Electrochemically deposited polypyrrole films and their characterization

Ionically conductive polypyrrole films have been deposited at 295 K from anhydrous acetonitrile, acetonitrile/H₂O and NaBF₄ aqueous solutions onto platinum, mild steel and stainless steel discs, using cyclic voltammetry, potentiostatic and galvanostatic techniques. Cyclic voltammetry of the polymer films has been studied as a function of water content of the acetonitrile solvent, polypyrrole concentration and potential sweep rate. Potentiostatic growth of thicker (< 30 micron) films on stainless steel allowed free-standing polypyrrole membranes to be produced. Well adherent and conductive films were deposited at constant potential in stirred solutions from acetonitrile electrolytes containing 1% (v/v) of water. The membrane resistivity of the reduced films in 0.5 mol dm^− 3 KCl_(aq) at 295 K was ≈ 1 × 10⁶ Ω cm, while the resistivity of the oxidised membrane was 2700 Ω cm.     

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 在大量科学试验基础上，提出一种金属表面形成金属陶瓷的新工艺方法。该方法具有放电电压低，陶瓷层结构致密与基体冶金结合，适用于多种金属材料等优点。文中利用光学显微镜和扫描电镜（SEM）观察了陶瓷涂层的显微组织，并通过X射线衍射和机械性能试验对其相结构和室温力学性能进行了探讨。结果表明：金属陶瓷涂层的晶粒细小，分布均匀，具有高的硬度及良好的耐磨性。     

Differential Subcellular Distribution of Cytokinins: How Does Membrane Transport Fit into the Big Picture?

Cytokinins are a class of phytohormones, signalling molecules specific to plants. They act as regulators of diverse physiological processes in complex signalling pathways. It is necessary for plants to continuously regulate cytokinin distribution among different organs, tissues, cells, and compartments. Such regulatory mechanisms include cytokinin biosynthesis, metabolic conversions and degradation, as well as cytokinin membrane transport. In our review, we aim to provide a thorough picture of the latter. We begin by summarizing cytokinin structures and physicochemical properties. Then, we revise the elementary thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of cytokinin membrane transport. Next, we review which membrane-bound carrier proteins and protein families recognize cytokinins as their substrates. Namely, we discuss the families of “equilibrative nucleoside transporters” and “purine permeases”, which translocate diverse purine-related compounds, and proteins AtPUP14, AtABCG14, AtAZG1, and AtAZG2, which are specific to cytokinins. We also address long-distance cytokinin transport. Putting all these pieces together, we finally discuss cytokinin distribution as a net result of these processes, diverse in their physicochemical nature but acting together to promote plant fitness.     

Dynamic “Molecular Portraits” of Biomembranes Drawn by Their Lateral Nanoscale Inhomogeneities

To date, it has been reliably shown that the lipid bilayer/water interface can be thoroughly characterized by a sophisticated so-called “dynamic molecular portrait”. The latter reflects a combination of time-dependent surface distributions of various physicochemical properties, inherent in both model lipid bilayers and natural multi-component cell membranes. One of the most important features of biomembranes is their mosaicity, which is expressed in the constant presence of lateral inhomogeneities, the sizes and lifetimes of which vary in a wide range—from 1 to 10³ nm and from 0.1 ns to milliseconds. In addition to the relatively well-studied macroscopic domains (so-called “rafts”), the analysis of micro- and nanoclusters (or domains) that form an instantaneous picture of the distribution of structural, dynamic, hydrophobic, electrical, etc., properties at the membrane-water interface is attracting increasing interest. This is because such nanodomains (NDs) have been proven to be crucial for the proper membrane functioning in cells. Therefore, an understanding with atomistic details the phenomena associated with NDs is required. The present mini-review describes the recent results of experimental and in silico studies of spontaneously formed NDs in lipid membranes. The main attention is paid to the methods of ND detection, characterization of their spatiotemporal parameters, the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of their formation. Biological role of NDs in cell membranes is briefly discussed. Understanding such effects creates the basis for rational design of new prospective drugs, therapeutic approaches, and artificial membrane materials with specified properties.     

Red-Blood-Cell-Membrane-Coated Metal-Drug Nanoparticles for Enhanced Chemotherapy

To overcome high toxicity, low bioavailability and poor water solubility of chemotherapeutics, a variety of drug carriers have been designed. However, most carriers are severely limited by low drug loading capacity and adverse side effects. Here, a new type of metal-drug nanoparticles (MDNs) was designed and synthesized. The MDNs self-assembled with Fe(III) ions and drug molecules through coordination, resulting in nanoparticles with high drug loading. To assist systemic delivery and prolong circulation time, the obtained MDNs were camouflaged with red blood cell (RBCs) membranes (RBCs@Fe-DOX MDNs) to improve their stability and dispersity. The RBCs@Fe-DOX MDNs presented pH-responsive release functionalities, resulting in drug release accelerated in acidic tumor microenvironments. The outstanding in vitro and in vivo antitumor therapeutic outcome was realized by RBCs@Fe-DOX MDNs. This study provides an innovative design guideline for chemotherapy and demonstrates the great capacity of nanomaterials in anticancer treatments.     

Thermal evaluation of the use of porous ceramic plates on ventilated façades—part II: Thermal behavior

The effects of porous ceramic plates on the thermal behavior of ventilated façades were evaluated, and the results are presented herein. Thermal behavior in a ventilated façade of specimens containing 40 wt% of lime mud and a firing temperature of 1100°C was evaluated and compared with a commercial porcelain ceramic tile, which was the reference material. An experimental apparatus was designed to evaluate the thermal performance of the studied ventilated façades. The results revealed that the ventilated façade composed of the studied porous ceramic tiles produced a greater reduction in temperature between the external environmental and the interior of a box representing a building (ΔT5) of 65.7°C, compared with the façade composed of the commercial porcelain ceramic tiles (ΔT5 = 56.0°C) and even the traditional façade (ΔT5 = 49.1°C). Thus, porous ceramic tiles based on byproducts are promising candidates for ventilated façade systems.     

Effects of micro-sized mullite on cristobalite crystallization and properties of silica-based ceramic cores

Silica-based ceramic cores are extensively used in investment casting process, during which they must exhibit sufficient flexural strength and deformation resistance. In this study, micro-sized mullite was used as an additive to silica-based ceramic cores to optimize their high temperature properties. To investigate the effects of micro-sized mullite on cristobalite crystallization, mechanical and thermal properties of silica-based ceramic cores, ceramic cores with different amounts of micro-sized mullite were fabricated. The XRD results showed that additional micro-sized mullite diminished the crystallization of cristobalite at high temperatures, primarily caused by the mullite related compressive stresses on the surface regions of fused silica particles. Three-point bending tests and SEM results showed that micro-sized mullite had a more significant effect on the flexural strength of ceramic cores compared with conventional additives. Particularly, the fracture mechanism of silica-based ceramic cores had been changed from intergranular fracture into a mixed fracture consisting of both intergranular and transgranular fracture. The mechanical and thermal properties of ceramic cores were all reduced slightly as the mullite content exceed 4.6 wt%. Hence, to optimize the properties of silica-based ceramic cores, the micro-sized mullite content should not exceed 4.6 wt%.     

陶瓷/金属钎焊与扩散连接的研究现状

工程陶瓷由于具有优异的综合性能,在许多领域得到广泛应用,但其加工性能差,通常需要与金属组成复合结构.实现陶瓷与金属之间的可靠连接是推进陶瓷材料应用的关键,钎焊和扩散连接被认为是陶瓷/金属连接中较为适合的方法.文中对近年来国内外陶瓷/金属钎焊和扩散连接技术领域的研究现状进行了综述,认为活性金属钎焊和部分瞬间液相连接发展比较成熟,部分瞬间液相连接充分结合了活性钎焊和固相扩散连接两者的优点,将成为未来陶瓷/金属连接的发展方向.