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Abstract: To improve the scheduling optimization of mass customization collaborative logistics, a scheduling solution developed based on the novel particle swarm optimization algorithm was proposed. A mathematic model based on scheduling strategy of mass customization logistics was designed. The novel dynamic particle swarm optimization algorithm framework was given. And simulation experiments were done to validate algorithm. Experiment results show that the proposed algorithm effectively improves the scheduling optimization of mass customization collaborative logistics, which has direct applications for Logistics scheduling [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Two ABA-specifically-inducible proteins from rice callus were isolated and purified by precipitation with 65–100% saturated (NH4)2SO4, followed by the DEAE-sepharose, TSK-gel, and two-dimension electrophoresis. Iso-electric points (pI) of the proteins with the same molecular mass (24.5 kD) were 6.1 and 6.9, respectively. The Western blot analysis indicated that the proteins expressed in different tissues were obviously different. The A1 (pI 6.1) protein was only detected in calli treated with ABA and seed embryos (SE). However, the A2 (pI 6.9) protein was found not only in the calli treated with ABA and SE, but also in the white dry callus. Thus it suggested that the two proteins might play some important roles in the processes of seed embryo (or somatic embryo) formation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Nymphaea stellata willd. flowers (NSF) are used as a traditional medicine in India and Nepal to treat diabetic disease. Different works have demonstrated that NSF extract showed antihyperglycemic effect on alloxan-induced diabetic rats. In the present work we evaluated in vitro intestinal α-glucosidase inhibition as the possible mode of action of NSF extract on suppressing postprandial hyperglycemia for curing diabetic mellitus. In addition, NSF extract was studied to assess its possible acute oral toxicity and genotoxicity. Materials and methods: Rat intestinal crude enzyme preparation and Caco-2 monolayer were used to evaluate α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of NSF extract. The main α-glucosidase inhibitors were detected by HPLC. For acute toxicity test, NSF extract was administered at doses of 2000, 5000 and 10,000mg/kg body to three groups of 10 ICR mice each, and then clinical symptoms including mortality, clinical sign and gross findings were observed once a day for 14 days. In Ames test, histidine-dependent auxotrophic mutants of Salmonella typhimurium (strains TA97, TA98, TA100, TA102 and TA1535) were used and incubated in the presence and absence of S9 metabolic activation using NSF extract with concentrations of 150–5000μg/plate. The chromosome aberration test was conducted with Chinese hamster lung (CHL) cells treated with NSF extract at doses of 150–5000μg/ml in the presence and absence of S9 metabolic activation. In the in vivo mouse micronucleus assay, 9-week-old male and female ICR mice (n =90, 25–30g) were administered daily by oral gavage at doses of 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0g/kg body for 1 or 2 days. Bone marrow smears were prepared from each treatment group 24h after last administration and then polychromatic erythrocytes (PCEs) and normochromatic erythrocytes (NCEs) were identified. Results: NSF extract showed potent rat intestinal α-glucosidase inhibitory activity for maltose hydrolysis with ED50 value of 0.1mg/ml. In Caco-2 monolayer, α-glucosidase activity for the maltose hydrolysis was down-regulated by NSF extract at a concentration of 0.05mg/well level, showing 74% inhibition compared to the saline treated control. NSF was rich in phenol contents and the main α-glucosidase inhibitor, 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-d-glucose, was identified together with two phenolic compounds of gallic acid and corilagin. In acute toxicity test, NSF extract did not produce any toxic signs or deaths and the LD50 value of this extract could be greater than 10,000mg/kg body weight. These results of genotoxicity assessment showed that NSF extract did not cause genotoxic effects in Ames test, in the in vitro chromosomal aberration assay and in the in vivo micronucleus assay. Conclusion: The current study shows that the extract from Nymphaea stellata flowers exhibits significant intestinal α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, without showing any acute toxicity or genotoxicity, which may be useful in suppressing postprandial hyperglycemia in diabetics. The results presented here suggest that the use of NSF in folk medicine as a natural antidiabetic treatment could be safe as well as beneficial. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) compounds with good flame-retardant and γ-ray radiation resistant properties were prepared by adding complex flame retardants and phenathrene. The resultant EPDM formulations have a long time to ignition (TTI >46 s), a low peak heat release rate (PHRR~341 kW/m 2 ) and a high limited oxygen index (LOI >30). Effects of γ-ray radiation on the resultant flame-retardant EPDM was investigated. The formulated EPDM is a crosslinking dominated polymer under γ-ray radiation. The γ-ray radiation resistant property of EPDM was enhanced by adding phenanthrene. Elongation at break of EPDM formulated with phenanthrene could retain 91% after being irradiated to 0.3 MGy and still retains 40% elongation even after being irradiated to 0.9 MGy, which is much better the control. It is expected that the formulated flame-retardant and radiation resistant EPDM materials could meet the requirements for use in radiation environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, different contents of graphene oxide (GO) were introduced into poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) to study the effects of GO on crystallization of PBS matrix and the resultant hydrolytic degradation behaviors of the PBS/GO composites. The initial crystalline structures of PBS in the composites were investigated using a polarized optical microscope (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and a wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). The results demonstrated that GO showed nucleation effect for the crystallization of PBS matrix. However, high content of GO also restricted the growth of crystallite, resulting in the decrease of PBS crystallinity and the reduction of crystal size. The hydrophilicity of sample was evaluated by measuring the contact angle of water on the sample surface. The results demonstrated that the presence of GO greatly enhanced the hydrophilicity of the sample. The hydrolytic degradation behavior of sample in alkaline solution was investigated at 37 °C. The results showed that the hydrolytic degradation ability of PBS was greatly enhanced by adding GO. The more the GO in the composites, the higher the hydrolytic degradation ability was. The increased hydrophilicity that enhanced the wettability of sample surface by water, the decreased crystallinity of PBS matrix, and the presence of the defects in the composite, e. g. at the interface between the PBS matrix and GO particles, mainly contributed to the largely enhanced hydrolytic degradation ability of PBS. The microstructure changes during the hydrolytic degradation process were also analyzed. This work provided an alternative way to accelerate the hydrolytic degradation of PBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a part of long-term project aimed at super polyolefin blends, in this work, we report the mechanical reinforcement and phase morphology of the immiscible blends of polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS) achieved by dynamic packing injection molding (DPIM). The shear stress (achieved by DPIM) and interfacial interaction (obtained by using styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) as a compatibilizer) have a great effect on phase morphology thus mechanical properties. The shear-induced morphology with core in the center and oriented zone surrounding the core was observed in the cross-section areas of the samples. The phase inversion was also found to shift towards lower PS content under shear stress, at 70 wt% in the core and 30 wt% in the oriented zone, compared with 80 wt% for static samples (without shear). The tensile strength, tensile modules and impact strength were found largely increase by means of either shear stress or compatibilizer. The PS particle size is greatly reduced with adding of SBS, and the reduced particle size results in greater resistance to deformation, which causes the co-continuous structure at oriented zone change into droplet morphology. The morphology resulting from blending and processing was discussed based on effect of interfacial tension, shear rate, phase viscosity ratio and composition. The observed change of mechanical properties was explained based on the combined effect of phase morphology (droplet-matrix or co-continuous phase) and molecular orientation under shear stress. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]