Synthesis of amphiphilic (meth)acrylates with oligo(ethylene glycol) and (or) oligo(propylene glycol) blocks by the esterification of (meth)acrylic acid

Thermoresponsive PEG-based (PEG stands polyethylene glycol) polymers are unique for use in medicine because of their low toxicity, good biocompatibility and biodegradability, but usually more hydrophobic and more toxic comonomers are used to adjust lower critical solution temperature (LCST). A convenient way to overcome this problem and to finely tune LCST is to use alkoxy oligo(ethylene glycol)- or alkoxy oligo(propylene glycol) (meth)acrylates as starting comonomers. Here we report on the conditions for the simple and affordable synthesis of methoxy oligo(propylene glycol) (meth)acrylate- and methoxy oligo(propylene glycol)-block-oligo(ethylene glycol) (meth)acrylate-based macromonomers with high yields (80%–98.7%) by the acid-catalyzed esterification of (meth)acrylic acid with alkoxy oligo(alkylene glycols) containing oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG) and/or oligo(propylene glycol) (OPG) blocks. p-Toluene sulphonic acid (pTSA), alkyl(C₁₂–C₁₄)benzene sulfonic acid (ABSA) and H₂SO₄ were used as catalysts. It has been shown that pTSA and ABSA are practically the same in catalytic activity and are superior to sulfuric acid. The reaction orders with respect to catalyst was found to be close to 1 in all cases. It has been shown that the reaction is actually insensitive to the lengths of OEG and OPG blocks, as well as to the structure of the terminal alkyl group, while the esterification of acrylic acid (AA) proceeds much faster compared to methacrylic acid (MAA) one under the same conditions. The influence of temperature on the equilibrium conversions of alcohols was determined, which were found to be 89%–93% for the esterification of AA and 61%–86% for MAA in the temperature range of 60–120°C. A further increase in conversion was achieved by introducing an azeotropic agent (toluene), its optimal concentration was found to be 10%–15%.     

Use of radial forces for fault detection in tapping

A model-based method for fault detection in tapping based on torque and radial forces is proposed. The method allows the identification of faults typical of a tapping operation including axial misalignment, tap runout, tooth breakage both singly and together. The validation experiments have been run on aluminum 356 workpieces for different combinations of process faults. Results have shown that the model predictions are in good agreement with the experimental radial force and torque signals under various fault conditions.     

不同热变形工艺大塑性变形加工超细晶1570C铝合金的组织、强度和超塑性

将Al-5Mg-0.18Mn-0.2Sc-0.08Zr-0.01Fe-0.01Si(质量分数,％)合金铸锭进行多向等温锻造(应变12)或等径角挤压(应变10,325℃),再进行热轧(325℃)和冷轧(20℃),对比研究合金变形后的组织和力学行为.结果表明,对(亚)晶粒尺寸dUFG=2μm的超细晶组织合金进行多向等温锻造...     

Preparation of Carbon-Doped TiO2 Nanopowder Synthesized by Droplet Injection of Solution Precursor in a DC-RF Hybrid Plasma Flow System

Carbon-doped titanium dioxide nanopowder has received much attention because of its higher photocatalytic performance, which is practically activated not only by UV, but also by visible light irradiation. In the present study, C-TiO₂ nanopowder was synthesized by droplet injection of solution precursor in a DC-RF hybrid plasma flow system, resulting in higher photocatalytic performance even under visible light irradiation. In-flight C-TiO₂ nanoparticles reacted with the high concentration of carbon in plasma flow and were then deposited on the surfaces of two quartz tubes in the upstream and downstream regions of this system. The collected C-TiO₂ nanopowder contained anatase-rutile mixed-phase TiO₂ and TiC, the contents of which depended on the location of the powder collection, the temperature, and the duration of plasma treatment. Highly functional C-TiO₂ nanopowder collected in the downstream region exhibited a higher degradation rate of methylene blue than that of single-phase anatase TiO₂, even under visible light irradiation, in spite of being TiC.     

Stem Cell Therapy Enhances Motor Activity of Triceps Surae Muscle in Mice with Hereditary Peripheral Neuropathy

Impaired motor and sensory functions are the main features of Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) therapy is one of the possible treatments for this disease. It was assumed that MSCs therapy can improve the contractile properties of the triceps surae (TS) muscles in mice with hereditary peripheral neuropathy. Murine adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (AD-MSCs) were obtained for transplantation into TS muscles of FVB-C-Tg(GFPU)5Nagy/J mice. Three months after AD-MSCs transplantation, animals were subjected to electrophysiological investigations. Parameters of TS muscle tension after intermittent high frequency electrical sciatic nerve stimulations were analyzed. It was found that force of TS muscle tension contraction in animals after AD-MSCs treatment was two-time higher than in untreated mice. Normalized values of force muscle contraction in different phases of electrical stimulation were 0.3 ± 0.01 vs. 0.18 ± 0.01 and 0.26 ± 0.03 vs. 0.13 ± 0.03 for treated and untreated animals, respectively. It is assumed that the two-fold increase in TS muscle strength was caused by stem cell therapy. Apparently, AD-MSCs therapy can promote nerve regeneration and partial restoration of muscle function, and thus can be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of peripheral neuropathies.     

The Mechanism of Mechanochemical Interaction between Amorphous Silicon Dioxide and Pyrocatechol

Silicon - The products of solid-phase mechanochemical interaction between pyrocatechol and silicon dioxide yielding a powdered composite were studied using a number of physicochemical methods. This...     

Direct energy transfer to study the 3D structure of non-native proteins: AGH complex in molten globule state of apomyoglobin

The direct energy transfer technique was modified and appliedto probe the relative localization of apomyoglobin A-, G- andH-helixes, which are partly protected from deuterium exchangein the equilibrium molten globule state and in the molten globule-likekinetic intermediate. The non-radiative transfer of tryptophanelectronic energy to 3-nitrotyrosine was studied in differentconformational states of apomyoglobin (native, molten globule,unfolded) and interpreted in terms of average distances betweengroups of the protein chain. The experimental data show thatthe distance between the middle of A-helix and the N-terminusof G-helix as well as the distance between the middle of theA-helix and the C-terminus of the H-helix in the molten globulestate are close to those in the native state. This is a strongargument in favor of similarity of the overall architectureof the molten globule and native states.     

Hydrothermal transformations of organic matter of low permeability rocks from domanic formation of the romashkino oil field

Abstract

The oil generating potential of Domanic rocks from Dankov–Lebedyan horizon of the Zelenogorsk area of Romashkino oil field was evaluated by Rock-Eval pyrolysis technique. The result of given method depends on the content, composition, and thermal stability of organic matter in rocks. During hydrothermal processes, the distinctive conversion behavior of organic matter at temperatures of 200°С, 250°С, 300°С, and 350°С in CO₂ environment was revealed. The yield of obtained aquathermolysis products and their quality were evaluated. The results of the studies suggest that low-permeability carbonate rocks of the Dankov–Lebedyan horizon contain productive beds with content of C_org 1.89–3.03%, which when developed using thermal methods, can become an additional source of liquid hydrocarbons.     

Aquathermolysis of heavy oil in reservoir conditions with the use of oil-soluble catalysts: part I – changes in composition of saturated hydrocarbons

Abstract

This paper is devoted to the study of aquathermolysis processes of heavy oil produced by CSS technology on Boca de Jaruco oil field. Various catalysts based on cobalt, nickel, iron and copper were used for intensification of in-situ upgrading processes of heavy oil. The first paper in series is presented results of transformation of crude oil and its saturate fraction after thermal treatment with and without catalysts by SARA analysis, MALDI mass-spectrometry, FTIR-spectroscopy and gas chromatography. It is revealed, that catalysts provide more deep conversion of asphaltenes and resins into lighter hydrocarbons. Particularly, for the given heavy oil, catalysts based on iron and nickel organic salts are more effective to reduce the content of high molecular weight components (asphaltenes). Saturates fraction after thermal treatment in presence of the catalysts is enriched with lighter alkanes in comparison to the crude oil treated without catalysts. Obtained results show that crude oil recovered by catalytic aquathermolysis processes will be better quality than the original oil in the place.     

NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF TWO-DIMENSIONAL LAMINAR FLOW AND SOLUTE TRANSPORT IN A CHANNEL WITH SOME SYMMETRIC EXPANSIONS AND CONTRACTIONS

Numerical investigation of two-dimensional (2D) laminar flow and solute transport in a channel with some sudden symmetric expansions and contractions has been performed using the fictitious regions method. This method allows us, instead of solving Navier-Stokes equations in a complex domain, to solve equations with suitably continued coefficients in a rectangle. Stream function-vorticity variables are used in the present paper. Dependence of the flow and solute transport from the dimensions of the channel expansions and contractions is numerically investigated for different values of Reynolds and Péclet numbers using a finite differences method on a relatively fine grid.