Quasi-static deformation and final fracture behaviour of aluminium alloy 5083: influence of cryomilling

The commercial aluminium alloy 5083 was processed via cryomilling to produce nanocrystalline (NC) powders with an average grain size of ～25–50?nm. The powders were subsequently degassed at 723 K (450°C), pre-heated and immediately quasi-isostatic (QI)-forged to produce a thermally stable bulk ultrafine grain (UFG) material having average grain size values ranging from 190 to 350?nm, depending on the processing conditions used. In this paper, the tensile properties and fracture behaviour of the bulk UFG material are presented and compared with the tensile properties of its conventionally processed counterpart. The specific influence of preheat temperature on strength and ductility of the alloy is briefly discussed. Three different pre-heat temperatures of 523, 623 and 723?K (250, 350 and 450°C) were chosen and used with the primary objective of controlling grain growth during forging. The influence of preheat temperature on tensile deformation and final fracture behaviour is highlighted. The macroscopic fracture modes of the bulk nanostructured material (BNM) prepared following three pre-heat temperatures are investigated. The microscopic mechanisms controlling tensile deformation and final fracture behaviour are discussed with regards to the intrinsic microstructural effects in the UFG alloy, nature of loading, and the kinetics and mechanisms of deformation.     

Rapid synthesis and characterization of ultra‐thin shell Au@SiO2 nanorods with tunable SPR for shell‐isolated nanoparticle‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS)

The recently reported shell‐isolated nanoparticle‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS) is considered as the next generation of advanced spectroscopy for its surface and molecular generality. With the aim to utilize the virtues of shell‐isolated strategy and advance the SHINERS technique, we introduce a silane‐based rapid synthesis method of silica‐coating Au nanorods (Au@SiO₂ NRs) with manoeuvrable ultra‐thin shell and tunable SPR. The results demonstrate that the SPR of Au NRs could be optimized to obtain large Raman enhancement using either 633 nm or 785 nm laser. Differing from previously reported Au@SiO₂ NRs synthesis method, we can tune the silica shell thickness within several nanometers to maximize the Raman signal while effectively eliminating the exterior interference. And this advanced synthesis method has also significantly reduced the silica‐coating time from one day to ca. 1 h. This method as a new development of SHINERS technique has successfully got enhanced signal in solution Raman tests of malachite green, giving a great potential to be extended to in‐situ measurement for daily life detection. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Flexible antenna design on PDMS substrate for implantable bioelectronics applications

In the current field of biomedical engineering, the research on implanted antennas has attracted more and more attention. This paper presents a flexible terrestrial radiating antenna with circular polarization characteristics that satisfy various requirements for biomedical implantable antennas. The new type of flexible material is adopted and a novel model is proposed. The square ground with small gap is implemented in the proposed antenna. The passive components can match the impedance and meet the requirements of the circular polarization wave. Simulation is carried out in a single layer tissue model to estimate the performance of the antenna and compared with multilayer tissue model. In addition, the flexible circularly polarized antenna has low profile characteristics and a wide axial ratio bandwidth of 250 MHz, ranging from 2.28 to 2.53 GHz. This paper uses pork to simulate single‐layer and multi‐layer tissue model. The flexible circular polarized antenna prototype is placed in the organization model for performance simulation test, and the measurement impedance bandwidth of 500 MHz is realized in the industrial scientific medical frequency band of 2.4–2.48 GHz.     

QuEChERS/超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法快速测定土壤中19种氟喹诺酮类抗生素残留

建立了一种基于QuEChERS前处理技术,结合超高效液相色谱-串联质谱(UPLC-MS/MS)和内标法,快速测定土壤中19种氟喹诺酮类抗生素(FQs)残留的分析方法。5. 0 g土壤样品添加200μg/kg基质匹配同位素内标后,经20 m L 0. 1 mol/L EDTA-McIlvaine缓冲液和乙腈混合溶剂(体积比1∶1)提取,基质分散固相萃取(150 mg无水MgSO4、15 mg PSA、15 mg C18)净化后,采用UPLC-MS/MS进行测定。质谱分析采用电喷雾电离,正离子扫描,多反应监测模式。在优化条件下,19种抗生素的相关系数(r~2)为0. 992～0. 998,检出限为0. 2～1. 0μg/kg,定量下限为1. 0～5. 0μg/kg;在10、50、200μg/kg加标水平下的回收率为65. 2%～104%,相对标准偏差(n=5)不大于14%。该方法操作简单快速、准确度高,适用于土壤中氟喹诺酮类抗生素残留的检测。     

Guidelines for tuning the macropore structure of monolithic columns for high‐performance liquid chromatography

The ability to control the external porosity and to tune the dimensions of the macropore size on multiple length scales provides the possibility of tailoring the monolithic support structure towards separation performance. This paper discusses the properties of conventional polymer–monolithic stationary phases and its limitations regarding the effects of morphology on kinetic performance. Furthermore, guidelines to improve the macropore structure are discussed. The optimal monolithic macropore structure is characterized by high external porosity (while maintaining ultra‐high‐pressure stability), high structure homogeneity, polymer globule clusters in the submicron range, and macropores with a diameter tuned toward speed (small diameter in the 100–500 nm range using short beds) or efficiency (larger macropores in the range of 500 nm–1 μm allowing the use of longer column formats). Finally, promising approaches to control the morphology are discussed.     

A rapid,sensitive, and widely applicable method for quantitative analysis of underivatized amino acids in different biological matrices by UHPLC‐MS/MS

A rapid, sensitive, and widely applicable method for the simultaneous quantitative analysis of 20 underivatized amino acids in different biological matrices, including serum, plasma, and tissue homogenates, using ultra high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry was developed and validated. Only 4 µL of serum, plasma, or tissue homogenate was extracted with 996 µL of solution (1.7 mM ammonium formate in 85% acetonitrile containing 0.1% formic acid) containing 100 ng/mL phenylalanine‐d5 as an internal standard without any further derivatization step. In addition, the matrix effects were small because a large volume of extraction solution was used. The total run time including reequilibration was 13 min. The results of linearity, accuracy, repeatability, precision, limits of detection, limits of quantification, and sample stability were sufficient to allow the measurement of the amino acids in different biological matrices. We conclude that our method is rapid, sensitive, and widely applicable and represents an improvement over other currently available technologies.     

Rapid analysis and characterization of multiple constituents of corn silk aqueous extract using ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography combined with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry

Corn silk is a well‐known traditional Chinese medicine that has been widely used for its antidiabetic, antioxidant, antihyperlipidemic, and other effects in China for thousands of years. Numerous studies have revealed that corn silk contains multiple bioactive constituents that are beneficial for human health. However, the constituents of corn silk in vivo remain ambiguous. In this study, high‐throughput ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography combined with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry technology using multivariate statistical analysis was established to systematically investigate the constituents migrating into blood from corn silk aqueous extract. As a result, 76 compounds were identified, including caffeic acid and ten of its derivatives, (E)‐p‐coumaric acid and two of its derivatives, ferulic acid and four of its derivatives, and five flavones. Among the identified constituents, 21 constituents, including nine prototype components and 12 metabolites derived from eight components, were characterized in sequence. Based on the significance of the results, the applied approach was powerful for the accurate determination and rapid screening of bioactive components from corn silk aqueous extract. The obtained results are valuable for the in‐depth understanding and further pharmacological study of corn silk aqueous extract.     

Probing the degradation mechanism of forsythiaside A and simultaneous determination of three forsythiasides in Forsythia preparations by a single marker

Forsythiaside A is the major component of Forsythia suspensa. This study investigated the degradation mechanism of forsythiaside A. Eight degraded components including forsythiaside I, forsythiaside H, forsythiaside E, caffeic acid, suspensaside A, β‐hydroxy forsythiaside I, β‐hydroxy forsythiaside H, and β‐hydroxy forsythiaside A were identified by using ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. Then, the quantitative analysis of multi‐components by a single‐marker was performed with ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography to simultaneously determine forsythiaside A, forsythiaside H, and forsythiaside I in Forsythia suspensa preparations. The result showed good linear relationships within 2.871–287.1, 0.231–23.1, and 0.983–98.3 μg/mL (r > 0.9998), with average recoveries of 97.7, 95.7, and 95.8% and relative standard deviations of 1.4, 2.4, and 1.8%, respectively. Using forsythiaside A as an internal reference, the relative retention values of forsythiaside H and forsythiaside I to forsythiaside A were calculated to be 0.89 and 0.61, respectively, and the relative correction factors were 0.816 and 0.799, respectively. The method for quantitative analysis of multi‐components by a single‐marker was applied to evaluate the overall quality of forsythia preparations. There was no significant difference in the measurement results of the method developed and the method of external standard.     

Perturbation Analysis for a New Omni-Directional Antenna Consisted of Circular Rod Corrugations Gloved with a DNG Shell

A new omni-directional leaky-wave antenna is proposed in the paper, which is consisted of circular rod corrugations gloved with a Double-negative (DNG) shell. The leaky characteristics of the new antenna are analyzed by improved perturbation method. The electromagnetic fields are described in terms of a radial transmission-line network, which tremendously simplifies the analysis procedure with good calculation accuracy and brings considerable physical insight into the overall behavior of the dielectric grating antenna. The case where the n = −1 space harmonic of TE₀₁ mode radiating into the space is carefully investigated, it is demonstrated that the gloved cylindrical DNG shell greatly enhances the leaky strength of the antenna. As a result, the dimension of the antenna could be largely reduced keeping the radiation efficiency unchanged, which is of practical significance for some applications.     

Optimization of Circular Ring Microstrip Antenna Using Genetic Algorithm

Circular ring microstrip antennas have several interesting properties that make it attractive in wireless applications. Although several analysis techniques such as cavity model, generalized transmission line model, Fourier-Hankel transform domain and the method of matched asymptotic expansion have been studied by researchers, there is no efficient design tool that has been incorporated with a suitable optimization algorithm. In this paper, the cavity model analysis along with the genetic optimization algorithm is presented for the design of circular ring microstrip antennas. The method studied here is based on the well-known cavity model and the optimization of the dimensions and feed point location of the circular ring antenna is performed via the genetic optimization algorithm, to achieve an acceptable antenna operation around a desired resonance frequency. The antennas designed by this efficient design procedure were realized experimentally, and the results are compared. In addition, these results are also compared to the results obtained by the commercial electromagnetic simulation tool, the FEM based software, HFSS by ANSOFT.