Toughening of epoxy resins with aromatic polyesters

Polyesters, prepared by direct polycondensation from bisphenol A and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids [adipic acid (AD), suberic acid, sebacic acid (SE), and dodecanedioic acid], were used to improve the toughness of the diglycidyl ether of the bisphenol A/diaminodiphenyl methane epoxy system. Polyesters had the number average molecular weight (M_n) ranging from 4300 to 19,200 g/mole. The epoxy systems modified with the AD system (M_n = 6400 g/mole) and the SE system (M_n = 10,200 g/mole) showed phase separated structures with discrete domains of 0.2 μm, but other systems showed smooth fracture surfaces when observed by scanning electron microscopy. The modified epoxy systems except for the AD system and SE system showed two tan δ peaks corresponding to the α and β transitions of the epoxy resin. The modified epoxy systems showed maximum values of K_1c at around 10 wt % of polyester and maximum flexural properties at 5 wt % of polyester. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 2464–2473, 2000     

Plasmonic Core–Shell–Satellites with Abundant Electromagnetic Hotspots for Highly Sensitive and Reproducible SERS Detection

In this work, we develop a Ag@Al₂O₃@Ag plasmonic core–shell–satellite (PCSS) to achieve highly sensitive and reproducible surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) detection of probe molecules. To fabricate PCSS nanostructures, we employ a simple hierarchical dewetting process of Ag films coupled with an atomic layer deposition (ALD) method for the Al₂O₃ shell. Compared to bare Ag nanoparticles, several advantages of fabricating PCSS nanostructures are discovered, including high surface roughness, high density of nanogaps between Ag core and Ag satellites, and nanogaps between adjacent Ag satellites. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations of the PCSS nanostructure confirm an enhancement in the electromagnetic field intensity (hotspots) in the nanogap between the Ag core and the satellite generated by the Al₂O₃ shell, due to the strong core–satellite plasmonic coupling. The as-prepared PCSS-based SERS substrate demonstrates an enhancement factor (EF) of 1.7 × 10⁷ and relative standard deviation (RSD) of ~7%, endowing our SERS platform with highly sensitive and reproducible detection of R6G molecules. We think that this method provides a simple approach for the fabrication of PCSS by a solid-state technique and a basis for developing a highly SERS-active substrate for practical applications.     

A process simulation model for a 2 ton h−1 incinerator (a combined bed combustion and furnace heat transfer model)

A process simulation model was constructed for a 2 ton h⁻¹ incinerator. The simulation model was designed to provide system performance parameters according to various operating conditions. In accommodating the wide variation of quality and composition of input wastes, the plant operating parameters such as amount of excess air, preheated air temperature, waste feed rate and primary air distribution over the stoker, etc. must be carefully controlled. The proposed model calculates operating variables of each submodule, by employing steady-state thermal and material balance equations. Combustion of waste bed, and its radiative heat transfer in the combusion chamber are considered. The calculated results of the combustion chamber performance are evaluated, in terms of temperature, locations and width of the flame band, and mean residence time in the secondary combustion chamber. These results are compared with a limited set of field test measurements for verification of the model. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Correlation between Oxidative Stress and Transforming Growth Factor-Beta in Cancers

The downregulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) facilitates precancerous tumor development, even though increasing the level of ROS can promote metastasis. The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway plays an anti-tumorigenic role in the initial stages of cancer development but a pro-tumorigenic role in later stages that fosters cancer metastasis. TGF-β can regulate the production of ROS unambiguously or downregulate antioxidant systems. ROS can influence TGF-β signaling by enhancing its expression and activation. Thus, TGF-β signaling and ROS might significantly coordinate cellular processes that cancer cells employ to expedite their malignancy. In cancer cells, interplay between oxidative stress and TGF-β is critical for tumorigenesis and cancer progression. Thus, both TGF-β and ROS can develop a robust relationship in cancer cells to augment their malignancy. This review focuses on the appropriate interpretation of this crosstalk between TGF-β and oxidative stress in cancer, exposing new potential approaches in cancer biology.     

LIMIT OF EQUIVALENCE RATIO ON MIXING ENHANCEMENT NEAR THE TUBE EXIT IN A TONE EXCITED RICH FLAME

An experimental investigation has been made with the objective of studying the limit of equivalent ratio (ϕ) on mixing enhancement in a tone excited jet rich flame. The jet is pulsed by means of a loudspeaker-driven cavity and experiments are limited to very rich flames (ϕ>1⋅5). The excitation frequency is chosen for the resonant frequency identified as a pipe resonance due to acoustic excitation. Methane, propane and butane are used to examine the effect of mixture property on the limit of equivalence ratio. Mixing is always enhanced in a methane/air flame as the excitation intensity increases. In the case of propane/air and butane/air flames, mixing enhancement can be obtained only when the equivalence ratio lies in the range from a certain value (the equivalence ratio limit) to infinity (non-premixed flame), irrespective of mean mixture velocities. It is also found that the equivalence ratio limit is related to flame instability; the lower the Lewis number, the higher the equivalence ratio limit. As the excitation intensity increases, flame separation occurs below the equivalence ratio limit; an inner (premixed) flame is transformed into a cellular flame which then moves upstream, but the height of an outer (non-premixed) flame is not decreased. Acoustic pressure measurements using a microphone are made to quantify the oscillating velocity. The oscillating velocity amplitude at the cellular flame position is proportional only to mean mixture velocity regardless of fuel type. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An Engineered Biocatalyst for the Synthesis of Glycoconjugates: Utilization of β1,3‐N‐Acetyl‐D‐glucosaminyltransferase from Streptococcus agalactiae Type Ia Expressed in Escherichia coli as a Fusion with Maltose‐Binding Protein

A fusion protein composed of β1,3‐N‐acetyl‐D ‐glucosaminyltransferase (β1,3‐GlcNAcT) from Streptococcus agalactiae type Ia and maltose‐binding protein (MBP) was produced in Escherichia coli as a soluble and highly active form. Although this fusion protein (MBP‐β1,3‐GlcNAcT) did not show any sugar‐elongation activity to some simple low‐molecular weight acceptor substrates such as galactose, Galβ(1→4)Glc (lactose), Galβ(1→4)GlcNAc (N‐acetyllactosamine), Galβ(1→4)GlcNAcβ(1→3)Galβ(1→4)Glc (lacto‐N‐tetraose), and Galβ(1→4)GlcβCer (lactosylceramide, LacCer), the multivalent glycopolymer having LacCer‐mimic branches (LacCer mimic polymer, LacCer primer) was found to be an excellent acceptor substrate for the introduction of a β‐GlcNAc residue at the O‐3 position of the non‐reducing galactose moiety by this engineered enzyme. Subsequently, the polymer having GlcNAcβ(1→3)Galβ(1→4)Glc was subjected to further enzymatic modifications by using recombinant β1,4‐D ‐galactosyltransferase (β1,4‐GalT), α2,3‐sialyltransferase (α2,3‐SiaT), α1,3‐L ‐fucosyltransferase (α1,3‐FucT), and ceramide glycanase (CGase) to afford a biologically important ganglioside; Neu5Aα(2→3)Galβ(1→4)[Fucα(1→3)]GlcNAcβ(1→3)Galβ(1→4)GlcCerα(IV3Neu5Acα,III3Fucα‐nLc4Cer) in 40% yield (4 steps). Interestingly, it was suggested that MBP‐β1,3‐GlcNAcT could also catalyze a glycosylation reaction of the LacCer mimic polymer with N‐acetyl‐D ‐galactosamine served from UDP‐GalNAc to afford a polymer carrying trisaccharide branches, GalNAcβ(1→3)Galβ(1→4)Glc. The versatility of the MBP‐β1,3‐GlcNAcT in the practical synthesis was preliminarily demonstrated by applying this fusion protein as an immobilized biocatalyst displayed on the amylose resin which is known as a solid support showing potent binding‐affinity with MBP.     

The catalytically supported combustor for lean mixtures

This study aims to investigate advantages that the catalytically supported combustor can have. A catalytic combustor was prepared which consisted of a catalyst bed and a thermal combustor downstream of the catalyst bed. The catalyst bed consisted of two stages, a Pd catalyst in the first stage and a Pt catalyst in the second stage. The results showed that the catalytically supported combustion had some advantages. One of them was that autoignition occurred in the thermal combustor so that an igniter was not necessary to start flame ignition. Another was that the catalytically supported combustor offered stable combustion for lean mixtures. NO_x emissions were low because of the stable lean combustion. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.