Universal crossover of liquid dynamics in supercritical region

We demonstrate that all liquids in supercritical region may exist in two qualitatively different states: solid-like and gas-like. Solid-like to gas-like crossover corresponds to the condition τ ≈ τ₀, where τ is liquid relaxation time and τ₀ is the minimum period of transverse waves. This condition corresponds to the loss of shear stiffness of a liquid at all frequencies and defines a new narrow crossover zone on the phase diagram. We show that the intersection of this zone corresponds to the disappearance of high-frequency sound, qualitative changes of diffusion and viscous flow, increase in particle thermal speed to half of the speed of sound and reduction of the specific heat at constant volume to 2k _B per particle. The new crossover is universal: it separates two liquid states at arbitrarily high pressure and temperature, and even exists in systems where liquid-gas transition and the critical point are absent overall.     

Preparation of nano-hydroxyapatite/poly(<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-lactide) biocomposite microspheres

Nano-hydroxyapatite (HA)/poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) composite microspheres with relatively uniform size distribution were prepared by a solid-in-oil-in-water (s/o/w) emusion solvent evaporation method. The encapsulation of the HA nanopaticles in microshperes was significantly improved by grafting PLLA on the surface of the HA nanoparticles (p-HA) during emulsion process. This procedure gave a possibility to obtain p-HA/PLLA composite microspheres with uniform morphology and the encapsulated p-HA nanoparticle loading reached up to 40 wt% (33 wt% of pure HA) in the p-HA/PLLA composite microspheres. The microstructure of composite microspheres from core-shell to single phase changed with the variation of p-HA to PLLA ratios. p-HA/PLLA composite microspheres with the diameter range of 2–3 μm were obtained. The entrapment efficiency of p-HA in microspheres could high up to 90 wt% and that of HA was only 13 wt%. Surface and bulk characterizations of the composite microspheres were performed by measurements such as wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).     

Effects of Organic Acids on the Release of Fruity Esters in Water: An Insight at the Molecular Level

It is well known that organic acids (OAs) could affect the flavour of fruit juices and beverages. However, the molecular mechanism of aroma release is still unclear. In this study, the effects of citric acid (CA), L-(-)-malic acid (MA) and L-lactic acid (LA) on the release of six selected esters and their sensory perception were investigated by means of HS-GC-MS analyses and odour detection threshold determination, respectively. Meanwhile, the density functional theory (DFT) calculation was employed to explore the interaction modes between esters and OAs. HS-GC-MS analyses showed that the concentration and the type of OAs regulated the release of esters. The results were basically consistent with the detection threshold change of those esters. The DFT calculation suggested that the main intermolecular interaction was hydrogen bonds, and several esters could form a ternary ring structure with OAs through hydrogen bonds. The interactions can induce the different release behaviours of esters in OAs water solution. The number of carboxyl functional groups in OAs and the spatial conformation of esters appeared to influence the magnitude of the interaction. The above results demonstrated the mechanism of OAs affecting the release of esters and indicated a possible flavour control way by using different OAs and OA concentrations.     

Monoterpenoid Indole Alkaloids with Promoting Neurite Growth from Tabernaemontana divaricata

Main observation and conclusion Phytochemical investigations on Tabernaemontana divaricata led to the isolation of seven undescribed monoterpenoid indole alka-l...     

Guajamers A-I,Rearranged Polycyclic Phloroglucinol Meroterpenoids from Psidium guajava Leaves and Their Antibacterial Activity

Main observation and conclusion Eight new polycyclic phloroglucinol meroterpenoids guajamers A-H (1-8),a methylated benzoylphloroglucinol meroterpenoid guajamer...     

Highly efficient toughening effect of ultrafine full-vulcanized powdered rubber on poly(lactic acid)(PLA)

A unique ultrafine full-vulcanized powdered ethyl acrylate rubber (EA-UFPR) was used as the toughening modifier for poly (lactic acid) (PLA). Largely improved tensile toughness was successfully achieved with the incorporation of only 1 wt% EA-UFPR, while the tensile strength and modulus of the blends were almost the same as pure PLA. The highly efficient toughening of PLA by UFPR is mainly ascribed to the strong interfacial interaction between PLA and UFPR and good dispersion of UFPR particles in PLA matrix. Our work provides an effective toughening method to largely improve the mechanical properties of PLA without sacrificing its stiffness, which is very important for the wide application of PLA materials.     

Preparation of sol–gel materials doped with ionic liquid and extractant for cerium(III) extraction

Silica materials (ILDEHPASGs) consisting of ionic liquids and di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (DEHPA) for Ce(III) extraction was prepared by a sol–gel method using the hydrophobic ionic liquid 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C₈mim]PF₆) as porogen and solvent medium. The ILDEHPASGs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area, Fourier transform infrared, and thermogravimetric analyses. The results indicated the doping of DEHPA and [C₈mim]PF₆ in ILDEHPASG-3 would evidently affect the formation of porous structure of sol–gel materials. ILDEHPASG-3 also possessed more channels and macropores than the blank sorbent; the surface area and pore volume of ILDEHPASG-3 were 409 m² g^?1 and 0.444 cm³ g^?1, respectively. [C₈mim]PF₆ and DEHPA were only physically confined or entrapped in the growing covalent silica network rather than chemically bound to the inorganic matrix. The majority of [C₈mim]PF₆ and DEHPA were stably immobilized in the gel. Then, the effects of contact time and pH were determined. The results showed the sorption of Ce(III) strongly depended on the contact time and pH, and ILDEHPASGs had high sorption ability for Ce(III). The results were analyzed by both Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm models, and the latter was found to give a better fit.     

The behavior of technetium in technetium-scrubbing stage of PUREX process

Technetium decontamination factor as a function of the acidity, flow ratio, scrubbing stage number was investigated by counter-current cascade experiments or mixer-settler batch tests. Results showed that the acidity of the scrubbing acid has little influence on the decontamination factor of technetium when the acidity was kept in the range of 4.5–6 M. The most effective method to increase the decontamination factor is to lower the feed-to-acid flow ratio. Keeping other condition same the factor increased to 10.3 from 3.1 when feed-to-acid ratio changed to 4 from 5.6. The loss of uranium and plutonium can be recovered through a re-extraction technology.     

Coherent X-rays excited by a relativistic electron crossing a periodic stratified structure in Bragg scattering geometry

The dynamic theory of coherent X-rays excited by a relativistic electron crossing an artificial periodic stratified structure in Bragg scattering geometry has been developed for the general case of asymmetric reflection. Expressions describing the spectral-angular characteristics of radiation have been derived and investigated.