Resonant Raman‐based cytochrome C biosensor as a tool for evaluating the oxidative properties of the diesel exhaust particulate matter

Air pollution mostly originating from car exhaust and industrial emissions is seriously endangering human health. The study of toxic effects of particulate matter (PM) is a subject of very active research that covers a broad field from biology to chemistry and technology. The main issue of these works is the understanding of the oxidative properties of PM. In this paper, we present a quantitative analytical method based on the resonance Raman spectroscopy of cytocrome c that can be used to monitor the oxidative reactions that may take place between biological samples and PM. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

钢筋混凝土柱二阶配筋的不同计算方法对比

计算钢筋混凝土柱的配筋,需要迭代求解材料非线性和几何非线性问题,不便实际应用。基于混凝土和钢筋的本构关系,根据截面应变求解精确的截面内力-曲率关系,简化杆件变形曲线为二次抛物线来计算外部作用。根据精确的截面内力-曲率曲线和外部作用曲线的特点,分别按照我国《混凝土结构设计规范》(GB 50010-2010)和欧洲规范(Eurocode 2),对截面的极限曲率进行了简化,最后绘制了计算杆件二阶总弯矩和配筋的总诺模图。通过具体算例对比分析,结果显示欧洲规范的简化与精确值更相符,且更经济。     

Morphology and Properties of Particulate Filled Polymers

Although the structure of particulate filled polymers is usually thought to be very simple, often structure related phenomena determine their properties. Segregation occurs only when long flow paths and large particles are used in production. The occurrence and extent of aggregation depend on the relative magnitude of attractive and separating forces, which prevail during the homogenization of the composite; the balance of adhesive and shear forces determines structure. Fillers of small particle size always aggregate, usually leading to decreased strength and especially low impact resistance. Anisotropic particles (talc, mica, short fibers) are orientated during processing. ESR is a relatively simple technique for the estimation of orientation and orientation distribution, which are determined by processing conditions, i.e. flow pattern, shear conditions, mold filling rates, cooling conditions, etc. The orientation of the particles strongly affects composite stiffness and strength. In practice, often several factors simultaneously influence the properties of products prepared from particulate filled polymers. Separation of the effects of the influencing factors is difficult, although such knowledge would help to control composite properties. The structure and properties of injection and compression moulded PP composites containing CaCO₃ or talc differs considerably from each other. The aggregation of CaCO₃, the nucleating effect and the orientation of talc affect product properties. The latter are also influenced by the skin-core structure developing during injection molding as well as by the orientation of the polymer. An example is discussed in this paper, which facilitates the identification of the effect of these factors with the help of a simple model and indicates a way in which product properties can be controlled.     

Filler networks in elastomers

Elastomers are soft materials that can be reinforced by dispersing into them nanosized solid particles. Common examples of the latter are silica or carbon black aggregates. However, the mechanism of reinforcement is still not yet fully understood. Our work consists in investigating by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) the structure of the aggregate network spreading throughout the matrix in the initial sample and its modification during and after straining (elongation). The goal is to relate the macroscopic mechanical behaviour with the structure of the aggregate network. The present paper is a qualitative overview of recent results obtained on well defined composites.     

Molecular Arrangements in Polymer‐Based Nanocomposites

Monte Carlo computer simulations have been performed for model polymers containing randomly distributed spherical filler particles of diameter 8 times the transverse diameter of the polymer chains. The partial volume of the filler has been varied from 10% to 50%. The polymer/filler interface is characterized by densely packed and ordered shells of polymer units of thickness nearly twice the diameter of the units. The chain dimensions in filled systems are always found to be slightly smaller than in the unfilled melt. The behavior of various parameters chosen such to characterize the molecular arrangements in polymer‐based nanocomposites is analyzed, leading to a general picture in which the chains are considered to be sequences of interface, bridge and loop segments. The relative abundance of segments of each type, their average length and the way they are allocated in sequence change with changing the partial volume of filler.