Characterisation and effect of polymer network deformation in reverse-mode polymer-stabilised cholesteric texture

In reverse-mode polymer-stabilised cholesteric texture (PSCT), the dynamic response is derived from local director reorientation governed by dielectric coupling effect/self-assembly and polymer network deformation. A double exponential rise/decay model is proposed to investigate the underlying physical mechanisms. Through simulation of the transient rise and decay processes, the polymer network deformation in PSCT can be quantitatively evaluated. Less deformation and faster restoration speed of the polymer network can suppress hysteresis. These results provide useful guidelines for future PSCT fabrication and performance optimisation.     

Stability enhancement of nanofibrillated cellulose in electrolytes through grafting of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid

This study aimed to improve the stability of nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) in an electrolyte containing system, which was achieved by the grafting of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) via the ceric ammonium nitrate-induced polymerization process. The results indicated that upon grafting the salt resistance and thermal stability of NFC were significantly improved. Moreover, the stability of the modified NFC increased with the AMPS loading. Compared to the control (the original NFC), the poly-AMPS/NFC (357.5 mg/g AMPS) exhibited much improved stability in a 400 mmol/L NaCl solution, and its viscosity was 350 mPa s. The thermogravimetric analysis results showed that the initial decomposition temperature of the modified NFC increased from 265 to 330 °C. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations showed that the main morphologic features of NFC were not altered, suggesting that the grafting reaction occurred on the fiber surface. The modified NFC can have promising industrial applications, such as oil recovery.     

盾构渣土基碳复合陶粒的制备及除磷性能

以固体废弃物地铁盾构渣土、稻草秸秆和氧化镁为主要原料,通过烧结法制备了一种盾构渣土基碳复合陶粒。考察了陶粒吸附磷的主要影响因素及平衡吸附量,并采用模型对实验数据进行拟合分析。结果表明,当盾构渣土、稻草秸秆粉末和氧化镁质量比为7∶2∶1,在最佳烧结条件700℃烧结可得到除磷性能最佳的陶粒。当吸附pH=6.3时,陶粒具有较高的磷吸附性能。吸附在12 h内基本能达到吸附平衡,该过程适合准二级动力学方程。盾构渣土基碳复合陶粒对磷酸盐的吸附符合Temkin等温模型,随温度升高吸附量逐渐增大,40℃下最大吸附量为12.76 mg/g。热力学参数ΔH=5.64 k J/mol0,ΔS=8.00 J/(K·mol)0,ΔG=3.16 k J/mol0,呈吸热、非自发的热力学特征,陶粒吸附磷后可通过2.0 mol/L的氢氧化钠溶液重新解吸回收。     

Synthesis and characterization of tetraoctyloxy substituted naphthalenophanedienes

Tetraoctyloxy-substituted naphthalenophanedienes were synthesized from tetraoctyloxy-substituted dithia[3.3]naphthalenophanes via sequential benzyne Stevens rearrangement, oxidation, and pyrolysis reactions. Surprisingly, only the pseudo-geminal isomer of tetraoctyloxy-substituted dithia[3.3]naphthalenophane was obtained after cyclization of the corresponding starting materials. The structures of the pseudo-geminal isomers of tetraoctyloxy-substituted dithia[3.3]naphthalenophane and tetraoctyloxy-substituted naphthalenophanediene were fully determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, high resolution mass spectrometry, and X-ray crystallography. The pseudo-geminal and pseudo-meta diastereomers of tetraoctyloxy-substituted naphthalenophanedienes were isolated by multiple fractional recrystallization from hexane at 5 °C. The solid state structure of the pseudo-geminal isomer of tetraoctyloxy-substituted naphthalenophanediene revealed strongly distorted naphthyl rings with high levels of ring strain.     

Tubular structured bacterial cellulose-based nitrite sensor: preparation and environmental application

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a polysaccharide with tubular structure and can be produced by various species of bacteria particularly Acetobacter xylinum. It...     

Encapsulation of RNA by negatively charged human serum albumin via physical interactions

Human serum albumin (HSA) is the most abundant plasma protein and has an inherent ability to target tumor cells. It is an excellent candidate for drug delivery. However, HSA cannot form complex with DNA or RNA, because it is negatively charged under physiological conditions. In this work, we reported a simple method to prepare HSA/RNA nanoparticles mainly by physical interaction. Firstly, the solution pH is adjusted to 4.0, under which condition HSA is positively charged. It forms complex with RNA via electrostatic interaction. The solution is then heated at 75 oC for 15 min to stabilize the structure and the size of the formed complex. The HSA/RNA nanoparticle prepared by this method has a diameter about 110 nm and a narrow distribution. It is also stable for days under physiological conditions. Cellular essays demonstrate that these particles exhibit a high cellular uptake efficiency and non-toxicity to HeLa cells.     

Spectrality of infinite convolutions with three-element digit sets

Let \(0< \rho <1\) and let \(\{a_n, b_n\}_{n=1}^\infty \) be a sequence of integers with bounded from upper and lower. Associated with them there exists a unique Borel probability measure \(\mu _{\rho , \{0, a_n, b_n\}}\) generated by the following infinite convolution product

$$\begin{aligned} \mu _{\rho , \{0, a_n, b_n\}}=\delta _{\rho \{0, a_1, b_1\}} *\delta _{\rho ^2 \{0, a_2, b_2\}} *\delta _{\rho ^3 \{0, a_3, b_3\}} *\cdots \end{aligned}$$

in the weak convergence, where \(\delta _E=\frac{1}{\# E}\sum _{e \in E} \delta _e\) and \(\hbox {gcd}(a_n, b_n)=1\) for all \(n \in {{\mathbb {N}}}\). In this paper, we show that \(L^2(\mu _{\rho , \{0, a_n, b_n\}})\) admits an exponential orthonormal basis if and only if \(\rho ^{-1} \in 3{{\mathbb {N}}}\) and  \(\{a_n, b_n\} \equiv \{1, 2\} \ (\mathrm {mod} \ 3)\) for all \(n \in {{\mathbb {N}}}\).

     

Evaluation of Poly(glycidyl methacrylate)-Coated Column for Enantioseparation with Azithromycin Lactobionate and Clindamycin Phosphate as Chiral Selectors in Capillary Electrophoresis

Chromatographia - In this study, a poly(glycidyl methacrylate) nanoparticle (PGMA NP)-coated column system with two antibiotics as selector was constructed for enantioseparation. The PGMA NP...     

Characterization and properties of plywood bioadhesive derived from cottonseed protein and sawdust cellulose

Cellulose - The development of plant adhesive with good bonding strength, water resistance and thermal stability remains challenging to replace formaldehyde-based adhesive resins that usually...     

Testing theoretical bases of caustic methods in fracture mechanics and stress analysis

Determination of stress intensity factors using shadow optical method of caustics attracts increasing attention. However, the reliability and ranges of applicability of this method are seldom discussed. This paper presents such an analysis regarding the reliability and predictive power of caustic method in fracture mechanics. This analysis is performed according to the accepted methodology of testing any analytical, numerical, or experimental procedure, namely by testing its theoretical bases. The following four basic assumptions of the shadow optical method of caustics in fracture mechanics, and their consequences, are analyzed: assumption of a generalized plane stress state near crack tip; assumption that the radiant energy used to produce shadow images propagates rectilinearly inside a stressed body; assumption that the light velocity inside a stressed body depends only on stress components in planes normal to wave normals; assumption that there is no alteration in state of polarization of radiation impinging upon a stressed plate at oblique incidence.The first two basic assumptions are tested using results obtained by means of three analytical-experimental procedures, namely isodynes, gradient index method, and classical strain gages. It is known that the inaccuracies of the fourth assumption are within the noise level only when the angles of incidence are small.It is shown that the magnitudes of the effects caused by the geometric lens effect and the gradient index lens effect are comparable, and that the stress states near crack tips and bottoms of notches, which produce the geometric lens effect, are clearly three-dimensional.It is also indicated that the gradient index lens effect is caused jointly by the stress/strain-induced alteration of the optical path and by the bending of the light path caused by strain gradient.Obtained empirical evidence shows the existence of a particular relationship between the observed gradient index lens effect and the order of singularity in a particular singular solution of linear fracture mechanics, with the exception of the vicinity of the crack tip where singularities are inadmissible.