Temperature memory effect and its stability revealed via differential scanning calorimetry in ethylene‐vinyl acetate within glass transition range

In this article, we reveal the temperature memory effect (TME) in a commercial thermoplastic polymer, namely ethylene‐vinyl acetate (EVA), within its glass transition range via a series of differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) tests. In addition, we investigate the influence of heating holding time and also compare the observed TME in current study with that of shape memory alloys (SMAs). It is concluded that the TME via DSC (without any macroscopic shape change) is achievable within the glass transition range of a polymer. Conversely, although the observed TME shares the many similar features as those in SMAs, due to the nature of micro‐Brownian motion in the glass transition of polymers, the resulted TME is strongly affected by the heating holding time. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 1731–1737     

Wide-stripe noise removal method of hyperspectral image based on fusion of wavelet transform and local interpolation

Optical Review - The principle of hyperspectral imaging leads to a variety of stripe noise in hyperspectral images, especially the wide-stripe noise, which brings great obstacles to the...     

Analytical Solution to Subsurface Air Pressure in a Three-Layer Unsaturated Zone with Atmospheric Pressure Changes

In this study, a solution to one-dimensional vertical airflow induced by the time-dependent atmospheric pressure fluctuations is developed in a three-layer unsaturated zone. The discrete atmospheric pressure data are transformed into a continuous boundary condition using the Fourier series analysis. The solution is applied to interpret the field air pressure data in a three-layer unsaturated zone reported in previous studies. The new solution improves the previous solution by reducing the required data measurement and input. The new solution is found to be accurate enough for the purpose of this study by comparing with a numerical solution developed in COMSOL Multiphysics. Given the necessary hydrogeological parameters, the new solution is capable of calculating the air permeability of each layer above a specified depth where the air pressures are known. Sensitivity analysis of the new solution shows that location, thickness, and air permeability of the less permeable layer impose large influence on the propagation of the atmospheric pressure fluctuations. Variations of air-filled porosity in soil layers in/below the less permeable layer may lead to greater amplitude attenuation and phase lag of air pressure than those in soil layers above the less permeable layer.     

Non-symmetrically p-nitrobenzyl- and p-cyanobenzyl-substituted N-heterocyclic carbene-silver(I) complexes: synthesis,characterization and antibacterial studies

Various nitro/nitrile-functionalized benzimidazol-2-ylidene carbene complexes of silver(I) (7a–d and 11a–d) were synthesized by combination of 1-allyl/1-isopropyl/1-sec-butyl/1-isopentyl-3-(nitro/cyano-benzyl)-3H-benzimidazol-1-ium hexafluorophosphate (6a–d and 10a–d) with silver(I) oxide in acetonitrile. The compounds were characterized by ¹H, ¹³C NMR, FT-IR, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. Additionally, the in vitro antibacterial activity of the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors (6a–d and 10a–d) and their corresponding NHC-silver(I) complexes (7a–d and 11a–d) were investigated against Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli using the qualitative Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. All the NHC-silver(I) complexes exhibited medium-to-high antibacterial activity with areas of clearance ranging from 12 mm to 21 mm, while the NHC precursors were inactive against both strains of bacteria.     

Active control of power flow transmission in finite connected plate

The vibration propagation and active control of power flow in finite connected plate structure are studied. The dynamic response of the connected plate is obtained by the wave approach. The active power flow at the junction of the connected plate is suppressed by the feedforward active vibration control. It indicates that the active power flow at the junction of the connected plate cannot be well suppressed by the optimal control force for minimizing the acceleration, but it can be effectively suppressed by the optimal control force for minimizing the active power flow. The small error of the optimal control force has slight effects on the control results.     

Selectivity of seismic electric signal (SES) of the 2000 Izu earthquake swarm: a 3D FEM numerical simulation model

Although seismic electric signal (SES) has been used for short-term prediction of earthquakes, selectivity of SES still remains as one of the mysterious features. As a case study, we made a numerical simulation based on a 3D finite element method (FEM) on the selectivity of SES observed in the case of the 2000 Izu earthquake swarm. Our numerical results indicated that the existence of conductive channel under Niijima island could explain the reported SES selectivity.     

Chemical and physical characteristics of self-fabricated radiophotoluminescent glass dosimeter

Thermoluminescent dosimeters are widely applied in the measurement of radiation dose. Since the luminescent centers are not lost during the reading process, radiophotoluminescent glass dosimeters (RPLGDs) can be repeatedly readout. The aims of this study were to make RPLGD and to analyze its physical and chemical properties. This study used chemical compounds such as Na₃PO₄, AlPO₄, AgCl, AgNO₃, B₂O₃, H₃PO₄ and P₂O₅ as the main ingredients. Depending on the self-fabricated glass compounds, the melting temperatures were between 1100 and 1500 °C. When the 0.1 mol% of silver was added, the radiation detection of self-fabricated RPLGD reached to the highest sensitivity. However, when silver concentration was larger than 0.1 mol%, the radiation detection sensitivity plummets rapidly. Excess amounts of silver and aluminum decreased the penetrate capability of ultraviolet spectrum. Based on our study, we found that chemical compound concentrations and melting process, which all affect radiation sensitivity and stability of self-fabricated RPLGD.     

Green synthesis of palladium nanoparticles using broth of Cinnamomum camphora leaf

The development of dependable, environmentally benign processes for the synthesis of nanoscale materials is an important aspect of nanotechnology. In the present study, we report one-pot biogenic fabrication of palladium nanoparticles by a simple procedure using broth of Cinnamomum camphora leaf without extra surfactant, capping agent, and/or template. The mean size of palladium nanoparticles, ranging from 3.2 to 6.0 nm, could be facilely controlled by merely varying the initial concentration of the palladium ions. The polyols components and the heterocyclic components were believed to be responsible for the reduction of palladium ions and the stabilization of palladium nanoparticles, respectively.