The 66 k-Da protein identified as a light meromyosin is involved in the setting of surimi

The 66 kilo-Dalton (k-Da) protein split off from the cross linked myosin heavy chain (CMHC) formed due to the setting of Alaska pollack surimi, frozen-storage of Pacific cod flesh, and vinegar-curing of Pacific mackerel mince was identified as a light meromyosin (LMM). Puncture and stress-relaxation tests showed that the actomyosin subunits (AMS) of Alaska pollack surimi, upon setting at 30°C, transformed into gel, although the elasticity of this gel was very low when compared to the gels from surimi or actomyosin (AM). Electrophoretic studies showed that the band due to LMM in the gel from AMS gradually disappeared with the progress of setting but higher molecular weight polymer did not form. The intensity of the bands due to other myosin sub-fragments decreased a little. The findings suggest that at setting temperature, LMM of MHC molecule leads to an unfolding resulting in an intramolecular aggregation through non-covalent interactions, and thus plays a significant role in the crosslinking of MHC.

Branching toughens fibrous networks.

Fibrous collagenous networks are not only stiff but also tough, due to their complex microstructures. This stiff yet tough behavior is desirable for both medical and military applications but it is difficult to reproduce in engineering materials. While the nonlinear hyperelastic behavior of fibrous networks has been extensively studied, the understanding of toughness is still incomplete. Here, we identify a microstructure mimicking the branched bundles of a natural type I collagen network, in which partially cross-linked long fibers give rise to novel combinations of stiffness and toughness. Finite element analysis shows that the stiffness of fully cross-linked fibrous networks is amplified by increasing the fibril length and cross-link density. However, a trade-off of such stiff networks is reduced toughness. By having partially cross-linked networks with long fibrils, the networks have comparable stiffness and improved toughness as compared to the fully cross-linked networks. Further, the partially cross-linked networks avoid the formation of kinks, which cause fibril rupture during deformation. As a result, the branching allows the networks to have stiff yet tough behavior.

纳米耐油型全硫化热塑性弹性体的制备与形态、结构及性能研究

本文以过氧化物为引发剂，采用反应挤出的方法，制备了甲基丙烯酸缩水甘油酷官能化聚丙烯，采用化学滴定法和红外光谱法均证实了接枝共聚物的存在，并研究了反应条件对PP-g-GMA接枝率、接枝效率和熔体流动速率的影响，结果表明：1．当DCP含量一定时，随着单体含量的增加，接枝产物的接枝率出现了一个峰值。这表明一味地增加单体浓度未必有利于接枝率的提高；2．当GMA单体浓度一定时，PP-g-GMA的接枝率和熔融指数均随着引发剂含量的增加而逐渐增大，这表明引发剂浓度的增加在促进接枝反应的同时也引入了更多的副反应；3．助剂苯乙烯的加入大大地提高了PP-g-GMA的接枝率和接枝效率，且产物的熔融指数与纯聚丙烯相比变化很小，这表明助剂苯乙烯的加入有效地抑制了副反应的发生，且促进了接枝反应的发生。研究了官能化聚丙烯PP-g-GMA的形态、结构与性能，结果表明：1．官能化对聚丙烯的结晶行为有显著的影响，不仅结晶温度和熔融温度有显著的增加，而且结晶度也有一定程度的增加；2．纯聚丙烯的结晶结构为典型的a型结晶，而接枝聚丙烯的结晶则以a型结晶为主，并出现了少量的Y型结晶；3．采用Avrami方程可以很好的描述官能化聚丙烯的初级结晶行为，纯聚丙烯和官能化聚丙烯的 tl几和tmax均随着结晶温度的增加而增加，这表明它们的结晶过程由成核控制；4．采用Jeziornn法研究了官能化聚丙烯的非等温结晶动力学，非等温结晶过程可以分为初级结晶和次级结晶两部分，在次级结晶阶段，曲线偏离了初级结晶部分的直线，表明在次级结晶阶段，官能化聚丙烯的成核与生长方式发生了变化；5．采用DMA研究了官能化聚丙烯的动态热机械行为，官能化后聚丙烯的耐热性提高了，而且随着接枝率的升高，耐热性又有进一步的提高。以官能化聚丙烯作为反应型增容剂，采用反应共棍的方法，制备了耐油型全 硫化CNBR/PP热塑性弹性体，并研究了热塑性弹性体的形态、结构与性能。主要 结果如下：1．采用红外光谱法表征了梭基丁睛粉末橡胶和PP-g-GMA间的反应。 2．透射电子显微镜和原子力显微镜结果表明，当一部分聚丙烯被官能化聚丙烯替代后，体系中橡胶粒子的尺寸明显变小了，分布也更加均一了。在CNBR/PP-g-GMIA 体系中，原位增容反应形成的共聚物位于cNBR和PP-g-GMA两相的界面处。3．加入少量接枝聚丙烯后共混物的力学性能，如拉伸强度、100％定伸强度和断裂伸长 率均有明显的提高，而且，对于CNBR/PPPP-g-GMA共混物，只需少量的界面增 容剂便可以使两相界面达到饱和并达到较好的增容效果。4．动力学和热力学因素 均影响共混物中聚丙烯的结晶行为，在CNBR/PP体系中，动力学因素占主导地位，而CNBR/PP-g-GMA体系中热力学因素占主导作用。另外，采用Avromi方程描述了CNBR/PP和CNBR/PP-g-GMA体系的等温结晶动力学。5．接枝聚丙烯的加入阻碍了接枝聚丙烯与梭基丁睛橡胶两相间的界面层滑移，因此提高了体系的粘度。以官能化聚丙烯作为反应型增容剂，采用反应共混的方法，制备了耐油型全硫化NBR/PP热塑性弹性体，并研究了热塑性弹性体的形态、结构与性能。主要结果如下：1．采用红外光谱法表征了官能化聚丙烯与端氨基液体丁睛橡胶间的反应，但仅从红外光谱的结果很难断定产物的分子结构；2．采用透射电子显微镜观察了NBR/PP共混物的微观形态，结果表明，NBR／PP共混物体系中除了含有直径为几十纳米的小橡胶粒子外，还有直径为几微米甚至几十微米的大橡胶粒子存在，且随着橡胶含量的增加，体系中大橡胶粒子的数量增多了，小橡胶粒子的分布也变得密集了；3．采用差示扫描量热法表征了NB侧PP共混物的受限结晶行为，结果表明，（1）在220℃的高温下，部分丁睛橡胶分子产生了一定的运动，从而限制了聚丙烯分子的运动，使聚丙烯分子产生了受限结晶行为；（2）随着橡胶含量的增加，橡胶粒子间的距离逐渐变小，这使得位于橡胶粒子间隙的聚丙烯分子的运动受到限制，因此聚丙烯表现出受限结晶的行为；（3）受限的聚丙烯分子更倾向于Y型结晶。

A sensitive NADH and glucose biosensor tuned by visible light based on thionine bridged carbon nanotubes and gold nanoparticles multilayer

A NADH and glucose biosensor based on thionine cross-linked multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) multilayer functionalized indium-doped tin oxide (ITO) electrode were presented in this paper. The effect of light irradiation on the enhancement of bioelectrocatalytic processes of the biocatalytic systems by the photovoltaic effect was investigated.

Construction of coordination networks with high connectivity: a new 8-connected self-penetrating network based on tetranuclear metal clusters

Two highly connected cobalt(II) and zinc(II) coordination polymers with tetranuclear metal clusters as the nodes of network have been prepared, being the first example of an 8-connected self-penetrating net based on a cross-linked alpha-Po subnet.

Controlled release of urea encapsulated by starch-g-poly(L-lactide)

This paper presented a new approach for preparing a new type of slow-release membrane-encapsulated urea fertilizer with starch-g-PLLA as biodegradable carrier materials. By solution-casting and washing rapidly with water the urea was individually encapsulated within the starch matrix modified by L-lactide through in situ graft-copolymerization.

Chitosan(Chitin)/Cellulose Composite Biosorbents Prepared Using Ionic Liquid for Heavy Metal Ions Adsorption

Chitosan(chitin)/cellulose composites as biodegradable biosorbents were prepared under an environment-friendly preparation processes using ionic liquids. Infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectra indicated the stronger intermolecular hydrogen bond between chitosan and cellulose, and the hydroxyl and amine groups were believed to be the metal ion binding sites. Among the prepared biosorbents, freeze-dried composite had higher adsorption capacity and better stability. The capacity of adsorption was found to be Cu(II) (0.417 mmol/g) > Zn(II) (0.303 mmol/g) > Cr(VI) (0.251 mmol/g) > Ni(II) (0.225 mmol/g) > Ph(II) (0.127 mmol/g) at the same initial concentration 5 mmol L-1. In contrast to some other chitosan-type biosorbents, preparation and component of the biosorbent were obviously more environment friendly. Moreover, adsorption capacity of chitosan in the blending biosorbent could be fully shown.

A novel route to polyethylene-polystyrene blends through the fragmentation of porous polystyrene beads supported metallocene in ethylene polymerization

Polyethylene-polystyrene blends were synthesized by in situ ethylene polymerization with polystyrene porous beads supported metallocene; the influence of fragmenting support beads on the morphology and the mechanical performance of the blends was investigated.

Polymeric pH indicators immobilized PVA membranes for optical sensors of high basicity based on a kinetic process

Two kinds of polymeric pH indicators PPF (phenolphthalein-formaldehyde product) and CPF (o-cresolphthalein-formaldehyde product) immobilized cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol) membranes (PPF-PVA and CPF-PVA) for optical intermittent determination of high basicity ([OH-] = 1-8 M) based on a kinetic process were developed. In our previous work, we had demonstrated that PPF-PVA and CPF-PVA could perform the determination of high pH values from pH 10.0 to 14.0. Here the discoloring kinetic behaviors of PPF-PVA and CPF-PVA were compared with those of free phenolphthalein, o-cresolphthalein and thymolphthalein. Experimental results and theoretical analysis indicated that the response behaviors of the optodes' membranes in concentrated NaOH solutions were diffusion-independent and still complied with the pseudo-first-order kinetics. In addition, two data analysis methods for determination were presented. One was directly based on the reduced absorbance: the other was based on the discoloring kinetic constant. It was found that the latter could perform a rapid (60 s) and reliable (relative standard deviation: 2.6%) determination for high basicity.

Effect of DNA flanking sequence on charge transport in short DNA duplexes

Several factors can influence charge transport (CT)-mediated DNA, such as sequence, distance, base stacking, base pair mismatch, conformation, tether length, etc. However, the DNA context effect or how flanking sequences influence redox active drugs in the DNA CT reaction and later in DNA enzymatic repair and synthesis is still not well understood. The set of seven DNA molecules in this study have been characterized well for the study of flanking sequence effects. These DNA duplexes are formed from self-complementary strands and contain the common central four-base sequence 5'-A-G-C-T-3', flanked on both sides by either (AT)(n) or (AA)(n) (n = 2, 3, or 4) or AA(AT)(2). UV-vis, fluorescence, UV melting, circular dichroism, and cyclic voltammetry experiments were used to study the flanking sequence effect on CT-mediated DNA by using daunomycin or adriamycin cross-linked with these seven DNA molecules. Our results showed that charge transport was related to the flanking sequence, DNA melting free energy, and ionic strength. For (AA)(n) or (AT)(n) species of the same length, (AA)(n) series were more stable and more efficient CT was observed through the (AA)(n) series. The same trend was observed for (AA)(n) and (AT)(n) series at different ionic strengths, further supporting the idea that flanking sequence can result in different base stacking and modulate charge transport through these seven DNA molecules.

Composite film of carbon nanotubes and chitosan for preparation of amperometric hydrogen peroxide biosensor

A new amperometric biosensor for hydrogen peroxide was developed based on cross-linking horseradish peroxidase (HRP) by glutaraldehyde with multiwall carbon nanotubes/chitosan (MWNTs/chitosan) composite film coated on a glassy carbon electrode. MWNTs were firstly dissolved in a chitosan solution. Then the morphology of MWNTs/chitosan composite film was characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that MWNTs were well soluble in chitosan and robust films could be formed on the surface. HRP was cross-linked by glutaraldehyde with MWNTs/chitosan film to prepare a hydrogen peroxide biosensor. The enzyme electrode exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity and rapid response for H2O2 in the absence of a mediator. The linear range of detection towards H2O2 (applied potential: -0.2 V) was from 1.67 x 10(-5) to 7.40 x 10(-4) M with correction coefficient of 0.998. The biosensor had good repeatability and stability for the determination of H2O2. There were no interferences from ascorbic acid, glucose, citrate acid and lactic acid.

An investigation on air stability of copper phthalocyanine-based organic thin-film transistors and device encapsulation

The device performances of copper phthalocyanine (CuPc)-based organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) in main components of air were studied. We found that the device stored in O-2 humidified by water exhibited the changes of electric characteristics including positive-shifted threshold voltage and lower I-on/I-off but unchanged mobility, which was similar to the device exposed to room air. These changes are attributed to O-2 doping to copper phthalocyanine thin film assisted by water. Furthermore, a cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol film was used as encapsulation layer to prevent the permeation of O-2 and water, which resulted in excellent stability even when devices were placed in air for over a year. Therefore, current studies will push the development of OTFTs for practical applications.

Ethylene polymerization with porous polystyrene spheres supported Cp2ZrCl2 catalyst

A catalyst with porous polystyrene beads supported Cp2ZrCl2 was prepared and tested for ethylene polymerization with methylaluminoxane as a cocatalyst. By comparison, the porous supported catalyst maintained higher activity and produced polyethylene with better morphology than its corresponding solid supported catalyst. The differences between activities of the catalysts and morphologies of the products were reasonably explained by the fragmentation processes of support as frequently observed with the inorganic supported Ziegler-Natta catalysts. Investigation into the distribution of polystyrene in the polyethylene revealed the fact that the porous polystyrene supported catalyst had undergone fragmentation during polymerization.

Hydrogel of biodegradable cellulose derivatives. I. Radiation-induced crosslinking of CMC

Radiation crosslinking of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) with a degree of substitution (DS) from 0.7 to 2.2 was the subject of the current investigation. CMC was irradiated in solid-state and aqueous solutions at various irradiation doses. The DS and the concentration of the aqueous solution had a remarkable affect on the crosslinking of CMC. Irradiation of CMC, even with a high DS, 2.2 in solid state, and a low DS, 0.7 in 10% aqueous solution, resulted in degradation. However, it was found that irradiation of CMC with a relatively high DS, 1.32, led to crosslinking in a 5% aqueous solution, and 20% CMC gave the highest gel fraction. CMC with a DS of 2.2 induced higher crosslinking than that with a DS of 1.32 at lower doses with the same concentration. Hence, it was apparent that a high DS and a high concentration in an aqueous solution were favorable for high crosslinking of CMC. It is assumed that; high radiation crosslinking of CMC was induced by the increased mobility of its molecules in water and by the formation of CMC radicals from the abstraction of H atoms from macromolecules in the intermediate products of water radiolysis. A preliminary biodegradation study confirmed that crosslinked CMC hydrogel can be digested by a cellulase enzyme. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Acetylcholinesterase amperometric detection system based on a cobalt(II) tetraphenylporphyrin-modified electrode

An acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity detection system was fabricated based on the electrocatalysis of cobalt(II) tetraphenylporphyrin of the electrooxidation of thiocholine chloride, which is the product of the hydrolysis of acetylthiocholine chloride by AChE. A simple modified method was used to form the base electrode. AChE was cross-linked on the base electrode by glutaraldehyde. The optimum working conditions are discussed and the characteristics of the detection system are evaluated.