Formation and Water Stability of Aggregates in Red Soils as Affected by Organic Matter

The water stability of aggregates in various size classes separated from 18 samples of red soils under different managements, and the mechanisms responsible for the formation of water-stable soil aggregates were studied. The results showed that the water stability of soil aggregates declined with increasing size, especially for the low organic matter soils. Organic matter plays a key role in the formation of water-stable soil aggregates. The larger the soil aggregate size, the greater the impact of organic matter on the water stability of soil aggregates. Removal of organic matter markedly disintegrated the large water-stable aggregates (> 2.0 mm) and increased the small ones (< 0.25-0.smm) to some extent, whereas removal of free iron(aluminium) oxides considerably destroyed aggregates of all sizes, especially the < 0.25-0.5 mm classes. The contents of organic matter in water-stable aggregates increased with aggregate sizes. It is concluded from this study that small water-stable aggregates (< 0.25-0.5 mm) were chiefly cemented by Fe and Al oxides whilst the large ones (> 2.0 mm) were mainly glued up by organic matter. Both free oxides and organic matter contribute to the formation and water stability of aggregates in red soils.

Electrodeposited PtNi nanoparticles towards oxygen reduction reaction:A study on nucleation and growth mechanism

In this work,highly monodispersed Pt-Ni alloy nanoparticles were directly deposited on carbon substrate through a facile electrodeposition strategy in the solvent system of N,N-dimethylformamide(DMF).A series of carbon supported Pt-Ni alloy electrocatalysts were synthesized under different applied electrode potentials.Among all as-obtained samples,the Pt-Ni/C electrocatalyst deposited at-1.73 V exhibits the optimal specific activity up to 1.850 mA cm^(-2)at 0.9 V vs.RHE,which is 6.85 times higher than that of the commercial Pt/C.Comprehensive physiochemical characterizations and computational evaluations via density functional theory were conducted to unveil the nucleation and growth mechanism of PtNi alloy formation.Compared to the aqueous solution,DMF solvent molecule must not be neglected in avoiding particle agglomeration and synthesis of monodispersed nanoparticles.During the alloy co-deposition process,Ni sites produced through the reduction of Ni(Ⅱ)precursor not only facilitates Pt-Ni alloy crystal nucleation but also in favor of further Pt reduction on the Ni-inserted Pt surface.As for the deposition potential,it adjusts the final particle size.This work provides a hopeful extended Pt-based catalyst layer production strategy for proton exchange membrane fuel cells and a new idea for the nucleation and growth mechanism exploration for electrodeposited Pt alloy.

Formation Mechanism of Triaxial Superdeformed Nucleus ^(160)Yb

By using Total Routhian Surface （TRS） method the deformation of the nucleus ^160Yb is studied. The result shows that the triaxial superdeformed state exists with deformation parameters ε2 = 0.38 and γ = 21°, where proton shell correction energy plays a key role, and the sum of two quasi-proton particle energies gives an additional driving effect. The rotational energy also has an additional role in the formation of triaxial superdeformed.

Synthesis of Polymer Nanocomposites for Selective Laser Sintering （SLS）

This paper presents initial development of polymer application. PNC materials containing a polyamide （PA） and nano to improve the mechanical properties. Commercial polyamide 6 nanocomposites （PNC） material for rapid manufacturing （RM） particles （5 wt%） were produced by solution blending with the aim （PA6） was dissolved in formic acid （HCO2H） together with two different types of nano particle materials： yttrium stabilised zirconia （YSZ） and Hectorite clay （Benton 166） and spray-dried to create powder, creating powder with particle sizes in the range of 10-40 μm. The materials were processed on a CO2 selective laser sintering （SLS） experimental machine. Mechanical properties of the PNCs were evaluated and the results were compared with the unfilled base polymer. Good dispersion of additives was achieved by solution blending, however the PA6 was degraded during the material preparation and spray drying process which resulted in the formation of porous structure and low strength. However the addition of 5 （wt%） nano particles in the PA6 has shown to increase strength by an average of 50-60%. Further work on powder preparation is required in order to fully realize these performance benefits.

Preparation and ζ-potential characterization of highly dispersible phosphate—functionalized magnetite nanoparticles

By the combination of high-temperature organometallic synthesis and phase transfer through complete ligand-exchange withmixed phosphate, highly water-dispersible Fe3O4nanoparticles with narrow size distribution are obtained, which show appli-cable response to magnetic field. IR and -potential characterization of this system provides insights into ligand structures onparticle surface.

Stress Granule Formation is One of the Early Antiviral Mechanisms for Host Cells Against Coxsackievirus B Infection

Stress granules(SGs) are intracellular granules formed when cellular translation is blocked and have been reported to be involved in a variety of viral infections. Our previous studies revealed that SGs are involved in the coxsackievirus B(CVB)infection process, but the role of SGs in CVB infection has not been fully explored. In this study, we found that CVB type 3(CVB3) could induce SG formation in the early phase of infection. Results showed that levels of CVB3 RNA and protein were significantly inhibited during the early stage of CVB3 infection by the elevated formation of SGs, while viral RNA and protein synthesis were significantly promoted when SG formation was blocked. Our findings suggest that SG formation is one of the early antiviral mechanisms for host cells against CVB infection.

Review on cellular automata simulations of microstructure evolution during metal forming process: Grain coarsening, recrystallization and phase transformation

Cellular automata (CA) algorithm has become an effective tool to simulate microstructure evolution. This paper presents a review on CA modeling of microstructural evolution, such as grain coarsening, recrystallization and phase transformation during metal forming process which significantly affects mechanical properties of final products. CA modeling of grain boundary motion is illustrated and several aspects of recrystallization are described, e.g. nucleation and growth, the development of static and dynamic recrystallization. For phase transformation, attention is paid to such key factors as solute element diffusion and change of systemic chemical free energy. In view of the reviewed works, several open questions in the field of further development of CA simulation are put forward and recommendations to them are given.

Fluorescent AIE dots encapsulated organically modified silica (ORMOSIL) nanoparticles for two-photon cellular imaging

2,3-Bis(4-(phenyl(4-(1,2,2-triphenylvinyl)phenyl)amino)phenyl) fumaronitrile (TPE-TPA-FN or TTF), which possesses aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristic, is doped in organically modified silica (ORMOSIL) nanoparticles. By increasing the weight ratio of TTF to the precursor of silica nanoparticles (the quantities of the precursors were kept the same), the fluorescence intensity of nanoparticles increased correspondingly, due to the formation of larger AIE dots in the cores of ORMOSIL nanoparticles. The fluorescent and biocompatible nanoprobes were then utilized for in vitro imaging of HeLa cells. Two-photon fluorescence microscopy clearly illustrated that the nanoparticles have the capacity of nucleus permeability, as well as cytoplasm staining towards tumor cells. Our experimental results may offer a promising method for fast and bright fluorescence imaging, as well as bio-molecule/drug delivery to cell nucleus.