Measurement of High-Temperature Elastic Properties of Ceramics Using a Laser Ultrasonic Method

Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio of SiC ceramics at temperatures >1400°C were obtained using a laser ultrasonics method that included a Fabry-Pérot interferometer (LUFP). At temperatures <1000°C, Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio measured using the LUFP method agreed well with those measured using standard contact methods, such as the resonance method and the ultrasonic pulse method. These results showed that the LUFP method is a powerful tool for measuring high-temperature elastic properties of advanced ceramics in a noncontact manner.     

Chemical Approach to Biological Safety: Molecular‐Level Control of an Integrated Zinc Finger Nuclease

Application of artificial nucleases (ANs) in genome editing is still hindered by their cytotoxicity related to off‐target cleavages. This problem can be targeted by regulation of the nuclease domain. Here, we provide an experimental survey of computationally designed integrated zinc finger nucleases, constructed by linking the inactivated catalytic centre and the allosteric activator sequence of the colicin E7 nuclease domain to the two opposite termini of a zinc finger array. DNA specificity and metal binding were confirmed by electrophoretic mobility shift assays, synchrotron radiation circular dichroism spectroscopy, and nano‐electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry. In situ intramolecular activation of the nuclease domain was observed, resulting in specific cleavage of DNA with moderate activity. This study represents a new approach to AN design through integrated nucleases consisting of three (regulator, DNA‐binding, and nuclease) units, rather than simple chimera. The optimisation of such ANs could lead to safe gene editing enzymes.     

Chemical transformation of chiral monolayer-protected gold clusters: observation of ligand size effects on optical and chiroptical responses

Versatile functionalization of metal clusters is a key step in understanding the reactivity of protective monolayers. We here demonstrate that reaction of the outermost amino groups on (S)-/(R)-penicillamine-protected gold clusters with ethyl isocyanate readily modifies the chiral surface structure through carbamoylation. Interestingly, the clusters are electrophoretically separated by the size of the surface ligand, not by the size of the gold core, which is revealed by UV-vis, IR, and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy as well as SAXS measurements. The ligand size (or length) is extended through additional reactions of the carbamoylated amino groups with isocyanate, while the chemical similarity in ligand structures is realized by their IR spectral similarity. Optical and chiroptical responses of the separated cluster compounds are thus overall similar to each other, but a close inspection reveals that the ligand size has a small but distinct influence on the chiroptical response of the gold clusters.     

A highly productive basin-type-multiple-effect coupled solar still

A newly designed multiple-effect solar still with a triangle cross-section consisting of a horizontal basin liner, a tilted double glass cover and the vertical parallel partitions in contact with saline-soaked wicks is presented and theoretically analyzed. Solar radiation is absorbed in the basin and in the first partition, and the partition section recycles the energy from the basin as well as solar energy, which is directly absorbed by the first partition. A single distillation cell with a 5-mm diffusion gap between vertical partitions has been experimentally explored. No contamination of distillate with saline water was experimentally detected in the single distillation cell, and the experimental observation of the wick and the measurements of the temperature drop through the cell with the 5-mm gap showed that dry patches hardly appear on the wick. The proposed still with 5-mm diffusion gaps is theoretically predicted to produce distillate of 15.4kg⁻² m⁻²d⁻¹ on a sunny day of G_ti=22.4 MJ/m⁻²d⁻¹ solar radiation, and its efficiency is about 3.5 times larger than the average experimental value for the conventional basin type stills by Cooper [20] and 1.2-1.6 times larger than the experimental maximum values of the conventional multiple-effect stills [3,9].     

In‐line monitoring of polyethylene density using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy

Density and melt index are two key properties in grading commercial polyolefin polymers. For quality assurance, these properties must be controlled as accurately as possible in the production plant. However, the lack of suitable in‐line sensors for these properties makes feedback quality control difficult. In this study, an in‐line density sensor using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is developed. The NIR spectra of molten polyethylene in flow are collected by a fiber‐optic device attached to a single screw extruder. By the ratio of the absorption intensity at 1170 nm to that at 1213 nm, the densities of 14 grades of polyethylene were successfully measured. The results were very promising for quality control in the polyethylene production process.     

Ring-Fluorinated Analog of Methyl Eugenol: Attractiveness to and Metabolism in the Oriental Fruit Fly, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bactrocera Dorsalis</Emphasis> (Hendel)

Oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), males are highly attracted to the natural phenylpropanoid methyl eugenol (ME). They compulsively feed on ME and metabolize it to ring and side-chain hydroxylated compounds that have both pheromonal and allomonal functions. Side-chain metabolic activation of ME leading to (E)-coniferyl alcohol has long been recognized as a primary reason for hepatocarcinogenicity of this compound in rodents. Earlier, we demonstrated that introduction of a fluorine atom at the terminal carbon of the ME side chain significantly depressed metabolism and specifically reduced formation of coniferyl alcohol but had little effect on field attractiveness to B. dorsalis. In the current paper, we demonstrate that fluorination of ME at the 4 position of the aromatic ring blocks metabolic ring-hydroxylation but overall enhances side-chain metabolism by increasing production of fluorinated (E)-coniferyl alcohol. In laboratory experiments, oriental fruit fly males were attracted to and readily consumed 1,2-dimethoxy-4-fluoro-5-(2-propenyl)benzene (I) at rates similar to ME but metabolized it faster. Flies that consumed the fluorine analog were as healthy post feeding as ones fed on methyl eugenol. In field trials, the fluorine analog I was ∼50% less attractive to male B. dorsalis than ME.

Temperature dependences of piezoelectric properties of vanadium substituted SrBi2Nb2O9 ceramics with grain orientation

The temperature dependence of the piezoelectric properties of vanadium substituted strontium bismuth niobate, SrBi₂Nb_1.95V_0.05O₉ (SBNV) ceramics, were investigated in various vibration modes. The effects of grain orientation in SBNV ceramics on the piezoelectric properties were also studied by the hot-forging (HF) method. The anisotropy of the piezoelectric properties of each vibration mode was confirmed by observing the grain orientation. In particular, HF-SBNV ceramics of the (33) and (15) modes showed excellent piezoelectric properties with relatively high mechanical quality factors, Q_m (2200, 4600), and high electrical quality factors, Q_{e max} (66.0, 21.6), respectively. In addition, HF-SBNV ceramics showed low temperature coefficients of resonance frequency TC-f_r (−16.5, −27.0). HF-SBNV ceramics are considered to be superior candidates for the lead-free piezoelectric application of ceramic resonators.     

Preparation and properties of biodegradable network poly(ester-carbonate) elastomers

Biodegradable elastomeric network poly(ester-carbonate)s were prepared from multifunctional aliphatic carboxylic acids such as tricarballylic acid (Y_t) or trimesic acid (Y) and polycarbonate diols (PCD) with molecular weights of 1000 and 2000 g/mol. Prepolymers prepared by a melt polycondensation were cast from dimethylformamide solution and postpolymerized at 270 °C for 40-80 min to form a network. The resultant films were transparent, flexible and insoluble in organic solvents. WAXS exhibited the crystalline peaks due to polycarbonate segments for the network films from PCD₂₀₀₀, while those from PCD₁₀₀₀ were amorphous. The tensile properties were determined for these network films at the temperatures 22, 30, 40 and 50 °C. These films showed elastomeric properties at all temperatures measured. The elongation at break was much higher for the films from PCD₂₀₀₀ (208-434%) than those from PCD₁₀₀₀ (40-120%), and decreased with increasing temperatures. The weight losses of the network films degraded in the buffer solution of Rhizopus delemar lipase at 37 °C increased with time, suggesting that these network films are biodegradable. The degradation rate of the network films from Y_t is faster than that from Y. The GPC curves showed that the lipase hydrolyzed both the ester linkages between Y or Y_t and PCD as well as polycarbonate moiety in the network polymer.