Preparation and characterization of bottle‐brush polymer via host−guest self‐assembly between β‐cyclodextrin and adamantane

Supramolecular assemblies with a bottle‐brush structure are obtained by inclusion complexation between β‐cyclodextrin and adamantane. β‐cyclodextrin‐modified chitosan is synthesized via the aldimine condensation reaction between β‐cyclodextrin monoaldehyde and chitosan as the host. The guest is prepared through the esterification reaction between methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) and 1‐adamantanecarboxylic acid chloride. The supramolecular assemblies are formed through the inclusion of adamantane‐modified methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) into the β‐cyclodextrin cavity on the chitosan chain. Fourier transform infrared and ¹H NMR spectra were used to prove that the host, guest and assemblies were successfully obtained. UV?visible spectra were employed to confirm the formation of assemblies. Furthermore, the size of the particles in the assembled solution, the change before and after self‐assembly, and the effect of the addition of competitive molecules were studied by dynamic light scattering measurements. The results indicate that supramolecular assemblies have formed successfully which might be used to realize the biomimetic structure of the articular cartilage proteoglycan. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry     

Mexico’s regional output convergence after NAFTA: a dynamic panel data analysis

This paper examines Mexico’s output convergence across its 32 states for 1993–2006, a period including the start of NAFTA. Employing dynamic panel data methods, our estimates provide interesting new results. First, we find positive rates of output absolute convergence across Mexican regions: varying from 1.5% for the years 1993–2006 to 9.4% for the years 1996–2006. Second, trade, capital inflows and international migration exert positive effects on output per capita growth. Third, rolling panels suggest the Border-North region faces increasing output convergence speed (from 8.9 to 11.2%), while the South-Center experiences a declining trend (from 12 to 7.6%) more recently.     

Ground source heat pump system: A review of simulation in China

With attractive advantages of high efficiency, energy saving and environmental friendliness, the ground source heat pump (GSHP) system has been used widely in China in recent years. This paper summarizes the analytical solution, numerical solution and experimental investigation of the heat transfer of the ground heat exchanger (GHE), analyzes the simulation model and long-term operation performance of the GSHP system, and introduces the lastest hybrid ground source heat pump (HGSHP) system. In addition, this paper discusses and summarizes the shortages and imperfects of the current research on the simulation of the GSHP system and gives some recommendations for future work.     

Determination of emotional content of video clips by low-level audiovisual features

Affective analysis of video content has greatly increased the possibilities of the way we perceive and deal with media. Different kinds of strategies have been tried, but results are still opened to improvements. Most of the problems come from the lack of standardized test set and real affective models. In order to cope with these issues, in this paper we describe the results of our work on the determination of affective models for evaluation of video clips using audiovisual low-level features. The affective models were developed following two classes of psychological theories of affect: categorial and dimensional. The affective models were created from real data, acquired through a series of user experiments. They reflect the affective state of a viewer after watching a certain scene from a movie. We evaluate the detection of Pleasure, Arousal and Dominance coefficients as well as the detection rate of six affective categories. For this end, two Bayesian network topologies are used, a Hidden Markov Model and an Autoregressive Hidden Markov Model. The measurements were done using audio-only models, video-only models and fused models. Fusion is done using two different methods, a Decision Level Fusion and Feature Level Fusion. All tests were conducted using localized affective models, both categorial and dimensional. Results are presented in terms of detection rate and accuracy for affective families, affective dimensions and probabilistic networks. Arousal was the best detected dimension, followed by dominance and pleasure.     

Effect of dispersion on rheological and mechanical properties of polypropylene/carbon nanotubes nanocomposites

Polypropylene (PP) nanocomposites filled with the pristine multi‐wall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and the purified CNTs were prepared by melt blending. The microstructure and linear viscoelastic properties wereinvestigated using rheological and morphological measurements. The results show that the purified CNTs disperse uniformly in the PP matrix. At low frequencies, frequency dependence of modulus weakens clearly with the addition of the CNTs, indicating that the long‐range motion of the polymer chains is restrained by the presence of the CNTs. Percolation networks form when the loading levels achieve up to 3 and 1.5 wt% for the composites with the pristine CNTs (PPCNTs) and the purified CNTs (PPcCNTs), respectively. The linear relaxation modulus increases with increasing loading level. And for composites with loading levels above percolation concentration, the modulus appears to reach a plateau at long time scales due to the formation of percolation network. Tensile strength and impact strength are simultaneously improved with the addition of the CNTs. The better the dispersion of the CNTs, the greater the improvement of the tensile strength and the impact strength. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Crystallographic characterizations of eutectic and secondary carbides in a Fe-12Cr-2.5Mo-1.5W-3V-1.25C alloy

In this work, the morphology and structures of the eutectic and secondary carbides in a new high chromium Fe-1₂Cr-2.5Mo-1.5W-3V-1.25C designed for cold-rolling work roll were systematically studied. The precipitated carbides inside the grains and along the grain boundaries were investigated with optical microscope, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-Ray diffraction. Selected area diffraction patterns have been successfully used to identify the crystal formation and lattice constants of the carbides with different alloying elements. The results show that the eutectic carbides precipitated contain MC and M₂C distributed along the grain boundaries with dendrite feature. The composition and crystal structure analysis shows that the eutectic MC carbides contain VC and WC with a cubic and hexagonal crystal lattice structures respectively, while the eutectic M₂C carbides predominantly contain V₂C and Mo₂C with orthorhombic and hexagonal crystal lattices respectively. The secondary carbides contain MC, M₂C, M₇C₃ formed along the grain boundaries and their sizes are much larger than the eutectic carbides ones. The secondary M₂₃C₆ is much small (0.3-0.5μm) and is distributed dispersively inside the grain. Similar to the eutectic carbides, the secondary carbides also contain VC, WC, V₂C, and Mo₂C. M₇C₃ is hexagonal (Fe,Cr)₇C₃, while M₂₃C₆ is indexed to be in a cubic crystal form.     

Multiplex real-time PCR Method for the detection and quantification of DNA from the four transgenic soy traits DP-356043-5, DP-305423-1, MON 87701, and BPS-CV127-9 and lectin

According to the release of authorization, several new transgenic soy crops are expected to be present in the harvest of soy beans. In contrast to earlier times, methods for the detection of these transgenic crops are available already in advance. However, these methods are mainly still inefficient single real-time PCR methods. To increase the efficiency of product control, a multiplex quantitative real-time PCR system was developed and characterized for the four new transgenic soy traits DP-356043-5, DP-305423-1, MON 87701 and BPS-CV127-9. It showed amplification efficiency, correlation and sensitivity similar to the single PCR systems applied therein. To evaluate the robustness, an appropriate testing scheme was developed and applied for the first time on this multiplex real-time PCR system. It showed the robust amplification of all analytes also in case where conditions were varied. This system allows relative multiplex quantification and/or delta–delta Ct method quantification and proofed the applicability in routine.     

国外进口废热锅炉修复技术研究

某丁辛醇装置的废热锅炉是从德国进口的设备,该设备在现场运行过程中在发现有泄漏,经技术分析发现在内部急冷盘管上有泄漏点。将设备整体拆卸后查找设备泄露原因,制定修复方案,进行修复。修复后的设备达到了原生产工艺要求。     

Variation in fatty acid composition of ewes' colostrum and mature milk fat

Temporal content variations of approximately 70 C4–C24 fatty acids (FA) in colostrum and milk of ewes consuming winter diet were determined by gas chromatography. The content of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and straight-chain saturated FA 14:0–16:0 in colostrum was higher whereas the content of 4:0–12:0, 18:0 and branched-chain saturated FA 15:0–17:0 was lower than that in mature milk. The effect of ewe breed on the FA profiles was not significant. The composition of FA changed most significantly 1–2 days after lambing in agreement with the time schedule of colostrum formation. Nevertheless, the content of FA further successively changed up to approximately the 6th day of lactation, whereas further changes up to the 60th day of lactation were smaller. This is consistent with the recommendation that ewes' milk is suitable for human consumption after six-to-eight days of lactation. The higher contents of palmitic and myristic acids in colostrum compared with mature milk suggest that FA composition in colostrum matches the changing needs of the growing lambs.     

Comparison of cavern formation in massive salt blocks with single-well and two-well systems

The authors of this article have conducted a comparison study to investigate the construction characteristics of both single-well and two-well systems; two model experiments were conducted using large-size moulded rock salt specimens. An experimental platform was designed to simulate the process of leaching and a theoretical equation of calculating and predicting the cavern volume was derived. The experimental results illustrate that the variation trend of brine instantaneous concentration for single-well and two-well systems is identical, and an equilibrium state appears at last. Moreover, the equilibrium is reached early, after 5–8 pumping cycles. The construction rate in the two-well system is faster than the single-well system, and this phenomenon is observed mainly in the early periods (1–3 pumping cycles). Besides, the cavern shapes for the two construction methods are also found to be distinctive. The cavern of the single-well system has a circular cross section and an axisymmetric profile while that of the two-well system has an ovular cross section and a non-axisymmetric profile.