Synthesis using electrospinning and stabilization of single layer macroporous films and fibrous networks of poly(vinyl alcohol)

We demonstrated in this paper an electrospinning technique could be employed to prepare the single layer macroporous films and fibrous networks of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). A crucial element using electrospinning on the development of these electrospun structures was to shorten the distance of from the needle tip to the collector (L), which resulted in the bond of the wet fibers deposited on the collector at the junctions. The morphologies and average pore size of electrospun structures of PVA were mainly predominated by L and the time of collecting wet fibers on the collector. In addition, experimental results showed that an increase of the PVA concentration or a decrease of the applied voltage could also diminish slightly the average pore size of electrospun productions. Furthermore, a 60 degrees C absolute ethanol soak to PVA electrospun production led them to be able to stabilize in water for 1 month against disintegration. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) demonstrated that the 60 degrees C ethanol soak enhanced the degree of crystallinity of PVA production. The structural characteristic of macroporous films and networks in combination with their easy processability suggests potential utility in issue engineering applications.

Networks with hexagonal circuits in co-ordination polymers of metal ions (Zn-II, Cd-II) with 1,1 '-(1,4-butanediyl)bis(imidazole)

Three new compounds, [ZnL1.5(H2O)(SO4)]. 6H(2)O 1, [ZnL1.5(H2O)(2)][NO3](2). 2H(2)O 2 and [CdL1.5(H2O)(2)(SO4)]. 4H(2)O 3 were obtained from self-assembly of the corresponding metal salts with 1,1'-(1,4-butanediyl)bis(imidazole) (L). In both 1 and 2 zinc ion is five-co-ordinated, showing a less-common trigonal bipyramidal co-ordination polyhedron, while cadmium ion of 3 is six-co-ordinated with a common octahedral arrangement. The sulfate ions of 1 and 3 are co-ordinated, however the nitrate ions of 2 are not. Each of the three compounds is composed of a (6, 3) network with the hexagonal smallest circuit containing six metal ions and six L; each L is co-ordinated to two metal ions, acting as a bridging ligand. In 1 the 2-D sheet of (6, 3) networks is interpenetrated in an inclined mode by symmetry related, identical sheets to give an interlocked 3-D structure, while the (6, 3) networks of both 2 and 3 stack in a parallel fashion to construct frameworks having channels.

Prevalent positive epistasis in Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolic networks

Epistasis refers to the interaction between genes. Although high-throughput epistasis data from model organisms are being generated and used to construct genetic networks(1-3), the extent to which genetic epistasis reflects biologically meaningful interactions remains unclear(4-6). We have addressed this question through in silico mapping of positive and negative epistatic interactions amongst biochemical reactions within the metabolic networks of Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae using flux balance analysis. We found that negative epistasis occurs mainly between nonessential reactions with overlapping functions, whereas positive epistasis usually involves essential reactions, is highly abundant and, unexpectedly, often occurs between reactions without overlapping functions. We offer mechanistic explanations of these findings and experimentally validate them for 61 S. cerevisiae gene pairs.

Controlled organization of silver nanoparticles into network assemblies by tuning pH values

We demonstrate the pH-induced assembly of 2-mercaptosuccinic acid-functionalized silver nanoparticles (MSA-Ag NPs) in the absence of hard or soft template. Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) networks of silver NPs were achieved by tuning pH of the medium. The assembly process was monitored using atomic forces microscopy. The key factor affects the formation of network of silver NPs may be intermolecular hydrogen bonding between two carboxylic acid groups of MSA on two adjacent silver NPs.

Two new coordination polymers of Co(II) with 1,1 '-(1,4-butanediyl)bis(benzimidazole)

Two new compounds, [CoL2(H2O)(2)](NO3)(2). 8H(2)O (1) and [CoL(H2O)(2)(CH3CO2)(2)]. H2O (2), were obtained from self-assembly of the corresponding metal salts with 1,1'-(1,4-butanediyl)bis(benzimidazole) (L). In 1, each cobalt ion is coordinated to four nitrogen atoms from four molecules of L, and to two water molecules. Metal ions are bridged by L ligands to form infinite (4, 4) networks that contain 44-membered rings. The (4, 4) networks of 1 stack in a parallel fashion, resulting in the formation of large channels in the material. In 2, each cobalt ion is coordinated to two N atoms from two L molecules, two water molecules and two carboxylate O atoms from two acetate anions. Each L molecule is coordinated to two cobalt ions, acting as a bridging ligand as in 1. The bridged cobalt ions form an infinite zigzag chain structure.

When is `partial' adequate? A logic-based proof technique using partial specifications

A technique is presented for ascertaining when a (finite-state) partial process specification is adequate, in the sense of being specified enough, for contexts in which it is to be used. The method relies on the automatic generation of a modal formula from the partial specification; if the remainder of the network satisfies this formula, then any process that meets the specification is guaranteed to ensure correct behavior of the overall system. Using the results, the authors develop compositional proof rules for establishing the correctness of networks of parallel processes and illustrate their use with several examples

Studies on polyepichlorohydrin-based polyurethane/poly(MMA-co-St) IPNs

Interpenetrating polymer networks of polyepichlorohydrin-based polyurethane/poly(MMA-co-St) have been prepared with simultaneous mettled by changing the weight fraction of MMA(W-MMA) in copolymer of MMA with styrene. The IPNs have been studied by DSC, TEM and dynamic mechanical spectroscopy(DMS). The results show that the IPNs have only one T-g, when W-MMA is greater than 0. 6. But when W-MMA IMA is less than 0. 4, the IPNs have two T(g)s, and phase separation is observed on TEM. The phenomenon is explained according to the solubility parameters(delta) and the fraction of hydrogen bond(delta(h)) of P (MMA-co-St). The study reveals that there is a close correlation among the delta, domain size and mechanical properties of PU (PECH)/P(MMA-co-St) IPN.

汉语文本语篇语句焦点确定及焦点与重音关系研究

This study investigated the method of the focus identification in Chinese text discourse and the relationship between accent and focus, large corpus analysis and decision tree were used in the research. The main results are: 1. Based on the concept of the Focus and understanding of the discourse, Foci identification is consistent and steady; 2. Special Focus markers and specific Focus constructions have greater influence than special constituent order on identifying Focus in Chinese discourse; while information states also have great influence on focus identifying; part of speech，information state, the relative position in the sentence, focus-sensitive operator, specific Focus constructions, contrast relations, relations between the sentences are important factors to focus identifying; 3. Using multi-dimensional tagging and knowledge discovery, it is a feasible way to construct and employ decision trees by computing tagging results to identify Focus; 4. Focus predicting also depends on literal types and styles of the discourse, several types of decision trees should be constructed for different literal types; 5. In the monologue discourse, the most prominent accent is located on the Focus word or in the scope of the Focus; there are some kinds of rules on accent assignment in broad Focus; it is necessary to analyze and classify focus structure for the research of relations between accent and Focus.