic UV exposure; these include microtopography, histology, gene studies and spectroscopy. Both the utility of using a specific measurement technique and the accuracy of particular techniques are explored. Finally, we touch upon the results of articles that link UV exposure to skin cancer and what this means for the future of UV-induced skin cancer research.     

Application of radioisotope XRF for the determination of noble metals in aqueous solutions

Radiometric methods of determination of platium and palladium (0.1 to 5% of Pt and 0.1 to 2% of Pd), gold and indium (0.01 to 1% of Au and 1 to 4 g In/l) and of platinum and rhodium (0.1 to 9% of Pt and 0.05 to 1% of Rh) in aqueous solution has been worked out. A suitable measuring device has been designed and constructed. The methods are based on the measurement of characteristic radiation of the L_α line for gold and platinum and of the K-series for indium, palladium and rhodium, as well as on the measurement of scattered radiation from a²³⁸Pu source. The r.m.s. error of the determination varies from 0.01 to 0.10% of Pt, 0.002 to 0.01% of Au and 0.01 to 0.15% of Pd depending on the concentration. In the case of Rh and In the errors are 0.008% and 0.04 g In/l, respectively.     

Atmospheric oxidation mechanism of p-xylene: a density functional theory study

We report an investigation of the mechanistic features of OH-initiated oxidation reactions of p-xylene using density function theory (DFT). Reaction energies for the formation of the aromatic intermediate radicals have been obtained to determine their relative stability and reversibility, and their activation barriers have been analyzed to assess the energetically favorable pathways to propagate the p-xylene oxidation. OH addition is predicted to occur dominantly at the ortho position, with branching ratios of 0.8 and 0.2 for ortho and ipso additions, respectively, and the calculated overall rate constant is in agreement with available experimental studies. Under atmospheric conditions, the p-xylene peroxy radicals arising from initial OH and subsequent O(2) additions to the ring are shown to cyclize to form bicyclic radicals, rather than to react with NO to lead to ozone formation. With relatively low barriers, isomerization of the p-xylene bicyclic radicals to more stable epoxide radicals likely occurs, competing with O(2) addition to form bicyclic peroxy radicals. The study provides thermochemical and kinetic data for assessment of the photochemical production potential of ozone and formation of toxic products and secondary organic aerosol from p-xylene oxidation.     

Curvature Effects in the Analysis of Pendant Bubble Data: Comparison of Numerical Solutions, Asymptotic Arguments, and Data

The pendant bubble method is commonly used to measure the evolution of the surface tension of surfactant solutions. Initially, the bubble interface is free of adsorbed surfactant. As time progresses, surfactant diffuses to the interface, adsorbs, and reduces the surface tension. The surface tension is assumed to be in equilibrium with the instantaneous surface concentration. Therefore, surface tension data are analyzed in terms of interfacial thermodynamics and mass transfer models in order to infer the mechanisms which determine the surfactant transport. Diffusion from the bulk solution to the bubble can be approximated as diffusion to a spherical interface. Approximating this process as diffusion to a plane introduces significant errors into the data analysis. Mass transfer to a sphere differs from that to a plane; the equilibration of the spherical interface is more rapid simply because of geometry. The failure to account for this effect in the interpretation of pendant bubble data can lead to serious errors in the transport coefficients for the surfactants. In the diffusion-controlled limit, surfactant diffuses to the sublayer immediately adjacent to the interface and adsorbs in local equilibrium according to the adsorption isotherm. There is a closed-form solution for Fick's law describing adsorption to a sphere in an infinite solution which reduces to the Ward and Tordai solution when the bubble radius is large. This equation, along with the adsorption isotherm relating the surface concentration and the sublayer concentration, must be solved numerically in order to solve for the time evolution of the surface concentration. At early times, the adsorption isotherm can be expanded about the clean interface state. At long times, small departures from the equilibrium state can be assumed. In these limits, asymptotic expansions can be obtained. The short- and long-time expansions are found in this study for adsorption to a sphere and compared to those obtained previously for adsorption to a planar interface. In particular, the long-time asymptote for adsorption to a sphere is proportional to t(-3/2); this asymptote differs significantly from that for adsorption to a plane, which goes as t(-1/2). The full solution for adsorption to a sphere is compared to the Ward and Tordai solution for adsorption to a planar interface. From a comparison of the full solutions, it is established that curvature cannot be neglected unless the ratio of the adsorption depth to the bubble radius is negligible. This ratio can be calculated a priori from equilibrium isotherm parameters. Using constants which describe the surfactant C(12)E(8), for which curvature plays a strong role in the surfactant adsorption dynamics, the short- and long-time solutions for adsorption to the interface are compared to the full solutions and to dynamic surface tension data to infer the range of validity of the approximations. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.     

Hygienic aspects related to burial

Burial grounds are generally provided by local authorities in cemeteries (subject to planning consent and to compliance with any considerations for environmental health). Their design has been submitted to studies of hydrogeological characteristics of soil with regard to its ability to purify wastewater coming from corpse decomposition, its ability to avoid the infiltration of pollutants in groundwater, and its ability to skeletonize buried corpses within the given times foreseen by the law in force. Greater environmental awareness has necessitated that new and existing burial grounds are assessed to determine the environmental load which they could release to soil or any downstream component. This problem arises in countries where there is a high density of built-up areas, a custom of disposing of the dead by burial, a lack of available spaces and suitable soils to designate as burial grounds. This paper reports some results from a study carried out on ground lands of Italy in order to revise articles 82 and 83 of the Decree No 285 of 1990 in force in relation to burial grounds. Soil permeability to water and air is a parameter of critical importance in relation to purification and/or diffusion of leachates from inhumed corpses in the soil, and in relation to its influence on the time necessary to completely skeletonize a human corpse.     

高校无机化学实验室资源合理配置的探索与实践

高校实验室是“立德树人”的重要阵地,实验技术队伍是实现“三全育人”的重要保障。高校快速发展过程中,对实验技术队伍赋予了建设和管理的多重任务,而自身缺乏明确的发展方向和目标,实验技术队伍职业化研究成为高校发展的现实需求。构建适应高等学校发展的实验技术队伍专业化管理体系,明确实验队伍职业化发展路径选择的具体措施,促进实验技术队伍稳定性,强化实验技术队伍在高等学校治理结构和提升内涵建设的有效作用,为提升高校实验室育人功能奠定基础,为高等学校快速发展提供有力支撑。     

Hybridized particle swarm algorithm for adaptive structure training of multilayer feed-forward neural network: QSAR studies of bioactivity of organic compounds

The multilayer feed-forward ANN is an important modeling technique used in QSAR studying. The training of ANN is usually carried out only to optimize the weights of the neural network and without paying attention to the network topology. Some other strategies used to train ANN are, first, to discover an optimum structure of the network, and then to find weights for an already defined structure. These methods tend to converge to local optima, and may also lead to overfitting. In this article, a hybridized particle swarm optimization (PSO) approach was applied to the neural network structure training (HPSONN). The continuous version of PSO was used for the weight training of ANN, and the modified discrete PSO was applied to find appropriate the network architecture. The network structure and connectivity are trained simultaneously. The two versions of PSO can jointly search the global optimal ANN architecture and weights. A new objective function is formulated to determine the appropriate network architecture and optimum value of the weights. The proposed HPSONN algorithm was used to predict carcinogenic potency of aromatic amines and biological activity of a series of distamycin and distamycin-like derivatives. The results were compared to those obtained by PSO and GA training in which the network architecture was kept fixed. The comparison demonstrated that the HPSONN is a useful tool for training ANN, which converges quickly towards the optimal position, and can avoid overfitting in some extent.