Study and Development of Superhydrophobic Coatings Based on Silicon Dioxide

Glass Physics and Chemistry - It is found that the chemical composition of the surface cannot fully provide superhydrophobicity, as a combination of a hydrophobic material with an appropriate...     

药物化学教学的几点思考

为培养满足人类社会发展的新药研发人员,掌握药物化学知识非常重要.药物化学是药学类专业的一门核心课程,也是培养创新性新药研发人员的基础课程.关于如何改善药物化学的教学效果,笔者基于当前药物化学教学中存在的问题,从学科整合、教学方式、教师和优化实验等几个方面提出了自己的几点思考,以期提高教学质量.     

Effect of malondialdehyde oxidation on structure and physicochemical properties of amandin

Oil, accounting for 45% of almonds, is easily oxidised and can further induce the protein oxidation to reduce their quality. Structure and physicochemical properties of amandin, the main water-soluble protein in almonds, inducing oxidation by malondialdehyde (MDA) were investigated. The results showed that the content of carbonyl group increased from 5.23 to 33.25 nmol mg⁻¹ of protein with the increase in MDA concentration (P < 0.05). However, the sulphydryl content, surface hydrophobicity, particle size and the absolute value of ζ-potential first increased and then decreased. Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) confirmed that the structure of amandin changed from order to disorder. Fluorescence spectroscopic analysis revealed that mild oxidation (0–0.1 mmol L⁻¹ MDA) exposed hydrophobic groups of the protein. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) suggested that protein oxidation promoted crosslinking between protein molecules. Furthermore, protein oxidation markedly declined the total amino acid content of amandin (P < 0.05). In conclusion, MDA oxidation changed the structure and amino acid content of amandin, and caused the protein aggregate and crosslink through hydrophobic interaction and electrostatic interaction.     

Highly efficient two-stage ring-opening of epichlorohydrin with carboxylic acid in a microreaction system

Ring-opening of epoxides with carboxylic acids has been widely used to prepare many high value intermediates in the polymer and pharmaceutical industries. Most of conventional processes proceeded in batch stirred reactors. As such they always suffer from low productivity and selectivity. Here we developed an advanced technology to perform the ring-opening reaction of epichlorohydrin with neodecanoic acid (NDA) for continuous production of 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl neodecanoate in a more efficient and safer way. A microreaction system where a microreactor connected to a stirred reactor was established. When the conversion of NDA rapidly reaching around 90% in a microreactor at 110°C, the reaction solution was transferred to a stirred reactor at 90°C. This two-stage operating mode can reduce the reaction time and improve the selectivity through free switching of temperature in the consecutive two reactors, thus substantially reducing the consumption of energy and materials.     

Infrared Spectroscopy Study of Composite Materials Based on Nanoporous High-Silica Glasses Activated with Silver and Lanthanum Ions

Glass Physics and Chemistry - Composite materials (CMs) activated by silver and lanthanum ions based on high-silica porous glass (PG) matrices have been synthesized. The CMs were studied by IR...     

Investigation on La3+ and Dy3+ co-doped ceria ceramics with an optimized average atomic number of dopants for electrolytes in IT-SOFCs

In the present study, we investigate the fundamental properties of CeO₂ by selecting La³⁺ (57), and Dy³⁺ (66) as dopants with optimized average atomic number of 61.5, which lies in between Pm³⁺ (62) and Sm³⁺ (62) in accordance with the criteria for optimum doping. A system of co-doped ceria ceramics Ce_1–x–yLa_xDy_yO_2-δ ((x, y) = (0.00, 0.00), (0.025, 0.025), (0.05, 0.05), (0.075, 0.075), (0.10, 0.10), (0.00, 0.20) and (0.20, 0.00)) as electrolytes for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells were successfully prepared by a well-known sol-gel auto-combustion route. In order to obtain dense samples, the prepared pellets were sintered in air at 1300 °C for 4 h using conventional furnace and relative densities of all the samples were found to be higher than 95%. Single phase cubic structure, microstructural density and elemental composition analysis of all the samples were studied by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive spectroscopy techniques, respectively. Raman spectroscopy analysis confirmed the formation of concentrated O^2-–vacancies in the co-doped ceria system. Impedance spectroscopy measurements revealed the high value of total ionic conductivity and low activation energy for the composition Ce_0.85La_0.075Dy_0.075O_2?δ i.e., 2.08 × 10^–2 S cm^–1 and 0.58 eV, respectively. Linear thermal expansion analyses of all the samples revealed the matched thermal expansion coefficients. Finally, these results recommend that the Ce_0.85La_0.075Dy_0.075O_2?δ sample can be useful as a solid electrolyte in IT-SOFC applications.     

Diffusional Boriding of Subeutectoidal Tool Steels: Technology and Outcome

Structural, subeutectoidal structural, and tool steels are studied. Their boriding is considered. Equipment for electrolytic boriding and a modernized high-temperature casting crucible are presented. The conditions of electrolytic boriding are established. Shortcomings of electrolytic boriding are noted.     

Strain Field Analysis in Electronic Components by ESPI: Bad Thermal Contact and Damage Evaluation

Designing electronic components and devices is a complex task that must include also considerations about thermo-mechanical behavior of the component itself. This aspect, in fact, can affect the reliability of the device as a consequence of the thermal stresses that are introduced in the component while it is working. Stress concentration can arise, in fact, due to different thermal expansion coefficients of the materials involved. Determining the thermo-mechanical response by numerically methods is not simple and not always possible so that experimental methods are preferable. In this paper, specifically, the electronic speckle pattern interferometry technique was adopted to measure full-field strain of the component during exercise. By using an optical technique it is possible to get information about the behavior of the component without being in contact with the component itself so that the dissipation coefficient is not altered. The system was able to detect gradients of deformation in the component itself connected to the different distribution of internal current in the component. Moreover, it was observed, that the presence of bad thermal contact between the package and the heat sink can be revealed because it results in a different thermos-mechanical behavior of the component. Finally, a critical defect was introduced in the component and it was observed the way the presence of damage affects the in-plane displacement of the component. Very huge differences were observed leading to the consideration that this kind of approach could be conveniently adopted also as a damage detection tool.     

Non-Coding RNA-Driven Regulation of rRNA Biogenesis

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) biogenesis takes place in the nucleolus, the most prominent condensate of the eukaryotic nucleus. The proper assembly and integrity of the nucleolus reflects the accurate synthesis and processing of rRNAs which in turn, as major components of ribosomes, ensure the uninterrupted flow of the genetic information during translation. Therefore, the abundant production of rRNAs in a precisely functional nucleolus is of outmost importance for the cell viability and requires the concerted action of essential enzymes, associated factors and epigenetic marks. The coordination and regulation of such an elaborate process depends on not only protein factors, but also on numerous regulatory non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). Herein, we focus on RNA-mediated mechanisms that control the synthesis, processing and modification of rRNAs in mammals. We highlight the significance of regulatory ncRNAs in rRNA biogenesis and the maintenance of the nucleolar morphology, as well as their role in human diseases and as novel druggable molecular targets.