Evolution of the serum amyloid A (SAA) protein superfamily

The serum amyloid A (SAA) superfamily comprises a number of genes and proteins characterized from a range of mammalian species. The majority of members described to date are dramatically induced during the acute-phase response, suggesting an important short-term beneficial role in the response to tissue injury and inflammation. However, important disease associations have also been proposed for certain SAAs during chronic inflammation. The nomenclature of many of the superfamily members has been the result of comparisons with previously reported sequences implying disease association and/or functional relatedness between such members. The evolutionary relationships of the SAA superfamily members have been investigated by comparisons at both the amino acid and the nucleotide level. The results indicate that all members of the superfamily within a species have been undergoing concerted evolution. This has important implications in ascribing functions and disease associations to individual SAA superfamily members and indicates that designations should not be based on the extent of amino acid identity alone but should be made only following direct experimental observation of the proteins themselves.     

Morphology control of titanium oxides by tetramethylammonium cations in hydrothermal conditions

The effect of tetramethylammonium cations (TMA⁺) on TiO₂ crystal morphology in hydrothermal conditions has been studied. The as-synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) methods. The morphologies including besom-like particle, nanosheet and nanotube have been observed. The different ways TMA⁺ cations in the hydrothermal bases affect the crystal growth manner are suggested to be responsible for the different morphologies of the as-synthesized samples.     

Dissolution processes,hydrolysis and condensation reactions during geopolymer synthesis: Part II. High Si/Al ratio systems

The mechanisms of speciation of aluminate and silicate phases during dissolution and condensation stages of alumino-silicate geopolymer reactions characterised by Si/Al ≥ 3, have been investigated and the results compared to predictions of the partial charge model. Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) traces indicate that free [Al(OH)₄]⁻ species, present in lower silicate formulations such as Si/Al ≤ 1, do not occur in the present systems, suggesting that the condensation reaction between [Al(OH)₄]⁻ and silicate species is fairly quick and is consumed as soon as it is formed. This observation is also consistent with both calorimetric measurements and model predictions, as the condensation time increased exponentially with increased Si/Al ratio in the geopolymeric phase, indicating again that the high content of Al species in the gel phase greatly enhanced the condensation rate. The experimental observations suggest that the condensation process in these systems occurs in two stages: (a) quick condensation between aluminate and silicate species; followed by (b) a slow condensation stage solely involving silicate species.     

纺织信息的网上检索方法

主要介绍在网上检索纺织信息的几种方法和处理技术，为人们检索纺织信息提供了方便快捷的途径。     

Organic‐acid‐catalyzed sol–gel route for preparing poly(methyl methacrylate)–silica hybrid materials

In this study, a series of organic–inorganic hybrid sol–gel materials consisting of a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix and dispersed silica (SiO₂) particles were successfully prepared through an organic‐acid‐catalyzed sol–gel route with N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone as the mixing solvent. The as‐synthesized PMMA–SiO₂ nanocomposites were subsequently characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The solid phase of organic camphor sulfonic acid was employed to catalyze the hydrolysis and condensation (i.e., sol–gel reactions) of tetraethyl orthosilicate in the PMMA matrix. The formation of the hybrid membranes was beneficial for the physical properties at low SiO₂ loadings, especially for enhanced mechanical strength and gas barrier properties, in comparison with the neat PMMA. The effects of material composition on the thermal stability, thermal conductivity, mechanical strength, molecular permeability, optical clarity, and surface morphology of the as‐prepared hybrid PMMA–SiO₂ nanocomposites in the form of membranes were investigated with thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, gas permeability analysis, ultraviolet–visible transmission spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy, respectively. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Performance of the polymer- and oxide-supported triphase catalysts and effect of ultrasound on their stabilities

In this study, several trialkylamines were immobilized on chloromethylated polystyrene (CMPS), silica gel, and alumina to prepare triphase catalysts for catalyzing the etherification reaction of allyl bromide (the organic reactant) and sodium phenolate (the aqueous reactant). The reactor was agitated mechanically or with the aid of ultrasonic vibration. Performances of the prepared catalysts were compared, and the effect of imposing ultrasound was investigated based on the activity, selectivity, and stability of the catalyst. Experimental results show that tri-n-propylamine is the best active species when CMPS is used as the support, while tri-n-butylamine is the best when SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ are employed as the supports. The CMPS-supported catalyst is far better than the SiO₂- and Al₂O₃-supported catalysts in activity and selectivity but not in stability. Imposing the ultrasound can effectively increase the reaction rate. Mechanical agitation at a low speed with the imposition of ultrasonic vibration not only results in a conversion slightly higher than the case with a high mechanical agitation speed without ultrasonic vibration, but also gives a constant stability for the CMPS-supported catalyst.