Ultrafine Particle Deposition in a Human Tracheobronchial Cast

The deposition of 0.20, 0.15, and 0.04 μm diameter particles was measured in a human central airway cast using a variable larynx with cyclic inspiratory flow. Data were compared with theoretical predictions for deposition from laminar flow for the first seven airway generations. With the exception of tracheal deposition, which on average exceeded predictions by a factor of 9, the measured deposition was about twice that predicted. The enhanced deposition is attributable to secondary swirling flows. Less enhancement is observed at higher inspiratory flow rates as turbulence increases. The surface density of particles deposited at bifurcations was approximately 20% greater than along the airway lengths. This increased deposition at bifurcations should be considered when calculating tissue dose for particles which act before the initial deposit is removed by clearance processes.     

Harnessing the Melting Peculiarities of Ultra‐High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Fibers for the Processing of Compacted Fiber Composites

Summary: Compacted fiber composites offer unique properties due to their lack of an extraneous matrix. The conditions of processing ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers were simulated in a heated pressure cell. In situ X‐ray diffraction measurements were used to follow the relevant transitions and the changes in the degree of crystallinity during melting and crystallization. The results strongly support the suggestion that the hexagonal crystal phase, in which the chain conformation is extremely mobile on the segmental level, constitutes the physical basis of compaction technologies for processing UHMWPE fibers into a single‐polymer composite. This report suggests that using a pseudo‐phase diagram outlining the occurrence of different phases during slow heating and the degree of crystallinity can provide valuable insight into the technological parameters relevant for optimal processing conditions.

Degree of crystallinity as a function of pressure and temperature in a region relevant to compaction processes.     

Small‐angle X‐ray scattering study of modified porous suspension–poly(vinyl chloride) particles

Small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) was applied to investigate the microstructure of unmodified and modified porous commercial suspension‐type poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) particles. The modified PVC particles were prepared by an in situ stabilizer‐free polymerization/crosslinking of particles absorbed with a monomer/crosslinker/peroxide solution. The modifying polymers include styrene with or without divinyl benzene (DVB) as a crosslinker and methyl methacrylate (MMA) with or without ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as a crosslinker. The SAXS method was used to highlight the effect of polystyrene (PS) on the microstructure of PVC particles and to evaluate the characteristic lengths, both in the PVC/PS and the PVC/XPS (PS crosslinked with 0 and 5% DVB, respectively) systems. A model is suggested, where during the synthesis modification process, swelling of PVC by styrene and styrene polymerization occur simultaneously. PVC swelling by styrene causes destruction of the PVC subprimary particles, whereas styrene polymerization leads to phase separation resulting from incompatibility of the polymers. It was further suggested that because of PVC swelling by styrene, structure of the subprimary particles is lost. Therefore the characteristic lengths of PVC/PS and PVC/XPS, as calculated from the SAXS measurements, were attributed to the size of the phase‐separated PS and XPS inclusions, respectively. The SAXS method also shows that PMMA and XPMMA do not influence the PVC microstructure. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 95: 1024–1031, 2005     

直链烷基苯磺酸镁的温和作用和应用性能（英）

对直链烷基苯磺酸镁盐（ＬＡＳ２ Ｍｇ） 与钠盐水溶液中诸多性质的对比做了大量研究。例如, 表面张力、临界胶束浓度、比电导、粘度、溶解性、生物降解性、毒性及耐硬水性等。同时, 对ＬＡＳ２ Ｍｇ 的其它性能如Ｚｅｉｎ 试验（ 一种皮肤刺激性试验） , 润湿性及在盥洗用品和餐具洗涤剂中的应用性能也进行了测试。镁盐的一些特殊性质及其在洗涤剂和化妆品领域中新的应用的可能性得到了证实或确认。     

Metal Complexes as Antiviral Agents for SARS-CoV-2

The severe acute respiratory syndrome – coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the infectious agent responsible for COVID-19 – has caused more than 2.5 million deaths worldwide and triggered a global pandemic. Even with successful vaccines being delivered, there is an urgent need for novel treatments to combat SARS-CoV-2, and other emerging viral diseases. While several organic small molecule drug candidates are in development, some effort has also been devoted towards the application of metal complexes as potential antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-2. Herein, the metal complexes that have been reported to show antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 or one of its target proteins are described and their proposed mechanisms of action are discussed.     

Controlled telescopic reinforcement system of fabric-cement composites — Durability concerns

The study objective was to modify the microstructure of AR glass strand to induce a controlled mode of telescopic bonding during service life, by using sub-micron particles absorbed between the filaments of the strand. Two groups of fillers were used: (i) pozzolanic fillers (silica fume) with 50 nm and 200 nm particle sizes; and (ii) polymeric fillers (polystyrene-based polymers), with two glass transition temperatures (− 6 °C and 100 °C). Composites were prepared using fabric reinforcement and tested for tensile behavior. Composite properties could be controlled by addition of fillers into the glass bundle, and the magnitude and efficiency of the modification was highly dependent on the filler type, structure, and properties. The best performance was obtained with silica fume fillers having relatively large 200 nm particles.     

Performance of Φ-Sulfo Fatty Methyl Ester Sulfonate Versus Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate,Secondary Alkane Sulfonate and α-Sulfo Fatty Methyl Ester Sulfonate

Sulfoxidation of fatty acid methyl esters with SO_2, O₂ and ultraviolet light of appropriate wavelength, has led to the synthesis of methyl esters sulfonates or sulfoxylates, known as Φ-MES, because of the possible random position of SO₃ group in the alkyl chain. Aqueous solutions based on the sulfoxylated methyl ester of palmitic acid (Φ-MES C16) have been studied and compared to the leading types of surfactants used today: linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) secondary alkane sulfonate (SAS) and α-sulfo fatty methyl ester sulfonate (α-MES) with regard to solubility, performance and skin compatibility. The experimental results obtained indicate that Φ-MES C16 can be regarded as a potential component of detergent formulations and most likely also of body care products.

Pore generation in asymmetric polymeric membranesCorrelation with solvent mobilities

Summary Analyzing videomicroscopy observations, this work deals with macrovoids detected through the skin of asymmetric polymeric membranes. The circle-like images of the macrovoids were found to form two-dimensional random patterns ; these were characterized from the mean distance, <λ>, determined between nearest neighboring images. Starting from polyetherimide or polyacrylonitrile solutions, each solution cast as a film was immersed in a water bath, at room temperature ; <λ> was shortened either by increasing the solvent concentration in the casting solution or by decreasing the solvent concentration in the bath (non-solvent of the polymer). This study was based on the assumption that the formation of the macrovoid pattern may be correlated to the interface instability resulting from the current of solvent diffusing towards the bath and initiated by the immersion of the polymer solution. Master curves, involving <λ>, the solvent concentrations in the polymeric solutions or in the bath and the solvent diffusion coefficients, measured prior to the immersion of the solution in the bath, were drawn. Diffusion coefficients were measured using a pulsed magnetic field gradient method. Received: 6 November 1998/Revised version: 9 February 1999/Accepted: 9 February 1999     

The effects of altitude on heavy-duty diesel truck on-road emissions

On-road measurements of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitric oxide from 5772 heavy-duty diesel trucks at five locations in the United States and Europe show slightly increasing emissions with increasing altitude. The result for nitric oxide showed a statistically significant increase of 4.1 +/- 1 gNO/kg of fuel consumed/km increase in altitude. The increases for CO and HC were also statistically significant.