Change in the molecular weight distribution of poly(ethylene oxide) caused by the complexation with poly(acrylic acid)

The complexation between poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) was made by using double the molar quantity of either polymer component at pH 2 where the resulting complex completely precipitates. After the removal of the precipitate, PEO or PAA remaining in the supernatant was subjected to gel permeation chromatography to investigate the change in the molecular weight distribution (MWD) caused by the complexation. No remarkable difference is observed in the MWD curves for PEO[1] (M_w=1.37 × 10⁴) before and after the complexation with PAA[1] (M_w=1.10 × 10³) and PAA[2] (M_w=4.16 × 10⁵). However, the MWD curves of PEO[2] (M_w=1.26 × 10⁵) and PAA[2] become shortened and shift to the low molecular weight side after the complexation with PAA[1] or [2] and PEO[2], respectively. This tendency is enhanced by increasing the complexation temperature. From these results, it is indicated that the complexation between PEO and PAA deals with an equilibrium reaction, and the equilibrium constant is dependent on the chain length of both polymer components and also on the complexation temperature.     

Effective renaturation of reduced lysozyme by gentle removal of urea

To increase the folding yield of concentrated reduced lysozyme,we developed a renaturation method by means of dialysis fromconcentrated urea with redox agents. After lysozyme was incubatedin the reducing buffer (8 M urea solution) with oxidized glutathione,renaturation of reduced lysozyme was started by dialysis againstthe dialyzing buffer containing 8 M urea with redox agents.The urea concentration of the dialyzing bottle was graduallydiluted with dialyzing buffer without urea at a flow rate of0.1 ml/min by high pressure pump. Using this systematic dialysis,a concentration as high as 5 mg/ml of reduced lysozyme couldbe renaturated in 80% yield, while the folding yield was <5%even at a concentration of 1 mg/ml using a conventional rapiddilution method [Goldberg et al. (1991) Biochemistry, 30, 2790–2797].Therefore, it was concluded that gentle removal of urea fromdenatured proteins, dissolved in concentrated urea solution,by means of dialysis should be useful to renature denaturedproteins effectively.     

Additional kernel observer: privilege escalation attack prevention mechanism focusing on system call privilege changes

International Journal of Information Security - Cyberattacks, especially attacks that exploit operating system vulnerabilities, have been increasing in recent years. In particular, if administrator...     

Effect of Computational Constraints on Zero-Dimensional Computations for the Nanosecond-Order Ignition Process of the CH4/Air Mixture

Combustion, Explosion, and Shock Waves - Zero-dimensional computations of nanosecond-order ignition using a nanosecond discharge are performed with two constraints. The effects of these constraints...     

Experimental design to evaluate properties of electrospun fibers of zein/poly (ethylene oxide) for biomaterial applications

The production of polymer fibers from the combination of zein and PEO might have great potential in the field of biomaterial. Zein/PEO fibers were obtained in this work through solution electrospinning. An experimental design, 2^4-1, was used for evaluating the influences of PEO content in the blend, distance from the needle tip to the collector, applied electric voltage and solution flow for average fiber diameter and relative-yield process. Beyond this, the relationship between PEO content in the blend and the fiber properties were evaluated through FTIR, DSC, TG, tensile tests, and cytotoxic tests. The factor that exerts the greatest effect on the average fiber diameter response was the electrical voltage. The increase in PEO content in the blend decreased the thermal stability and increased the degree of the fibers' crystallinity. The mechanical tests showed that fibers with higher elongation were obtained at richer PEO blends. The fibers presented cytocompatible characteristics.     

Self-assembled monolayers of p-toluene and p-hydroxymethylbenzene moieties adsorbed on iron by the formation of covalent bonds between carbon and iron atoms for protection of iron from corrosion

An iron electrode was modified by electrolytic reduction in deaerated acetonitrile solution of p-toluenediazonium tetrafluoroborate CH₃C₆H₄N₂BF₄ (TDFB) or p-hydroxymethylbenzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate HOCH₂C₆H₄N₂BF₄ (HOTDFB) below 10 °C to form a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of toluene CH₃C₆H₄- or hydroxymethylbenzene HOCH₂C₆H₄- (HOMB) moiety, probably adsorbed on the electrode by the formation of a covalent bond between carbon and iron atoms, as shown in references. The protective ability of the layer was examined by polarization measurement of the electrode in an aerated 0.5 M NaCl solution. The protective efficiencies of these two SAMs were not high, around 30%, a little higher than that of the toluenethiol CH₃C₆H₄SH SAM which was anchored on iron via a coordinate bond between sulfur and iron atoms. The iron surfaces modified with TDFB and HOTDFB were characterized by contact angle measurement, FTIR reflection spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The persistence in protection of iron against corrosion by coverage with the HOMB SAM was confirmed by polarization measurements after immersion in 0.5 M NaCl for a long period of the time.     

超声波功率对铸锭内的气孔及组织细化的影响

研究了超声波功率对铝合金铸锭内气孔的影响,同时也考察了超声波功率对铝合金铸锭组织细化的影响,分析了超声波对铝合金铸锭内气孔影响的原因。研究结果表明,超声波在金属熔体内产生的空化效应可分为亚空化效应阶段和发展-发达阶段,只有在发展-发达阶段才具有良好的除气效果。     

Activity measurement of gallium in the B2 phase of the CoGa–Sb system by the EMF method with zirconia-based solid electrolyte

Gallium activity in the B2 phase regions of both binary Co–Ga and ternary Co–Ga–Sb systems was measured by EMF method with stabilized zirconia solid electrolyte The temperature range was 1073–1273 K and Sb concentrations were 1, 2 and 3 mol fractions. Ga activity at 1173 and 1273 K increases sharply in Ga rich region and the addition of Sb to the CoGa phase increases Ga activity. Activity change corresponds to the lattice parameter change with Sb addition to the CoGa phase.     

Hydrogen absorption characteristics of Pd1−xLix (x = 0.055 and 0.072) alloys and ordered Pd7Li

Thermodynamic quantities were determined for the absorption of hydrogen in Pd-5.5at.%Li and Pd-7.2at.%Li alloys, the latter alloy being in the two-phase field of saturated -Pd(Li,s) solid solution and the ordered Pd₇Li phase. Data were also determined for the Pd-10.6at.%Li alloy which consists only of the ordered Pd₇Li phase. The data were determined from measurements of pressure-composition isotherms at temperatures between 273 K and 463 K and hydrogen pressures up to 1000 Torr. The Pd---Li alloys dissolve considerable amounts of hydrogen and form a more stable hydride phase than Pd despite the lattice contraction which occurs on alloying Pd with Li. The hydrogen solubility in the ordered Pd₇Li phase alone is a little smaller than that in the two-phase mixture. The large hydrogen absorption of Pd---Li alloys, which does not depend on the presence of ordered Pd₇Li, may be attributed to (i) an attractive H---Li pair interaction, (ii) a decrease in the strain energies necessary for hydrogen occupation of the interstices, because of the similar lattice parameters of the -Pd(Li,s) and ordered Pd₇Li phases, and the large compressibility of Pd---Li alloys, and (iii) the valence of 1 of Li in Pd compared with 3 for, for example, Y in Pd.     

A new refining process for iron oxide using iron ore and its application to hard ferrites

Kawasaki Steel Corporation and Kawatetsu Mining Co., Ltd. have developed a new refining process to extract iron oxide from iron ore to meet the increase in demand for iron oxide for high- grade hard ferrites. This article discusses the quality of iron oxides and the characteristics of the hard ferrite magnets produced from them.