Enhanced Multiferroic and Magnetocapacitive Properties of (1 − x)Ba0.7Ca0.3TiO3–xBiFeO3 Ceramics

The structures, Curie temperature, dielectric relaxor behaviors, ferroelectricity, ferromagnetism, and magnetocapacitance of the (1?x)Ba_0.70Ca_0.30TiO₃–xBiFeO₃ [(1?x)BCT–xBF, x = 0–0.90] solid solutions have been systematically investigated. The ceramics have coexisted tetragonal (T) and orthorhombic (O) phases when x ≤ 0.06, coexisted pseudocubic (PC) and O phases when x = 0.065, coexisted cubic and O phases when 0.07 ≤ x ≤ 0.12, PC phase when 0.21 ≤ x ≤ 0.42, coexisted T and rhombohedral (R) phases when 0.52 ≤ x ≤ 0.70, and R phase when x ≥ 0.75. Significantly, composition‐dependent microstructures and Curie temperature are observed, the average grain size increases from 1.9 μm for x = 0, reaches 12.0 μm for x = 0.67, and then decreases to 1.3 μm for x = 0.90. At room temperature, the ceramics with x = 0.42–0.70 show piezoelectric properties and multiferroic behaviors, characterized by the polarization‐electric field, polarization current intensity–electric field, and magnetization–magnetic field curves, the composition with x = 0.67 has maximum polarization, remnant polarization, maximum magnetization, and remnant magnetization of 15.0 μC/cm², 9.1 μC/cm², 0.33 emu/g, and 0.14 emu/g, respectively. In addition, the magnetocapacitance is evidenced by the increased relative dielectric constant with increasing the applied magnetic field (H). With ΔH = 8 kOe, the composition with x = 0.67 shows the largest values of (ε_r(H) ? ε_r(0))/ε_r(0) = 2.96% at room temperature. The structure–property relationship is discussed intensively.     

Synthesis and Luminescence Properties of Blue‐Emitting Phosphor Eu2+‐Doped Zinc Fluoro‐Phosphate Zn2[PO4]F

Eu²⁺‐doped zinc fluoro‐phosphate Zn₂[PO₄]F was synthesized by the conventional high‐temperature solid‐state reaction. The phase formation was confirmed by X‐ray powder diffraction measurements and the structure refinement. The photoluminescence excitation and emission spectra, and the decay curves were measured. The natures of the Eu²⁺ emission in inorganic hosts, e.g., the emission and excitation properties, the chromaticity coordinates, the Stokes shifts, the absolute quantum efficiency, and the luminescence thermal stability were reported. Under the excitation of near‐UV light, Eu²⁺‐doped Zn₂[PO₄]F presents a narrow blue‐emitting band centered at 423 nm. The thermal stability of the blue luminescence was evaluated by the luminescence intensities as a function of temperature. The phosphor shows an excellent thermal stability on temperature quenching effects.     

Fluidity improvement of semiaromatic polyamides: Modification with oligomers

Poly(decamethylene terephthalamide) PA10T with different relative viscosities (RV) were successfully produced by the reaction of 1,10‐decanediamine and terephthalic acid through molecular weight regulator benzoic acid (BA). RV was shown to be decreased linearly with increasing BA concentrations and detailed structures of PA10Ts were characterized by ¹³C‐NMR. Fluidity of PA10T with varying molecular weight was tested and low RV PA10Ts were used as modifiers to improve fluidity behaviors of high RV PA10Ts, meanwhile mechanical properties were maintained. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40058.     

Preparation of antimicrobial polycarboxybetaine‐based hydrogels for studies of drug loading and release

A series of cationic poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAM)‐g‐poly(carboxybetaine ester) (PCBMAE) hydrogels were prepared by reversible addition–fragmentation chain‐transfer polymerization with PCBMAE precursors reacting with N‐isopropyl acrylamide in the presence of N,N′‐methylene bisacrylamide. These hydrogels exhibited excellent antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and could switch to nontoxic zwitterionic hydrogels after hydrolysis. Nonionic tetracycline hydrochloride (TCHC) and anionic sodium salicylate (SA) were selected to evaluate the loading capacities and release kinetics of the cationic hydrogels. We found that the loading efficiencies of TCHC in the PNIPAM‐g‐PCBMAE hydrogels were approximately twice as high as those of SA. However, the cumulative release amount of TCHC was lower than that of SA from the corresponding cationic hydrogel at 37°C. In addition, the PNIPAM‐g‐PCBMAE hydrogels exhibited accelerated release rates of both TCHC and SA with increasing content of (2‐carboxymethyl)?3‐acryloxyethyldimethylammonium chloride methyl ester. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 39839.     

Nonisothermal crystallization behaviors of biodegradable double crystalline poly(butylene succinate)‐poly(ethylene glycol) multiblock copolymers

Nonisothermal crystallization behaviors of both poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) segments within PBS‐PEG (PBSEG) multiblock copolymers were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of both PBS and PEG segments were analyzed by Avrami, Ozawa, and Mo methods. The results showed that both of Avrami and Mo methods were successful to describe the nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of PBS and PEG segments. The results of crystallization kinetics indicated that the crystallization rate of PBS segment decreased with PBS segment content and/or L_PBS, while that of PEG segment decreased with M_n,PEG or F_PEG. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40940.     

Matched‐dual‐polymer electrochromic lenses,using new cathodically coloring conducting polymers,with exceptional performance and incorporated into automated sunglasses

Reported are syntheses of several new monomer precursors of cathodically coloring conducting polymers (CPs), based on a propylene dioxythiophene skeleton. These are shown to yield CPs—both as homopolymers and as copolymers—that are nearly “perfectly” matched electrochemically and electrochromically with a set of anodically coloring poly(aromatic amines), for use in dual‐polymer electrochromic lenses. Resulting dual‐polymer electrochromic lenses display very high light/dark contrast (typically up to 70/7% or 50/0.5% Transmission (integrated over visible spectrum, vs. air reference), Haze < 2%, very high cyclability (> 10 K cycles), multiyear shelf life, appealing transparent to dark‐blue‐black transition, and excellent optical memory. Dramatic lowering of switching time, from 8 to < 1 s, is demonstrated using unique applied‐potential algorithm resident on inexpensive Microcontroller chip. Working, practical dual‐polymer electrochromic spectacles are demonstrated with electrochromic lenses retrofitted to spectacles meeting ANSI Z87.1, GL‐PD 10–12 (U.S. military) specifications. These incorporate photosensor, rechargeable Li battery, Microcontroller, allow for automated operation. Ab‐initio‐design spectacles, also conforming to above specifications, are also demonstrated, with components seamlessly hidden within frame. To the best of our knowledge, the electrochromic lenses and sunglasses reported herein represent the best visible‐region electrochromic performance for dual‐polymer CP electrochromic systems to date and the first practical implementation in working sunglasses. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 41043.     

Involvement of a Specific Chemosensory Protein from Bactrocera dorsalis in Perceiving Host Plant Volatiles

Insects have evolved many physiological and behavioral adaptations to recognize external complex chemicals. Olfaction plays an important role in perceiving volatile chemicals, utilizing them to locate host sites, conspecifics, and enemies. Chemosensory proteins (CSPs) are present in high concentrations within the sensory sensilla of insects and are endowed with a heterogeneous range of functions. However, direct evidence for the involvement of CSPs in olfactory function is still lacking. In this study, a fluorescence-based ligand binding assay using Bdor-CSP2 illustrated its ability to bind the majority of the selected ligands of different shapes and chemical structures that are ecologically significant, host plant volatiles of Bactrocera dorsalis. RNAi-mediated silencing coupled with electrophysiological tests showed lower electrophysiological responses to (3Z)-hex-3-en-1-ol, trans-2-hexenal, 6-methylhept-5-en-2-one, and 3-methylbutyl acetate in dsBdor CSP2 treated flies compared with the untreated controls. The reduced expression of Bdor-CSP2 by RNA interference was confirmed by semi-quantitative PCR, real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot, which suggested the RNAi-treatment was responsible for the observed reduction of antennal responses in EAG recordings. These data suggest that the expression of Bdor-CSP2 is necessary for the recognition of antennal responses to some plant host volatiles by B. dorsalis.     

Enzymatic and ionic crosslinked gelatin/K‐carrageenan IPN hydrogels as potential biomaterials

Hydrogels of a natural origin have attracted considerable attention in the field of tissue engineering due to their resemblance to ECM, defined degradability and compatibility with biological systems. In this study, we introduced carrageenan into a gelatin network, creating IPN hydrogels through biological methods of enzymatic and ionic crosslinking. Their gelation processes were monitored and confirmed by rheology analysis. The combination of biochemical and physical crosslinking processes enables the formation of biohydrogels with tunable mechanical properties, swelling ratios and degradation behaviors while maintaining the biocompatibilities of natural materials. The mechanical strength increased with an increase in carrageenan content while swelling ratio and degradability decreased correspondingly. In addition, the IPN hydrogels were shown to support adhesion and proliferation of L929 cell line. All the results highlighted the use of biological crosslinked gelatin‐carrageenan IPN hydrogels in the context of tissue engineering. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 10.1002/app.40975.     

预分解系统分级燃烧技术的工业试验研究 及工程应用

分析了国外公司在新型干法水泥生产线应用分级燃烧技术降低NOx排放方面存在的问题,并针对性的开发了适合已有水泥生产线改造的分级燃烧技术,并将其应用于工业试验和工程实践中。实践表明,在满足原燃料和操作条件下,分级燃烧系统可以有效降低NOx排放,其脱氮效率为10%~15%。     

一种吲哚基姜黄素类似物的合成及其抗氧化活性研究

吲哚-3-甲醛与2-羟基-5-甲氧基苯乙酮进行羟醛缩合反应,生成一种吲哚基姜黄素类似物1-(2-羟基-5-甲氧基苯基)-3-(3-吲哚基)-2-烯-1-酮,在不同的催化剂、温度、溶剂等条件下,探索研究合成反应所需的最优工艺条件,采用合适的方法分离提纯得到纯净产品。通过熔点测定、氢核磁共振分析法、质谱分析法等对合成产物进行分析,并研究其抗氧化生物活性。结果表明,该化合物均具有清除DPPH自由基、羟基自由基的能力,表现出明显的抗氧化活性。