A NEW HYDROGEN SENSOR WITH RARE-EARTH COMPLEX FLUORIDE

A new type of solid-state galvanic cell for detecting a small amount of hydrogen in air at room temperature is proposed. The sensor cell is a potentiometric cell using Ce0.95Ca0.05F2.95 as solid-state electrolyte. The cell exhibits good sensing properties to hydrogen in air at room temperature.

MISCIBILITY OF POLY(N-VINYL-2-PYRROLIDONE) WITH A COPOLYAMIDE

Blends of poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP) with a copolyamide (CoPA) randomly composed of 1:1:1 (wt) nylon 6, nylon 66 and nylon 610 structural units were prepared by casting from a common solvent. They were found to be miscible and show a single, composition-dependent glass transition temperature (T(g)). The addition of PVP to CoPA significantly lowers the crystallinity owing to an increasing T(g) of the system. The observed miscibility is proposed to be the result of specific interactions between the proton acceptor groups of PVP and the amide groups of CoPA.

MOLECULAR-WEIGHT DEPENDENCE OF THE GLASS-TRANSITION OF CYCLIC POLYSTYRENE

The glass transition temperature (T(g)) of cyclic polystyrene was measured by differential scanning calorimetry. There was a marked difference in the glass transition behaviour between cyclic and linear polystyrene. In the low molecular weight region (M(n) < 5 x 10(3)), the T(g) of the cyclic polystyrene increased with decreasing M(n), contrary to that of linear polystyrene. With M(n) higher than 5 x 10(3), the T(g) of cyclic polystyrene increased with increasing M(n). The T(g) of cyclic and linear polystyrene approached the same constant value when the M(n) was high enough (M(n) > 10(5)). Combining the results of specific volume, it is believed that the variation of T(g) with molecular weight does not depend only on free volume effects but that configurational entropy is also an important factor.

GLASS-TRANSITION TEMPERATURE AND MOLECULAR-PARAMETERS OF POLYMER

A new relationship, which correlates the glass transition temperature (T(g)) with other molecular parameters, is developed by using Flory's lattice statistics of polymer chain and taking the dynamic segment as the basic statistical unit. The dependences of T(g) on the chain stiffness factor (sigma-2), dynamic stiffness factor (beta = -d ln-sigma-2/dT) and molecular weight of polymer are discussed in detail based on the theory. The theory is compared with experimental data for many linear polymers and good agreement is obtained. It is shown that T(g) is essentially governed by the chain stiffness factor at T(g). Moreover, a simple correlation between the parameter K(g) of the Fox-Flory equation (T(g) = T(g)infinity - K(g)/M(n)) and other molecular parameters is deduced. The agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental measurements of K(g) has been found to be satisfactory for many polymers.

Gene transfer into conchospores of Porphyra haitanensis (Bangiales, Rhodophyta) by glass bead agitation

Genetic transformation by electroporation of protoplasts is a standard procedure for many plants. However, for the genus Porphyra, the method is not effective because of low viability of protoplasts and is a time-consuming and expensive procedure. Based on the life history of Porphyra, a spore-targeted strategy of genetic transformation was developed, that is, using fresh conchospores of Porphyra haitanensis Chang & Zheng transformed by agitation with glass beads. A SV40 promoter-driven lacZ reporter gene was expressed in conchospores 48 h after the agitation. More transformants were obtained by increasing the agitation time from 10 to 25 s. The maximum number of transformants was more than six out of 1 million agitated conchospores. Transfer of a SV40 promoter-driven egfp gene into conchospores resulted in significant green GFP fluorescence. The expression of lacZ and egfp revealed that this strategy of spore-targeted transformation using glass bead agitation is feasible in P. haitanensis and that the SV40 promoter is effective for monitoring expression of foreign genes in this red algal species.

Transformation of Platymonas (Tetraselmis) subcordiformis (Prasinophyceae, Chlorophyta) by agitation with glass beads

A transient transformation system for the unicellular marine green alga, Platymonas subcordiformis, was established in this study. We introduced the pEGFP-N1 vector into P. subcordiformis with a glass bead method. P. subcordiformis was incubated in cell wall lytic enzymes (abalone acetone powder and cellulase solutions) to degrade the cell wall. The applicable conditions for production of viable protoplasts were pH 6.5, 25 degrees C, and 3 h of enzyme treatment. The protoplast yield was 61.2% when P. subcordiformis cells were added to the enzyme solution at a concentration of 10(7) cell ml(-1). The protoplasts were immediately transformed with the pEGFP-N1 vector using glass-bead method. The transformation frequency was about 10(-5), and there was no GFP activity observed in either the negative or the blank controls. This study indicated that GFP was a sensitively transgenic reporter for P. subcordiformis, and the method of cell wall enzymolysis followed by glass bead agitation was applicable for the transformation of P. subcordiformis.

Observations on the nocturnal activity and feeding behavior of Anguilla japonica glass eels under laboratory conditions

Glass eels of the temperate anguillid species, Anguilla japonica, clearly showed a nocturnal activity rhythm under laboratory conditions. Light-dark cycle was a determinant factor affecting their photonegative behavior, nocturnal locomotor activity, and feeding behavior. Under natural light conditions, glass eels remained in shelters with little daytime feeding, but came out to forage during darkness. They moved and foraged actively in the following dark, and then their activity gradually declined possibly because of food satiation. They finally buried in the sand or stayed in tubes immediately after the lights came on. Under constant light, glass eels often came out of the shelters to forage in the lights but spent little time moving outside the shelters (e.g. swimming or crawling on the sand). Glass eels took shelter to avoid light and preferred tubes to sand for shelter possibly because tubes were much easier for them to take refuge in than sand. Feeding and locomotor activities of the glass eels were nocturnal and well synchronized. They appeared to depend on olfaction rather than vision to detect and capture prey in darkness. Feeding was the driving force for glass eels to come out of sand under constant light. However, in the dark, some glass eels swam or crept actively on sand even when they were fully fed. The lunar cycles of activity rhythms of glass eels that have been observed in some estuarine areas were not detected under these laboratory conditions.

花岗岩-LiF-NaF-H_2O体系液相不混溶的实验研究

Liquid segregation phenomena have been found and explained in the F(Li)-rich granites in south China by Wang Linakui et al. (1979; 1983). A number of experimental investigations into the liquid immiscibilities in the granites systems have been carried out (Anfilogov et al., 1983; Glyuk et al., 1971; Glyuk et al., 1973a; 1973b; kovalenko, 1978; Wang Liangkui et al., 1987). Nevertheless, the detailed scenarios of the liquid immiscibilities in the granitic magmas are much less understood. This experimental study is amide to get access to this problem. Starting materials are biotite granite +LiF(3-10%)+NaF(3-10%)+H_2O(30%). The experimental results have shown that the liquid immiscibilities of melts of different compositions occur at 1 kbar and 840 ℃ when 5wt% (LiF + NaF) are added to the granite samples. three kinds of glasses indicating of three types of coexisting immiscible melts have been observed: light blue matrix glass, melanocratic glass balls and leucocratic glass balls. It is interesting that we have observed various kinds of textures as follows: spherulitic texture, droplets, flow bands, swirls. All these textures can be comparable to those in the natural granitic bodies. Electron microprobe data suggest that these different kinds of glasses are of different chemical compositions respectively; matrix glasses are F-poor silicate melts; melanocratic balls correspond to F-rich silicate melts; and leucocratic balls are the melts consisting mainly of fluorides. Raman spectrometric data have indicated that different glasses have different melt structures. TFM Diagrams at 1000 * 10~5 Pa have been plotted, in which two miscible gaps are found. One of the two gaps corresponds to the immiscibility between F - poor silicate melt and F-rich silicate melt, another to that between the silicate melt and fluoride melt. The experiments at different pressures have suggested that the decreases in pressures are favorable to the liquid immiscibility. Several reversal experiments have indicated that the equilibria in different runs have been achieved. We have applied the experimental results to explain the field evidence of immiscibilities in some of granites associated with W-Sn-Nb-Ta mineralization. These field phenomena include flow structure, globular structures,mineralized globular patche and glass inclusions in topaz. We believe that the liquid immiscibility (liquid segregation) is a possible way of generation of F(Li)-rich granites. During the evolution of the granitic magmas, the contents of Li, F, H_2O and ore-forming elements in the magmas become higher and higher. The granites formed in the extensional tectonic settings commonly bear higher abundences of the above-mentioned elements. the pressures of the granitic magmas are relatively lower during the processes of their emplacements and cooling. The late-staged magmas will produce liquid immiscibilities, leading to the production of several coexisting immiscible melts with different chemical compositions. The flow of immiscible consisting magmas will produce F(Li)-rich granites. It is also considered that liquid immiscibilities are of great significance in the production of rare metal granites. The ore-forming processes and magmatic crystallization and metasomatic processes can be occur at the same time. The mineralisations of rare metals are related to both magmatic and hydrothermal processes.

Colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescence sensing of fluoride: Tuning selectivity in proton transfer

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Na-23, Si-29, and C-13 MAS NMR investigation of glass-forming reactions between Na2CO3 and SiO2

Winter, Rudolf; Jones, A.R.; Greaves, G.N.; Smith, I.H., (2005) 'Na-23, Si-29, and C-13 MAS NMR investigation of glass-forming reactions between Na2CO3 and SiO2', Journal of Physical Chemistry B 109(49) pp.23154-23161 RAE2008

Inorganic glasses, glass-forming liquids and amorphizing solids

Greaves, George; Sen, S., (2007) 'Inorganic glasses, glass-forming liquids and amorphizing solids', Advances in Physics 56(1) pp.1-166 RAE2008

Tracing the reactive melting of glass-forming silicate batches by in situ Na-23 NMR

Winter, Rudolf; Jones, A.R.; Florian, P.; Massiot, D., (2005) 'Tracing the reactive melting of glass-forming silicate batches by in situ Na-23 NMR', Journal of Physical Chemistry B 109(10) pp.4324-4332 RAE2008