An amphiphilic azobenzene diblock copolymer {2-[4-(4-methoxy phenyl azo)phenoxy]hexyl acrylate co-acrylic acid} was synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization in a hydrothermal reactor. The products were characterized by 1H-NMR, DSC, GPC and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Different self-assembly behaviors of this amphiphilic diblock copolymer in different organic solvent with different water content were investigated. In THF/H2O solution, the diblock copolymer self-assembled into spheres and the spheres would then change to vesicles with smaller size by increasing the volume of H2O. However, in DMSO/H2O solution, the sizes and morphologies of the self-assembled spheres would not change significantly with an enhanced amount of H2O. Photochromic behaviors of the am...
A comparative study on the interaction of different PEG-containing diblock copolymers including SA400, SA600, SA1500 and OA1500 (stearyl and oleyl esters of polyethylene glycol with 400, 600 and 1500 molecular weights, respectively) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) was carried out using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), circular dichroism (CD), and fluorescence spectroscopies. ITC data show that SA400, SA600, SA1500 and OA1500 bind to BSA, with association constants of (14.5, 3.16, 50.7 and 17.6)x103M-1, respectively. Results also show that the binding is enthalpically driven, disfavored by conformational entropy. Quantitative analysis of the FTIR absorbance spectra at amide Iprime (1600-1700cm-1) as well as far UV ci...
The phase transition behaviour of polyethylene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (PE-b-PEO) diblock copolymer with relatively short chain lengths has been studied on the basis of temperature dependent infrared and Raman spectral measurements and synchrotron WAXD/SAXS simultaneous measurements, from which the concrete structural changes were deduced successfully from the various levels of molecular chain conformation, chain packing mode and higher-order structure. The higher-order structure has been found to transform between lamella, perforated lamella, gyroid, cylinder and sphere structures. The inner structural changes occurring in the polyethylene and poly(ethylene oxide) parts have been related with these morphological changes. The morphological transition from lamella to gyroid occurs with keeping the crystalline state of polyethylene parts. This apparently curious transition can be interpreted reasonably by assuming the thermally-activated chain motion in the crystal ...
Biological membranes are lamellar structures composed of two leaflets capable of supporting different mechanical stresses. Stress differences between leaflets were generated during micromechanical experiments...Full Text Available
This study aims to investigate the difference in the interaction of antimicrobial peptides with two classes of zwitterionic peptides, phosphatidylethanolamines (PE) and phosphatidylcholines (PC). Further experiments were performed on model membranes prepared from specific bacterial lipids, lipopolysaccharides (LPS) isolated from Salmonella minnesota. The structure of the lipid-peptide aqueous dispersions was studied by small-and wide-angle X-ray diffraction during heating and cooling from 5 to 85 C. The lipids and peptides were mixed at lipid-to-peptide ratios 10-10000 (POPE and POPC) or 2-50 (LPS). All experiments were performed at synchrotron soft condensed matter beamline A2 in Hasylab at Desy in Hamburg, Germany. The phases were identified and the lattice parameters were calculated. Alamethicin and melittin interact in similar ways with the lipids. Pure POPC forms only lamellar phases. POPE forms lamellar phases at low temperatures that ...
The LiMnO{sub 2} lamellar oxide, obtained by exchange reaction from its sodium homologue {alpha}-NaMnO{sub 2}, has been used as a positive electrode for lithium batteries. After the first electrochemical cycle, the shape of the potential-composition curve changes and indicates a change in the structure. This modification changes imperceptibly at each cycle and after about 40 cycles, a stationary state is reached. Powder spectra refinement using the Rietvelt method shows a migration of manganese ions from the thin sheets towards the inter-sheet space. After a single cycle, 8% of the manganese ions are already present in the lithium site and this rate reaches 13% after 3 cycles. During long cycling, a redistribution of ions and vacancies inside the cfc oxygenated pile leads to a structure very similar to the LiMn{sub 2}O{sub 4} spinel. This structure evolution is to be compared with the one obtained from the orthorhombic variety of LiMnO{sub 2} but the modification ...
The microstructure and tensile properties of Ti-44Al-6V-3Nb-0.3Y (at.%) alloy after canned forging were investigated. SEM results showed that the TiAl pancake exhibits inhomogeneous microstructure, which can be ascribed to the temperature drop and friction between billet and outer pack during forging, as well as the intrinsic anisotropy of lamellar colony. By means of TEM observation and EBSD analysis, the microstructure in the dominant area of the pancake was further characterized. This deformation area consists of 87.7% content of g grains plus some refined lamellar colonies and the rest of B2 grains. The grain size ranges between 1mm and 8.5mm. High-angle boundaries dominate the deformation microstructure, several substructures and twins are observed as well. Additionally, current forge...
High-energy synchrotron x-ray diffraction (XRD) has been used to quantify load transfer in bovine plexiform bone. By using both wide-angle and small-angle XRD, strains in the mineral as well as the collagen phase of bone were measured as a function of applied compressive stress. We suggest that a greater proportion of the load is borne by the more mineralized woven bone than the lamellar bone as the applied stress increases. With a further increase in stress, load is shed back to the lamellar regions until macroscopic failure occurs. The reported data fit well with reported mechanisms of microdamage accumulation in bovine plexiform bone.
Abstract Mammalian teeth exhibit incremental structures representing successive forming fronts of enamel at varying time scales, including a short daily increment called a cross striation and a long period called a stria of Retzius, the latter of which, in humans, occurs on average every 8-9 days. The number of daily increments between striae is called the repeat interval, which is the same period as that required to form one increment of bone, i.e. the lamella, the fundamental - if not archetypal - unit of bone. Lamellae of known formation time nevertheless vary in width, and thus their measures provide time-calibrated growth rate variability. We measured growth rate variability for as many as 6 years of continuously forming primary incremental lamellar bone from midshaft femur histologic...
A fully lamellar ferrite/cementite nanostructure was designed in a low C steel by using a specific thermal treatment. The strengthening of such microstructure has been investigated as a function of prestrain by rolling up to a deformation of 300%. As in usual pearlitic structure, its work-hardening shows no saturation and its elongation to fracture remains rather constant instead of decreasing drastically as conventional steels. The hardening by a similitude effect is thus not the privilege of pearlitic steels. Nevertheless, its lower initial work-hardening rate at low strain compared to an equivalent pearlitic steel and a lower hardening potential at high strain let us suspect major differences in the nature and the behaviour of ferrite channels in relation to the morphogenesis of the mic...
Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were modified with poly(hexamethylene adipamide) (also known as Nylon 66) via a controlled polymer solution crystallization method. A 'nanohybrid shish kebab' (NHSK) structure was found wherein the MWNT resembled the shish while Nylon 66 lamellar crystals formed the kebabs. These Nylon 66-functionalized MWNTs were used as precursors to prepare polymer/MWNT nanocomposites. Excellent dispersion was revealed by optical and electron microscopies. Nitric acid etching of the nanocomposites showed that MWNT formed a robust network in Nylon 66. Non-isothermal DSC results showed multiple melting peaks, which can be attributed to lamellar thickness changes upon heating. The crystallite sizes L{sub 100} and L{sup 010} of Nylon 66, determined by WAXD, decreased with increasing MWNT contents. Isothermal DSC results showed that crystallization kinetics increased first and then decreased with increasing ...
We explore the relation of nanostructures with the appearance of giant magnetoresistance (GMR) in melt-spun CuCo ribbons. We find by energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy that the ribbons are composed of a periodic distribution of Co within the Cu, as in spinodal decomposition. The lamellar structure should thus be associated with GMR, as only a small percentage of the Co is present in the form of grains. This is counterintuitive, for no clear interfaces are present as required by standard models, and the period of the composition oscillation (43-52 nm) is an order of magnitude larger than the mean free paths for electrons. Upon annealing, a secondary spinodal decomposition appears following the same direction as the original.
Sixteen patients with PAGET's disease of bone underwent quantitative bone scintigraphy with "9"9"mTc-MDP before and after a long-term treatment with carbocalcitonin, a synthetic analogue of eel calcitonin. The radionuclide study consisted in the blood pool and bone uptake measurement and in the bone avidity calculation (bone uptake - blood pool ratio). In our patients, a significant decrease in bone uptake and bone avidity was found, whereas the blood pool remained statistically unchanged. This behaviour could be accounted for the shift of the compact bone to a lamellar pattern. (orig.).
Sixteen patients with PAGET's disease of bone underwent quantitative bone scintigraphy with /sup 99m/Tc-MDP before and after a long-term treatment with carbocalcitonin, a synthetic analogue of eel calcitonin. The radionuclide study consisted in the blood pool and bone uptake measurement and in the bone avidity calculation (bone uptake - blood pool ratio). In our patients, a significant decrease in bone uptake and bone avidity was found, whereas the blood pool remained statistically unchanged. This behaviour could be accounted for the shift of the compact bone to a lamellar pattern.
AZ31 magnesium alloy was friction-welded to AM60 and the microstructures and the friction welding process were studied. The microstructures changed near the weld interface. The AZ31 was refined to a grain size of several {mu}m near the weld interface. The nucleation occurred in the shear bands that were introduced during the welding process. On the other hand, the eutectic structure was deformed and the lamellar structure which was composed of {alpha}-Mg and Mg{sub 17}Al{sub 12} was formed near the weld interface in AM60 alloy. In the friction process, the adhesion and peel off occurred alternately between AZ31 and AM60. Eventually, bonding was completed during upset process. (orig.)
The microstructure of the layers produced by plasma nitriding austenitic stainless steel at different treatment temperatures (400 and 500 C) were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) together with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that the microstructures were composed of 'expanded austenite' ({gamma}{sub N}) and {alpha}(ferrite)+CrN following plasma nitriding at lower and higher treatment temperatures, respectively. The former contains stacking faults and deformed twin substructures, while the latter is made up of colonies displaying a lamellar structure. Kurdjumov-Sachs or Nishiyama-Wassermann orientation relationships between the {alpha} and CrN layer were observed. (orig.)
In the paper results of the investigation on the effect of microstructure on room temperature tensile properties and fracture toughness of two-phase #alpha#+#beta# titanium alloy Ti-6Al-2Mo-2Cr have been presented. Microstructure has been varied by changes in the cooling rate from the solution treatment temperature and aging time and temperature. Mechanical properties examined show dependence on the treatment conditions, especially aging conditions. It has been attributed mainly to the amount and morphology of #alpha# phase obtained after heat treatment. The higher volume fraction of lamellar #alpha# structure, the higher fracture toughness. (author)
Some results and experimental procedures of laboratory are reported in the frame of researches conducted for the development of new nanostructured composite materials. These new materials, which are constituted by an organic phase: the polymer and an inorganic phase: the silicate, are being strongly investigated nowadays so it is expected that they could provide, among other, better electrical insulation properties and flame-delay in electrical and electronic applications. The laboratory experimental work has been developed from two families of polymers, thermoplastics and thermosets and clays silicates providing lamellar type. There are now some preliminary results, such as obtaining thin films of these nanocomposite materials, their complete characterization by X-ray diffraction, scanning microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis, they do well to wait for future research activities. (author)
This paper describes the experimental results of long-life solid lubricated ball bearings tested under high-vacuum of 10 exp -4 Pa, high-temperature of 300 C, and high-speed (9000 rpm) conditions. For full ball-type bearings, the thin soft metals, either Ag or Pb, which were coated on the races and balls, appeared to have good torque properties. However, the durability of such bearings was less than 300 hours. The transfer films from the lamellar solid MoS2 and metal composite retainers improved the torque and wear properties. For ceramic, i.e., silicon nitride, balls used with steel rings, wear occurred on the inner rings. All ceramic bearings with composite retainers showed improved torque and wear properties. 18 refs.
Coherent Smith-Purcell radiation, emitted from short-bunched electrons passing by a lamellar-type grating of aluminum, has been observed in the millimeter wave region. The energy of the electrons is either 42 MeV when they are accelerated by an L-band linear accelerator or 150 MeV accelerated by an S-band one. The intensity of the radiation is proportional to the square of the beam current. The radiation is linearly polarized, and the electric vector of the radiation is in the plane defined by the observing point and the beam trajectory. The intensity decreases with the beam height, i.e. the distance of the beam from the surface of the grating, in accordance with the modified Bessel function of zeroth order. copyright 1996 American Institute of Physics.
A mesoscopically ordered lamellar gel phase of a polymer-grafted, lipid-based complex fluid is used as a scaffolding to spatially organize inorganic nanoparticles. The complex fluid provides both a highly anisotropic environment and a segregated aqueous and organic domains in which inorganic nanoparticles can be selectively placed by tailoring their size and surface characteristics. Three types of silver nanoparticles -- underivatized, surfactant-stabilized, and dodecanthiol-derivatized -- were evaluated. Comparison of the surface plasmon resonance of the various silver particles dispersed in conventional solvents to those contained within the complex fluid was used to determine the region of spatial localization in the lamellar gel phase. Silver particles rendered hydrophobic by capping with an alkane thiol insert into the hydrocarbon bilayer region. Surfactant-stabilized and underivatized silver nanoparticles reside in the aqueous channels, ...
The authors have discovered chert xenoliths from green rocks in the Pippu area, central Hokkaido, Japan. Reports were given on the discovery with regard to the state of its production, chemical composition of the green rocks, and radiolarian fossils produced from the chert and their age. Considerations were given on the geological significance thereof. On 23 green rocks and five cherts out of the collected samples, rock slices were prepared, and petrographic statement was made by using a polarizing microscope. In addition, the whole petro-chemical composition analysis was performed on green rocks to discuss the radiolarian fossils and geological ages. The following conclusions were obtained as a result: green rocks may be identified as a product of igneous activities in a large plate in a certain period from the latter Callovian period of the middle age of the Jurassic period to the Barremian period of the Paleozoic era in the Cretaceous period; and their formation field should have ...
Powders with nominal compositions (in atomic percent) Ti-48Al and Ti-48Al-2Nb-2Cr were prepared by the plasma rotating electrode process (PREP) and gas atomization (GA) techniques. As-solidified and heat-treated (1000degC per 3 h) powder samples were examined by metallography, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The microstructures of the powders were characterized as a function of atomization technique, alloy content, powder particle size (solidification rate) and thermal history. All of the as-solidified powders were comprised of disordered [alpha], and ordered [alpha][sub 2]-Ti[sub 3]Al and [gamma]-TiAl. For both alloys, a larger volume fraction of [alpha] and [alpha][sub 2] was observed in the PREP powders relative to GA powders of comparable size. Additionally, for both alloys and both atomization techniques, the volume fraction of [alpha][sub 2] was observed to increase with decreasing powder particle size. In general, the PREP ...
In this paper, an investigation was performed on a failure pressure vessel, which was as an anti-freezing heater for General Gas Storage and Distribution (SGZ) system. Evident and serious deformation was observed on the body of the vessel. A metallurgical investigation was conducted to establish the mechanism and cause of deformation of the anti-freezing heater at Daya Bay PWR station in China. The investigation, which was performed on specimens cut from the most serious area deformed of the vessel, included macroscopic examination and microscopy examination. The results of the examinations showed that some lamellar pearlite in the microstructure were already spheroidized. It was confirmed that the vessel was operated at high temperature. Stress analysis for the vessel was conducted. And it was confirmed that, in ideal conditions, the vessel would be deformed at around 420 C. The overall results of the investigation showed that the failure of the protected ...
Three high density polyethylene (PE) samples of different origins, with weight average molar masses ranging from 38 to 63 kg mol"-"1 and displaying a semi-ductile behavior with strain at break ?_R values of the order of 100-140%, were gamma irradiated under nitrogen for doses up to 33.3 kGy. Steric exclusion chromatography and rheometry allowed to quantify the crosslink density X. This later reached values ranging from 4.6 to 9.0x10"-"3 mol kg"-"1, i.e. situated below the gelation point. Differential calorimetry, density measurement and small angle X-rays scattering showed the absence of significant changes in the crystalline morphology, especially lamellar dimensions. Tensile testing revealed an unexpected trend towards brittle regime of fracture while yield stress increases significantly at low doses. It appeared that branching disfavors cavitation during yielding, but this effect is not favorable to ductility.
Purpose: To describe the clinical aspects and evaluate optical coherence tomography of macular microholes. Methods: Seven patients were assessed (8 eyes) with microholes of the macula. All patients underwent complete eye examination, fundus photography, fluorescent angiography and OCT-3 imaging. Results: Ages ranged from 26 to 69 years. Six patients were female (85.7%) and five of them had microhole in the right eye. The presenting symptom was decrease in visual acuity (71.3%) and central scotoma in (14.3%). Five eyes (71.4%) had no defects shown by fluorescent angiography. A defect in the outer retina was demonstrated in all eyes on optical coherence tomography. The lesions were nonprogressive. Conclusion: Macular microholes are small lamellar defects in the outer retina. The condition is nonprogressive, generally unilateral and compatible with good visual acuity. Fundus biomicroscopy associated with an optical coherence tomography are the main elements in the ...
A novel pseudo-morphotactic transformation route was developed to synthesize polycrystalline ?-W2N nanoplates by thermally treating tungstate-based inorganic-organic hybrid nanobelts with a lamellar microstructure in an NH3 flow. The tungstate-based hybrid nanobelts were formed in a water-in-oil-microemulsion-like 'commercial H2WO4 powders/n-octylamine/heptane' reaction system. The as-obtained hybrid nanobelts were thermally treated in an NH3 atmosphere at 650-800 oC for 2 h to form cubic ?-W2N nanoplates. XRD, SEM, TEM, FT-IR and TG-DTA were used to characterize the precursors and their final products. The polycrystalline ?-W2N nanoplates derived from hybrid nanobelts, with side lengths of several hundred nanometers, consist of small nanocrystals with an average grain size of 3.2 nm. The formation of ?-W2N nanoplates involved two steps: decomposing tungstate-based hybrid nanobelts into WOy and W species and then nitridizing the active W-containing species to ?-W2N ...
In this study the distribution of sup(99m)Tc-diphosphonate and tetracycline and histological examination were also investigated in femoral heads obtained during replacement surgery. One hundred patients received scintigraphic examinations immediately after the occurrence of injury and every month thereafter. Ten mCi of sup(99m)Tc-diphosphonate was injected intravenously. Three hours later, detailed scintigrams of the bilateral hip areas were made with a scintillation camera connected to a computer. The uptake of sup(99m)Tc-diphosphonate in the fracture was expressed as a ratio of the counts recorded in one area to those recorded in the other area. A peak value in count ratio was recorded in all patients 4 to 6 weeks after fractures. One hundred patients were classified into a normal healing group and a delayed or non-union group. Namely, sup(99m)Tc-diphosphonate uptake was significantly higher in the delayed or non-union group than in the normal healing group 10 weeks after injury. ...
In this study the distribution of sup(99m)Tc-diphosphonate and tetracycline and histological examination were also investigated in femoral heads obtained during replacement surgery. One hundred patients received scintigraphic examinations immediately after the occurrence of injury and every month thereafter. Ten mCi of sup(99m)Tc-diphosphonate was injected intravenously. Three hours later, detailed scintigrams of the bilateral hips areas were made with a scintillation camera connected to a computer. The uptake of sup(99m)Tc-diphosphonate in the fracture was expressed as a ratio of the counts recorded in one area to those recorded in the other area. A peak value in count ratio was recorded in all patients 4 to 6 weeks after fractures. One hundred patients were classified into a normal healing group and a delayed or non-union group. Namely, sup(99m)Tc-diphosphonate uptake was significantly higher in the delayed or non-union group than in the normal healing group 10 weeks after injury. ...