Real-time PCB monitoring using time-of-flight mass spectrometry with picosecond laser ionization

The study demonstrates the applicability of laser ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry for real-time measurement of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Picosecond 266-nm laser light ionization reduced fragmentation and provided very high PCB detection sensitivity. This high sensitivity has advantages in terms of real-time monitoring capability as compared to the conventional GC-ECD or GC-MS methods, which require at least several days for the analysis of PCBs. Detection sensitivity of under 0.01 mg/Nm3 was achieved with a 1-min measuring time; this sensitivity is superior to the exhaust gas control guideline of 0.15 mg/Nm3 by a factor of 10. A prototype PCB monitoring device has been developed and tested in a pilot PCB treatment plant. The 1-min detection time represents a substantial advance in the monitoring of exhaust gas and the workplace atmosphere in accordance with safety regulations.     

Oral Administration of Bovine Milk from Cows Hyperimmunized with Intestinal Bacterin Stimulates Lamina Propria T Lymphocytes to Produce Th1-Biased Cytokines in Mice

The goal of this study was to examine the effects of oral administration of bovine milk from cows hyperimmunized with a proprietary bacterin (immune milk “Sustaina”) on mucosal immunity in the intestine of adult mice. C57BL/6 mice were orally given immune or control milk for two weeks, and then lymphocyte population and the cytokine production in lamina propria of colon in normal mice and mice induced colitis by dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) were detected. We found that the levels of IFN-γ and IL-10 increased, but the levels of IL-17A and IL-4, decreased in lamina propria of colon in immune milk-fed mice as compared with those in control milk-fed mice. Interestingly, oral administration of immune milk partially improved the acute colitis induced by DSS. The levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ increased, but IL-6, IL-17A and IL-4 decreased in lamina propria (LP) of colon in immune milk-fed mice with DSS-induced colitis. Our results suggest that immune milk may stimulate CD4⁺ T cells to polarize towards a Th1 type response, but contrarily suppress Th17 and Th2 cells responses in large intestinal LP of mice. The results indicate that this kind of immune milk has is able to promote the maintainance of intestinal homeostasis and enhance protection against infection, and could alleviate the symptoms of acute colitis in mice.     

Buckling of laterally braced beams

This paper reports on thteral buckling tests of H-shaped beams unbraced or braced laterally by purlins or a sub-beam. These tested beams were subjected to uniform moment or moment gradient. The restraining effect of adjacent members, bracing effect of purlins or a sub-beam and effect of moment gradient on load carrying capacity and the post-lateral-buckling behaviour were investigated. Elastic-plastic analysis by means of the finite element method was performed to simulate the experimental behaviour. Analytical results were found to match well with experimental behaviour for the most part. Effective length factors that incorporate the effects of moment gradient, restraining, and bracing into design of H-shaped beams are discussed and proposed, based mainly on the analytical results.     

Fine-tuning supramolecular assemblies of fullerenes bearing long alkyl chains

Fine-tuning of the supramolecularly organized nanometer scale architectures of fullerene derivatives, fulleropyrrolidines substituted with a mono-, di-, or tri(n-hexadecyloxy)phenyl group is described. These synthetic fullerene derivatives possess one- (1), two- (2), or three- (3) long alkyl chains. The correlation between the number of alkyl chain multiplicity and the self-organized bilayer structures as the fundamental subunit as well as the superstructures formed in different solvents were investigated using microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. The fullerene derivatives studied formed interdigitated lamellar bilayer structures whose d spacing values, estimated by X-ray diffraction patterns, are 2.63 nm for 1, 3.50 nm for 2, and 4.28 nm for 3, respectively. There are the two differing intermolecular forces present due to C₆₀ (sp²-carbons) or alkyl chains (sp³-carbons). Fullerene moieties always exhibit strong π-π interactions, while van der Waals interactions between alkyl chains can be altered by variation of their multiplicity. Substitution of three alkyl chains at the fullerene moiety (3) was the most effective method for stimulating polymorphism in its derivatives in different solvents.     

包装材料的环境影响评价

对有关环境影响评价技术和指标建立方法进行了比较,从而确定出能够适合可持续包装需要的包装材料环境影响评价方法.并就基于末端模型包装生命周期影响评价和单一可持续性指标的确立进行了讨论,以便能够为实践中优选包装材料提供指导.     

An atomistic study of grain boundary stability and crystal rearrangement using molecular dynamics techniques

The stability of grain boundaries (GBs) and the dynamic behavior of atoms in the boundary region are investigated from an atomistic standpoint. Symmetric and non-symmetric GBs are constructed using an fcc configuration, and the GB energy is calculated as a function of the misorientation angles using a Lennard-Jones-type interatomic potential. Several specific angles are revealed to exhibit cusp-shaped low values. The effect of atomic relaxation at the GB is then simulated, showing a decrease in the GB energy. Changes in the morphology of a grain embedded in a bulk single crystal are also simulated. Using both a square-grain and a circular-grain model, the following results are obtained. In models with small misorientation angles, the grain changes orientation and the GB vanishes. When the orientations are initially stable, no change in the grain is observed. However, in models with non-stable orientations, local stabilization occurs by a rearrangement of the atoms around the GB, and the shape of the grain is transformed. Finally, a similar simulation is carried out at a high temperature, and this reveals that grain contraction occurs even in models that are stable at a low temperature, and that the grain eventually disappears.     

Lymphatic transport of a physical mixture of medium-and long-chain TAG in rats

Lymphatic transport of a mixture of medium-chain TAG (MCT) and long-chain TAG (LCT) was studied in lymph-cannulated rats. Animals were administered a test emulsion containing either triolein, tricaprylin, or a 1∶1 mixture of triolein and tricaprylin, and the lymph was collected for 24 h. The lymphatic recovery rate of medium-chain FA (MCFA) was significantly higher in rats given the TAG mixture than in those given MCT alone. The lymphatic recovery rate of long-chain FA (LCFA) also was significantly higher in rats given the TAG mixture than in those given LCT alone. No TAG containing three MCFA (i.e., MCT) was detected, and 37.7% of TAG containing one or two MCFA was detected in the lymph TAG when rats were given the TAG mixture. These results indicate that lymphatic transport of MCFA and LCFA can be modified by the combination of MCT and LCT.