The structure and photocatalytic performances of mechanically synthesized poly(3′,4′‐ethylenedioxy‐2,2′:5′,2″‐Terthiophene)/Zno composites

Poly(3′,4′‐ethylenedioxy‐2,2′:5′,2″‐terthiophene)/ZnO(poly(TET)/ZnO) composites with the ratio of poly(TET) and nano‐ZnO from 3:1 to 1:3 were synthesized by hand grinding and ball milling methods, respectively. The photocatalytic activities of the composites were examined through the degradation processes of methylene blue (MB) solution under UV light irradiation, and the possible mechanism for the photocatalytic activity enhancement by synergetic effects between nano‐ZnO and poly(TET) was proposed. The results showed that the strong interactions between the poly(TET) and nano‐ZnO occurred in the case of ball milling method. The results also proved that the crystallinity of ZnO was not disturbed in both of methods, and the nano‐ZnO was uniformly distributed in polymer matrix in the case of ball milling method. The comparative studies showed that the addition of the nano‐ZnO could enhance the photocatalytic activities of the composites. The highest degradation efficiency (100%) at 3 h under UV light irradiation occurred in the case of poly(TET)/ZnO(1:1) synthesized by ball milling method. Furthermore, the nanocompsosite displayed higher photocatalytic activity than nano‐ZnO, which was due to the holes (h⁺) transferring from the valence band of ZnO to the polymer backbone and the adsorption of MB molecules in polymer matrix via π–π conjugation between MB and aromatic regions of the poly(TET). POLYM. COMPOS., 36:1597–1605, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

纤维基材料的仿生学研究动向

纤维基技术的应用对仿生学的成功发展呈现出巨大的潜力,因为宇宙成物在生长过程、多毛结构和增强纤维方面具有许多相似性.约七年前,邓肯道夫纺织技术与工艺研究所协同众位生物学家一起开创了仿生学的研发,至今方兴未艾.     

The Emerging Role of Non-Coding RNAs in the Regulation of Virus Replication and Resultant Cellular Pathologies

Non-coding RNAs, particularly lncRNAs and miRNAs, have recently been shown to regulate different steps in viral infections and induction of immune responses against viruses. Expressions of several host and viral lncRNAs have been found to be altered during viral infection. These lncRNAs can exert antiviral function via inhibition of viral infection or stimulation of antiviral immune response. Some other lncRNAs can promote viral replication or suppress antiviral responses. The current review summarizes the interaction between ncRNAs and herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus, and Epstein–Barr infections. The data presented in this review helps identify viral-related regulators and proposes novel strategies for the prevention and treatment of viral infection.     

Review of failure criteria of fibrous composite materials

Composite materials exhibit various and complex failure behavior. Different formalisms have been used to predict failure. Improvement of old theories and new ones continue to be published. In this paper, the most recent and widely used models are presented. Failure criteria such as Tsai-Wu, parametric formulations, maximal stress and strain, Hashin criterion, Hart-Smith criterion, and the method based on kriging are presented. These failure theories may be classified in two categories, depending whether they integrate failure modes or not. The formalism of each theory is briefly described and their application to model failure of composite laminates is discussed by comparing the advantages and limitations of each method. The diversity of experimental failure envelopes, as reported in the literature on composites, is outlined and it is shown that most criteria permit modeling only particular failure properties of composite laminates.     

Halloysite Nanotubes Modified by Fe3O4 Nanoparticles and Applied as a Natural and Efficient Nanocatalyst for the SymmetricalHantzsch Reaction

Halloysite as an impressive natural eco-friendly nanotube with aluminosilicate structure has been investigated recently due to its unique features such as specific morphology and excellent bio-adaptability. In this research, Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles have been loaded on the tubular halloysite by co-precipitation method in order to synthesis magnetic halloysite (Hal-Fe₃O₄₎. To characterize this recoverable nanocatalyst, applicable analyses such as Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) images, X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) curves have been carried out. The results confirmed that Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles with cubic structure, and uniform distribution, were located at halloysite nanotubes (HNTs). This aluminosilicate nanocomposite with high thermal stability, crystalline structure, and stable morphology was evaluated as a heterogeneous catalyst in the symmetrical Hantzsch reaction for the first time. Easy synthesis process, green media, high performance, recoverable catalyst and reusing of the Hal-Fe₃O₄ as a nanocatalyst for 8 times are the main features of this protocol.

     

Thermally exfoliated graphene oxide reinforced fluorinated pentablock poly(l‐lactide‐co‐ε‐caprolactone) electrospun scaffolds: Insight into antimicrobial activity and biodegradation

Three‐dimensional fluorinated pentablock poly(l ‐lactide‐co‐ε‐caprolactone)‐based scaffolds were successfully produced by the incorporation of thermally exfoliated graphene oxide (TEGO) as an antimicrobial agent with an electrospinning technique. In a ring‐opening polymerization, the fluorinated groups in the middle of polymer backbone were attached with a perfluorinated reactive stabilizer having oxygen‐carrying ability. The fiber diameter and its morphologies were optimized through changes in TEGO amount, voltage, polymer concentration, and solvent type to obtain an ideal scaffold structure. Instead of the widely used graphene oxide synthesized by Hummer's method, TEGO sheets having a low amount of oxygen produced by thermal expansion were integrated into the fiber structure to investigate the effect of the oxygen functional groups of TEGO sheets on the degradation and antimicrobial activity of the scaffolds. There was no antimicrobial activity in TEGO‐reinforced scaffolds in the in vitro tests in contrast to the literature. This study confirmed that a low number of oxygen functional groups on the surface of TEGO restricted the antimicrobial activity of the fabricated composite scaffolds. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43490.     

Experimental investigation of solid particles flow in a conical spouted bed using radioactive particle tracking

Solid particles flow in a conical spouted bed is characterized by radioactive particle tracking. The influence of operating conditions on key parameters of this flow is evaluated and discussed: the morphology of the solid bed is not strongly influenced by the forces exerted by the gas on the solid particles, but rather by geometrical considerations; the particles spend approximately 8% of their time in the spout in all experiments; it is the force exerted on the solid particles by the gas that directly controls the volumetric flow rate between adjacent regions, and not the amount of particles in the bed; as U/U_ms increases, the volume of solid particles in the annulus decreases, the volume of solid particles in the fountain increases and the volume of solid particles in the spout remains constant. Correlations to predict key flow parameters as functions of operating conditions are also established and discussed. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 26–37, 2016     

Restoration of heavily polluted branches of the Shatt Al-Arab river, Iraq

In view of the desire to improve the water quality of the heavily polluted branches of the Shatt al-Arab River at the City of Basrah, it was proposed to maintain effective flushing as well as contracting sewerage system. The present study was conducted in order to examine the water quality of these branches in an attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed flushing system. It has been found that their waters contained very low levels of dissolved oxygen and relatively high amounts of both COD and BOD₅. The annual average water quality parameters for Basrah Branches were: dissolved oxygen 3.4 ppm; pH 7.67; hydrogen sulphide 1.4 ppm; ammonia 97 μg-at. N l⁻¹; COD 15.9 mg l⁻¹; BOD₅ 12.7 mg l⁻¹; dissolved silicates 202 μg-at. Si l⁻¹; dissolved reactive phosphate 13.4 μg-at. P-PO₄³⁻ l⁻¹; nitrate 10.4 μg-at. N-NO₃⁻ l⁻¹; nitrite 2.1 μg-at. N-NO₂⁻ l⁻¹ and chlorophyll-α 14.3 mg m⁻³. Based on our calculations, it has been concluded that the proposed system is effective, thus within a flushing cycle all of the above mentioned parameters will become within the acceptable values of the Shatt al-Arab water quality. Moreover, this system has no appreciable effect upon the water quality characteristics of the Shatt al-Arab River due to the fact that it discharges a high volume of water annually. However, It has been recommended to dredge the deposited sludge to a minimum depth of 50 cm.     

Thermal,mechanical, and barrier properties of polyethylene/surlyn/organoclay nanocomposites blown films prepared by different mixing methods

(Low‐density polyethylene) (LDPE)/clay nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending in a twin‐screw extruder by using different mixing methods. Zinc‐neutralized carboxylate ionomer was used as a compatibilizer. Blown films of the nanocomposites were then prepared. The effect of mixing method on the clay dispersion and properties of the nanocomposites was evaluated by wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction analysis, mechanical properties, thermal properties, and barrier properties. The structure and properties of nanocomposites containing different amounts of nanoclay prepared by selected mixing techniques were also investigated. It was found that melt compounding of Surlyn/clay masterbatch with pure LDPE and Surlyn (two‐step‐a method) results in better dispersion and intercalation of the nanofillers than melt mixing of LDPE/Surlyn/clay masterbatch with pure LDPE and surlyn (two‐step‐b method) and direct mixing of LDPE with clay. The films containing ionomer have good barrier properties. A wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction pattern indicates that intercalation of polymer chains into the clay galleries decreases by increasing the clay content. Barrier properties and tensile modulus of the films were improved by increasing the clay content. In addition, tensile strength increased in the machine direction, but it decreased in the transverse direction by increasing the clay content. DSC results showed that increasing the clay content does not show significant change in the melting and crystallization temperatures. The results of thermogravimetric analysis showed that the thermal stability of the nanocomposites decreased by increasing the clay content more than 1 wt%. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 21:60–69, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

BANQ餐厅 美国波士顿

正Banq餐厅位是一家新型餐厅,位于便士储蓄银行(Penny Savings Bank)旧大楼以前用来经营银行业务的大厅内。餐厅分成两个部分,前面区域面向华盛顿大街,设计成酒吧,后面的大厅则作为用餐区。然而,这个空间在z轴上以天花板和地面之间的另一个分区为中心进行设计。如果由于餐厅空间活动的多变性而需要保持灵活性——包括两个座位、四个座位和六个座位,以及与聚会和其他活动有关的座位