The effect of the N-linked glycans on structural features and physicochemical functions of soybean β-conglycinin homotrimers

β-Conglycinin is a trimeric protein consisting of three subunits, α,α′,and β, which are N-glycosylated. The α and α′ subunits contain extension regions in addition to core regions common to all subunits. We purified homogeneous trimers consisting of only α, α′, or β from mutant soybean cultivars containing β-conglycinin lacking one or two subunits: α homotrimers from an α′-lacking mutant, α′ homotrimers from an α-lacking mutant, and β homotrimers from an α-and α′-lacking mutant. Structural features and physicochemical functions of the three homotrimers were examined and compared with those of recombinant homotrimers having no N-linked glycans. The native homotrimers have secondary structures very similar to those of the recombinant ones. In analogy with the recombinant homotrimers, the native ones exhibit different thermal stabilities from one another (β>α′>α), and the native α and α′ homotrimers exhibit better solubility, emulsifying ability, and heat-induced association than the native β homotrimer. Further, the N-linked glycans contribute to solubilities of the three subunits at low ionic strength (μ=0.08) and to the emulsifying ability of the native β homotrimer. N-Linked glycans also prevent heat-induced associations of the native α and α′ homotrimers but do not contribute to the secondary structure and the thermal stability of β-conglycinin.     

Thermoplastic olefin/clay nanocomposites: Morphology and mechanical properties

Thermoplastic olefin (TPO)/clay nanocomposites were made with clay loadings of 0.6–6.7 wt %. The morphology of these TPO/clay nanocomposites was investigated with atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X‐ray diffraction. The ethylene–propylene rubber (EPR) particle morphology in the TPO underwent progressive particle breakup and decreased in particle size as the clay loading increased from 0.6 to 5.6 wt %. TEM micrographs showed that the clay platelets preferentially segregated to the rubber–particle interface. The breakup of the EPR particles was suspected to be due to the increasing melt viscosity observed as the clay loading increased or to the accompanying chemical modifiers of the clay, acting as interfacial agents and reducing the interfacial tension with a concomitant reduction in the particle size. The flexural modulus of the injection moldings increased monotonically as the clay loading increased. The unnotched (Izod) impact strength was substantially increased or maintained, whereas the notched (Izod) impact strength decreased modestly as the clay loading increased. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 928–936, 2004     

The Effect of Moisture Content in Epoxy Film Adhesives on their Performance. III: Bulk Properties

Humidity absorbed by epoxy film adhesives during low temperature storage or exposure to atmosphere may result in reversible changes and irreversible modifications. Vacuum treatment may partially remedy the reversible changes. The consequences of vacuum drying are manifested in enhancement of both the peel and shear properties of bonded joints (Part I and Part II of this series of papers) and the thermal, physical and mechanical properties of the bulk adhesive, characterized in the present study.

Experimental results have shown that the bulk properties of structural epoxy based adhesives are highly correlated with the aging processes caused by water absorption in the prepolymerized adhesive. Applying the vacuum process is harmful to fresh unaged adhesive due to devolatization of low molecular species of the film adhesive.

The characterization of bulk properties for the purpose of following the aging and recovery processes is advantageous, since the bulk is independent of geometrical and interfacial effects which dominate in the case of property evaluation of the adhesive in a bonded joint.     

Heat Induced Structure Modifications in Polymer‐Layered Silicate Nanocomposites

Summary: The success of the use of layered silicates in polymer nanocomposites, to improve physical and chemical properties is strictly related to a deeper knowledge of the mechanistic aspects on which the final features are grounded. This work shows the temperature induced structural rearrangements of nanocomposites based on poly[ethylene‐co‐(vinyl acetate)] (EVA) intercalated‐organomodified clay (at 3–30 wt.‐% silicate addition) which occur in the range between 75 and 350 °C. In situ high temperature X‐ray diffraction (HT‐XRD) studies have been performed under both nitrogen and air to monitor the modifications of the nanocomposite structure at increasing temperatures under inert/oxidative atmosphere. Heating between 75 and 225 °C, under nitrogen or air, causes the layered silicate to migrate towards the nanocomposite surface and to increase its interlayer distance. The degradation of both the clay organomodifier and the VA units of the EVA polymer seems to play a key role in driving the evolution of the silicate phase in the low temperature range. The structural modifications of the nanocomposites in the high temperature range (250–350 °C), depended on the atmosphere, either inert or oxidizing, in which the samples were heated. Heating under nitrogen led to deintercalation and thus a decrease of the silicate interlayer space, whereas exfoliation was the main process under air leading to an increase of the silicate interlayer space.

Heat induced structural modification of EVA‐clay nanocomposite under nitrogen and air.     

建筑结构粘结剂的研究进展

在综合分析国内外文献的基础上,本文简述了粘结剂的发展历史,它在建筑业中的应用现状及在现代建筑业中的地位;研究了建筑结构粘结剂的主要性能指标,粘结剂连接的优点和主要技术检验指标等.此外,对目前广受关注的粘结剂耐久性研究的试验方法做了总结,列举了最新研究进展.在此基础上,指出了目前研究的不足,提出了对研究方向的建议.     

Bulk and Interphase Effects in Aged Structural Joints

Although structural adhesives are becoming widespread in numerous applications, one important limitation at present is the long term behaviour of bonded assemblies under conditions of high humidity, especially at elevated temperatures. This study presents a comparison between bulk properties of a structural epoxy resin and its behaviour in a torsional joint consisting of a hollowed-out cylinder bonded to a plate—both substrates being in stainless steel. Exposure to ca. 100% relative humidity at 70°C leads to modification of the bulk properties of the polymer, notably reduction of its elastic modulus. Although this may explain some differences in behaviour of the torsional joint, premature failure is attributed to weaknesses in the interphase zone.

Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) has been employed to investigate both unbonded steel surfaces and fracture zones. Although prolonged exposure to water leads to a more extensive degree of (apparently) adhesive failure at the interface polymer/metal, AES has shown the presence of non-negligible quantities of carbon, attributed to residual polymer. Failure would seem to occur, at least partly, in a weak interphase of the polymer, near, but not at, the interface.

Various possible causes are evoked. For dry failure, residual polymer may be due to the topography of the metal surface and/or local modification of the adhesive during cure. In the case of aged joints, in addition there are potential effects due to swelling and differential stresses, secondary bond failure and molecular chain scission within the polymer, all provoked by the presence of water.     

A force control high-order single-step-β method (HSM) for substructure pseudo-dynamic testing

This paper proposes a new technique which introduces the high-order single-step-β method(HSM)into the experimental study on the substructure pseudo-dynamic testing(SPDT).The technique is based on the proposed concept of equivalent shear stiffness which can meet the requirement of the HSM algorithm.A study is done to theoretically validate the technique by the numerical analysis of two-storey shear building structure,in comparison of the proposed substructure pseudo-dynamic testing algorithm with the central difference method(CDM).Then,a full-scale SPDT model,the three-storey frame-supported reinforced concrete short-limb masonry shear wall structure,is designed and tested to simulate the seismic response of the corresponding six-storey structure and verify the proposed force control HSM technique.Meanwhile,the techniques of both stiffness correction and force control are suggested to control algorithmic error,control error and measurement error.The results indicate that the force control HSM can be used in the full-scale multi-degree-of-freedom(MDOF)substructure pseudo-dynamic testing before descent segment of structure restoring force properties.     

Application of structural curvature of coalbed floor on CBM development in the Zaoyuan block of the southern Qinshui Basin

Based on controls of structural style and the position in coalbed methane(CBM)development,we used a method of curvatures to study its relations with CBM development parameters.We calculated structural curvatures of contours of the No.3coal seam floor of the Shanxi Formation in the Zaoyuan block of the Qinshui Basin and analyzed its relations with development parameters of coalbed methane wells.The results show that structural curvature is negatively related to coal reservoir pressure,while positively related to permeability.With an increase in structural curvature,the average production of coalbed methane wells increases at first and then decreases,reaching the highest production at 0.02 m-1 of structural curvature.Therefore,structural curvature can be an important index for potential evaluation of coalbed methane development and provide a basis for siting coalbed methane wells.     

飞龙岛大桥主墩承台钢吊箱施工技术

以赣州飞龙岛大桥钢吊箱施工工程为例,论述了主墩承台采用有底钢吊箱施工技术及吊箱的构造特点,并建立计算模型对吊箱结构进行相应分析．     

考虑品牌影响的建筑企业顾客满意度模型

根据建筑施工项目的特征提出一个考虑品牌影响的建筑施工企业顾客满意度理论模型。在收集建筑施工企业顾客样本数据的基础上,利用结构方程模型软件对理论模型作了检验。研究结果表明：企业品牌对顾客满意度和顾客忠诚度均具有显著性影响;顾客感知质量对顾客满意度、顾客感知价值对顾客忠诚度、顾客期望对顾客抱怨、顾客满意度对顾客忠诚度具有显著性的影响;顾客期望对顾客抱怨、顾客满意度对顾客忠诚度有正面影响。研究结论具有较高的精度,模型对目标建筑施工企业顾客满意度和忠诚度有较好的解释力。