Reticular Sn nanoparticle-dispersed PAN-based carbon nanofibers for anode material in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries

Reticular tin nanoparticle-dispersed carbon (Sn/C) nanofibers were fabricated by stabilization of electrospun SnCl₄/PAN composite fibers and subsequent carbonization at different temperatures. These Sn/C composite nanofibers used as anode materials for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) show that the Sn/C nanofibers at 700 and 850 °C present much higher charge (785.8 and 811 mA h g^?1) and discharge (1211.7 and 993 mA h g^?1) capacities than those at 550 and 1000 °C and the as-received CNFs at 850 °C, corresponding to coulombic efficiencies of 64.9% and 81.7%, respectively. The superior electrochemical properties of the intriguing Sn/C nanofibers indicate a promising application in high performance Li-ion batteries.     

Dissipative particle dynamic simulation study of lipid membrane

The lipid membrane plays crucial roles in countless biologic processes, ranging from cell motility, endo- and exocytosis, and cell division to protein aggregation and trafficking. To gain a molecular insight in these biologic processes, the recently developed mesoscale simulation technique, dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulation, has become an invaluable tool. By providing a brief survey of existing atomistic and popular coarse-grained models used today in studying the dynamics (including vesicle formation and (protein-mediated) vesicle fusion) and phase behavior of lipid bilayers, this review illustrates how mesoscopic DPD models can be used to obtain a better understanding of these biologic processes currently inaccessible to atomistic and most coarse-grained models.     

Cd13−xInySb10 (x≈2.7, y≈1.5): An Interstitial‐Free Variant of Thermoelectric β‐Zn4Sb3

Although free from structural disorder , the new intermetallic compound Cd_13?xIn_ySb₁₀ (see figure) displays similarly low thermal conductivity values as disordered thermoelectric β‐Zn₄Sb₃ with an isostructural framework.

     

DNA Degradation of Genetically Modified Cottonseed Meal During Feed Processing

The effects of dry heating, wet heating, and extrusion on the degradation of DNA in cottonseed meal (CSM) were studied using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR approach. Both the sad1 DNA, ranging between 128 and 883 bp in size, and the cry1Ab/c gene, ranging between 183 and 652 bp in size, were detectable in all dry-heated CSM and cottonseed. During wet heating, the sad1 gene (≥883 bp) and the cry1Ab/c (≥952 bp) gene were thoroughly degraded at 105 and 120 °C, respectively. Sizes from 128 to 530 bp for the sad1 gene and sizes from 183 to 652 bp for the cry1Ab/c gene were detected during extrusion at temperatures ranging from 75 to 135 °C. Fragments ≤883 bp for the sad1 gene and ≤952 bp for the cry1Ab/c gene were detected in all of the extruded samples with water content varying between 26 and 34 %. The copy number ratio of cry1Ab/c to sad1 in samples of Bt cottonseed meal decreased rapidly when the temperature increased during the heating process. In conclusion, feed processing markedly degrades the larger DNA fragments of sad1 and cry1Ab/c, with high temperature and water content being the main factors for that degradation.     

Alternating copolymers of hexafluoroisobutylene with vinyl trifluoroacetate and vinyl pentafluorobenzoate

Copolymerizations of hexafluoroisobutylene (HFIB) with vinyl pentafluorobenzoate (VPFB) and vinyl trifluoroacetate (VTFA) were carried out in bulk using perfluorodibenzoyl peroxide as the radical initiator. The copolymers obtained were characterized by proton and fluorine NMR spectroscopy. The monomer reactivity ratios in the polymerization of HFIB with VPFB were r₁ (HFIB) = 0, r₂ (VPFB) = 0.373, and r₁r₂ = 0. The results indicated that these copolymers have alternating structures. Similarly, the copolymers of HFIB and VTFA also showed alternating structures. The films of HFIB‐co‐VPFB were prepared by casting THF solution of polymers. Films obtained were flexible and transparent. The refractive indices of copolymers were 1.4549, 1.4490, and 1.4438 at 532, 633, and 839 nm, respectively. The average T_gs of HFIB‐co‐VTFA and HFIB‐co‐VPFB were 52 and 71 °C, respectively. From these results, the T_g of the hypothetical HFIB homopolymer is postulated to be in between 70 and 90 °C, which may be useful in the assessment of T_gs of HFIB copolymers with other vinyl monomers. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Synthesis,structural characterization and catalytic activity of benzimidazole‐functionalized Pd(II) N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes

Two Pd(II)–NHC complexes bearing benzimidazole and pyridine groups have been successfully prepared and fully characterized by NMR and X‐ray diffraction analysis. The structure of palladium complexes are a typical square‐planar with palladium surrounded by two pairs of trans‐arranged benzimidazole and carbene ligands. The Pd–NHC complexes have been proved to be a highly efficient catalyst for the Mizoroki–Heck coupling reaction of aryl halides with various substituted acrylates under mild conditions in excellent yields. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simulation and feature analysis for gas emboli Doppler ultrasound signals

The purpose of this study is to establish the simulation model of the gas emboli by analyzing reasons for features of gas emboli Doppler ultrasound signals.It is useful for the further classification of the solid emboli and gas emboli.First,the model of the radiation force and the drag force is used to calculate forces acting on the gas emboli.Second,the acceleration of the gas emboli is calculated in both the radial direction and the axial direction of the vessel, which is used to calculate the trajectory of the gas emboli in the vessel.Finally,the computer simulation model is established for the gas emboli.Doppler ultrasound signals of the gas emboli and the solid emboli are generated in the simulation experiment.Experimental results show that compared with the solid emboli,the gas emboli acted by the radiation force and the drag force will result in the frequency-domain broaden in the Doppler spectrogram.When the gas emboli circulate from the low speed area to the high speed one and then from the high speed area back to the low speed one,a "V" shape will be shown in the spectrogram of gas emboli signals.When the gas emboli circulate from the low speed area to the high speed one or from the high speed area to the low speed one,a diagonal shape will be shown for gas emboli signals. It is also shown that features of simulated gas emboli signals match with those of gas emboli signals sampled from clinic.All demonstrate that the simulation method of the gas emboli is reasonable.     

Silver(I)-mediated reaction of trimethylsilylated arylacetylenes with sulfonyl chlorides:Unexpected formation of vinvl sulfones

A novel reaction of trimethylsilylated arylacetylenes with sulfonyl chlorides was performed in the presence of silver nitrate or triflate.Conjugated vinyl sulfones as dramatic products were obtained in moderate yields and with Z-selectivity.A free radical mechanism has been proposed to account for the formation of the products.     

Quantum Theory of Two-Photon Ghost Interference

In this paper, we study two-photon ghost interference with the approach of photon quantum theory, and calculate the coincidence counts of D ₁ and D ₁ detectors. With specific attention to the two-photon interference experiment carried out by Milena D’Angelo et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett. 87:013602, 2001), and find the theoretical result is accordance with experiment data.