Use of polymers for taste-masking pediatric drug products

Many drugs are bitter and overcoming this bitter taste is a major barrier in developing a successful product, especially for pediatric patients. Approaches to mask taste include changing taste perception, creating a physical barrier to separate the drug from interacting with taste buds, and changing drug solubility. This review is focused on polymers and the different ways these materials are used to achieve taste masking. Attention is given to systems that are easily swallowed, as swallowability is another concern in developing palatable products for pediatrics. Variables that should be considered when selecting a taste-masking approach are also presented.     

An easy and scalable approach to synthesize three-dimensional sandwich-like Si/Polyaniline/Graphene nanoarchitecture anode for lithium ion batteries

A new three-dimensional (3D) sandwich-like Si/Polyaniline/Graphene nanoarchitecture anode for lithium ion batteries (LIBs) is successfully fabricated through an easy approach. In this nanoarchitecture, the in-situ polymerized electronic conductive polyaniline (PAni) hydrogel, acting as “glue”, agglutinates tightly to both the silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) and graphene sheets, forming efficient conductive networks with high elastic modulus and high tensile strength. This mechanically robust nanoarchitecture can endure the great volume change of silicon and retain structural stability during Li-ion insertion/extraction. The electrodes consisting of this 3D sandwich-like Si/Polyaniline/Graphene nanoarchitecture reveal excellent electrochemical performance. The progress made in this work provides an easy and scalable route for preparing Si-based anode materials with high performance for advanced LIBs.     

Co3O4 microtubules derived from a biotemplated method for improved lithium storage performance

A simple and effective biotemplated method is applied to fabricate porous microtubular cobalt oxide by infiltration of cotton fiber with a cobalt nitrate solution, followed by annealing at 500 °C in air. The as-obtained Co₃O₄ have been characterized by: X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), N₂ adsorption and desorption measurements, and thermal analysis (TG). According to these results, the as-prepared Co₃O₄ display a perfect tubular morphology and mesoporous features. The electrochemical performance of the as-obtained sample was studied for use as a lithium-ion battery anode material by cyclic voltammetry (CV), and charge-discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (ESI) measurements. Compared to bulk Co₃O₄ and previously reported nanostructured Co₃O₄ electrodes, mesoporous microtubular Co₃O₄ show an improved lithium storage properties, which can be attributed to their unique morphology, large specific surface area and mesoporous feature.     

海洋工程应用水下涂装防污涂料的研究

将叠氮基团接枝到环氧树脂上以提高环氧树脂的湿态附着强度,然后将其与环氧树脂618按不同比例复配制备成水下涂装防污涂料,并对涂料的附着强度、铜离子渗出率及海洋防污性能进行研究。研究表明,随着叠氮化环氧树脂用量的增加,水下防污涂层的附着强度先升高后降低;铜离子渗透出率测定和实海浸泡表明该水下涂装防污涂料具有一定的防污性能。     

Preparation of bismuth nanowire encased in quartz template for Hall measurements using focused ion beam processing

ABSTRACT: Forming electrodes on opposite sides of an individual bismuth nanowire was attempted to prepare for Hall measurements. Although a 1-mm-long bismuth nanowire which is completely covered with a quartz template has been successfully fabricated to prevent oxidation, it is very difficult to attach Hall electrodes on the opposite sides of the nanowire due to the quartz covering. One side of the cylindrical quartz template was removed by polishing without exposure of the nanowire to the atmosphere; the thickness between the polished template surface and the nanowire was estimated to be several micrometers. Focused ion beam processing was successfully employed to expose both surfaces of the nanowire under high vacuum by removing part of the quartz template. A carbon thin film was then deposited in situ on the wire surface to fabricate an electrical contact on the bismuth nanowire sample. Furthermore, the energy dispersive X-ray analysis was performed to the area processed by focused ion beam, and the bismuth component of the nanowire was successfully detected. It was confirmed that the focused ion beam processing was applicable to attach electrodes to bismuth nanowire for Hall measurement.     

Oxygen influenced intergranular crack propagation: analysing microstructure and chemistry in the crack tip region

Abstract

Ni-base superalloys have for decades been studied with regard to environmentally influenced intergranular crack propagation. For high temperature fatigue frequencies <0.1 Hz, it has been shown that an oxygen-rich environment promotes time-dependent crack growth while at >0.1 Hz and/or in inert environments (e.g. vacuum) crack growth is cycle dependent. Oxygen interaction at, or ahead of, the crack tip has been pointed out as the reason for the degraded mechanical properties. While many aspects of this type of crack growth have been previously investigated there is still no consensus about the detailed mechanisms, mainly due to the lack of in-detail investigations of the crack-tip region.

Here, crack tip regions in the Ni-base superalloy Alloy 718 were studied. Specimens were subjected to 90 s hold-times at 550°C and 650°C. Crack growth was arrested before final fracture, allowing cross-sectional analyses of the crack-tip region using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Detailed studies of the crack-tip region were performed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atom probe tomography (APT). For both APT and TEM samples, site-specific focussed ion beam (FIB) sample preparation was performed in a combined FIB-SEM system. The methodology of accessing and analysing the crack tip region is shown. Initial results on oxidation, oxygen penetration and plastic deformation are shown and discussed.     

Chain Dechlorination of Organic Chlorinated Compounds in Alcohol Solutions by 60Co γ-Rays, (III)

Chlorinated benzenes dissolved in deoxygenated alkaline 2-propanol were dechlorinated by irradiating with ⁶⁰Co γ-rays to produce the lower chlorinated benzenes and chloride ion. The yield of dechlorination was found to depend on the number of chlorine atoms on the benzene ring, the G (CI^?)-values being, for instance, 6,500, 480 and 2.0 for 0.07 M penta-chlorobenzene, 1, 2, 4-trichlorobenzene, and monochlorobenzene, respectively, in 0.2 M KOH-2-propanol solution. In contrast, the values of G(C1^?) differed little between the isomers of trichlorobenzene. The large difference in G (CI^?) according to the number of chlorine atoms can be explained by considering the redox potential of the chlorinated benzenes and the ketyl radical ion.

Trichlorobenzene is dechlorinated to dichlorobenzene and then to monochlorobenzene while producing potassium chloride and acetone, and consuming hydroxide ion. In the experiment, some chlorinated benzene derivatives were observed to be generated in the course of this process—probably dichlorophenyl-2-propanol and monochlorophenyl-2-propanol, judging from observation by gaschromatograph-mass spectrometer and from the path-way of formation. The observation also indicated the presence of dichlorophenyl-2-propanol in predominant amounts in 1, 3, 5-trichlorobenzene solution, but only in a small fraction in 1, 2, 3-trichlorobenzene.     

Development of a Compact and User-friendly Ion Irradiation System Controlled Remotely through the Internet

A compact and user-friendly ion irradiation system controlled remotely through the Internet was developed for the execution of collaboration experiments together with researchers at remote sites. Several hardware instruments and software programs were constructed and provided for the remote control of the system and for its connection to the Internet. Surface modification and analysis experiments with this system were remotely performed through the Internet. It was confirmed from the experiments that the present ion irradiation system was precisely controlled through the Internet and could be easily and safely used for the surface modification and analysis, that the normal communication speed of around 10Mbps for the Internet was fast enough for the execution of such typical remote-controlled experiments, and also that an access to the system by a mobile phone was convenient and useful enough to check the condition of the system and experimental data.     

Flexible sodium‐ion supercapacitor based on polypyrrole/carbon electrode by use of harmless aqueous electrolyte for wearable devices

With the emergence of various wearable devices, supercapacitors have gained immense attention because of their fast response rates. However, most supercapacitors use hazardous electrolyte materials, such as H₂SO₄, KOH, and acetonitrile. Leakage of these types of electrolytes during use would be very harmful to human skin. Therefore, a supercapacitor that does not employ hazardous materials is an attractive option for use in the energy‐storage components of wearable devices. Herein, we successfully demonstrate a Na‐ion supercapacitor (NISC) with a polypyrrole/carbon‐coated heat‐treated carbon felt electrode and an aqueous 0.4 M NaCl electrolyte, which is not harmful. Furthermore, our NISC with polypyrrole/carbon‐coated heat‐treated carbon felt exhibits a high specific capacitance (31.09 F g^?1) and a fast response rate (chargeable at 0.5‐s intervals). The proposed NISC with no harmful materials in the electrolyte has an excellent response rate. It will establish useful guidelines for the energy‐storage components in wearable devices Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Degradation mechanisms in Li‐ion batteries: a state‐of‐the‐art review

One of the most prominent energy storage technologies which are under continuous development, especially for mobile applications, is the Li‐ion batteries due to their superior gravimetric and volumetric energy density. However, limited cycle life of Li‐ion batteries inhibits their extended use in stationary energy storage applications. To enable wider market penetration of Li‐ion batteries, detailed understanding of the degradation mechanisms is required. A typical Li‐ion battery comprised of an active material, binder, separator, current collector, and electrolyte, and the interaction between these components plays a critical role in successful operation of such batteries. Degradation of Li‐ion batteries can have both chemical and mechanical origins and manifests itself by capacity loss, power fading or both. Mechanical degradation mechanisms are associated with the volume changes and stress generated during repetitive intercalation of Li ions into the active material, whereas chemical degradation mechanisms are associated with the parasitic side reactions such as solid electrolyte interphase formation, electrolyte decomposition/reduction and active material dissolution. In this study, the main degradation mechanisms in Li‐ion batteries are reviewed. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.