Separation of core-shell structured carbon black nanoparticles from waste tires by light pyrolysis

The separation of core-shell structured carbon black (CBlp) nanoparticles from waste tires was investigated by applying a reactive extrusion process. The polymeric shell consisting primarily of crosslinked rubber and loosely bound rubber could be selectively separated by varying the extrusion temperature to 260, 280 and 300 °C. The structure, chemical composition and structure of the separated CBlp were characterized using thermo-gravimetric analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The crosslinked structure was persevered in the rubber shell of CBlp after extruding at 260 °C. A layer of loosely bound rubber was observed only in the rubber shell when extruded at 280 °C and 300 °C. The composition of the bound rubber layer is also dependent on the processing temperature

Core-shell structured carbon nanoparticles derived from light pyrolysis of waste tires

Carbon black nanoparticles (CBlp) were derived from waste tire rubbers via a melt-extrusion pyrolysis process at 300 °C. A polymeric shell was observed on the surface of CBlp, which was formed by bound rubber. The chemical structure and content of the bound rubber shell were characterized and quantified, and compared with the commercial carbon black N330 and pyrolytic carbon black (CBp). The average particle size of CBlp is about 22 nm, with a rubber shell thickness of 7–12 nm. Functional carboxylic group and ZnO were detected on the surface of CBlp by FTIR and XRD, respectively, which are absent from N330 and CBp. The core-shell structure of CBlp facilitate the dispersion and interfacial interaction in natural rubber, and lead to a higher reinforcement effect as compared those of N330 and CBp. The light pyrolysis process provides a facile and clean approach to generate useful carbon nanoparticles out of waste tire rubbers

ErbB2 is required for cardiomyocyte proliferation in murine neonatal hearts

It has been long recognized that the mammalian heart loses its proliferative capacity soon after birth, yet, the molecular basis of this loss of cardiac proliferation postnatally is largely unknown. In this study, we found that cardiac ErbB2, a member of the epidermal growth factor receptor family, exhibits a rapid and dramatic decline in expression at the neonatal stage. We further demonstrate that conditional ablation of ErbB2 in the ventricular myocardium results in upregulation of negative cell cycle regulators and a significant reduction in cardiomyocyte proliferation during the narrow neonatal proliferative time window. Together, our data reveal a positive correlation between the expression levels of ErbB2 with neonatal cardiomyocyte proliferation and suggest that reduction in cardiac ErbB2 expression may contribute to the loss of postnatal cardiomyocyte proliferative capacity

Pathologically Activated Neuroprotection via Uncompetitive Blockade of \u3cem\u3eN\u3c/em\u3e-Methyl-d-aspartate Receptors with Fast Off-rate by Novel Multifunctional Dimer Bis(propyl)-cognitin

Uncompetitive N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists with fast off-rate (UFO) may represent promising drug candidates for various neurodegenerative disorders. In this study, we report that bis(propyl)-cognitin, a novel dimeric acetylcholinesterase inhibitor and γ-aminobutyric acid subtype A receptor antagonist, is such an antagonist of NMDA receptors. In cultured rat hippocampal neurons, we demonstrated that bis(propyl)-cognitin voltage-dependently, selectively, and moderately inhibited NMDA-activated currents. The inhibitory effects of bis(propyl)-cognitin increased with the rise in NMDA and glycine concentrations. Kinetics analysis showed that the inhibition was of fast onset and offset with an off-rate time constant of 1.9 s. Molecular docking simulations showed moderate hydrophobic interaction between bis(propyl)-cognitin and the MK-801 binding region in the ion channel pore of the NMDA receptor. Bis(propyl)-cognitin was further found to compete with [3H]MK-801 with a Ki value of 0.27 μm, and the mutation of NR1(N616R) significantly reduced its inhibitory potency. Under glutamate-mediated pathological conditions, bis(propyl)-cognitin, in contrast to bis(heptyl)-cognitin, prevented excitotoxicity with increasing effectiveness against escalating levels of glutamate and much more effectively protected against middle cerebral artery occlusion-induced brain damage than did memantine. More interestingly, under NMDA receptor-mediated physiological conditions, bis(propyl)-cognitin enhanced long-term potentiation in hippocampal slices, whereas MK-801 reduced and memantine did not alter this process. These results suggest that bis(propyl)-cognitin is a UFO antagonist of NMDA receptors with moderate affinity, which may provide a pathologically activated therapy for various neurodegenerative disorders associated with NMDA receptor dysregulation

Karst landslides detection and monitoring with multiple SAR data and multi-dimensional SBAS technique in Shuicheng, Guizhou, China

Shuicheng District is a karst mountain area, located in Guizhou Province, China. Its fragile stratum and frequent underground mining activities makes it prone to landslides. Owning to its wide coverage and frequent revisit, the InSAR technology has advantages in potential landslide identification and deformation monitor. However, affected by dense vegetation and atmospheric delay, it is much difficult to get sufficient effective targets to derive the deformation in this area. Besides, deformation derived from single orbit SAR data can result in the missing identification of some potential landslides and the misinterpreting of the real kinematics process of landslides. In this study, the multi-source SAR data, atmospheric error correction by quadratic tree image segmentation method, and phase-stacking method were selected to derive the surface deformation of this area. Besides, DS-InSAR and MSBAS method were combined to derive the deformation of Pingdi landslide. First, the potential landslides in this area were identified, surface deformation result, optical remote sensing images and geomorphological features were jointly considered. Then, the landslide distribution characteristics was analyzed in terms of slope, elevation and stratum. After that, the deformation along the LOS direction was acquired using the DS-InSAR method. The MSBAS method was used to retrieve the two-dimensional deformation of Pingdi landslide. Finally, the comprehensive analysis of triggering factors and failure process were conducted according to the spatial-temporal deformation characteristics and field investigation. The results indicated that landslides in Shuicheng district were mostly located in the junction of T1 and P3 stratum and mining related. Mining activity was the main cause of the Pingdi landslide deformation, the precipitation was the driving factor of the landslide instability. The research provides an insight into the explore the unstable slope distribution characteristic and the failure process of the landslides

An Instrument for In Situ Measuring the Volume Scattering Function of Water: Design, Calibration and Primary Experiments

The optical volume scattering function (VSF) of seawater is a fundamental property used in the calculation of radiative transfer for applications in the study of the upper-ocean heat balance, the photosynthetic productivity of the ocean, and the chemical transformation of photoreactive compounds. A new instrument to simultaneously measure the VSF in seven directions between 20° to 160°, the attenuation coefficient, and the depth of water is presented. The instrument is self-contained and can be automatically controlled by the depth under water. The self-contained data can be easily downloaded by an ultra-short-wave communication system. A calibration test was performed in the laboratory based on precise estimation of the scattering volume and optical radiometric calibration of the detectors. The measurement error of the VSF measurement instrument has been estimated in the laboratory based on the Mie theory, and the average error is less than 12%. The instrument was used to measure and analyze the variation characteristics of the VSF with angle, depth and water quality in Daya Bay for the first time. From these in situ data, we have found that the phase functions proposed by Fournier-Forand, measured by Petzold in San Diego Harbor and Sokolov in Black Sea do not fit with our measurements in Daya. These discrepancies could manly due to high proportion of suspended calcium carbonate mineral-like particles with high refractive index in Daya Bay

Shape memory and self‐healing behavior of styrene–butadiene–styrene/ethylene‐methacrylic acid copolymer (SBS/EMAA) elastomers containing ionic interactions

Ionic interactions were introduced to styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) through blending with ethylene‐methacrylic acid copolymer (EMAA) and zinc oxide (ZnO), and a following in situ neutralization reaction between the carboxyl groups of EMAA and ZnO. The resultant SBS/EMAA (60/40 wt %) blends containing zinc carboxylate crosslinks exhibited high modulus and strong long‐time relaxation characteristics. With 74% of the carboxyl groups neutralized (zinc cation fraction of 1.7 wt %), the tensile strength of the blends was increased from 14.6 to 16.6 MPa, and the stress at 100% extension was increased from 4.8 to 8.1 MPa. The melting temperature of EMAA was utilized to trigger the shape memory behavior of SBS/EMAA, and the reversible ionic bonds endowed SBS with better shape memory and self‐healing performance. The shape‐fixing ratio and recovery ratio of SBS were increased from 90.2 and 56.5% up to 93.3 and 84.2%, respectively. When the cut surfaces of SBS/EMAA/Zn samples were brought back into contact and annealed at 100 °C for 1 h, the strength and the elongation at break were recovered by 36 and 21%, respectively. This introduction of ionic interactions through the EMAA‐ZnO neutralization reactions imparts new functions to SBS thermoplastic elastomers