Cell structure and dynamic properties of injection molded polypropylene foams

The cell structure and properties of branched and linear polypropylene (PP) foams containing organically modified nanoclay and maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PPMA) have been thoroughly investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and melt rheometry were used to identify the structure and linear viscoelastic properties of the nanocomposites, as well as the effectiveness of two different compatibilizers. These nanocomposites were used in injection molding to investigate their foamability and the influence of experimental conditions such as chemical foaming agent concentration, shot size, back pressure, injection speed, as well as melt temperature and different injection methods on the resulting cell structure of the foams. Quite different results were obtained with the linear and the branched PP. While the foamability of the branched PP was intrinsically good, that of the linear one could largely be improved by modifying its rheological properties and favoring nucleation through the addition of nanoclay. The effect of cell structure on the dynamic mechanical properties of the foams was also investigated using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:1070–1081, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Methane coupling at low temperatures on Ru(0001) and Ru(11¯20) catalysts

The conversion of methane to higher hydrocarbons on single crystal Ru catalysts has been investigated using combined elevated-pressure kinetic measurements/surface science studies. The reaction consists of activation of methane on Ru(0001) and Ru(11¯20) surfaces to produce carbonaceous intermediates at temperatures between 350 and 700 K and rehydrogenation of these species to ethane and propane at 370 K. It is found that under the reaction conditions employed, the maximum yield in ethane/propane production occurs at 500 K on both surfaces. Influence of the hydrogenation temperature on the production of ethane and propane is also examined. On Ru(0001), the yields of ethane and propane maximize at = 400 K, whereas no maximum yield was observed on Ru(11 0) in the 300–500 K temperature range. Under optimum reaction conditions, hydrocarbon products consist of 16% ethane and 2% propane. High-resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy (HREELS) has been used to identify various forms of hydrocarbonaceous intermediates following methane decomposition. An effort is made to relate the hydrocarbon intermediates identified by HREELS to the gas phase products observed in the elevated pressure experiments.     

EFFECTS OF HEXASULFOBUTYLATED C60 ON THE GASTRIC CIRCULAR MUSCLE OF GUINEA PIG

The effects of hexasulfobutylated (FC₄S), the fullerene derivative on the contraction of smooth muscle were tested pharmacologically on the circular muscle of stomach of guinea pigs. The effects of monomalonic acid C₆₀ (MMA C₆₀) on the same preparations were compared. The effects of those compounds on the taenia coli, portal vein and vas deferens of guinea pigs were also tested. The FC₄S did, while MMA C₆₀ did not elicit contracture of the circular muscle of stomach and taenia coli. Both FC₄S and MMA C₆₀ did not elicit contraction on the portal vein and on the vas deferens of the guinea pig. Prazosin (0.5 μM) or propranolol (0.5 μM) did not alter the FC₄S elicit contracture of the circular muscle of stomach. However, atropine (0.01, 0.1 and 1 μM), tetrodotoxin (0.1 μM) or low calcium medium decreased reversibly the FC₄S elicited contracture of the circular muscle of stomach. The effect of FC₄S on the contracture of the gastric muscles was also tested using various muscarinic receptor subtype antagonists. 4-DAMP (1 μM), muscarinic M3 receptor antagonist, and tropicamide (1 μM), muscarinic M4 receptor antagonist, did not alter the contracture elicited by FC₄S. Pirenzepine (0.1 μM), muscarinic M1 receptor antagonist, and methoctramine (0.25 μM), muscarinic M2 receptor antagonist, significantly decreased the FC₄S elicited contracture of the circular muscle. Atropine (1 μM) or tetrodotoxin (0.1 μM) completely blocked the FC₄S elicited contracture of the circular muscle of stomach. It is concluded that FC₄S elicited contracture of the circular muscle of stomach. The effect may be due to FC₄S acts on the cholinergic cells existed in the gastric muscle and indirectly activating the tetrodotoxin dependent releasing of the transmitters from the cells, then, activating the muscarinice M1, M2 receptors in the muscle eliciting the contractures.     

Feasibility of compact ranges for near-zone measurements

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the feasibility of using compact range reflector systems to make near-zone radiation or scattering measurements. This can be achieved by designing the compact range to provide a uniform spherical wave incident upon the antenna or scatterer under test. The basic design technique is demonstrated using the Scientific Atlanta reflector system which has been modified by adding an elliptic rolled edge to improve the uniformity of the incident wave. The near-zone range design is validated (from around 50 ft range to the far zone) by probing the field in the measurement volume and by comparing measured backscattering patterns from a circular cylinder with those calculated by the geometrical theory of diffraction (GTD). All the advantages of a conventional far-zone compact range are now made available by our demonstrated variable-zone (adjustable continuously from 50 ft to infinity) compact range.     

Spin injection in spin FETs using a step-doping profile

We investigate the effect of a step-doping profile on the spin injection from a ferromagnetic metal contact into a semiconductor quantum well in spin field-effect transistors using a Monte Carlo model. The considered scheme uses a heavily doped layer at the metal-semiconductor interface to vary the Schottky barrier shape and enhance the tunneling current. It is found that spin flux (spin current density) is enhanced proportionally to the total current, and the variation of current spin polarization does not exceed 20%.     

Room-temperature high on/off ratio in suspended graphene nanoribbon field-effect transistors

We have fabricated suspended few-layer (1-3 layers) graphene nanoribbon field-effect transistors from unzipped multi-wall carbon nanotubes. Electrical transport measurements show that current annealing effectively removes the impurities on the suspended graphene nanoribbons, uncovering the intrinsic ambipolar transfer characteristic of graphene. Further increasing the annealing current creates a narrow constriction in the ribbon, leading to the formation of a large bandgap and subsequent high on/off ratio (which can exceed 10(4)). Such fabricated devices are thermally and mechanically stable: repeated thermal cycling has little effect on their electrical properties. This work shows for the first time that ambipolar field-effect characteristics and high on/off ratios at room temperature can be achieved in relatively wide graphene nanoribbons (15-50 nm) by controlled current annealing.     

Threshold-based selective drop for shared buffer packet switches

We propose a novel buffer management scheme called threshold-based selective drop (TSD) to improve the overall loss performance and fairness by regulating the buffer sharing in a packet switch. A transient analysis of TSD is derived to prove the fairness of buffer allocation. Computer simulation shows that the overall loss performance of TSD approaches to the pushout (PO) scheme, which is considered as an optimal solution with implementation difficulties in high-speed Internet. However, unlike the PO, the TSD will block the unwanted packets before they enter the queue, and does not need to pre-empty the queue for accepting new packets.     

冷却方式和NaCl浓度对猪肉匀浆物凝胶特性的影响

目的研究3种冷却方式和不同NaCl浓度对冷鲜猪肉匀浆物凝胶特性的影响。方法以冷鲜猪肉为原料,分析测定不同冷却方式和NaCl浓度对猪肉匀浆物蛋白质溶解度、凝胶脱水率,凝胶持水力、凝胶强度和凝胶硬度的影响。结果 NaCl浓度为0.42mol/L时,常规冷却的猪肉匀浆物蛋白质溶解度为18.25mg/m L、凝胶持水力为49.66%、凝胶强度为40.65 g、硬度为52.38 g,均大于快速冷却和浸没冷却; NaCl浓度为0.60 mol/L时,快速冷却的猪肉匀浆物蛋白质溶解度为20.74mg/m L、凝胶强度72.27g、凝胶持水力为74.02%,均大于常规冷却和浸没冷却。结论在较高的NaCl浓度(0.60mol/L)下,快速冷却的猪肉匀浆物凝胶特性相对较好;在较低的NaCl浓度(0.42 mol/L)下,常规冷却的猪肉匀浆物凝胶特性相对较好。     

Electrowetting on dielectric experiments using graphene

We report electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) experiments using graphene; a transparent, flexible and stretchable nanomaterial. Graphene sheets were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition, and transferred to various substrates (including glass slides and PET films). Reversible contact angle changes were observed on the Teflon-coated graphene electrode with both AC and DC voltages. Nyquist plots of the EWOD reveal that the graphene electrode has higher capacitive impedance than gold electrodes under otherwise identical conditions, suggesting a lower density of pin-holes and defects in the Teflon/graphene electrode than in the Teflon/gold electrode. Furthermore, we have observed reduced electrolysis of the electrolyte and smaller leakage current in the dielectric layer (Teflon) on graphene electrodes than on Au electrodes at the same Teflon thickness and applied voltage. We expect that the improved EWOD properties using graphene as an electrode material will open the door to various applications, including flexible displays and droplet manipulation in three-dimensional microfluidics.