The nanoscale phase distinguishing of PCL-PB-PCL blended in epoxy resin by tapping mode atomic force microscopy

In this work, we investigated the bulk phase distinguishing of the poly(ε-caprolactone)-polybutadiene-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL-PB-PCL) triblock copolymer blended in epoxy resin by tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TM-AFM). We found that at a set-point amplitude ratio (rsp) less than or equal to 0.85, a clear phase contrast could be obtained using a probe with a force constant of 40 N/m. When rsp was decreased to 0.1 or less, the measured size of the PB-rich domain relatively shrank; however, the height images of the PB-rich domain would take reverse (translating from the original light to dark) at rsp = 0.85. Force-probe measurements were carried out on the phase-separated regions by TM-AFM. According to the phase shift angle vs. rsp curve, it could be concluded that the different force exerting on the epoxy matrix or on the PB-rich domain might result in the height and phase image reversion. Furthermore, the indentation depth vs. rsp plot showed that with large tapping force (lower rsp), the indentation depth for the PB-rich domain was nearly identical for the epoxy resin matrix

Design of Wide-Spectrum Inhibitors Targeting Coronavirus Main Proteases

The genus Coronavirus contains about 25 species of coronaviruses (CoVs), which are important pathogens causing highly prevalent diseases and often severe or fatal in humans and animals. No licensed specific drugs are available to prevent their infection. Different host receptors for cellular entry, poorly conserved structural proteins (antigens), and the high mutation and recombination rates of CoVs pose a significant problem in the development of wide-spectrum anti-CoV drugs and vaccines. CoV main proteases (M(pro)s), which are key enzymes in viral gene expression and replication, were revealed to share a highly conservative substrate-recognition pocket by comparison of four crystal structures and a homology model representing all three genetic clusters of the genus Coronavirus. This conclusion was further supported by enzyme activity assays. Mechanism-based irreversible inhibitors were designed, based on this conserved structural region, and a uniform inhibition mechanism was elucidated from the structures of M(pro)-inhibitor complexes from severe acute respiratory syndrome-CoV and porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus. A structure-assisted optimization program has yielded compounds with fast in vitro inactivation of multiple CoV M(pro)s, potent antiviral activity, and extremely low cellular toxicity in cell-based assays. Further modification could rapidly lead to the discovery of a single agent with clinical potential against existing and possible future emerging CoV-related diseases

Effects of surface Fe(III) oxides in a steel slag on the formation of humic-like dark-colored polymers by the polycondensation of humic precursors

Carbonated furnace steel slag is effective in enhancing polycondensation reactions of humic precursors such as quinones, amino acids and saccharides. To obtain more detailed information concerning the nature of the catalytic sites on the surface of slag, a pristine slag sample was treated with HNO3, HF and NH2OH to alter the surface states. The catalytic activities for the formation of humic-like dark-colored polymers were significantly decreased for the samples treated with HNO3 or HF compared to untreated slag. Because substantial amounts of iron were eluted as the result of the HNO3 and HF treatments, the minerals remaining on the surface of steel slag were characterized by XRD and SEM, and the results were compared with untreated slag. XRD patterns indicated the significant decrease in Fe(III) oxide content, including magnetite and hematite, as the result of the HNO3 and HF treatment. In addition, when untreated slag was reacted with humic precursors, the hematite and magnetite were largely eluted as a result of the reaction. These results support the conclusion that Fe(III)-oxides on the surface of steel slag, such as hematite and magnetite, serve as catalytic sites for enhancing catalytic activity for the formation of humic-like dark colored-polymers from humic precursors

Progress of Luminescent Carbon Dots in Biomedicine Engineering

Carbon nanodots (C-dots), as a new emerging star, have attracted great attention in recent years. Its unique properties have been developed and applied to energy conversion/storage, bioimaging, drug delivery, sensor and other biological related aspects. In this review, we introduce various synthetic methods, basic photoluminscene properties, PL mechanism and then focus on the most recent progress in targeted drug and gene delivery guided by multimode bioimaging technologies in cancer therapy. We also speculate on an outlook towards future developments for their use in bioimaging, drug delivery, sensors, diagnostics and composites

Numerical Analysis of Dynamic Characteristics of Thermowell Based on Two-Way Thermo-Fluid-Solid Coupling

Because thermowells are prone to fatigue damage in petroleum cracking gas pipelines, in this paper, the LES method is used to simulate the flow around thermowells through two-way thermal-fluid-solid coupling, the internal causes of thermowell damage are explored, and measures for improving the thermowell safety are proposed. According to this study, when high-speed, high-temperature gas passes the thermocouple bushing, the main factors affecting the structural safety of the thermocouple bushing are the alternating stress caused by the vortex falling off, the thermal stress cycle due to the temperature gradient, and the pressure gradient impacted by the gas. Furthermore, this paper proposes improving the thermowell safety by installing the interference devices and optimizing the installation angle. The improvement measures were studied by conducting a two-way thermal fluid-structure coupling simulation. The results of this study show that after installing the interference device and optimizing the installation angle the displacement deformation of the thermowell and the equivalent stress is reduced by 57.2% and 72.1%, respectively, which indicates the safety improvement of the thermowell structure and the effectiveness of the method. The research contents of this paper can provide guidance for the installation and use of thermocouple bushing