Novel octopus shaped organic-inorganic composite membranes for PEMFCs

© 2016 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC.Phosphoric acid doped polybenzimidazoles are among the most interesting proton exchange membrane materials for high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell applications. As a major challenge the proton conducting decline due to free phosphoric acid leaching during the long term fuel cell operation is addressed by fixing overmuch phosphoric acid in the polymer matrix. Novel organic-inorganic composite membranes are prepared via in situ synthesis of poly(2,5-benzimidazole) (ABPBI) and OctaAmmonium POSS (AM-POSS) hybrid composites (ABPBI/AM-POSS) following phosphoric acid doping and membrane casting procedures. Compared with the pristine ABPBI membrane, the introduction of AM-POSS into ABPBI polymer membrane caused water and phosphoric acid absorbilities increasing dramatically, resulting in the significant increase of proton conductivities at whether hydrous or anhydrous condition. ABPBI/3AM composite membranes with phosphoric acid uptake above 250% showed best proton conductivities from room temperature to 160 °C, indicating these composite membranes could be excellent candidates as a polymer electrolyte membrane for low and intermediate temperature applications

Development of clay modifications for polymer/clay nanocomposites

Three commercial clays: Cloisite Na+ , Cloisite 30B and Cloisite 15A were used to melt compound with a number of polymer matrices, including polypropylene (PP), poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) and polyamides (PA). X-ray diffraction (XRD), contact angle measurement and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed small interlayer space, poor compatibility and low thermal stability of these nanocomposites, resulting in poor mechanical properties in composites. A number of modifications of commercial clays were carried out, including silylation and introduction of thermally stable surfactants, e.g. alkyl quaternary phosphonium cations and polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS). It was found that poor compatibility between polymer matrices and organically modified clays, especially in those POSS modified clays, again restricted the formation of exfoliated structure in polymer matrices. A mode of dual-surfactant modification for clay was developed, and large interlayer spacing (>3.2 nm), good thermal stability (decomposed at ~300ºC) and improved surface properties for those dual-surfactant modified clays promoted a better dispersion of clays in polymer matrices and consequently better mechanical properties. For example, the tensile moduli of PP, PBT and PA 12 were improved from 515 MPa, 1065 MPa and 490 MPa to 1020 MPa, 1470 MPa and 800 MPa of their nanocomposites containing 3 wt% dual-surfactant modified clays, respectively. However, the dispersion of these organoclays varied in different polymer matrices, due to the different compatibility and the existence of polar type interactions between organoclays and polymer matrices. In order to further address the effect of polymer matrix on clay dispersion, three polyamide matrices (PA 6, PA 11 and PA 12) were employed, and PA 6 based nanocomposites showed the most effective exfoliation and mechanical enhancements due to the strong polar type interactions between the polymer and the organoclays

Long non-coding RNA Opa interacting protein 5-antisense RNA 1 binds to micorRNA-34a to upregulate oncogenic PD-L1 in non-small cell lung cancer

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) OPA-interacting protein 5 antisense transcript 1 (OIP5-AS1) plays an oncogenic role in several types of cancer, but whether it is involved in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unclear. Our preliminary sequencing analysis revealed the upregulation of OIP5-AS1 in NSCLC. In this study, gene expression levels were analyzed by RT-qPCR. RNA-RNA pull-down assay was applied to detect direct interactions between RNAs. Overexpression assays were performed to explore the relationship between miR-34a and OIP5-AS1. CCK-8 assay and colony formation assay were applied to evaluate cell proliferation. In NSCLC cells (H23), overexpression of OIP5-AS1 increased the expression levels of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). In addition, inhibition of OIP5-AS1 and overexpression of miR-34a decreased the expression levels of PD-L1, and miR-34a significantly blocked the role of overexpression of OIP5-AS1. Overexpression of OIP5-AS1 and PD-L1 promoted H23 and H22 cells proliferation, while silencing of miR-34a and OIP5-AS1 played opposite roles and eliminated the effects of overexpression of OIP5-AS1 on cell proliferation. Therefore, OIP5-AS1 was upregulated to enhance the expression of oncogenic PD-L1 by sponging miR-34a in NSCLC, leading to promoted NSCLC cell proliferation. Our study also demonstrated that OIP5-AS1 was upregulated while miR-34a was downregulated in NSCLC.</p

Video_4_Wood in office spaces: The impact of different wooden furniture on aesthetic evaluation.MP4

In modern urban life, individuals are spending an increasing amount of time in the office. However, working in an uncomfortable office space for extended periods can affect the physical and mental health of employees. On this basis, it is particularly important for employees to build a comfortable and healthy office environment that is conducive to their work. The present study aimed to explore the use of wood in office furniture to build a comfortable and healthy work environment. The use of wood in office spaces can effectively relieve the mental fatigue of employees. Focusing on wooden office furniture, this study explores its influence on the aesthetic evaluation of wooden office spaces by manipulating the wood color and coverage of the wooden furniture placed in office spaces. Experimenting with these changes will optimize the application of wood in office spaces, improve employees’ mental health. The results show that wood color and coverage significantly impact the aesthetic evaluation of wooden office spaces. People exhibit higher aesthetic evaluations of light and medium wood-colored office spaces and prefer spaces with low wood coverage. The findings of this study provide a reference for the use of wooden furniture to optimize workplaces.</p

Controlled Preparation and Mechanism Study of Zirconia-Coated Hematite Particles by Hydrolysis of Zirconium Sulfates

Zirconia-precursor-coated hematite particles were prepared by hydrolysis of zirconium sulfate in aqueous solution. The as-prepared zirconia-precursor shell was amorphous with a thickness of about several ∼30 nm that can be controllably achieved by varying the processing parameters and had a composition of Zr2(OH)6SO4, which crystallized to tetragonal ZrO2 after annealing at 700 °C. The focus of this work is to investigate in detail the process and to understand the key issues for surface coating in solution. The thermodynamic analysis on hydrolysis of zirconium sulfate was conducted, and a “surface-deposition region” for zirconia coating was suggested in this work. Furthermore, the kinetic study of the process was also described. The hydrolysis could be considered as a pseudo-second-order reaction at 50 °C, and the rate constant was calculated to be 0.61 L mol−1 s−1. The hydrolysis mechanism of zirconium salt was also interpreted from the viewpoint of structural chemistry. The influence of the surfactants on the coating process was also discussed

Video_5_Wood in office spaces: The impact of different wooden furniture on aesthetic evaluation.MP4

In modern urban life, individuals are spending an increasing amount of time in the office. However, working in an uncomfortable office space for extended periods can affect the physical and mental health of employees. On this basis, it is particularly important for employees to build a comfortable and healthy office environment that is conducive to their work. The present study aimed to explore the use of wood in office furniture to build a comfortable and healthy work environment. The use of wood in office spaces can effectively relieve the mental fatigue of employees. Focusing on wooden office furniture, this study explores its influence on the aesthetic evaluation of wooden office spaces by manipulating the wood color and coverage of the wooden furniture placed in office spaces. Experimenting with these changes will optimize the application of wood in office spaces, improve employees’ mental health. The results show that wood color and coverage significantly impact the aesthetic evaluation of wooden office spaces. People exhibit higher aesthetic evaluations of light and medium wood-colored office spaces and prefer spaces with low wood coverage. The findings of this study provide a reference for the use of wooden furniture to optimize workplaces.</p

Image_1_Wood in office spaces: The impact of different wooden furniture on aesthetic evaluation.jpg

In modern urban life, individuals are spending an increasing amount of time in the office. However, working in an uncomfortable office space for extended periods can affect the physical and mental health of employees. On this basis, it is particularly important for employees to build a comfortable and healthy office environment that is conducive to their work. The present study aimed to explore the use of wood in office furniture to build a comfortable and healthy work environment. The use of wood in office spaces can effectively relieve the mental fatigue of employees. Focusing on wooden office furniture, this study explores its influence on the aesthetic evaluation of wooden office spaces by manipulating the wood color and coverage of the wooden furniture placed in office spaces. Experimenting with these changes will optimize the application of wood in office spaces, improve employees’ mental health. The results show that wood color and coverage significantly impact the aesthetic evaluation of wooden office spaces. People exhibit higher aesthetic evaluations of light and medium wood-colored office spaces and prefer spaces with low wood coverage. The findings of this study provide a reference for the use of wooden furniture to optimize workplaces.</p

Reactive Formation of Zircon Inclusion Pigments by Deposition and Subsequent Annealing of a Zirconia and Silica Double Shell

A novel general method for coating particles with a complex oxide was described. Zirconia precursor and silica layers with careful control of film thickness were coated separately onto hematite particles in corresponding solutions. A zircon shell was subsequently obtained by heat treatment at 800 °C for 3 h using LiF as a mineralizer. The as-prepared zircon-occluded hematite pigment gave a pink color to the glazed sample after annealing at 1120 °C. The current research suggests that various chromophoric particles can be encapsulated with zircon to prepare ceramic pigments for high-temperature use

Video_2_Wood in office spaces: The impact of different wooden furniture on aesthetic evaluation.MP4

In modern urban life, individuals are spending an increasing amount of time in the office. However, working in an uncomfortable office space for extended periods can affect the physical and mental health of employees. On this basis, it is particularly important for employees to build a comfortable and healthy office environment that is conducive to their work. The present study aimed to explore the use of wood in office furniture to build a comfortable and healthy work environment. The use of wood in office spaces can effectively relieve the mental fatigue of employees. Focusing on wooden office furniture, this study explores its influence on the aesthetic evaluation of wooden office spaces by manipulating the wood color and coverage of the wooden furniture placed in office spaces. Experimenting with these changes will optimize the application of wood in office spaces, improve employees’ mental health. The results show that wood color and coverage significantly impact the aesthetic evaluation of wooden office spaces. People exhibit higher aesthetic evaluations of light and medium wood-colored office spaces and prefer spaces with low wood coverage. The findings of this study provide a reference for the use of wooden furniture to optimize workplaces.</p

A Single Ionic Conductor Based on Nafion and Its Electrochemical Properties Used As Lithium Polymer Electrolyte

In an attempt to raise the transport number of Li+ to nearly unity in solid polymer electrolytes, commercial perfluorinated sulfonate acid membrane Nafion 117 was lithiated and codissolved with copolymer poly(vinylidene fluoride)hexafluoropropylene. The effect of fumed silica on the physical and electrochemical properties of the single ion conduction polymer electrolyte was studied with atom force microscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. It was confirmed that the fumed silica has an obvious effect on the morphology of polymer electrolyte membranes and ionic conductivity. The resulting materials exhibit good film formation, solvent-maintaining capability, and dimensional stability. The lithium polymer electrolyte after gelling with a plasticizer shows a high ionic conductivity of 3.18 × 10-4 S/cm