Topology evolution and gelation mechanism of agarose gel

Kinetics as well as the evolution of the agarose gel topology is discussed, and the agarose gelation mechanism is identified. Aqueous high melting (HM) agarose solution (0.5% w/v) is used as the model system. It is found that the gelation process can be clearly divided into three stages: induction stage, gelation stage, and pseudoequilibrium stage. The induction stage of the gelation mechanism is identified using an advanced rheological expansion system (ARES, Rheometric Scientific). When a quench rate as large as 30 deg C/min is applied, gelation seems to occur through a nucleation and growth mechanism with a well-defined induction time (time required for the formation of the critical nuclei which enable further growth). The relationship between the induction time and the driving force which is determined by the final setting temperature follows the 3D nucleation model. A schematic representation of the three stages of the gelation mechanism is given based on turbidity and rheological measurements. Aggregation of agarose chains is promoted in the polymer-rich phase and this effect is evident from the increasing mass/length ratio of the fiber bundles upon gelation. Continuously increasing pore size during gelation may be attributed to the coagulation of the local polymer-rich phase in order to achieve the global minimum of the free energy of the gelling system. The gel pore size determined using turbidity measurements has been verified by electrophoretic mobility measurements.     

Improved hygrothermal durability of flax/polypropylene composites after chemical treatments through a hybrid approach

There are growing research interests in flax fibers due to their renewable ‘green’ origin and high strength. However, these natural fibers easily absorb moisture and have poor adhesion with polymer matrix leading to low interfacial strength for the composites. A hybrid chemical treatment technique combining alkali (sodium hydroxide) and silane treatments is adopted in the current study to modify flax fibers for improved performances of flax/polypropylene composites. Changes in chemical composition, microstructure, wettability, surface morphology, crystallinity and tensile properties of single flax fiber before and after chemical treatments were comprehensively characterized using techniques including SEM, FTIR, AFM, XRD, micro-fiber tester, etc. It was found that hemicellulose and lignin at the fiber surface were removed due to alkali treatment, which helped to reduce moisture absorption of the composites. Alkali-treated flax fibers were later subjected to silane treatment, which helped to improve the compatibility between flax fiber and polypropylene matrix. After alkali-silane hybrid chemical treatment, moisture absorption of the composites was further decreased. At the same time, the interfacial bonding strength between flax and polypropylene is significantly enhanced. All these results validate the great advantage of the hybrid chemical treatment approach for flax/polypropylene composites, which has the potential to promote the application of chemical treatment techniques in the plant fiber composite industry.

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Absorption and Capture of Methane into Ionic Liquid

A reversible storage-release process switched by a temperature difference of 10℃around room temperature can be realized. This fast, recyclable, energy efficient, low cost and green system within a wide range of temperature and pressure is reported here for the first time. The system is believed to open up a new route for the storage and homogeneous utilization of methane.     

Study of urinary nucleosides as biological marker in cancer patients analyzed by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

Thirteen normal and modified nucleosides, primarily degradation products of transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA), were evaluated as potential tumor markers for cancer patients. Their urinary concentrations were determined by means of micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) in the urine from 54 healthy adults and 70 cancer patients, then quantitatively expressed as a function of creatinine excretion. It was found that urinary nucleosides for cancer patients were on the average significantly higher than those for healthy controls, however, no significant differences were found between male and female or between different ages. Based on 13 urinary nucleoside concentrations, principal component analysis (PCA) could be used to classify 72% of cancer patients from the healthy controls. The present study shows that the precise measurement of urinary nucleosides by MEKC in combining with PCA technique may provide a clinically useful approach for diagnosis of cancer.     

Silicalite-1膜反应器中的丙烷芳构化

在丙烷芳构化反应中，氢气起着相当重要的作用；根据理论分析，消除氢气将会有利于芳构化反应的进行。在Ｓｉｌｉｃａｌｉｔｅ－１沸石分子筛膜反应器，丙烷芳构化反应中的芳烃选择性提高了１０％－２０％。针Ｓｉｌｉｃａｌｉｔｅ－ｌ膜反应器与氧化铝膜反应器中的反应结果相比较，表明膜反应器效果不仅取决于膜的渗透选择性，而且还取决于膜的渗透率。     

琼脂凝胶中形成铬酸铅周期性沉淀的机理研究

选择硝酸铅和铬酸钾作为相互扩散的反应物以形成铬酸铅在琼脂凝胶中的周期性沉淀．分别在光照和黑暗中对六种不同浓度的硝酸铅溶液进行了实验．根据实验现象对周期性沉淀的形成提出了可能的机理．认为光辐射可使铬酸铅部分电离，从而减慢了胶核成长速率，有利于汇聚成带．     

Stereoselective synthesis of individual isomers of Leu-enkephalin analogues containing substituted beta-turn bicyclic dipeptide mimetics

Novel constrained beta-turn dipeptide mimetics, 8-phenyl thiaindolizidinone amino acids 3, have been synthesized stereoselectively and incorporated into Leu-enkephalin peptides as a replacement of dipeptide Gly3-Phe4 to afford four individual isomers of Leu-enkephalin analogues 6.     

触头用银合金粉末的氧化性能和氧化后的组织结构

通过热重实验和扫描电子显微等方法，研究了４种触头用银合金粉末的氧化性能及氧化后的组织结构。发现Ａｇ－Ｓｎ－ＲＥ合金粉末氧化以后，在粉末表层形成一层纯银层，其组织结构理想；它的氧化性能最好，适于制备触头材料。Ａｇ－Ｓｎ－ＲＥ合金粉末的优良氧化性能与其氧化后理想的组织结构有关。稀土元素可以降低合金粉末的氧化温度，其它影响作用有待于进一步研究。     

Asymmetric dimers can be formed by dewetting half-shells of gold deposited on the surfaces of spherical oxide colloids

Asymmetric dimers consisting of gold microcrystals and spherical silica colloids have been fabricated by depositing thin films of gold onto the spherical colloids to form half-shells, followed by annealing at elevated temperatures. The capability and feasibility of this procedure have been demonstrated with silica and titania beads of 0.2-2 mum in diameter and gamma-Fe2O3/polystyrene@SiO2 core-shell particles 0.5 mum in size. The dimensions of gold microcrystals could be conveniently varied in the range of 100-650 nm by controlling the thickness of gold films and/or the diameter of the spherical colloids. This method provides another route to asymmetric dimers made of colloidal particles that could be different in size, chemical composition, surface functionality, density or sign of surface charge, bulk property, or a combination of these properties.     

不依赖于统计模型的手性毛细管电泳分离多指标同时优化

考虑到手性毛细管电泳分离机理的复杂性，提出了不依赖于统计模型的二进制编码遗传算法多目标优化策略。根据实验参数的多少及其重要性，采用均匀设计安排完成初步实验。并用Derringer功效函数作为多指标同时优化的评价指标，以取得较高的分离度和较快分离速度；通过对实验参数给予编码，转化为二进制字符串，根据得到的总功效函数值大小进行遗传算法操作，产生新的一组实验条件。重复上述过程直到得到最佳分离条件为止。此方法成功地应用于华法令对映体的毛细管电泳分离条件优化。