Carbon nanotubes‐filled thermoplastic polyurethane–urea and carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber blend nanocomposites

This article reports the preparation and characterization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)‐filled thermoplastic polyurethane–urea (TPUU) and carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (XNBR) blend nanocomposites. The dispersion of the MWCNTs was carried out using a laboratory two roll mill. Three different loadings, that is, 1, 3, and 5 wt % of the MWCNTs were used. The electron microscopy image analysis proves that the MWCNTs are evenly dispersed along the shear flow direction. Through incorporation of the nanotubes in the blend, the tensile modulus was increased from 9.90 ± 0.5 to 45.30 ± 0.3 MPa, and the tensile strength at break was increased from 25.4 ± 2.5 to 33.0 ± 1.5 MPa. The wide angle X‐ray scattering result showed that the TPUU:XNBR blends were arranged in layered structures. These structures are formed through chemical reactions of ? NH group from urethane and urea with the carboxylic group on XNBR. Furthermore, even at a very low loading, the high degree of nanotubes dispersion results in a significant increase in the electrical percolation threshold. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40341.     

Theranostic Interpolation of Genomic Instability in Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a diverse disease caused by mutations in multiple genes accompanying epigenetic aberrations of hazardous genes and protein pathways, which distress tumor-suppressor genes and the expression of oncogenes. Alteration in any of the several physiological mechanisms such as cell cycle checkpoints, DNA repair machinery, mitotic checkpoints, and telomere maintenance results in genomic instability. Theranostic has the potential to foretell and estimate therapy response, contributing a valuable opportunity to modify the ongoing treatments and has developed new treatment strategies in a personalized manner. “Omics” technologies play a key role while studying genomic instability in breast cancer, and broadly include various aspects of proteomics, genomics, metabolomics, and tumor grading. Certain computational techniques have been designed to facilitate the early diagnosis of cancer and predict disease-specific therapies, which can produce many effective results. Several diverse tools are used to investigate genomic instability and underlying mechanisms. The current review aimed to explore the genomic landscape, tumor heterogeneity, and possible mechanisms of genomic instability involved in initiating breast cancer. We also discuss the implications of computational biology regarding mutational and pathway analyses, identification of prognostic markers, and the development of strategies for precision medicine. We also review different technologies required for the investigation of genomic instability in breast cancer cells, including recent therapeutic and preventive advances in breast cancer.     

Isolation,purification, and antioxidant activities of polysaccharides from Ziziphus Jujuba cv. Muzao

In the present study, crude polysaccharides from Ziziphus Jujuba cv. Muzao were isolated and purified using DEAE cellulose-52 and Sephadex G-100 size-exclusion chromatography; four fractions were collected, namely GZMP-1, GZMP-2, GZMP-3, and GZMP-4. The molecular weights of these four fractions were measured to be 111.2, 95.1, 84.2, and 571.4 kDa, respectively, using high-performance gel permeation chromatography. Gas chromatography analysis of the monosaccharide composition confirmed that GZMP-1 was composed of rhamnose, arabinose, glucose, and galactose. Rhamnose, arabinose, and galactose were the main components present in GZMP-2 and GZMP-3, whereas GZMP-4 was composed of only rhamnose and arabinose. Scanning electron microscopy showed relatively smooth surfaces for GZMP-1 and GZMP-4, whereas GZMP-2 and GZMP-3 had more folds on their surfaces. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses indicated that GZMP-1 and ZMP mainly had α-type glycosidic linkages. The in vitro antioxidant activities of the polysaccharides revealed that jujube polysaccharides exhibit remarkable antioxidant activity, and can scavenge DPPH radical and OH radical in a concentration-dependent manner. The results of this work suggest that polysaccharides from Z. Jujuba cv. Muzao have potential to be used as functional food and in the development of natural antioxidant drug carriers.     

Structure and Microwave Dielectric Behavior of A‐Site‐Doped Sr(1−1.5x)CexTiO3 Ceramics System

The ion valence state, phase composition, microstructure, and microwave dielectric properties of Sr_(1?1.5x)Ce_xTiO₃ (x = 0.1–0.67, SCT) ceramics were systematically investigated. Sr_(1?1.5x)Ce_xTiO₃ ceramics were produced with gradual structural evolution from a cubic to a tetragonal and turned to an orthorhombic structure in the range of 0.1 ≤ x ≤ 0.67. Above a critical Ce proportion (x = 0.4), microstructural changes and normal grain growth initially occurred. On the basis of chemical analysis results, the reduction of Ti⁴⁺ ions was hastened by tetravalent ions (Ce⁴⁺). By contrast, this reduction was inhibited by trivalent ions (Ce³⁺). The observed dielectric behavior was strongly influenced by phase composition, oxygen vacancies (), and defect dipoles, namely, () and (). Temperature stable ceramics sintered at 1350°C for 3 h in air yielded an intermediate value of dielectric constant (ε_r = 40), with the smallest reported value of temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τ_f = +0.9 ppm/°C), and quality factor (Q × f = 5699 GHz) at x = 0.6.     

黏弹性表面活性剂压裂液的研究与应用进展

黏弹性表面活性剂压裂液是以黏弹性表面活性剂为主剂的清洁压裂液。黏弹性表面活性剂压裂液体系具有破胶后无残渣、携砂性好、滤失控制性能好等特点,但随着对环保问题的日益重视及钻井深度的不断增加,丰富黏弹性表面活性剂压裂液体系迫在眉睫。本文介绍了黏弹性表面活性剂压裂液的发展和应用。根据压裂液配方不同,将其分为常规黏弹性表面活性剂压裂液和非常规新型黏弹性表面活性剂压裂液,总结了不同种类的黏弹性表面活性剂压裂液的组成、耐温耐剪切等性能及应用情况。分析表明,降低成本、研制简单的配制工艺是常规黏弹性表面活性剂压裂液的主要发展方向;在油田进行大规模实际应用及得到更完善的体系是非常规新型黏弹性表面活性剂压裂液的主要发展方向。     

Electrospinning of polycaprolactone nanofibers using H2O as benign additive in polycaprolactone/glacial acetic acid solution

Considerable efforts have been devoted to the production of polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibrous structures by electrospinning. However, some toxic solvents have often been used to achieve bead‐free nanofibers. At present, a benign solvent such as glacial acetic acid (GAC) only leads to beaded or microscale fibers. Therefore a study is done to extend the electrospinnability of the PCL/GAC system by the addition of H₂O. The solution properties of conductivity, viscosity, and surface tension were altered by the addition of H₂O, especially increasing the conductivity and viscosity. These properties essential to electrospinning could remain stable for 6 h when the H₂O content was less than or equal to 9 vol %. Then ultrafine PCL fibers with diameters from 188 to 200 nm, 10 times smaller than when dissolved in pure GAC, were electrospun from solutions of PCL with concentrations in the range of 17 to 20 wt % with H₂O content at 9 vol %. Finally, the crystallinity and crystallite size of the resulting fibers were smaller than that of raw PCL pellets. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 45578.     

Effect of expandable graphite and ammonium polyphosphate on the thermal degradation and weathering of intumescent fire-retardant coating

This research aims to study the effect of ammonium polyphosphate and expandable graphite on the intumescent coating formulations (ICF). The coating presented in this research article is based on carbon source expandable graphite (EG), blowing agent melamine, acid source ammonium polyphosphate (APP), epoxy resin as a binder with polyamide amine. The stability of the developed coating was verified at 950°C for 1-hour fire test. The results showed that the coating is stable and well bond with the steel substrate. The char was characterized by using FESEM, XRD, FTIR, DTA, TGA, XPS, Py-GCMS and Weathering Test. The morphology of the char was studied by SEM of the coating after furnace fire test. XRD and FTIR show the presence of graphite, borophosphate; boron oxide and sassolite in the residual char. TGA and DTG disclosed that EG improved the residual mass of coating. XPS analysis showed the char residue of IF5-APP-EG contains carbon and oxygen contents 47.50 and 40.70, respectively. Py-GCMS analysis described that the IF5-APP-EG released less gaseous compounds. The weathering test illustrated that's the char expansion of coatings samples was decreased due to the presence of a humid environment and UV light. The IF5-APP-EG showed the maximum char expansion, lower substrate temperature and high residual weight among the studied formulations.