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In recent years, with the continuous evolution of the global economy and the adjustment of industrial structures, the understanding of the role played by human capital in the process of economic development has become particularly important. However, existing research on the impact of human capital on economic growth often adopts traditional regression methods, failing to comprehensively consider the heterogeneity and nonlinear relationships in the data. Therefore, to more accurately understand the influence of human capital on economic growth at different stages, this study employs Bayesian quantile regression method (BQRM). By incorporating BQRM, a better capture of the dynamic effects of human capital in the process of industrial structure upgrading is achieved, offering policymakers more targeted and effective policy recommendations to drive the economy towards a more sustainable direction. Additionally, the experiment also examines the impact of other key factors such as technological progress, capital investment, and labor market conditions on economic growth. These factors, combined with human capital, collectively promote the upgrading of industrial structure and the sustainable development of the economy. This study, by introducing BQRM, aims to fill the research gap regarding the impact of human capital on economic development during the industrial structural upgrading process. In the backdrop of the ongoing evolution of the global economy and adjustments in industrial structure, understanding the role of human capital in economic development becomes particularly crucial. To better comprehend the direct impact of human capital, the experiment collected macroeconomic data, including GDP, industrial structure, labor skills, and human capital, from different regions over the past 20 years. By establishing a dynamic panel data model, this study delves into the trends in the impact of human capital at various stages of industrial structure upgrading. The research findings indicate that during the high-speed growth phase, the contribution of human capital to GDP growth is 15.2% ± 2.1%, rising to 23.8% ± 3.4% during the period of industrial structure adjustment. Technological progress, capital investment, and labor market conditions also significantly influence economic growth at different stages. In terms of innovation improvement, this study pioneers the use of BQRM to gain a deeper understanding of the role of human capital in economic development, providing more targeted and effective policy recommendations. Ultimately, to promote sustainable economic development, the experiment proposes concrete and targeted policy recommendations, emphasizing government support in training and skill development. This study not only fills a research gap in the relevant field but also provides substantive references for decision-makers, driving the economy towards a more sustainable direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The FeCoCrNiMn high-entropy alloy coating reinforced with WC particles was fabricated on 45# steel using plasma surfacing technique. A comprehensive characterization was conducted to investigate the friction and wear behavior of the coating at various temperatures. Results demonstrated that this coating exhibited exceptional wear resistance at room temperature (RT). However, it experienced slight decomposition of WC particles and oxidation corrosion at 400 °C, resulting in a degradation of its wear resistance. The WC decomposition and oxidation corrosion were aggravated at 600 °C, inducing a stronger oxidation corrosion wear effect, and thus led to a more severe wear of this coating. However, these oxidation products provided considerable lubrication effect resulting in a continuous decrease in friction coefficient, from 0.49 at RT to 0.44 at 400 °C, and reached a lower value of 0.16 at 600 °C. The potential oxidation corrosion wear and lubricating mechanisms of this coating at evaluated temperatures were discussed systematically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The special mechanical properties of cemented carbide with many excellent properties such as high modulus of elasticity, hardness, and strength will cause complex stress distribution due to excessive force and heat in the process of precision manufacturing, which will affect precision retention and endurance limit. Given excessive force and heat distribution and the conflict between brittleness and strength, ultrasonic elliptical vibration turning (UEVT) technique has become an irreplaceable method to machining cemented carbide. However, the addition of elliptical vibration changes the force and heat during cutting, which makes the influence on the residual stress of cemented carbide complicated. Therefore, based on the kinematic characteristics of turning carbide endface, an equivalent three-dimensional simulation model of thermo-mechanical coupling is established. It is found that the simulation models can predict residual stress with high accuracy. Ultrasonic-assisted vibration machining can effectively improve surface residual stresses, thus improving the quality of the machined surface. With the increase of cutting velocity, the duty ratio of cutting increases, and the surface residual stress has a decreasing trend; with the increase of ultrasonic amplitude, the duty ratio of cutting decreases, and the residual stress on the surface tends to increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) can promote tumor progression. This study aimed to investigate the molecular signature that predict the prognosis and immune response of breast cancer (BRCA) based on TAN-related gene (TANRG) expression data. The RNA-seq data of BRCA were gathered from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and gene expression omnibus (GEO) datasets. Univariate Cox regression analysis and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator for selecting prognostic genes. A neo-TAN-related risk signature was constructed by multivariate Cox regression analysis. Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses and Kaplan–Meier analyses were performed to validate the signature in GEO cohorts and the triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtype. We constructed an independent prognostic factor model with 11 TANRGs. The areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) of the TCGA training cohorts for 3-, 5-, and 7-year overall survival were 0.72, 0.73, and 0.73, respectively. The AUCs of the GEO test cohorts for 3-, 5-, and 7-year overall survival were 0.83, 0.89, and 0.94 (GSE25066) and 0.67, 0.69, and 0.73 (GSE58812), respectively. The proportion of immune subtypes differed among the different risk groups. The IC50 values differed significantly between risk groups and can be used as a guide for systemic therapy. The prognostic model developed by TANRGs has excellent predictive performance in BRCA patients. In addition, this feature is closely related to the prediction of survival, immune activity and treatment response in BRCA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photosynthetic fermentation for hydrogen production can convert some organic compounds into hydrogen, thus realizing the dual benefits of waste utilization and energy production. However, the low H 2 production rate is currently a major constraint restricting its further development. ATP synthesis during photophosphorylation could be a key factor on hydrogen production. In this work, the vector pRK415 and three endogenous promoters P pufQ , P pucB and P phaC were used to optimize the expression intensity of the fbcFBC gene, which encodes cytochrome bc 1 , a key protein in the photosynthetic electron transport chain. The effect of fbcFBC expression level on the hydrogen production performance of R. sphaeroides HY01 and its hydrogenase gene deletion mutant strain WH04 was studied. The hydrogen yields of pRKfbc/HY01 and pRKfbc/WH04 increased by 15.5% and 5.1% compared with the control. Substitutions of the fbcFBC promoter with promoters P pufQ , P pucB and P phaC , the transcription level of fbcFBC and ATP content were significantly improved. In particular, the transcription level of fbcFBC and ATP content in WHpuc were respectively increased by 734% and 57.0% compared with that in WH04. The results demonstrate that Cyt bc 1 is a limiting factor affecting ATP synthesis in the process of photo-fermentative hydrogen production. The mutants overexpressing fbcFBC are more efficient in hydrogen production than the naturally isolated strains under the medium light intensity of 5000 lux. [Display omitted] • fbcFBC gene can be overexpressed by the overexpression vector pRK415. • fbcFBC gene was overexpressed by inserting promoters P pufQ , P pucB and P phaC. • Overexpressing fbcFBC raised photosynthetic electron transport and ATP synthesis. • Overexpression of fbcFBC promoted hydrogen production in photosynthetic bacteria. • Overexpression of fbcFBC had the optimal value for hydrogen production promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Temperature is the main driver of growth reactivation in plants of extratropical regions. Accumulations of chilling and forcing units during dormancy co‐regulate spring phenology. Here, we aimed to answer whether chilling and forcing proceed in parallel or sequentially to regulate spring phenology in temperate trees. Location: Europe. Time Period: 1951–2016. Major Taxa Studied: Nine temperate woody species. Methods: Using long‐term and large‐scale records of in situ leaf unfolding dates of temperate tree species at more than 2300 sites, we analysed the rolling partial correlations between leaf unfolding dates and chilling and forcing in winter and spring using a weekly smoothing window. Through process‐based modelling, we further identified the start of forcing accumulation and the end of chilling accumulation using the Unified model and compared the model efficiency of the Parallel and the Sequential models. Results: We observed negative responses of leaf unfolding dates to accumulations of both chilling and forcing units for most of winter and spring across successional types of species (early‐ and late‐successional taxa), elevations and periods. Using the Unified model, we also found overlapping windows for chilling and forcing accumulations. Moreover, the Parallel model performed better than the Sequential model. These findings suggested that chilling and forcing requirements may be fulfilled simultaneously in temperate trees. Main Conclusions: Our study not only provides a guideline for identifying the effective periods of chilling and forcing, but also a general and robust perspective that accumulations of chilling and forcing act in parallel to regulate spring leaf unfolding in temperate trees, promoting more precise and reasonable predictions of temperature‐driven phenological shifts under future climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Achievement of high strength Al/CFRP hybrid joint via laser texturing pretreatment. • High friction stir joining speed which reached 3000 mm/min. • Establishing evaluation criteria of laser-textured joint: anchorage value. • Analysis including the semi-crystalline property of PA66 and temperature simulation. This paper presents the achievement of a high-strength Al/CFRP hybrid joint through a high-speed friction stir lap joining process, combined with variations in laser surface texturing pretreatment parameters. The study examined the impact of laser surface texturing parameters by varying the depth, interval distance and width of the laser texture. By adjusting laser texturing parameters, the softened PA66 was fully infused into the textured grooves on the aluminum surface, leading to a significant reduction in interfacial voids and cracks in Al/CFRP. The preliminary tensile shear test showed that the hybrid joint broke at the CFRP base material, indicating that the laser texturing exhibited excellent Al/CFRP interface strengthening ability. Further compression shear tests were applied to reveal the actual interfacial load-carrying performance for comparison. The maximum shear strength of 25. 5 − 1.34 + 0.7 MPa was achieved at a joining speed of 3000 mm/min. Additionally, a mathematical model was proposed to assess the strengthening impact of laser texturing parameters, considering micro-texture geometry and interfacial defects. The tearing of PA66, detachment of carbon fibers, and the breakage of carbon fibers were the three primary types of fracture modes identified at the Al/CFRP interface. The joining mechanism revealed that both mechanical interlocking and the chemical bonding of Al-O-C contributed to the increase in joint shear strength. This study presents a credible method for producing high-strength Al/CFRP lightweight structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study revealed the relationship among early-age thixotropic behavior, air-phase microstructure, and fracture properties of the interlayer region in additively manufactured (AM) cementitious materials. Cementitious materials were designed and characterized to possess distinctive rheological properties and were additively manufactured into cementitious specimens. The effects of thixotropy and printing time interval on the volume, size and aspect ratios of air-phase clusters and on their statistical distributions were analyzed comprehensively through three-dimensional micro-computed tomography. Also determined were the effects of thixotropy and printing time interval on the fracture properties of the interlayer regions. Based on the experimental evidence, the underlying mechanisms of how the time-dependent thixotropic behavior of AM cementitious materials impacts interlayer microstructure and fracture properties were discussed. The results shed light on material design strategies, through tailoring the fresh-state thixotropy of AM cementitious materials, to mitigate the sensitivity of their hardened-state properties to printing parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells (OGCs) of pancreas (UCOGCP) is a rare subtype of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), which had poorly described histopathological and clinical features. Methods: In this study, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was used to profile the distinct tumor microenvironment of UCOGCP using samples obtained from one UCOGCP patient and three PDAC patients. Bioinformatic analysis was carried out and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was used to support the findings of bioinformatic analysis. After quality control of the raw data, a total of 18,376 cells were obtained from these four samples for subsequent analysis. These cells were divided into ten main cell types following the Seurat analysis pipeline. Among them, the UCOGCP sample displayed distinct distribution patterns from the rest samples in the epithelial cell, myeloid cell, fibroblast, and endothelial cell clusters. Further analysis supported that the OGCs were generated from stem-cell-like mesenchymal epithelial cells (SMECs). Results: Functional analysis showed that the OGCs cluster was enriched in antigen presentation, immune response, and stem cell differentiation. Gene markers such as LOX, SPERINE1, CD44, and TGFBI were highly expressed in this SMECs cluster which signified poor prognosis. Interestingly, in myeloid cell, fibroblasts, and endothelial cell clusters, UCOGCP contained higher percentage of these cells and unique subclusters, compared with the rest of PDAC samples. Conclusions: Analysis of cell communication depicted that CD74 plays important roles in the formation of the microenvironment of UCOGCP. Our findings illustrated the genesis and function of OGCs, and the tumor microenvironment (TME) of UCOGCP, providing insights for prognosis and treatment strategy for this rare type of pancreatic cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For lightweight applications, the interfacial bonding reliability determines the service life of Ti–6Al–4V titanium alloy (TC4)/carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) joints. Traditional joining methods limit their applications. In this study, a functional Schiff base-contained polymer was successfully synthesized to modify the TC4 surface. The results indicated the directionally induced high-density complexation between the synthesized Schiff base and the titanium atom from the TC4 sheet and the secondary interaction between the synthesized Schiff base-contained polymer and CFRTP matrix occurred, which improved the bonding reliability of the TC4/CFRTP joint. The combination of the high-density secondary interaction and synergistic effect between the functional groups enhanced the interfacial bonding strength by 287 % to 38.73 MPa. This was remarkably higher than the bonding strength improved by 46 % to 14.64 MPa via the introduction of micromolecule Schiff base that consists of same functional groups. The significant enhancement of the interfacial bonding reliability was thus achieved. These results were beneficial to future research to improve the reliability of metal-CFRTP hybrid joints. • A functional Schiff base polymer for engineering application was synthesized. • High-density secondary interactions were directionally induced on bonded interface. • Bonding strength of TC4/CFRTP enhanced by 287% via the novel modification approach. • Interfacial modification mechanism via Schiff base polymer was elucidated. • Secondary interactions and synergistic effect of functional groups were captured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] We demonstrate that the hierarchically porous metal hydroxide/metal–organic framework composite nanoarchitectures exhibit broad-spectrum removal activity for three chemically distinct toxic gases, viz. acid gases, base gases, and nitrogen oxides. A facile and general in-situ hydrolysis strategy combined with gentle ambient pressure drying (APD) was utilized to integrate both Zr(OH) 4 and Ti(OH) 4 with the amino-functionalized MOF-808 xerogel (G808-NH 2). The M(OH) 4 /G808-NH 2 xerogel composites manifested 3D crystalline porous networks and substantially hierarchical porosity, with controllable amounts of amorphous M(OH) 4 nanoparticles residing at the edge of xerogel particles. Microbreakthrough tests were performed under both dry and moist conditions to evaluate the filtration capabilities of the composites against three representative compounds: SO 2 , NH 3 , and NO 2. Compared with the pristine G808-NH 2 xerogel, the incorporation of M(OH) 4 effectively enhanced the broad-spectrum toxic chemical mitigation ability of the material, with the highest SO 2 , NH 3 , and NO 2 breakthrough uptake reaching 74.5, 55.3, and 394.0 mg/g, respectively. Post-breakthrough characterization confirmed the abundant M-OH groups with diverse binding configurations, alongside the unsaturated M (IV) centers on the surface of M(OH) 4 provided extra adsorption sites for irreversible toxic chemical capture besides Van der Waals driven physisorption. The ability to achieve high-capacity adsorption and strong retention for multiple contaminants is of great significance for real-world filtration applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of container throughput and the impact of COVID-19 have made container ports increasingly congested, leading to uncertain cargo transit times and high freight rates. Shipping parties want to know in advance the congestion of each port in the next phase to adjust their plans, but there are few studies involving congestion prediction, and this study hopes to make some additions. Three indicators are extracted from Automatic Identification System (AIS) data to represent the port congestion status for the sake of generalizability. And those indicators are used to predict port congestion status and further to predict container ships' time in port using the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and SHapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP) algorithms. The established models show that those indicators can improve prediction accuracy of port time compared to not considering port status. The findings also show that port congestion status contributes significantly to determining port time and makes it fluctuate by up to nearly 50 hours. The prediction results could help shipping companies to change their transportation schedules early to bypass ports with long waiting times or to arrange ships to enter the port earlier for delivering cargos on schedule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early initiation of chemotherapy could improve overall survival after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). The concept of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), which aims to reduce the stress response to surgery and accelerate recovery, is relatively limited in PD. The aim of the study was to retrospectively analyze the relationships of ERAS with the time of initiation of postoperative chemotherapy and recovery in PD patients. Between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2017, all patients who underwent open PD for malignant tumor at our unit were studied retrospectively. Patients were divided into ERAS and conventional groups. The time to initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. There were 344 consecutive patients in this study, with 203 patients in the ERAS group. There were no significant differences between the ERAS and conventional groups in morbidity, mortality, and readmission. The median time of initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy in the ERAS group (54.1 days) was significantly shorter than that of initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy in the conventional group (67.8 days). The ERAS group had a shorter postoperative length of stay than the conventional group (14.9 vs 19.3 days). The ERAS program is safe and feasible in PD. These protocols improve postoperative recovery and advance the time of initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analytical description of dielectric multipactors requires an accurate physical model. In this article, a nonstationary statistical theory for the analysis of single-surface dielectric multipactors is established by defining an emission-to-emission transition rate and involving all the probability densities related to the emitted secondary electrons. Under the same conditions, the fluctuation of electrons in the evolution process of dielectric multipactors was calculated by the proposed theory and simulated by a commercial particle simulation tool developed based on the Monte Carlo analysis. The calculated results comply well with the simulated ones. Our results also indicated that to obtain an adequate accuracy, at least two random variables, the emission velocity and zenith angle, need to be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The babbitt-steel bimetal sliding bearing material prepared by the MIG brazing has been applied in many fields. In the application, usually only the bonding force is tested, and the fatigue strength is not evaluated. For this reason, this study referred to the test method for the fatigue strength of bearing materials of internal combustion engines, used the sapphire test machine (Dana Glacier Vandervell Bearings, UK) to inspect the SnSb11Cu6 babbitt-steel bimetal material prepared by MIG brazing, and analyzed the test results in depth. The test results show that, the fatigue strength of the bimetal material is more than 40 MPa. In comparison, according to the same test method and conditions on the same sapphire test machine, the fatigue strength of the SnSb11Cu6 babbitt-steel bimetal bearing material obtained by the centrifugal casting method after optimizing process was usually around 35 MPa. Therefore, the MIG brazing could produce higher fatigue strength for SnSb11Cu6 babbitt-steel bimetal bearing material. In addition, in this study, the process of fatigue failure was usually that after the microcracks were generated on the surface, they expanded to the inside of the lining, thereby resulting in spalling. This study has guiding significance for engineering practice and scientific research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The objective of this study is to identify the role of factors influencing women's breast cancer screening (BCS) intentions in Changchun city based on the health belief model (HBM) and the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Methods: A cross‐sectional study of 422 women aged 17–75 years was conducted in Changchun, northern China, in 2018. Data were collected using a questionnaire that included three parts. We used descriptive analysis, correlation analysis and multiple regressions to analyze data in spss version 23.0. Results: Career (P = 0.004), clinical examination (P = 0.002), X‐ray examination (P = 0.026), screening costs accepted (100–300 RMB) (P = 0.001), perceived behavioral benefit (P = 0.000), self‐efficacy (P = 0.000), subjective norms (P = 0.000), behavioral attitudes (P = 0.000) and perceived behavioral control (P = 0.000) had significant associations with BCS intentions. This study tested the applicability of the HBM (adjusted R2 = 4.7%, ΔR2 = 5.6%) and the TPB (adjusted R2 = 8.3%, ΔR2 = 3.8%) in the prediction of BCS intentions. It was found that the predictive power of the integrated model (adjusted R2 = 39%, ΔR2 = 30.8%) is better than that of each of the single models. Therefore, the integrated model has better predictive power. Conclusion: An exploration of the factors affecting BCS intentions based on the HBM and the TPB is beneficial for reduced mortality and the development of measures to increase women's BCS awareness, thus providing a basis for future research on the factors affecting BCS intentions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to study the frictional behaviors of CuAl10Fe3 journal bearings sliding against chromium electroplated 42CrMo shafts and diamond-like carbon-coated 42CrMo shafts, respectively, under two different conditions and to compare the two kinds of friction pairs. Design/methodology/approach: All journal bearing samples underwent 24 h running-in and repeatability verification. Then, the journal bearing friction experiments were carried out under two different conditions. After testing, the torques, friction coefficients, power consumptions and other parameters were obtained. Findings: The pair of CuAl10Fe3 journal bearing and diamond-like carbon–coated shaft could drive greater load to start up than the pair of CuAl10Fe3 journal bearing and chromium electroplated 42CrMo shaft, but it had greater power consumption during the steady running period under the identical condition. With the changing of specific pressure or rotational speed, the friction coefficients had different variations. The frictional oscillations appeared at 32 rotations per minute under heavy loads for both kinds of pairs, the oscillation frequencies were equal to rotational frequency of the test shaft and the oscillation amplitude for diamond-like carbon coating was much greater. Originality/value: These results have guiding significance for practical industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the graphene was prepared by liquid phase exfoliation method, and then through microfluidization technique it was uniformly dispersed into SAE 10W-30 lubricating oil. The lubricating oils without graphene and with four different graphene concentrations were tested twice respectively on a pin-on-disc tribometer under high specific pressure of 10 MPa and low linear velocity of 0.3 m/s. After testing, the scratches on discs were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and three-dimensional (3D) surface metrology system. The oil with 0.05 wt% graphene exhibited the minimum friction coefficient, lowest specific wear rate and slightest scratch. The results illustrated that the graphene dispersed into SAE 10W-30 oil with optimum concentration improved the anti-friction and anti-wear performances. • Graphene was prepared by liquid phase exfoliation method. • Graphene grains contained a low number of defects and did not easily dissolved in oil. Microfluidization technique has been used to homogenize the graphene-composed lubricating oils. • Graphene reduced the surface roughness and partially prevented the direct contact of metal asperities. Moreover, graphene provided much low interlaminar shear stress. • An optimum content of liquid phase exfoliated graphene in SAE 10W-30 was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Despite advanced materials and techniques to reduce the fouling issue of membranes, 10–30% of the cost of ultrafiltration (UF) processes have been spent on membrane cleaning. Particularly in water treatment, the traditional heavy metal-based method is challenged due to its environmental pollution risk and increasing public health awareness. Here, we report the synthesis of a metal-free contact-active antifouling and antimicrobial membrane by covalently functionalizing a commercial polyacrylonitrile (PAN) UF membrane with 2,4-diamino-1,3,5-triazine (DAT) via a one-step catalyst-free hydrothermal [4 + 2] cyclization of dicyandiamide reaction. The proposed mechanism of the antimicrobial activity of the DAT-functionalized membrane is through strong attraction between the DAT groups and the microbial membrane protein via strong hydrogen bonding, leading to microbial membrane disruption and thus microbe death. A high water flux and good reusability of the membrane against protein in a UF experiment were achieved. The low cost, easy availability of the compounds, as well as the facile reaction offer a high potential of the membrane for real applications in ultrafiltration. Highlights • A DNA-mimic group DAT is used as a novel antimicrobial agent. • A DAT-PAN UF membrane is prepared by an easy surface reaction. • The DAT-PAN membrane showed contact-active anti-biofouling. • Novel contact active model of hydrogen bonding is proposed. • High flux recovery ratio is obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Two new PIMs were synthesized and applied for CO 2 capture. • High CO 2 working capacity was obtained. • Good dynamic CO 2 /N 2 mixture separation performance was obtained. • A dissolution-separation-precipitation (DSP) approach was proposed and proved. • Distinguished renewability after fouling. Anthropogenic carbon dioxide emission has been an urgent environmental and climate issue, yet remains a challenge to address. Solid adsorbents are potential candidates for CO 2 capture while their insolubility nature makes the regeneration problematic when fouled. Here we report the synthesis of a thioamide incorporated polymer of intrinsic microporosity, TPIM, which features high intrinsic microporosity with specific surface areas of 531 m2/g, and good solubility in selected organic solvents such as THF, DMSO and DMAc. Static physisorption and kinetic breakthrough experiments revealed several promising features of TPIM: high CO 2 capacity of 2.45 mmol/g at 1 bar and 298 K, good CO 2 /N 2 mixture dynamic separation performance, and facile regeneration ability. Most interestingly, its porosity and CO 2 capacity could be easily restored through a simple dissolution-separation-precipitation (DSP) approach, making it regenerative when fouled, providing a new insight for the future design of regenerable adsorbents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ordered micron-sized honeycombed macroporous polyimide (PI) film was efficiently fabricated from polyamic acid-b-polystyrene (PAA-b-PS) copolymer. The synergistic effect of the hydrogen bonding and π–π interaction contributes to the generation of this distinct morphology of PAA-b-PS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustainable capture and sequestration of CO 2 from flue gas emission is an important and unavoidable challenge to control greenhouse gas release and climate change. In this report, we describe a triazine-triphenylamine-based microporous covalent organic polymer under mild synthetic conditions. 13 C and 15 N solid-state NMR and FTIR analyses confirm the linkage of the triazine and triphenylamine components in the porous polymer skeleton. The material is composed of spherical particles 1.0 to 2.0 μm in size and possesses a high surface area (1104 m 2 /g). The material exhibits superb chemical robustness under acidic and basic conditions and high thermal stability. Single-component gas adsorption exhibits an enhanced CO 2 uptake of 3.12 mmol/g coupled with high sorption selectivity for CO 2 /N 2 of 64 at 273 K and 1 bar, whereas the binary gas mixture breakthrough study using a model flue gas composition at 298 K shows a high CO 2 /N 2 selectivity of 58. The enhanced performance is attributed to the high Lewis basicity of the framework, as it favors the interaction with CO 2 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many radio frequency measurement systems require multicarrier signals with coherent phases between carriers with different frequencies. A typical example is the signal generator which is used in multicarrier multipactor (MM) testing systems. In this paper, we propose a new approach for the generation of coherent multicarrier signals based on a state-of-the-art phase-locked loops technique. Different from existing systems that rely on a heavy use of commercial microwave instruments, this generator can be implemented with on-shelf chips and devices. As an example, an ultrahigh frequency band generator is implemented and how to implement the in-system calibration of this generator in an experimental multipactor testing system is demonstrated. Based on the proposed approach, performing a quantitative experimental research on MM becomes affordable for an ordinary microwave laboratory, which may promote the in-depth experimental study in this area. It can also be used in a wide range of applications such as MIMO and phased array systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report here a direct knitting Method for preparation of highly robust, effective while air- and moisture-tolerant, and readily recyclable three-dimensional (3D) porous polymer-Pd network (PPPd) from the widely used Pd(PPh 3 ) 4 . Electro-beam induced Pd atom crystallization was observed for the first time in organic polymer and revealed the ultrafine dispersion of palladium atoms. Challenging types of Suzuki-Miyaura couplings, reductive coupling of aryl halides and oxidative coupling of arylboronic acid were successively catalyzed by PPPd in aqueous media. Also catalytically selective C H functionalization reactions were achieved with orders of magnitude more efficient than conventional Pd homogeneous catalysts. The strategy developed here provides a practical method for easy-to-make yet highly efficient heterogeneous catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current radio access networks (RANs) need to evolve to handle diverse service requirements coming from the growing number of connected devices and increasing data rates for the upcoming 5G era. Incremental improvements on traditional distributed RANs cannot satisfy these requirements, so the novel and disruptive concept of a cloud RAN (CRAN) has been proposed to decouple digital units (DUs) and radio units (RUs) of base stations (BSs), and centralize DUs into a central office, where virtualization and cloud computing technologies are leveraged to move DUs into the cloud. However, separating RUs and DUs requires low-latency and high-bandwidth connectivity links, called "fronthaul," as opposed to traditional backhaul links. Hence, design of the 5G transport network, that is, the part of the network that carries mobile data traffic between BSs and the core network and data centers, is key to meet the new 5G mobile service requirements and effectively transport the fronthaul traffic. Today, consensus is yet to be achieved on how the fronthaul traffic will be transported between RUs and DUs, and how virtualization of network resources will occur from a radio network segment to the centralized baseband processing units. In this article, we present a new 5G architecture, called virtualized cloud radio access network (V-CRAN), moving toward a cell-less 5G network architecture. We leverage the concept of a virtualized BS (V-BS) that can be optimally formed by exploiting several enabling technologies such as software defined radio (SDR) and coordinated multipoint (CoMP) transmission/reception. A V-BS can be formed on a per-cell basis or per-user basis by allocating virtualized resources on demand. For the fronthaul solution, our approach exploits the passive optical network (PON), where a wavelength can be dynamically assigned and shared to form a virtualized passive optical network (VPON). Several use cases of the V-CRAN are presented to show how network architecture evolution can enhance system throughput, energy efficiency, and mobility management. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The newly discovered “long-term” multicarrier multipactors that can be induced by low-energy electric fields potentially threatens the reliability of spaceborne microwave systems. It also causes a new technical challenge to the prediction of the global occurrence threshold of multicarrier multipactors. In this paper, we propose efficient approaches to rapidly compute the fluctuation of space electrons in the evolving process of a multicarrier multipactor, based on which Monte Carlo approaches are developed to efficiently find the global “worst case” waveforms and the occurrence thresholds for both “single-event” and “long-term” multipactors. The proposed approaches can be used for wideband devices, providing an efficient integrated solution for the multicarrier multipactor analysis for practical high-power microwave devices with inhomogeneous field distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

NTB-3119, a novel benzothiopyranone derivative, has been developed as a potential anti-tuberculosis(TB) drug with strong activity. In this study, three major metabolites of NTB-3119 were firstly identified in vitro and in vivo. A sensitive and specific liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was established for the quantitative analysis of NTB-3119 and its major metabolites NTB-3190, NTB-3202 and NTB-3204 in mouse plasma. The plasma samples were processed by protein precipitation with organic solvent. NTB-3119, NTB-3190, NTB-3202, NTB-3204 and NTB-4A (Internal Standard, IS) were separated by a Zorbax-SB C 18 column (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 3.5 µm) with a gradient mobile phase of acetonitrile/water at a flow rate of 0.25 mL/min. The analytes were detected by electrospray positive ion mode in Parallel Reaction Monitoring (PRM) mode on a high resolution mass spectrum (HRMS, Thermo Q Executive). The monitored transitions were m/z 456.15632 → 360.06137 for NTB-3119, m/z 426.18214 → 246.01891 for NTB-3190, m/z 472.15124 → 360.06143 for NTB-3202, m/z 442.17706 → 246.01903 for NTB-3204 and m/z 337.13691 → 163.02081 for NTB-4A, respectively. Good linearity was conducted in the range of 5–2000 ng/mL for NTB-3119, NTB-3202 and NTB-3204 as well as 2.5–1000 ng/mL for NTB-3190. The inter- and intra-batch precision (RSD%) were both lower than 13.3 %, with the accuracy ranged from 88.0 % to 108.1 %. The analytes were proved to be stable during all samples storage, preparation and analytic procedures. The validated method was successfully applied to study the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of NTB-3119 after oral treatment in Balb/c mouse. [Display omitted] • The metabolites of NTB-3119, a novel anti-tuberculosis agent, were identified. • Simultaneous detection of NTB-3119 and its metabolites was established by LC-MS/MS. • The method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of NTB-3119 in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The feasible capture and separation of CO 2 and N 2 from CH 4 is an important task for natural gas upgrading and the control of greenhouse gas emissions. Here, we studied the microporous covalent imine networks (CIN) material prepared through Schiff base condensation and exhibited superior chemical robustness under both acidic and basic conditions and high thermal stability. The material possesses a relatively uniform nanoparticle size of approximately 70–100 nm. This network featured permanent porosity with a high surface area (722 m 2 /g) and micropores. A single-component gas adsorption study showed enhanced CO 2 and CH 4 uptakes of 3.32 mmol/g and 1.14 mmol/g, respectively, at 273 K and 1 bar, coupled with high separation selectivities for CO 2 /CH 4 , CH 4 /N 2 , and CO 2 /N 2 of 23, 11.8 and 211, respectively. The enriched Lewis basicity in the porous skeletons favours the interaction of quadrupolar CO 2 and polarizable CH 4 , resulting in enhanced CH 4 and CO 2 uptake and high CH 4 /N 2 , CO 2 /CH 4 and CO 2 /N 2 selectivities. Breakthrough experiments showed high CO 2 /CH 4 , CH 4 /N 2 and CO 2 /N 2 selectivities of 7.29, 40 and 125, respectively, at 298 K and 1 bar. High heats of adsorption for CH 4 and CO 2 (Qst CH4 ; 32.61 kJ mol −1 and Qst CO2 ; 42.42 kJ mol −1 ) provide the ultimate validation for the high selectivity. To the best of our knowledge, such a versatile adsorbent material that displays both enhanced uptake and selectivity for a variety of binary gas mixtures, including CO 2 /CH 4 , CO 2 /N 2 and CH 4 /N 2 , has not been extensively explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we report a porous covalent triazine–piperazine linked polymer (CTPP) featuring 3D nanoflower morphology and enhanced capture/removal of CO 2 , CH 4 from air (N 2 ), essential to control greenhouse gas emission and natural gas upgrading. 13 C solid-state NMR and FTIR analyses and CHN and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) elemental analyses confirmed the integration of triazine and piperazine components in the network. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analyses revealed a relatively uniform particle size of approximately 400–500 nm with 3D nanoflower microstructure, which was formed by the self-assembly of interwoven and slight bent nanoflake components. The material exhibited outstanding chemical robustness under acidic and basic medium and high thermal stability up to 773 K. The CTPP possess high surface area (779 m 2 /g) and single-component gas adsorption study exhibited enhanced CO 2 and CH 4 uptake of 3.48 mmol/g, 1.09 mmol/g, respectively at 273 K, 1 bar; coupled with high sorption selectivities for CO 2 /N 2 and CH 4 /N 2 of 128 and 17, respectively. The enriched Lewis basicity of the CTPP favors the interaction with CO 2 , which results in an enhanced CO 2 adsorption capacity and high CO 2 /N 2 selectivity. The binary mixture breakthrough study for the flue gas composition at 298 K showed a high CO 2 /N 2 selectivity of 82. CO 2 heats of adsorption for the CTPP (34 kJ mol −1 ) were realized at the borderline between strong physisorption and weak chemisorption ( Q st CO 2 ; 25–50 kJ mol −1 ) and low Q st value for N 2 (22.09 kJ mol −1 ), providing the ultimate validation for the high selectivity of CO 2 over N 2 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new, visible light-catalyzed, one-pot and one-step reaction is successfully employed to design well-controlled side-chain functionalized polymers, by the combination of ambient temperature revisible addtion-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and click chemistry. Polymerizations are well controlled in a living way under the irradiation of visible light-emitting diode (LED) light without photocatalyst and initiator, using the trithiocarbonate agent as iniferter (initiator-transfer agent-terminator) agent at ambient temperature. Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), NMR, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) data confirm the successful one-pot reaction. Compared to the reported zero-valent metal-catalyzed one-pot reaction, the polymerization rate is much faster than that of the click reaction, and the visible light-catalyzed one-pot reaction can be freely and easily regulated by turning on and off the light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The properties of Al x Ga 1− x N/GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) impacted by pressure are characterized quantitatively. The results indicate that the dislocation density increases as the critical thickness decreases with increasing pressure. The two-dimensional electron gas density was found to be linearly changeable with the pressure. A simulation has been completed to verify the influence of electron mobility. The results show that the misfit dislocation scattering induced by the pressure is a major limiting factor for the properties of HEMT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hierarchical Zr-MOF xerogel nanoarchitectures were prepared. • Irreversible interactions with ammonia were substantially enhanced compared to activated carbons. • Engineered Zr-MOF xerogels showed excellent and robust dynamic ammonia removal behaviors, amenable to the Wheeler-Jonas model. • Intricate ammonia sorption regimes were analyzed. Zirconium-based metal–organic frameworks (Zr-MOFs) have emerged as a promising candidate for efficiently eliminating toxic chemicals under ambient conditions. Herein, we demonstrate the remarkable ammonia capture capabilities of the hierarchically porous MOF-808 xerogel (G808) macrostructure and its amino-functionalized analogue (G808-NH 2), which were constructed through a sol–gel-based strategy combined with convenient ambient pressure drying. Static isotherm measurements and dynamic breakthrough tests using engineered Zr-MOF xerogel granules were conducted to illuminate the thermodynamic and kinetic characteristics for ammonia sorption. The G808 and G808-NH 2 xerogels manifest substantially higher ammonia uptake, intensified interfacial interactions, and enhanced irreversible retention toward ammonia compared with the state-of-the-art activated carbon-based materials, particularly at the low-concentration region. Moreover, these hierarchical Zr-MOF nanoarchitectures exhibit extraordinary ammonia removal performance as well as excellent environmental robustness under simulated respirator canister/protection filter circumstances, with the breakthrough capacities of G808-NH 2 being individually more than two and one orders of magnitude greater than those for the pristine and metal-amine impregnated carbons. The kinetic ammonia adsorption behaviors can be well delineated by the pseudo-first-order Wheeler-Jonas model. An in-depth discussion on the ammonia sorption regime, detailing five binding patterns besides reversible physisorption with a special focus on the impacts of polar amino groups and humidity, was proposed based on multiple characterizations and Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Off- and on-line fluorescent iodine sensing. • Ultra-high fluorescent quenching efficiency of over 99.99%. • Super-low detection limit of few ppb towards I 2. • Selective response to I 2 over H 2 O, H 2 S, and CO 2. • A photoinduced electron transfer mechanism was proposed and evidenced. Rapid and high-fidelity detection of radiological iodine species are of extreme importance for the safety of the population and the environment in nuclear fuel reprocessing or in case of nuclear accidents. A simple and universal method to fabricate the sensor to user-friendly devices toward a desired analytical environment would further benefit its applications. Herein, we describe the success of using luminescent spectroscopy for off- and on-line detection of gaseous iodine by a fluorescent film sensor based on a polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM-1), a material that possesses intrinsic signal amplification capability and good solubility for processing into desired morphologies. Due to the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) effect, the fluorescence of PIM-1 is quenched drastically upon I 2 exposure, but not much altered by H 2 O, CO 2 , or H 2 S. An off-line I 2 sensor of free-standing PIM-1 membrane and a real-time flue I 2 detector by coating PIM-1 film inside a capillary tube were fabricated and applied. Quick response (few seconds), high signal–noise ratio (five orders of magnitude), low detection limit (few ppb), steam tolerability, as well high reversibility and reusability were achieved, making the material a practically convenient and efficient I 2 sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel amino-borane complex inside a stable metal organic framework was synthesized for the first time. It releases hydrogen at a temperature of 78 °C with no volatile contaminants and can be well reused. Its application as a size-selective reduction material in organic synthesis was also demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ordered porous polyimide films were fabricated from (AB)m type of diblock copolymer polyimide-b-polystyrene (PI-b-PS). An increase in PS volume fraction (f VPS) is beneficial to decrease the relative dielectric constants and water contact angles of the obtained porous PI films: the relative dielectric constant decreases to 1.89 and water contact angle decreases to 43° when f VPS is 0.36, indicating porous PI films can be used as low-κ material and have good wettability. The solvent uptake of the porous PI films increases with increasing f VPS. A net-like morphology appears when f VPS reaches 0.36. The net-like porous PI film reaches equilibrium uptake of water within approximately 2.5 h, with a final equilibrium uptake ratio of 17.5%, and reaches equilibrium uptake of toluene within approximately 8 h, with a final equilibrium uptake ratio of 15.4%, displaying the highest and fastest solvent uptake compared with other microstructured porous PI films, which is ascribed to the specific characteristic of the interconnecting porous channels derived from the self-assembly of PI-b-PS with f VPS 0.36. Introducing thermally degradable segments to PI-based block copolymer is an effective method to prepare porous PI films and can enhance some of their properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electron mobility limited by charged surface states scattering was calculated accurately based on a self-consistent Schrödinger and Poisson equations solver. For a AlGaN thickness less than 5 nm, this new scattering mechanism is the dominated scattering for electron mobility. Moreover, there is a “high electron mobility window” for a certain AlGaN thickness range from 4 to 7 nm, where the electron mobility can be as high as 3000 cm 2 /Vs at a low temperature, which is consistent with reported experimental data [1] (Cao and Jena, 2007). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fluid therapy may be one of the most controversial topics in perioperative management. However, data concerning the influence of perioperative fluid administration on complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy are sparse. Methods: A group of 147 patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for benign or malignant pathology of the pancreas or the periampullary region between 2005 and 2009. Clinical data, overall morbidity, and long-term outcomes were recorded. Results: We categorized the patients into two groups according to intraoperative fluid volume administration: a low fluid volume group (LFVG, <8.2 ml kg−1 hr−1, n = 90) group, and a high fluid volume group (HFVG, ≥8.2 ml kg−1 hr−1, n = 57). In terms of colloid administration, the high fluid volume group received significantly more colloid both during the intraoperative period and 0-12 hr after surgery ( p < .001 and p < .007, respectively). Pancreatic fistula rates were significantly greater in the high fluid volume group ( p = .035). However, the long-term survival rate was not different between the two groups. Conclusions: High intraoperative fluid volume administration is associated with an increased incidence of pancreatic fistulas after pancreaticoduodenectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are potential adsorbents for ammonia capture. However, exploration of high-performing MOFs for ammonia adsorption from humid air is still challenging due to the competitive adsorption between ammonia and water molecules. In this work, high-throughput computational screening of 2932 CoRE MOFs for ammonia capture from humid air was carried out by grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations. It was found that the affinities or Henry's constant of MOFs towards ammonia and water molecules play a more important role in determining the ammonia capture performance than their structural properties. Hydrophobic MOFs exhibited higher ammonia selectivity, while hydrophilic MOFs possessed higher ammonia uptake regardless of the strong adsorption competition from water molecules. The coefficient describing the impacts of water adsorption on ammonia uptake (IC H2O_NH3) revealed that although water adsorption promoted the ammonia uptake in the MOFs with IC H2O_NH3 < 0, their ammonia uptake is still lower than that with IC H2O_NH3 > 0 due to their ultra-low affinity towards ammonia. Moreover, analysis of top performers from screening demonstrated that the competitive adsorption between ammonia and water can be identified by their similar density and potential energy distributions of adsorbed ammonia and water molecules. [Display omitted] • High-throughput computational screening of MOFs for ammonia capture from humid air was reported. • Affinities of MOFs towards ammonia and water plays important roles in ammonia capture. • High-performing MOFs exhibited high ammonia uptake regardless of the adsorption competition between ammonia and water molecules. • Similar potential energy distributions suggested the competitive adsorption between ammonia and water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We reported herein new reactivities and possible mechanistic implications of a simplest oxidant (NaH/air) uncovered on a broad range of useful transformations, including aerobic alcohol oxidations, allylic alcohol isomerizations and oxidations, cyclopropyl alcohol fragmentations, and direct aryl aldehyde oxidative amidations. These readily implementable transition-metal-free processes feature exceptional material accessibility, operational simplicity, and environmental compatibility, and add new dimensions to its synthetic utilities that are fairly robust yet had not previously been fully realized and systematically explored. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Three-dimensional ordered latex particles were prepared in presence of polymerizable anionic emulsifier - sodium undec-10-enoate (UDNa) in emulsion polymerization. Only under a certain monomer/emulsifier ratio can we get such a result. Three-dimensional ordered latex particles cannot be acquired with the use of conventional emulsifiers such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), etc. The double bond of polymerizable emulsifier can copolymerize with the main monomer and become covalently bound to integrate with the main polymer chains which result in stable latexes. TEM and SEM images show that whether it is diluted or not the latexes can always keep in the three-dimensional regularly order. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A facile and efficient method is described for the in situ synthesis of mesoporous CdS semiconductor nanoparticles by gamma ray irradiation in oil-in-water microemulsion. The prepared mesoporous CdS nanoparticles were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), electron diffraction (ED), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) gas sorptometry. The mesoporous structure of CdS nanoparticles is well-characterized by TEM and XRD. The obtained mesoporous CdS nanoparticles possessed a high surface area of 82.6 m2/g and a number of pores with the pore size distribution centered at about 9.4 nm. A possible growth mechanism for the mesoporous structure has been proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Hexagonal nanosized silver sulfide (Ag2S) was synthesized by reaction between sulfur and silver nitrate (AgNO3) in the presence of PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone) at room temperature. The side length of as-prepared Ag2S is about 100–120nm. The possible reaction steps and the role of PVP are analysed. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize the obtained product. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Ionic polymerizable surfactants MOBS and MOTB were synthesized and used as emulsifier to synthesize monodisperse polystyrene microlatexes by emulsion polymerization induced by gamma rays. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray fluorescence were used to characterize the prepared polystyrene. The results show that ionic polymerizable surfactants are effective in the preparation of monodisperse polystyrene microlatexes, and that emulsion polymerization induced by gamma rays has advantages over initiator-induced emulsion polymerization. A possible nucleation stage was suggested and the kinetics of the process was also analyzed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Co-60 γ-ray initiated miniemulsion polymerization of styrene stabilized by an alkali soluble polymeric surfactant (ASPS) was studied in this work. The affecting factors, including absorbed dose, dose rate, surfactant concentration, and hexadecane (HD) concentration, were systematically studied. The particle size and particle size distribution (PSD) of final latexes was determined by transmission electron microscope (TEM). The results indicated that polystyrene (PS) particles with narrow PSD could be easily prepared by this method, and the particle size could be controlled from 50nm to 250nm by adjusting the concentration of HD and ASPS. HD concentration, surfactant concentration, dose rate and total absorbed dose strongly affected the particle size and PSD of PS latexes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Monodisperse polystyrene latex particles were prepared by 60Co-γ-ray radiation-induced emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization with the use of surfactant monomer at room temperature. The surfactant monomer 10(9)-hydroxyl-9(10)-allyl ether octadecanoic acid (HAEOA) was synthesized and characterized by FT-IR and 1H-NMR spectra. TEM was used to characterize the polystyrene latex particles. HAEOA acted as not only a comonomer but also a stabilizer to copolymerize with styrene and stabilize the polystyrene latex particles. Kinetics analysis shows that there is no constant rate stage which seems to indicate a droplet nucleation mechanism. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A one-step, solid-state reaction route was developed to synthesize copper sulfide (CuS) nanorods via grinding Cu(NO3)2·3H2O and Na2S·9H2O in existence of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid disodium salt (Na2EDTA·2H2O) at ambient temperature. The as-prepared CuS nanorods have diameters of 5∼7 nm, lengths up to 40∼70 nm. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize the obtained product. A possible reaction mechanism was discussed at the end of this article. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Semiconductor CdS nanoparticle have been prepared and modified with thiovanic acid. The functionalized nanoparticles are water-soluble. They were used as the fluorescence probes in the ultrasensitive detection of peptides. This method is based on the fluorescence enhancement of functionalized nano-CdS in the presence of peptide with mercapto groups (GN-9) and the fluorescence quenching of functionalized nano-CdS in the presence of peptide (GA-8 and MT-25). Excitation and emission wavelengths were 360 and 530nm, respectively. Under optimum conditions, the calibration graphs are linear over the range of 0.15–3.5, 0.2–4.0, and 0.2–3.8μgml−1 for GN-9, GA-8 and MT-25, respectively. The corresponding detection limits were 0.010μgml−1 for GN-9, 0.018μgml−1 for GA-8 and 0.022μgml−1 for MT-25, respectively. This method has been proved to be a simple, rapid and sensitive method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper reports a copyrolysis strategy for preparing carbon foam-reinforced carbon aerogels with low thermal conductivity. Three types of precarbonized foams derived from commercial (0.03 g/cm3), low-density (0.03 g/cm3), and medium-density (0.06 g/cm3) phenolic resin foams were impregnated with resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) sol, aged at 50 °C, exchanged with ethanol, dried supercritically, and finally carbonized by copyrolysis at temperatures ranging from 600 to 900 °C. The linear shrinkage characteristics during the pyrolysis of the aerogels, foams, and composites at different temperatures were measured to analyze the formation process of the gap at the composite interface. The compressive strength of the composites was found to be higher than that of the carbon foam components. The thermal conductivity of the three composites was gauged at temperatures ranging from 25 to 1900 °C. The CCH-900 (commercial carbon foam-reinforced carbon aerogels after copyrolysis at 900 °C) composite exhibited the lowest high-temperature thermal conductivity (λ 1900 °C = 0.25 W/m·K). Finally, the copyrolysis mechanism of the RF aerogels and phenolic resin foams was analyzed through XPS, TG-MS, and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. [Display omitted] • A novel co-pyrolysis strategy is proposed to reduce the interfacial gap of carbon foam-reinforced carbon aerogel composites. • The composites constructed by the phenolic resin foams with wall film exhibit low high temperature thermal conductivity. • The co-pyrolysis mechanism between phenolic aerogels and phenolic resin foams are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical protective clothing (CPC) is major equipment to protect human skin from hazardous chemical warfare agents (CWAs), especially nerve agents and blister agents. CPC performance is mainly dominated by the chemical protective material, which needs to meet various requirements, such as mechanical robustness, protective properties, physiological comfort, cost-effectiveness, and dimensional stability. In this study, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) based sodium sulfonate membranes with different ion exchange capacities (IECs) are prepared simply from low-cost materials. Their mechanical properties, contact angles, permeations, and selectivities have been tested and compared with each other. Results show that membranes with IEC in the range of 1.5–2 mmol g−1 have high selectivities of water vapor permeation over CWA simulant vapor permeation and good mechanical properties. Therefore, PVDF-based sodium sulfonate membranes are potential materials for CPC applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The total length of the Bufo tibetanus mitochondrial genome sequence is 17,405 bp. It consists of 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and 1 displacement loop (D-loop). Except for eight tRNAs and nd6 genes, all other mitochondrial genes are encoded on the heavy strand (H strand). Most of the 22 tRNA genes can fold into a typical cloverleaf secondary structure by tRNAscan-SE, except for tRNASer. Molecular data presented here provide a useful toll for helping set the stage for further studies and the molecular evolution of the mitochondrial genome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]