Preparation and characterization of transparent ZnO/epoxy nanocomposites with high-UV shielding efficiency

Transparent ZnO/epoxy nanocomposites with high-UV shielding efficiency were reported in this paper. First, zinc oxide (ZnO) precursor was synthesized via the homogeneous precipitation method and ZnO nanoparticles were then made by calcination of the precursor at different temperature. The structural properties of the as-prepared ZnO nanoparticles were studied in detail using thermogravimetry (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. Transparent ZnO/epoxy nanocomposites were subsequently prepared from transparent epoxy (EP-400) and as-prepared ZnO nanoparticles via in situ polymerization. Optical properties of ZnO/epoxy nanocomposites, namely visible light transparency and UV light shielding efficiency, were studied using an ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometer. The optical properties of the as-obtained nanocomposites were shown to depend on ZnO particle size and content. The nanocomposite containing a very low content (0.07% in weight) of ZnO nanoparticles with an average particle size of 26.7 nm after calcination at 350 °C possessed the most optimal optical properties, namely high-visible light transparency and high-UV light shielding efficiency, that are desirable for many important applications.     

工业化陶瓷超滤膜的表征

以液-液排除法测定工业化陶瓷超滤膜的孔径及孔径分布，比较了两种渗透体系对测定结果的影响；用已知分子量标准物质考察了不同膜的截留行为，获得了各膜的切割分子量值，并分析了截留率与孔径的对应关系，为工业化陶瓷膜的开发提供依据。     

Extraction of penicillin G from simulated media by an emulsion liquid membrane process

The extraction of penicillin G from simulated media was performed by water/oil/water (w/o/w) emulsion liquid membranes (ELMs) and studied under various operational conditions in a batch system. The degree of extraction achieved was between 80% and 95% under specific conditions. A concentration of greater than nine times the initial concentration of penicillin G in the external phase was obtained in the internal phase. The pH of the internal aqueous solution, containing a basic salt, was theoretically calculated on the basis of the amount of penicillin G transported into the internal phase. The calculated results agreed with the experimental data well and were used to select a suitable type and concentration of a basic salt in the internal phase to give a pH within the range 5 to 8 where penicillin G was stable after the termination of extraction. The extraction of penicillin G was successfully performed by the ELM process with sodium carbonate in the internal phase.     

An SS1-SS2 {beta}-barrel structure for the voltage-activated potassium channel

To examine the feasibility of a ß structure for thepore-lining region of the voltage-gated potassium channel, wehave characterized a family of 12 antiparallel ß-barrels.Each is comprised of four identical pairs of ß-strandsorganized with approximate 4-fold symmetry about a channel axis.The Cand N-termini of the ß-strand pairs are assumedto be at the extracellular end of the channel, and each pairis connected by a hairpin turn at the intracellular end of thechannel. The models differ in the residues located in the hairpinturn and in the orientation of the two strands of each pairin the barrel, i.e. whether the C-terminus of a pair is clockwise(CW) or counterclockwise (CCW) from the N-terminus when thechannel is viewed from outside the cell. Following known structureprecedents and potential energy predictions, the barrel is assumedto be right-twisting in all cases. All models have crowded layersof inward-projecting aromatic sidechains near the center ofthe channel which could regulate channel selectivity. The modelswith an odd number of amino acids in the hairpin turn have theadvantage of predicting that F433 points into the barrel, butthe disadvantage that V438 does not. Of these models, two ofthe models are most consistent with the external tetraethylanunonhim(TEA) block data, and of those, one (T439 CCW 3:5) is most consistentwith the internal TEA block data.     

A Silicon–Silica Nanocomposite Material

The synthesis and characterization of a novel silicon–silica nanocomposite material are reported. A self‐assembly method allows the encapsulation of silicon nanoclusters within the channels of a periodic mesoporous silica thin film. The result is the formation of a silicon–silica nanocomposite film with bright, room‐temperature photoluminescence in the visible range, and a nanosecond luminescence lifetime. The properties of the nanocomposite material have been studied by several analytical techniques, which collectively show the existence within the channels of non‐diamondoid‐structure‐type silicon nanoclusters with various hydrogenated silicon sites. It is estimated that the silicon nanoclusters in the silica mesoporous films occupy up to 39 % of the accessible pore volume. The nanocomposite film shows improved resistance to air oxidation compared to crystalline silicon. The high loading and chemical stability to oxidation under ambient conditions are important advantages in terms of the development of silicon‐based light‐emitting diodes from this class of materials.     

Synthesis and properties of polystyrene/graphite nanocomposites

In this paper, graphite/polystyrene nanocomposite is synthesized by in situ polymerization of styrene in a tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution system of potassium (K)-THF-graphite intercalation compound (GIC). K-THF-GIC has proved to initiate polymerization of styrene by the anionic mechanism. Due to the interfacial interaction between the graphite nanolayers and the polymer, the composites exhibit higher glass transition temperature and higher thermal stability when compared to polystyrene. The percolation threshold in the conductivity of the composites is lesser than 8.2 wt% and the dielectric constant can reach as high as 136.     

醋酸纤维素—纤维素增强膜的结构特征和分离性能

本文描述了醋酸纤维素－纤维素大孔增强超滤膜的结构特征一分离性能之间的关系。详细论述了膜材料含量和粘连剂含量及其分子量对膜结构和性能的影响。论述了不同配方铸膜液的膜，其孔径，水通量和截留率随操作压力的变化规律。实验证明这种高强度的ＣＡＣ膜经多次重复使用后，其结构性能保持完好。     

聚乙烯醇膜的阻醇及导电性能(Ⅱ)戊二醛交联聚乙烯醇膜

为提高直接甲醇燃料电池(DMFC)用膜的阻醇性能，采用在渗透蒸发领域广泛使用且具有良好分离效果的聚乙烯醇(PVA)为主要材料，制备了戊二醛(GA)交联PVA膜，考察了此类膜的阻醇及质子导电能力。PVA(GA)膜的阻醇效果较目前在DMFC中广泛使用的Nation膜有显著提高，但其自身不具有质子导电能力，需外加电解质溶液以提高其电导率。     

A study on the interaction between ibuprofen and bilayer lipid membrane

Ibuprofen is a well-known nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, which can interact with lipid membranes. In this paper, the interaction of ibuprofen with bilayer lipid membrane was studied by UV-vis spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and AC impedance spectroscopy. UV-vis spectroscopy data indicated directly that ibuprofen could interact with lipid vesicles. In electrochemical experiments, ibuprofen displayed a biphasic behavior on bilayer lipid membrane supported on a glassy carbon electrode. It could stabilize the lipid membrane in low concentration, while it induced defects formation, even removed off bilayer lipid membrane from the surface of the electrode with increasing concentration. The mechanism about the interaction between ibuprofen and supported bilayer lipid membrane was discussed.     

Crack Development in Individually Quick Frozen Cut and Peel Carrots

ABSTRACT:  Crack development during freezing (CDF) is one of the major challenges in individually quick frozen (IQF) cut and peel carrot processing. The effects of processing and freezer storage on crack development were examined on the cut and peel carrot variety, Sugarsnax. Carrot samples were removed from the major processing steps, the trans-slicer, the shaper, the blancher, and the dryer, and examined for crack development by measuring percentage cracked, crack morphology, total soluble solids, moisture levels, and membrane injury index immediately after processing. These parameters were also examined following 20 wk of standard freezer storage for cut and peels. Approximately 2% of nonprocessed carrots were cracked compared to 45% of carrots after the initial trans-slicing stage. As the processing continued, cracking decreased due to the removal of the outer epidermis to 16% of the finished product. This suggests that CDF was initiated at the 1st processing stage. Crack width and depth were 2.3 and 2.6 mm, respectively, at the trans-slicer stage and decreased to 1.1 and 1.8 mm at the end of the line. It was found that CDF was further exacerbated by freezer storage due to inefficient water removal at the dryer stage. Crack width and depth increased to 1.5 and 3.0 mm after 20 wk for freezer storage. Root size also played a role in CDF, suggesting that larger pieces are more susceptible to crack development. Total soluble solid concentrations did not play a role in crack formation during cut and peel processing.