Effect of plasticizer poly(ethylene glycol) on the crystallization properties of stereocomplex-type poly (lactide acid)

The effects of the plasticizer poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG) on crystallization properties of equimolar poly(L-lactide)(PLLA)/poly(D-lactide)(PDLA) blends were investigated. Formation of the stereocomplex-type poly(lactide acid)(sc-PLA) crystallites was confirmed by Wide-angle X-ray diffraction(WAXD) and differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) analyses. Sc-PLA crystallites without any homochiral poly(lactide acid)(hc-PLA) formed, as the result of the incorporation of the plasticizer PEG(more than or equal to 10%(wt)) at a processing temperature(240 ℃). Moreover, when the MW of PEG reached 1 000 g × mol–1, the crystallizability of stereocomplex crystallites was the best. Isothermal crystallization kinetics further revealed that PEG could accelerate the crystallization rate of sc-PLA, with the optimum crystallization kinetic parameters being obtained at 10%(wt) PEG. Several crystallization kinetics equations were applied to describe the effect of PEG on the crystallization behavior of sc-PLA. The influence of PEG on the spherocrystal morphologies of sc-PLA was also investigated using polarized optical microscopy.     

Cloning and characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">UL</Emphasis>34 gene of pseudorabies virus HB isolate

In this study, China isolate HB of pseudorabies virus (PRV) was confirmed and genotypically characterized by amplifying and sequencing of partial UL34, a conservative gene involved in the egress of nucleocapsids from the nucleus, for phylogenetic analysis. The open reading frame (orf) of UL34 of PRV HB isolate is composed of 786 nucleotides, which encoded 262 amino acids. In addition, a potential transmembrane domain (241-260 aa) and 11 potential phosphorylation sites were also found in the UL34 of PRV HB isolate. Multiple amino acids alignment indicated that UL34 proteins of PRV strains derived from different geographic origins were highly conservative, but some mutations were also found. Phylogenetic analysis based on UL34 protein indicated that PRV HB strain was evolutionarily distinct from other recent China strains sequenced so far, forming a single clade within the phylogeny. Moreover, PRV HB isolate had close evolutionary relationship with BoHV-1 and BoHV-5 within the Alphaherpesvirinae. Taken together, these results indicated that PRV strains were in the progress of evolution. This study has expanded the knowledge of genetic profiles of PRV strains.     

Existence of global attractor for the one-dimensional bipolar quantum drift-diffusion model

In this paper, we investigate a one-dimensional bipolar quantum drift-diffusion model from semiconductor devices. We mainly show the long-time behavior of solutions to the one-dimensional bipolar quantum drift-diffusion model in a bounded domain. That is, we prove the existence of the global attractor for the solution.     

Redox-responsive molecular gels based on camptothecin prodrug with disulfide linkage for controlled and sustained drug release

A novel camptothecin (CPT) prodrug was successfully synthesized by conjugating CPT to adamantanecarboxylic acid (AD) via a cleavable disulfide linkage. The resulting CPT-ss-AD prodrug could act as a low molecular weight gelator to form molecular gels in water/water-miscible organic solvent mixture. Meanwhile, biodegradable amphiphilic block copolymer mPEG-b-P (MAC-co-DTC) (PPMD) was also employed as an organic framework together with CPT-ss-AD to form gel structure. CPT-ss-AD/PPMD gel exhibited less compact molecular arrangement but much more stability than CPT-ss-AD gel. The two kinds of gels could effectively release the original CPT under reductive condition at a near-constant rate without any initial burst. As compared to CPT-ss-AD single-component gel, the two-component gel, CPT-ss-AD/PPMD, had a significantly higher release rate of CPT, while 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays also indicated highly potent cytotoxic activity against HeLa cells.     

Relationship between the specific surface area of rust and the electrochemical behavior of rusted steel in a wet-dry acid corrosion environment

The relationship between the specific surface area (SSA) of rust and the electrochemical behavior of rusted steel under wet-dry acid corrosion conditions was investigated. The results showed that the corrosion current density first increased and then decreased with increasing SSA of the rust during the corrosion process. The structure of the rust changed from single-layer to double-layer, and the γ-FeOOH content decreased in the inner layer of the rust with increasing corrosion time; by contrast, the γ-FeOOH content in the outer layer was constant. When the SSA of the rust was lower than the critical SSA corresponding to the relative humidity during the drying period, condensed water in the micropores of the rust could evaporate, which prompted the diffusion of O₂ into the rust and the following formation process of γ-FeOOH, leading to an increase of corrosion current density with increasing corrosion time. However, when the SSA of the rust reached or exceeded the critical SSA, condensate water in the micro-pores of the inner layer of the rust could not evaporate which inhibited the diffusion of O₂ and decreased the γ-FeOOH content in the inner rust, leading to a decrease of corrosion current density with increasing corrosion time.     

Reduction behavior and kinetics of vanadium-titanium sinters under high potential oxygen enriched pulverized coal injection

In this work, the reduction behavior of vanadium-titanium sinters was studied under five different sets of conditions of pulverized coal injection with oxygen enrichment. The modified random pore model was established to analyze the reduction kinetics. The results show that the reduction rate of sinters was accelerated by an increase of CO and H₂ contents. Meanwhile, with the increase in CO and H₂ contents, the increasing range of the medium reduction index (MRE) of sinters decreased. The increasing oxygen enrichment ratio played a diminishing role in improving the reduction behavior of the sinters. The reducing process kinetic parameters were solved using the modified random role model. The results indicated that, with increasing oxygen enrichment, the contents of CO and H₂ in the reducing gas increased. The reduction activation energy of the sinters decreased to between 20.4 and 23.2 kJ/mol.     

A novel process for the recovery of iron,titanium, and vanadium from vanadium-bearing titanomagnetite:sodium modification-direct reduction coupled process

A sodium modification-direct reduction coupled process was proposed for the simultaneous extraction of V and Fe from vanadium-bearing titanomagnetite. The sodium oxidation of vanadium oxides to water-soluble sodium vanadate and the transformation of iron oxides to metallic iron were accomplished in a single-step high-temperature process. The increase in roasting temperature favors the reduction of iron oxides but disfavors the oxidation of vanadium oxides. The recoveries of vanadium, iron, and titanium reached 84.52%, 89.37%, and 95.59%, respectively. Moreover, the acid decomposition efficiency of titanium slag reached 96.45%. Compared with traditional processes, the novel process provides several advantages, including a shorter flow, a lower energy consumption, and a higher utilization efficiency of vanadium-bearing titanomagnetite resources.     

Combustion characteristics and kinetics of anthracite with added chlorine

The combustion process of Yangquan anthracite (YQ) with the addition of 0.045wt%, 0.211wt%, 1.026wt%, and 2.982wt% chlorine was investigated using a thermogravimetric method from an ambient temperature to 1173 K in an air atmosphere. Results show that the YQ combustion characteristics are not significantly affected by an increase in chlorine content. Data acquired for combustion conversion are then further processed for kinetic analysis. Average apparent activation energies determined using the model-free method (specifically the KAS method) are 103.025, 110.250, 99.906, and 110.641 kJ/mol, respectively, and the optimal kinetic model for describing the combustion process of chlorine-containing YQ is the nucleation kinetic model, as determined by the z(α) master plot method. The mechanism function of the nucleation kinetic model is then employed to estimate the pre-exponential factor, by making use of the compensation effect. The kinetic models to describe chlorine-containing YQ combustion are thus obtained through advanced determination of the optimal mechanism function, average apparent activation energy, and the pre-exponential factor.     

Two-stage reduction for the preparation of ferronickel alloy from nickel laterite ore with low Co and high MgO contents

The preparation of ferronickel alloy from the nickel laterite ore with low Co and high MgO contents was studied by using a pre-reduction-smelting method. The effects of reduction time, calcination temperature, quantity of reductant and calcium oxide (CaO), and pellet diameter on the reduction ratio of Fe and on the pellet strength were investigated. The results show that, for a roasting temperature >800℃, a roasting time >30 min, 1.5wt% added anthracite coal, 5wt% added CaO, and a pellet size of~10 mm, the reduction ratio of Fe exceeds 70% and the compressive strength of the pellets exceeds 10 kg per pellet. Reduction smelting experiments were performed by varying the smelting time, temperature, quantity of reductant and CaO, and reduction ratio of Fe in the pellets. Optimal conditions for the reduction smelting process are as follows:smelting time, 30-45 min; smelting temperature, 1550℃; quantity of reductant, 4wt%-5wt%; and quantity of CaO, 5wt%; leading to an Fe reduction ratio of 75% in the pellets. In addition, the mineral composition of the raw ore and that during the reduction process were investigated by process mineralogy.     

Reverse-transformation austenite structure control with micro/nanometer size

To control the reverse-transformation austenite structure through manipulation of the micro/nanometer grain structure, the influences of cold deformation and annealing parameters on the microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of 316L austenitic stainless steel were investigated. The samples were first cold-rolled, and then samples deformed to different extents were annealed at different temperatures. The microstructure evolutions were analyzed by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), magnetic measurements, and X-ray diffraction (XRD); the mechanical properties are also determined by tensile tests. The results showed that the fraction of stain-induced martensite was approximately 72% in the 90% cold-rolled steel. The micro/nanometric microstructure was obtained after reversion annealing at 820-870℃ for 60 s. Nearly 100% reversed austenite was obtained in samples annealed at 850℃, where grains with a diameter ≤ 500 nm accounted for 30% and those with a diameter >0.5 μm accounted for 70%. The micro/nanometer-grain steel exhibited not only a high strength level (approximately 959 MPa) but also a desirable elongation of approximately 45%.