Lipidomic Analysis of Plasma from Healthy Men and Women Shows Phospholipid Class and Molecular Species Differences between Sexes

The phospholipid composition of lipoproteins is determined by the specificity of hepatic phospholipid biosynthesis. Plasma phospholipid 20:4n-6 and 22:6n-3 concentrations are higher in women than in men. We used this sex difference in a lipidomics analysis of the impact of endocrine factors on the phospholipid class and molecular species composition of fasting plasma from young men and women. Diester species predominated in all lipid classes measured. 20/54 Phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) species were alkyl ester, 15/48 phosphatidylethanolamine (PtdEtn) species were alkyl ester, and 12/48 PtdEtn species were alkenyl ester. There were no significant differences between sexes in the proportions of alkyl PtdCho species. The proportion of alkyl ester PtdEtn species was greater in women than men, while the proportion of alkenyl ester PtdEtn species was greater in men than women. None of the phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) or phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) molecular species contained ether-linked fatty acids. The proportion of PtdCho16:0_22:6, and the proportions of PtdEtn O-16:0_20:4 and PtdEtn O-18:2_20:4 were greater in women than men. There were no sex differences in PtdIns and PtdSer molecular species compositions. These findings show that plasma phospholipids can be modified by sex. Such differences in lipoprotein phospholipid composition could contribute to sexual dimorphism in patterns of health and disease.     

Supporting primary students' learning of fraction conceptual knowledge through digital games

With the advent of mobile technologies, well-designed fraction apps can be used to help children gain fraction knowledge, a challenging topic for both teachers and students. The present pilot study adopted a quasi-experimental design to investigate whether children can learn fraction concepts equally well if half of the lesson time (20 min) is replaced with game-based learning. Keeping the total lesson time (40 min) identical, the control group (N = 33) received traditional instruction, and the experimental group (N = 32) was presented with a blended learning approach spending half of the class time (20 min) playing tablet-based fraction games, where each of the learners had their own tablet. The results suggested that in the posttest, the experimental group achieved similar learning gains to the control group and appear to have achieved better performance in the transfer test than the control group. This paper also discusses the efficiency of game-based learning, the mechanism of how fraction games might enhance learning, and the potential of integrating game-based learning in educational settings.     

Tensile testing and fracture mechanism analysis of polyvinyl alcohol nanofibrous webs

A tensile properties testing study was conducted to understand the influence of thickness, cross-head speed (speed of testing), gauge length (GL; specimen test length), and sample shape on important tensile properties of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofiber webs. The effects of each testing parameter on load at break, extension at break, Young's modulus, and tensile stress–strain curve of PVA nanofiber webs are analyzed. The Welch two sample t-tests show the significant difference among tested data. Using interaction plots, two-way analysis of variance, and margin mean plots, the interaction effects among testing parameters have been analyzed. Of all the factors, cross-head speed, the interaction among GL, and sample thickness (GL: Thickness) and the interaction among GL, testing speed and sample thickness (GL: Speed: Thickness) have significant influence on the tensile properties of PVA nanofiber webs. Moreover, the hypothesized model of mechanism of tensile strain–stress curve of PVA nanofiber webs has been proposed. Based on the model, the tensile strain–stress curve can be split into three stages: linear elastic, partial break up, and complete breakage. This study will provide a better understanding of tensile testing parameters' effects and their interaction effects on the tensile properties of nanowebs.     

Preparation of biaxially textured Ce1-x(Y0.2Zr0.8)xOδ buffer layers on RABiTS NiW tapes by chemical solution deposition

Highly (100)-oriented Ce_1-x(Y_0.2Zr_0.8)_xO_δ (CYZO) films were prepared on biaxially textured NiW substrates by a chemical solution deposition approach using metal inorganic salts as starting materials. It has been found that both the preferential orientation and surface roughness of CYZO films decrease gradually with increasing of the doping percentage of Y³⁺ and Zr⁴⁺ ions. The epitaxial growth relationship of (220)_CYZO//(200)_NiW and [00?l]_CYZO//[001]_NiW was demonstrated by XRD texture measurement as well as atomic resolution STEM observation. XRD, Raman and XPS spectra results indicate that Y³⁺ and Zr⁴⁺ ions were indeed introduced into CeO₂ lattice to substitute Ce⁴⁺ ions and form cubic fluorite CYZO solid solution. Moreover, CeO₂ buffer layer can be endowed a strong enough capability to prevent element diffusion through co-doping of yttrium and zirconium, provided that an optimal doping ratio of them is adopted. This will provide a new approach to fabricating strong-barrier single buffer layer for coated conductor.     

炼油达标污水回用处理试验研究

采用曝气生物滤池、多介质过滤、超滤、反渗透工艺,对炼油达标外排污水进行回用处理中试试验。结果表明,曝气生物滤池对油、COD和浊度去除效果良好,超滤、反渗透膜化学清洗周期达到 2个月以上,脱盐率稳定在98％以上,产水品质达到回用要求。     

双膦胺镍-甲基铝氧烷体系催化苯乙烯聚合

研究了具有新型结构的双膦胺镍配合物N,N-双(二苯膦基)-对甲氧基苯胺二氯化镍-甲基铝氧烷(PNP-N i-MAO)催化体系对苯乙烯聚合的催化性能,考察了聚合温度、n(A l)∶n(PNP-N i)、PNP-N i的浓度和苯乙烯的浓度对催化活性、苯乙烯转化率、聚苯乙烯相对分子质量及其分布的影响,并用核磁共振和凝胶色谱对聚苯乙烯的结构进行了表征。实验结果表明,在聚合温度25℃、聚合时间1h、n(A l)∶n(PNP-N i)=300、c(苯乙烯)=2.3m ol/L、c(PNP-N i)=0.4mm ol/L、甲苯为溶剂的适宜条件下,苯乙烯的转化率可达95%以上,催化活性达到5×105g/(m ol.h)左右。核磁共振和凝胶色谱表征结果显示,所得聚苯乙烯为无规结构,重均相对分子质量约为1×104,相对分子质量分布Mw/Mn约为2。     

炼油厂碱性污水生物催化氧化预处理工艺研究

在对炼油厂碱性污水水质分析的基础上,提出采用生物催化氧化工艺对碱性污水进行预处理。试验结果表明,在水力停留时间为4 h,曝气量(标准状态)为8 m3／h的条件下,碱性污水的硫化物去除率可达90％以上,出水中的硫化物平均值为15．2 mg/L,CODCR、酚和油的去除率分别为47．5％,44．1％,50．8％,其中CODCR体积负荷为3．85 kg／(m3·d),是传统生化处理的10倍, 达到了污水预处理的目的。