Synthesis of Cardanol Sulfonate Gemini Surfactant and Enthalpy-Entropy Compensation of Micellization in Aqueous Solutions

A novel cardanol sulfonate Gemini surfactant with high surface properties was synthesized by cashew phenol, 1,3-dibromopropane and chlorosulfonic acid through three steps procedure of etherification, sulfonation and neutralization. A surface tension method was employed to investigate the thermo-dynamic properties of micellization in aqueous solution for cardanol sulfonate Gemini surfactant synthesized in laboratory. As a result, the micellization of cardanol sulfonate Gemini surfactant in aqueous solutions is spontaneous and entropy-driven. The micellization process is enthalpy-entropy compensated with the compensation temperature (Tc) of 308 ± 1 K.

Impact of the variation of westerly jets over East Asia on precipitation of eastern China in July

The impact of the northward jump and westward movement of the East Asian westerly jet core fi：om the westem Pacific Ocean to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau on precipitation distribution of eastem China is studied. It is concluded that on the one hand, the northward jump of the jet causes the precipitation belt to move northward from the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River valley and withdraw during the Mei-yu season; on the other hand, the westward movement of the jet core has no correspondence with withdrawal of the Mei-yu season. However, the earlier or later occurrence of the westward movement of the jet has an influence on the process of the rain belt moving northward than the northward jump of the jet： the rain belt moves northward from the middle-lower Yangtze River valley to the Huaihe River and then to an area between the Yellow River and Huaihe River during years when the time of the westward movement of the jet core is later than that of the northward jump of the jet and from the middle-lower Yangtze River valley to an area between the Yellow River and Huaihe River in other years. Further analysis shows that： （1） The northward jump of the jet and the westward movement of the East Asian westerly jet core causes significant variation of the general atmospheric circulation in middle latitudes and water vapor transport from the western Pacific, but not from the Bay of Bengal. （2） Impact of the northward jump and the westward movement of the East Asian westerly jet core on circulation are different, therefore, water vapor transport from the western Pacific and its impact on the rain belt are different. The earlier or later occurrence of the westward movement of the jet core than the northward jump of the jet causes the process of circulation and water vapor transport to be different which produces a different process of the rain belt moving northward.

Interplay of transcription factors and microRNAs during embryonic hematopoiesis

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which are localized in the bone marrow of adult mammals, come from hematopoietic endothelium during embryonic stages. Although the basic processes of HSC generation and differentiation have been described in the past, the epigenetic regulation of embryonic hematopoiesis remains to be fully described. Here, by utilizing an in vitro differentiation system of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs), we identified more than 20 microRNAs that were highly enriched in embryonic hematopoietic cells, including some (e.g. miR-10b, miR-15b, and miR-27a) with previously unknown functions in blood formation. Luciferase and gene expression assays further revealed combinational binding and regulation of these microRNAs by key transcription factors in blood cells. Finally, bioinformatics and functional analyses supported an interactive regulatory control between transcription factors and microRNAs in hematopoiesis.

Fabrication of layered structure VS4 anchor in 3D graphene aerogels as a new cathode material for lithium ion batteries

VS4 has gained more and more attention for its high theoretical capacity (449 mAh/g with 3e^- transfer) in lithium ion batteries (LIBs). Herein, a layered structure VS4 anchored in graphene aerogels is prepared and first reported as cathode material for LIBs. VS4@GAs composite exhibits an exceptional high initial reversible capacity (511 mAh/g), an excellent high-rate capability (191 mAh/g at the 5 C), and an excellent cyclic stability (239 mAh/g after 15 cycles).