Reinforcement of natural rubber with core-shell structure silica-poly(Methyl Methacrylate) nanoparticles

A highly performing natural rubber/silica (NR/SiO2) nanocomposite with a SiO2 loading of 2 wt% was prepared by combining similar dissolve mutually theory with latex compounding techniques. Before polymerization, double bonds were introduced onto the surface of the SiO2 particles with the silane-coupling agent. The core-shell structure silica-poly(methyl methacrylate), SiO2-PMMA, nanoparticles were formed by grafting polymerization of MMA on the surface of the modified SiO2 particles via in situ emulsion, and then NR/SiO2 nanocomposite was prepared by blending SiO2-PMMA and PMMA-modified NR (NR-PMMA). The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results show that PMMA has been successfully introduced onto the surface of SiO2, which can be well dispersed in NR matrix and present good interfacial adhesion with NR phase. Compared with those of pure NR, the thermal resistance and tensile properties of NR/SiO2 nanocomposite are significantly improved

NRAV, a Long Noncoding RNA, Modulates Antiviral Responses through Suppression of Interferon-Stimulated Gene Transcription

SummaryLong noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) modulate various biological processes, but their role in host antiviral responses is largely unknown. Here we identify a lncRNA as a key regulator of antiviral innate immunity. Following from the observation that a lncRNA that we call negative regulator of antiviral response (NRAV) was dramatically downregulated during infection with several viruses, we ectopically expressed NRAV in human cells or transgenic mice and found that it significantly promotes influenza A virus (IAV) replication and virulence. Conversely, silencing NRAV suppressed IAV replication and virus production, suggesting that reduction of NRAV is part of the host antiviral innate immune response to virus infection. NRAV negatively regulates the initial transcription of multiple critical interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), including IFITM3 and MxA, by affecting histone modification of these genes. Our results provide evidence for a lncRNA in modulating the antiviral interferon response

Cassava genome from a wild ancestor to cultivated varieties

Cassava is a major tropical food crop in the Euphorbiaceae family that has high carbohydrate production potential and adaptability to diverse environments. Here we present the draft genome sequences of a wild ancestor and a domesticated variety of cassava and comparative analyses with a partial inbred line. We identify 1,584 and 1,678 gene models specific to the wild and domesticated varieties, respectively, and discover high heterozygosity and millions of single-nucleotide variations. Our analyses reveal that genes involved in photosynthesis, starch accumulation and abiotic stresses have been positively selected, whereas those involved in cell wall biosynthesis and secondary metabolism, including cyanogenic glucoside formation, have been negatively selected in the cultivated varieties, reflecting the result of natural selection and domestication. Differences in microRNA genes and retrotransposon regulation could partly explain an increased carbon flux towards starch accumulation and reduced cyanogenic glucoside accumulation in domesticated cassava. These results may contribute to genetic improvement of cassava through better understanding of its biology

Influence of thermocouple angles and wire distance on temperature measurement

When a thermocouple is used to measure gas temperature, the measured temperature, i.e., the thermocouple bead temperature, is not equal to the gas temperature. The bead temperature results from the bead energy balance. The positioning angles such as the pitch angle and the roll angle and the wire distance of the thermocouple will influence the convection heat transfer of the thermocouple, causing the bead temperature variation. Two S type thermocouples are used to measure the temperature of the H2/air Hencken flame with the equivalence ratio 0.7. The maximum measurement temperature changes are 52 K and 79 K for the pitch angle variation and the roll angle variation, respectively. CFD simulations are carried out to simulate the experimental phenomena. The differences between the simulated and measured bead temperatures are less than 20.4 K. With 90° roll angle, the bead temperature increases first then decreases with the pitch angle. With 90° pitch angle, the bead temperature increases first then decreases with the roll angle. With 0° pitch angle, the bead temperature increases monotonically with the wire distance. The background physical mechanisms of the phenomena are analyzed with the detailed CFD results

Thermocouple Effective Length under Sinusoidal Gas Temperature Condition

When a thermocouple is used to measure gas temperature, the measured temperature is the thermocouple bead temperature, which is not equal to the gas temperature. The bead temperature results from its energy balance. Through the wire convection and conduction, the temperature of the bead is related to the gas temperature within a certain geometric range around it, and this range is quantified by the effective length. Under the sinusoidal incoming gas temperature condition, the analytical expression for the effective length is deduced, and its accuracy is validated by the one-dimensional numerical solution. The differences between the analytical and numerical effective lengths are less than 10.5% for the test cases. Similar to that under the uniform incoming gas temperature condition, the effective length under the sinusoidal gas temperature condition increases with the thermal conductivity and the diameter of the wire and decreases with the heat transfer coefficient of the wire. The influence of the amplitude, wavelength and phase of the gas temperature on the effective length are very weak, meaning that the theoretical expression under the uniform gas temperature can calculate the effective length under the non-uniform gas temperature with good accuracy

Thermocouple Effective Length under Sinusoidal Gas Temperature Condition

When a thermocouple is used to measure gas temperature, the measured temperature is the thermocouple bead temperature, which is not equal to the gas temperature. The bead temperature results from its energy balance. Through the wire convection and conduction, the temperature of the bead is related to the gas temperature within a certain geometric range around it, and this range is quantified by the effective length. Under the sinusoidal incoming gas temperature condition, the analytical expression for the effective length is deduced, and its accuracy is validated by the one-dimensional numerical solution. The differences between the analytical and numerical effective lengths are less than 10.5% for the test cases. Similar to that under the uniform incoming gas temperature condition, the effective length under the sinusoidal gas temperature condition increases with the thermal conductivity and the diameter of the wire and decreases with the heat transfer coefficient of the wire. The influence of the amplitude, wavelength and phase of the gas temperature on the effective length are very weak, meaning that the theoretical expression under the uniform gas temperature can calculate the effective length under the non-uniform gas temperature with good accuracy

Microencapsulation of coupled folate and chitosan nanoparticles for targeted delivery of combination drugs to colon

Folate-chitosan nanoparticles, co-loaded with 5-fluourouacil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV) and prepared by ionic gelation technology were physically microencapsulated by enteric polymer using a solvent evaporation method. Average particle size of the microencapsulated particles was in the range of 15 to 35 µm. High drug encapsulation efficiency was obtained for both 5-FU and LV in the microencapsulated particles. Both drugs were in amorphous state in the microencapsulated particles. By enteric coating, excellent pH-dependent release profile was achieved and no drug release was observed in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids. However, when the pH value reached the soluble threshold of Eudragit S-100, a constant and slow drug release was observed. The results indicated that these microencapsulated particles are a promising vehicle for selectively targeting drugs to colon in the chemotherapy of colon cancer

Study on nanocellulose by high pressure homogenization in homogeneous isolation

Nanocellulose from cotton cellulose was prepared by high pressure homogenization (HPH) in ionic liquids (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Bmim]Cl). The nanocellulose possessed narrow particle size distribution, with diameter range of 10–20 nm. Weight average molecular weight (Mw) of nanocellulose treated by HPH was lower (173.8 kDa) than the one ILs treated cellulose (344.6 kDa). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Solid-state CP/MAS 13C NMR measurements were employed to study the mechanism of structural changes, which suggested that network structure between cellulose chains were destructed by the shearing forces of HPH in combination with ionic liquids. The intermolecular and intra-molecular hydrogen bonds of cellulose were further destroyed, leading to the long cellulose molecular chains being collapsed into short chains. Therefore, the nanocellulose could provide desired properties, such as lower thermal stability and strong water holding capacity. Results indicated that it had great potential in the applications for packaging, medicines, cosmetics and tissue engineering