Modification of narrow‐spectrum peptidomimetic polyurethanes with fatty acid chains confers broad‐spectrum antibacterial activity

Each year, thousands of patients die from antimicrobial‐resistant bacterial infections that fail to respond to conventional antibiotic treatment. Antimicrobial polymers are a promising new method of combating antibiotic‐resistant bacterial infections. We have previously reported the synthesis of a series of narrow‐spectrum peptidomimetic antimicrobial polyurethanes that are effective against Gram‐negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli; however, these polymers are not effective against Gram‐positive bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus. With the aim of understanding the correlation between chemical structure and antibacterial activity, we have subsequently developed three structural variants of these antimicrobial polyurethanes using post‐polymerization modification with decanoic acid and oleic acid. Our results show that such modifications converted the narrow‐spectrum antibacterial activity of these polymers into broad‐spectrum activity against Gram‐positive species such as S. aureus, however, also increasing their toxicity to mammalian cells. Mechanistic studies of bacterial membrane disruption illustrate the differences in antibacterial action between the various polymers. The results demonstrate the challenge of balancing antimicrobial activity and mammalian cell compatibility in the design of antimicrobial polymer compositions. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry     

Comparison of γ-aminobutyric acid accumulation capability in different mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) varieties under heat and relative humidity treatment,and its correlation with endogenous amino acids and polyamines

In this study, the accumulation of GABA and its inherent factors across different varieties of mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) in response to heat and relative humidity (HRH) were investigated. Results showed the average GABA content in mung bean varieties was increased 7.52 times following HRH treatment, and the black mung bean variety (A8) exhibited the highest GABA accumulation capability (1.76–84.57 mg per 100 g DW). From the perspective of GABA shunt metabolites, the free glutamic acid content of mung beans significantly decreased (P < 0.05) after HRH treatment and presented a significant correlation (P < 0.05) with GABA content. In polyamine degradation pathway, although the average levels of spermine and spermidine of mung bean varieties significantly decreased (P < 0.05) after HRH treatment, no significant correlation with GABA content was identified. Hence, the GABA accumulation was predominantly attributed to GABA shunt. Besides, free amino acids including glutamic acid, serine, ornithine, arginine and glycine in mung beans showed a significant positive correlation (P < 0.05) with GABA content and increment following HRH treatment, which suggested that mung beans enriched in these free amino acids might accumulate higher amounts of GABA after HRH treatment and be useful for industrial applications.     

Characterization of anisotropic gas permeability and thermomechanical properties of highly textured porous alumina

Porous alumina with a highly textured microstructure was fabricated by pulse electric current sintering (PECS) using alumina platelets. Highly oriented porous alumina with a porosity of 3%–50% was obtained by a pressure-controlled method of PECS. The properties of the highly textured porous alumina were measured in two directions. The nitrogen gas permeance and thermal conductivity at room temperature were higher in the direction along the platelet length due to the higher continuity of pores and the connectivity of alumina platelets, respectively. The anisotropy of the thermal conductivity at room temperature was investigated and explained by the effect of grain size of platelets as well as morphology and orientation of pores. The bending strength was higher with the loading direction along the platelet thickness. The thermal shock strength was clearly different in the two directions. The difference in the thermal shock strength was investigated by the measurement of properties and thermal stress analysis.     

核磁共振方法研究油水过渡带驱替特征

目前,利用常规手段难以对低含油饱和度油水过渡带进行开采,利用气驱及化学驱方式开采仍具有开发潜力,但对于不同类型的油水过渡带,其开发机理不明确。开展4组天然岩心驱替实验,利用核磁共振技术研究不同类型油水过渡带中剩余油的启动机理和主要分布状态,在此基础上研究油水过渡带的开发特征。实验结果表明,气驱开发方式更适用于低渗岩心;化学驱的乳化及降低表面张力作用对小孔隙中剩余油有较好的动用程度,提高采收率效果显著。     

苏里格气田盒8段致密砂岩气储层滑溜水压裂渗吸实验研究

以鄂尔多斯盆地苏里格气田盒8段致密砂岩气藏储层为研究对象,对其天然岩心进行了室内自发渗吸模拟实验,具体选择采用质量法和体积法,分析研究了影响致密砂岩储层自吸的因素。实验表明,渗透率、温度因素对致密砂岩岩心渗吸采收率的影响较大,且都为积极影响。     

单一低渗透突出煤层水力冲孔工艺优化应用分析

为了有效提高单一低渗透突出煤层的瓦斯抽采效率，以高压水射流冲击理论为指导，针对平煤股份八矿己组突出煤层特征建立数值模型，模拟分析水力冲孔应力分布规律，通过现场实测分析冲孔有效影响范围，进一步优化设计冲孔参数、指导现场施工。现场应用表明，水力冲孔是一种行之有效的方法，对单一低渗透突出煤层实施水力冲孔卸压增透、提高瓦斯抽采效果具有重要意义。     

极端耗水层带精准识别和调堵新技术

油田注水开发后期,部分油层存在极端耗水层带,存在耗水量大,注水驱油效率低,水循环成本高的开发问题,精准认识并有效封堵极端耗水层带,可提高注水利用率。目前国外出现了应用磁性纳米粒子的精细表征新技术及超顺磁性纳米颗粒封堵新技术,抑制极端耗水,实现低成本、高强度、深度堵调。     

Preparation and characterization of polyethylene/cellulose composite with diatomite and bentonite as fillers

ABSTRACT

This research work was carried out to examine the performance of different polyethylene/cellulose composites. The effect of three different factors was examined. First factor was the effect of clay type as filler, in which diatomite and bentonite were used. Second factor was the effect of cellulose grafting with cyclic oxymethylene. Third factor was the presence of polyethylene grafted with maleic anhydride (PE-g-MA) in the polymer matrix of polyethylene/cellulose as a compatibilizer. The polymer matrix was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Tensile test and permeability were also examined.