Super-twisting sliding mode control with defined boundary layer for chattering reduction of permanent magnet linear synchronous motor

Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology - The super-twisting algorithm (STA, a class of second-order sliding mode control (SOSMC)) is widely used in permanent magnet linear synchronous motor...     

Preparation of epoxidized acrylonitrile butadiene rubber and its compatibilization effect on water-swellable rubber composites

In this research, water-swellable rubbers (WSRs) were prepared by the blending of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) with epoxidized acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (ENBR), precipitated silica, vulcanizing agents, and polyacrylic acid sodium (PAAS) as superabsorbent polymers (SAPs). ENBR was prepared with a molybdenum trioxide catalyst and a tert-butyl hydroperoxide oxidant through a free-radical reaction under specific conditions and was used as a compatibilizer to improve the interfacial adhesion of the NBR matrix and hydrophilic components of the WSRs. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to analyze the structure and properties of ENBR. The dispersion of silica and SAPs in the rubber matrix was investigated by transmission electron microscopy. The presence of ENBR enhanced the water-absorption properties of the WSRs. The NBR–ENBR composites exhibited a higher mechanical performance after water absorption than that without ENBR. Both the swelling ratio and the absorption rate increased with the ENBR content. When the weight ratio of NBR–ENBR was 25/75, an equilibrium swelling ratio of 172% (13% higher than that of the sample without ENBR) was obtained. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that the addition of ENBR improved the compatibility between the SAPs and the NBR matrix. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47694.     

Facile synthesis of a triptycene-based porous organic polymer with a high efficiency and recyclable adsorption for organic dyes

Water contamination resulting from organic dyes has had severe detrimental effects on human health and environmental tolerance. To address this issue, a delicate strategy for taking host–guest function in porous organic polymers via a facile Friedel–Crafts reaction of triptycene and post-modification was achieved. By means of this route, a sulfonic acid functionalized triptycene-based porous organic polymer (TPOP–SO₃H) with a hierarchical structure and a desirable Brunauer–Emmett–Teller value of 1002 m²/g was synthesized this study. The TPOP–SO₃H material demonstrated a maximum adsorption capacity for methylene blue of 97.1 mg/g. Remarkably, an absorption efficiency of more than 90% of TPOP–SO₃H was observed even after five cycles. Therefore, such a hierarchical porous organic polymer can be highly recommended as one type of promising material for the treatment of organic dye-polluted wastewater. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47987.     

The lost art of short communications in academia

Scientometrics - Short communications are an integral part of academic journal publishing since they serve as a forum for scholarly debate on recently published journal articles. Their prestige and...     

Accelerate the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction of the heterostructural Ni2P@Ni(OH)2/NF by dispersing a trifle of Ru on the surface

Electrocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production plays a vital role in the development of new energy field, but there is still a lack of low-content precious metal or cost-effective non-noble metal catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Therefore, how to develop the catalysts with a smaller amount of precious metal to achieve higher performance is still a major challenge. Herein, we have fabricated Ru–Ni₂P@Ni(OH)₂/NF-2 heterostructure by phosphating Ni(OH)₂/NF and then anchoring Ru on the surface through wet chemical strategy. Benefiting from its optimal ΔG_H1 and synergistic effect, this Ru–Ni₂P@Ni(OH)₂/NF-2 catalyst shows superior electrocatalytic HER kinetics in alkaline electrolyte. A small overpotential of 31 mV is needed for this electrocatalyst to obtain the current densities of 10 mA cm^?2 with remarkable durability over 24 h. This work provides a new strategy for the preparation of effective HER electrocatalyst with a low precious metal content.     

Fruit softening correlates with enzymatic activities and compositional changes in fruit cell wall during growing in Lycium barbarum L.

The present study aims to examine fruit cell wall-associated fruit softening in Lycium barbarum L. by the microstructure of the fruit cells and the changes in the contents of cell wall components, molecular weights of cell wall polysaccharides and the activities of related cell wall degrading enzymes at different development stages of L. barbarum L. fruit. Fruit firmness significantly declined during ripening, with the greatest reduction between the 28 and 35 days stages. The decrease in firmness correlated with an extensively deformed microstructure in the parenchyma tissues and positively correlated with reductions in the contents of fruit cell wall materials and molecular weight in cell wall polysaccharide. Cellulase, α-galactosidase, polygalactosidase and pectin methylesterase showed higher activities during 28 days; whereas, the activities of β-galactosidase were higher during 35 days. These results indicate that cell wall-related processes are a key feature of early softening in L. barbarum L.     

Four phenolic acids from purple sweet potato and their effects on physicochemical,digestive and structural characteristics of starch

Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) was employed to investigate free phenols that were released from purple sweet potato (PSP) by alkaline, acid and enzymatic hydrolysis. Four phenolic acids, including ferulic, isoferulic, 4-hydroxybenzoic and caffeic acids, were identified. Based on their effects on the characteristics of purple sweet potato starch (PSPS), the four phenolic acids were studied. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT–IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques were employed to explore the microstructures of the complexes of the phenolic acids and PSPS. The obtained results demonstrated that the pasting, thermal, retrogradation, as well as digestive properties of PSPS were all influenced by the phenolic acids which interacted with PSPS through noncovalent hydrogen bonds. The influence of the four phenolic acids on the properties of PSPS was in the descending order: 4-hydroxybenzoic acid > ferulic acid > caffeic acid > isoferulic acid.     

Alginate hydrogels crosslinked with different strontium-calcium ratios as injectable scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

The easy loss of crosslinking ions in alginate can result in a structural collapse of the physiological environment, thereby losing its characteristics as a bone scaffold. Meanwhile, alginate lacks osteoconductive properties, which are necessary for ideal bone scaffolds. In this study, strontium (Sr) in combination with calcium (Ca) at different ratios were used as a crosslinking agent for the alginate to investigate the effect of Ca–Sr ratio on the physicochemical properties and biological preformation of alginate hydrogel. Here, Ca and Sr in different weight ratios (4:0, 3:1, 2:2, 1:3, and 0:4) were employed as crosslinking agents. The physicochemical properties of hydrogels, including pore size, elastic modulus, degradation rate and swelling ratio, could be effectively tuned by controlling the amount of Sr. The ion release experiment revealed a burst release of Sr²⁺ in the first day after crosslinking. However, after 3 days, the amount of Sr²⁺ release had significantly declined and was proportional to the total strontium initially introduced into the alginate. Meanwhile, the live/dead results exhibited higher cell viability for alginate with 2:2 Ca–Sr weight ratio. The alginate with 2:2 Ca–Sr ratio not only improved osteoblastic attachment, but also up-regulated the alkaline phosphatase activity, the expression of osteogenic marker genes, and relative growth factors. These findings indicate that alginate with 2:2 Ca–Sr ratio might be a promising scaffold for bone tissue engineering.

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