Physicochemical and tensile properties of alkaline-treated new natural cellulosic Gossypium arboreum fiber

This article describes the characterization of novel natural lignocellulosic bark fibers extracted from the stem of the Gossypium arboreum (cotton) plant. The G. arboreum stem fibers were treated with 5% (w/v) aqueous NaOH solution for different soaking times, and the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis was conducted to examine the chemical compounds of the raw and treated fibers. The cellulose content improved from 70.06 to 83.91% after the treatment. The X-ray diffraction results indicate that the crystalline index and size were enhanced. Thermogravimetric analysis was performed to study the thermal properties and found that the thermal stability was higher for the treated fibers. The tensile strength and modulus were increased for the alkaline-treated fibers compared to the untreated fibers.     

Opinion strength influences the spatial dynamics of opinion formation

Opinions are rarely binary; they can be held with different degrees of conviction, and this expanded attitude spectrum can affect the influence one opinion has on others. Our goal is to understand how different aspects of influence lead to recognizable spatio-temporal patterns of opinions and their strengths. To do this, we introduce a stochastic spatial agent-based model of opinion dynamics that includes a spectrum of opinion strengths and various possible rules for how the opinion strength of one individual affects the influence that this individual has on others. Through simulations, we find that even a small amount of amplification of opinion strength through interaction with like-minded neighbors can tip the scales in favor of polarization and deadlock.     

Directed neural stem cell differentiation on polyaniline-coated high strength hydrogels

Stem-cell-based neural regeneration has received significant attention, as it has potential to restore functionality to diseased or damaged neural tissues that have a limited ability to self-repair or regenerate. Culturing neural stem cells (NSCs) on hydrogel substrates has been shown to facilitate differentiation to neural progenitors, but this has only been achieved on very soft hydrogels, greatly increasing the difficulty of manufacture and limiting their wide applications. Here, we realized the differentiation of NSCs to neural and glial progenitors on high-strength hydrogels. Hydrogen-bonding-strengthened conductive hydrogels (PVV-PANI) were synthesized through one-pot copolymerization of 2-vinyl-4,6-diamino-1,3,5-triazine, 1-vinylimidazole and polyethylene glycol diacrylate, followed by post-coating with polyaniline (PANI). Diaminotriazine-diaminotriazine hydrogen bonding dramatically increases their mechanical strength, while copolymerization with VI pronouncedly promotes the adsorption of PANI particles, endowing the hydrogels with electrical conductivity. These hydrogels exhibit tensile strengths up to 1.16 MPa, a 559% breaking strain, a 9.9 MPa compressive strength and up to 16.7 mS/cm conductivity. Importantly, PVV-PANI hydrogels support the attachment, proliferation, and differentiation of NSCs, and allow the efficient induction of neural and glial differentiation via electrical stimulation. This work demonstrates high-strength conductive hydrogels can serve as an electroactive soft-wet platform for modulating the specific differentiation of NSCs, a significant step towards cell-based therapies for neurological diseases.     

Chemometric analysis of disubstituent effects on the 13C chemical shifts of the carboxyl carbons (deltaCO) of benzoic acids. A comparative study of the substituent effects on the strength of benzoic acids in apolar aprotic media

The results of measurements of substituent induced chemical shifts of carboxyl carbons (deltaCO) of dichloro- and difluorobenzoic acids, including the monosubstituted ones with substituents at meta- and/or ortho- positions, in chloroform-d and strengths of these acids (log K) in chlorobenzene show an anomalous reverse trend between deltaCO and log K, while the electron density at carboxyl carbons should influence similarly both deltaCO and log K. A detailed chemometric analysis of comparison of disubstituent effects between deltaCO and log K on the basis of Fujita-Nishioka's multiparameter approach and assumption of additivity of substituent effects shows a dominance of the localized pi-polarization mechanism relative to simple electrostatic effects upon deltaCO. Further, steric factors play a significant role in determining deltaCO whereas with respect to log K they were insignificant. The overall anomaly has been rationalized keeping in mind that, while log K is a gross measure of energy differences between the ionized and unionized forms of the acids, deltaCO is a very sensitive probe for determining changes in electron density at the carboxyl carbon of the unionized acid.     

Monitoring the traceability of the pH of a primary tetraborate buffer: comparison of results from primary and secondary apparatus

This paper reports evaluation of the behaviour of different combined glass electrodes applied to measurement of the pH of a primary, 0.01 mol kg⁻¹, tetraborate buffer. Measurements were first performed by use of a primary Harned cell (at 15, 25, and 37 °C); these results were then compared with those obtained for the same solution by use of three combined glass electrodes (25 °C) with different membranes and liquid-junction designs, calibrated by use of commercial pH-metric buffers. The pH of the same solution was also measured in terms of the molal concentration of hydrogen ions, using acid–base titration to evaluate the formal potential difference K of each cell at fixed ionic strength, I, adjusted by addition of KCl or Et₄NI (tetraethylammonium iodide). The reference value from primary measurement, paH = 9.171, was slightly closer to the mean value obtained by determination of concentration, rather than that obtained by direct measurement of activity; the differences were smaller than the extended uncertainty characteristics of the secondary measurements. The importance of evaluation of the ionic strength of the solution under study is emphasised. We verified that for tetraborate buffer slight modification of the value of I used to calculate γ _i (the activity coefficient of a single ion) in the calculation of paH from the acidity function at zero molality of chloride can significantly affect the reference value of the calibrator tool. This is true, in general, for low values of the ionic strength, such as those considered in this work; an approximate value of I can then cause distortions along the pH traceability chain. Application of the concepts of thermodynamics to this traceability chain is discussed.     

Microscopic study of Gamow-Teller and spin-dipole states in 208Bi

Gamow-Teller (GT) and spin-dipole (SD) states in ²⁰⁸Bi are studied by using self-consistent Hartree-Fock + Tamm-Dancoff approximation taking into account the coupling to the continuum. Most of SD strength is found at the excitation energy E _x≈ 25MeV with a very broad width, which agrees with recent experimental observations. It is shown that Landau damping effect is responsible for the large width of SD peak, while the escape width is found to be at most 1MeV. We study also electric dipole (E1) transitions between GT and SD states in ²⁰⁸Bi. Main E1 transitions for 0^- and 1^- states are found near excitation energy expected from Brink's hypothesis in which SD states are considered as E1 resonances built on the GT state. Calculated E1 transition strengths between GT and SD states are compared with the analytic sum rules within one-particle one-hole (1p-1h) configuration space and within both 1p-1h and 2p-2h model space. Received: 11 April 2000 / Accepted: 30 August 2000     

Environmentally Compatible Hybrid-Type Polyurethane Foams Containing Saccharide and Lignin Components

Semi-rigid polyurethane (PU) foams were prepared using lignin-molasses- poly(ethylene glycol) polyols. Two kinds of lignin, kraft lignin (KL) and sodium lignosulfonate (LS), were used. Both lignin and molasses polyols were mixed with various ratios and were reacted with poly(phenylene methylene) polyisocyanate (MDI) in the presence of silicone surfactant and di-n-butyltin dilaurate. A small amount of water was used as a foaming agent. The apparent density of PU foams increased with increasing lignin content. The compression strength and elastic modulus linearly increase with increasing apparent density, suggesting that mechanical properties are controllable by changing reaction conditions. The PU foams were amorphous and glass transition was detected by differential scanning calorimetry. The glass transition temperature (T_g ) maintained an almost constant value, regardless of the mixing ratio. This indicates that both the phenolic group of lignin and the glucopyranose ring of molasses act as rigid components in PU crosslinking network structures, and both groups contribute to the main chain motion to the same extent. By thermogravimetry (TG), it was confirmed that PU foams are thermally stable up to around 300 °C. By differential scanning calorimetry, T_g was observed at temperatures from 80 to 120 °C.     

Synthesis and Properties of Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylamide) Hydrogels

Poly (N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylamide) [Poly(NIPAAm-co-AAm)] with different feed ratios were obtained by radiation polymerization using Co⁶⁰γ-rays. Swelling equilibrium data in various media: deionized water, aqueous NaCl solutions and different pH buffer solutions, were determined. It appeared that the lower critical transition temperature (LCST) of the hydrogels increased with an increasing acrylamide content and decreased with increasing ionic strength. Moreover, LCST was affected by pH.     

冲喷嘴碰撞壁形状对射流特性影响的实验研究

本文根据现场使用的脉冲喷嘴碰撞壁形状的变化规律,将其划为七种典型的形状,测试并分析了碰撞壁形状交化对脉冲射流特性的影响规律,同时还将普通喷嘴与七种典型形状碰撞壁的脉冲喷嘴,在相同条件下进行了岩样冲蚀实脸.得到了很有意义的结论,这为评价脉冲喷嘴在现场的使用寿命,提供了可靠的依据。     

类He离子的电子碰撞激发截面

利用扭曲波方法计算类He离子的电子碰撞激发截面。靶波函数采用HFS自洽场波函数,本文计算了若干元素从基态(1¹S)到2¹S,2¹P,2³S,2³P的跃迁。计算结果以碰撞强度的形式给出。入射电子能量从激发阈能开始到x=10,计算结果与已有的结果作了比较,分析表明,在大多数情况下,结果是满意的。