A Shortcut Application of a Flory‐Like Model to Asphaltene Precipitation

A model, previously developed to determine the asphaltene precipitation onset, considered that asphaltene separation is ruled by the solvent quality of the surrounding media. Here, it is shown that it is equivalent to Flory‐Huggins model, when it is hypothesized that the asphaltene concentration is always in the instability range. With this, the controversy on the use of a concentration‐dependent model to describe a phenomenon that is practically independent of concentration is by‐passed. Moreover, improvements of the model are presented, together with sensitivity analysis with respect to its parameters. Two field case applications are reported, showing that the model gives a reasonable fit.     

The Total Solubility of the Co-Solubilized PAHs with Similar Structures Indicated by NMR Chemical Shift

The synergism/inhibition level, solubilization sites and the total solubility (S_t) of co-solubilization systems of phenanthrene, anthracene and pyrene in Tween 80 and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) are studied by ¹H-NMR, 2D nuclear overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY) and rotating frame overhauser effect spectroscopy (ROESY). In Tween 80, inhibition for phenanthrene, anthracene and pyrene is observed in most binary and ternary systems. However, in SDS, synergism is predominant. After analysis, we find that the different synergism or inhibition situation between Tween 80 and SDS is related to the different types of surfactants used and the resulting different co-solubilization mechanisms. In addition, we also find that three polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have similar solubilization sites in both Tween 80 and SDS, which are almost unchanged in co-solubilization systems. Due to the similar solubilization sites, the chemical shift changes of surfactant and PAH protons follow the same pattern in all solubilization systems, and the order of chemical shift changes is consistent with the order of changes in the St of PAHs. In this case, it is feasible to evaluate S_t of PAHs by chemical shift. In both Tween 80 and SDS solutions, the ternary solubilization system has relatively high S_t rankings. Therefore, in practical applications, a good overall solubilization effect can be expected.     

Azobenzene‐Functionalized Metal–Organic Polyhedra for the Optically Responsive Capture and Release of Guest Molecules

Stimuli‐responsive metal–organic polyhedra (srMOPs) functionalized with azobenzene showed UV‐irradiation‐induced isomerization from the insoluble trans‐srMOP to the soluble cis‐srMOP, whereas irradiation with blue light reversed this process. Guest molecules were trapped and released upon cis‐to‐trans and trans‐to‐cis isomerization of the srMOPs, respectively. This study provides a new direction in the ever‐diversifying field of MOPs, while laying the groundwork for a new class of optically responsive materials.     

Water sorption and transport in a series of polysulfones

Water sorption and transport properties for a series of polysulfones are presented and interpreted in terms of the changes in the structure of the repeat unit compared to that of bisphenol A polysulfone. The differences between the sorption and diffusion of water and of permanent gases in these materials are also discussed. Water has the ability to interact with the polymer and with itself through hydrogen bonding in a way that permanent gases cannot. The equilibrium solubility of water in the polymer, unlike permanent gases, does not have a simple dependence on free volume but correlates more strongly with the frequency of hydrogen bonding sites on the polymer. Analysis of the sorption isotherms using the method of Zimm and Lundberg suggests that water molecules cluster in these polysulfones to various extents. For each polysulfone except polyethersulfone, the water diffusion coefficient decreases with increasing activity, which also suggests water clustering. For most of these materials, the water diffusion coefficient is larger than that of bisphenol A polysulfone and is directly related to the polymer free volume. Water permeability in these materials broadly correlates with the polymer free volume, but a favorable water-polymer interaction can be an overriding factor. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

聚酰亚胺研究新进展

聚酰亚胺（PI）是一类重要的高性能聚合物,广泛应用在航空航天、微电子、汽车、石油等高科技领域。由于其结构上的可设计性,世界上越来越多的研究者投入到这类高技术材料的研究开发中。本文分别从可溶性PI的分子设计与合成、功能性PI的合成与用途、PI绿色合成方法、PI纳米复合材料的制备4个方面综述了近年来PI的研究热点和新进展,为了解聚酰亚胺的研究提供了有价值的信息。     

铀在Nd_2Zr_2O_7烧绿石中的固溶量及重离子辐照效应

Nd_2Zr_2O_7烧绿石因其稳定的物理化学性质和辐照稳定性可以作为高放废物中锕系核素的固化基材.通过溶胶凝胶—喷雾热解—高温烧结方法制备了含铀的Nd_2Zr_2O_7烧绿石固化体;开展了Nd_2Zr_2O_7和Nd_(1.9)U_(0.1)Zr_2O_7固化体的重离子辐照实验,辐照剂量为1 dpa和3 dpa;利用X射线衍射和Raman光谱对固化体结构进行了分析.研究发现铀在Nd_2Zr_2O_7烧绿石体系的固溶量仅为10 at%,高价态铀掺杂导致固化体结构向无序化转变.重离子辐照实验表明, Nd_2Zr_2O_7烧绿石基材具有较高的抗辐照稳定性;而Nd_(1.9)U_(0.1)Zr_2O_7在较低辐照剂量下,固化体烧绿石体系结构破坏,重离子辐照诱导固化体结构转变为更加无序化的萤石结构.低固溶量和抗辐照能力减弱主要是由于锕系核素烧绿石固化体的结构无序化所致.     

Testing Hypotheses About the Power Law Process Under Failure Truncation Using Intrinsic Bayes Factors

Conventional Bayes factors for hypotheses testing cannot typically accommodate the use of standard noninformative priors, as such priors are defined only up to arbitrary constants which affect the values of the Bayes factors. To circumvent this problem, Berger and Pericchi (1996, J. Amer. Statist. Assoc., 19, 109-122) introduced a new criterion called the Intrinsic Bayes Factor (IBF). In this paper, we use their methodology to test several hypotheses regarding the shape parameter of the power law process. Assuming that we have data from the process according to the failure-truncation sampling scheme, we derive the arithmetic and geometric IBF's using the reference priors. We deduce a set of intrinsic priors that correspond to these IBF's, as the observed number of failures tends to infinity. We then use these results to analyze an actual data set on the failures of an aircraft generator.     

A Micellar Mitotane Formulation with High Drug‐Loading and Solubility: Physico‐Chemical Characterization and Cytotoxicity Studies in 2D and 3D In Vitro Tumor Models

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare tumor and prognosis is overall poor but heterogeneous. Mitotane (MT) has been used for treatment of ACC for decades, either alone or in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy. Even at doses up to 6 g per day, more than half of the patients do not achieve targeted plasma concentration (14–20 mg L^?1) even after many months of treatment due to low water solubility, bioavailability, and unfavorable pharmacokinetic profile. Here a novel MT nanoformulation with very high MT concentrations in physiological aqueous media is reported. The MT‐loaded nanoformulations are characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and powder X‐ray diffraction which confirms the amorphous nature of the drug. The polymer itself does not show any cytotoxicity in adrenal and liver cell lines. By using the ACC model cell line NCI‐H295 both in monolayers and tumor cell spheroids, micellar MT is demonstrated to exhibit comparable efficacy to its ethanol solution. It is postulated that this formulation will be suitable for i.v. application and rapid attainment of therapeutic plasma concentrations. In conclusion, the micellar formulation is considered a promising tool to alleviate major drawbacks of current MT treatment while retaining bioactivity toward ACC in vitro.     

Bayesian Variable Selection on Model Spaces Constrained by Heredity Conditions

This article investigates Bayesian variable selection when there is a hierarchical dependence structure on the inclusion of predictors in the model. In particular, we study the type of dependence found in polynomial response surfaces of orders two and higher, whose model spaces are required to satisfy weak or strong heredity conditions. These conditions restrict the inclusion of higher-order terms depending upon the inclusion of lower-order parent terms. We develop classes of priors on the model space, investigate their theoretical and finite sample properties, and provide a Metropolis–Hastings algorithm for searching the space of models. The tools proposed allow fast and thorough exploration of model spaces that account for hierarchical polynomial structure in the predictors and provide control of the inclusion of false positives in high posterior probability models.