The effects of Ag on the microstructure and corrosion behavior of pre-soldering Sn-xAg lead-free solders,and on the formation of intermetallic layer of the solders with Cu substrate were investigated.The Ag contents(x...The effects of Ag on the microstructure and corrosion behavior of pre-soldering Sn-xAg lead-free solders,and on the formation of intermetallic layer of the solders with Cu substrate were investigated.The Ag contents(x)were 0,3.0,3.5,4.0,and5.0 wt.%.The Ag content played a role in the morphology of Ag3 Sn phase in the solders.The microstructure analysis showed that theβ-Sn phase was surrounded by eutectic networks in the 3.0 Ag and 3.5 Ag solders and large plate-like Ag3 Sn formed in the 4.0 Ag and5.0 Ag solders.Nonetheless,the Ag content slightly impacted the corrosion behavior of the as-cast solders as characterized using potentiodynamic polarization test.After soldering,only a single layer of a Cu6 Sn5 intermetallic compound formed at the Sn-xAg/Cu interface.By comparison,the Cu6 Sn5 intermetallic layer of the Ag-doped solders was thinner than that of the 0Ag solder.The fine Ag3 Sn particles in the eutectic networks precipitating in the 3.0 Ag and 3.5 Ag solders effectively hindered the growth of Cu6 Sn5 grains compared to large plate-like Ag3 Sn in the 4.0 and 5.0Ag solders.展开更多
The influence of hydrofluoric acid(HF) treatment on the corrosion behavior of the Mg-0.5Ca alloys was investigated by immersion specimen in sodium hydroxide and HF solutions with various concentrations and durations...The influence of hydrofluoric acid(HF) treatment on the corrosion behavior of the Mg-0.5Ca alloys was investigated by immersion specimen in sodium hydroxide and HF solutions with various concentrations and durations at room temperature.Microstructural evolutions of the specimens were characterized by atomic force microscopy,X-ray diffraction,field-emission scanning electron microscopy.The corrosion resistance was examined through potentiodynamic polarization and immersion test in Kokubo solution.The results revealed that the fluoride treated Mg-0.5Ca alloys produced by immersion in 40% HF provided more uniform,dense and thicker coating layer(12.6 μm) compared with the 35% HF treated specimen.The electrochemical test showed that the corrosion resistance of fluoride treated specimen was 35 times higher compared with the untreated Mg-0.5Ca alloy specimen in Kokubo solution.In vitro degradation rate of the fluoride treated specimens was much lower than untreated Mg-0.5Ca alloy in Kokubo solution.After immersion test the surface of 40% HF treated sample showed a few corrosion dots,while untreated specimens were fully covered by corrosion products and delamination.Fluoride treated Mg-0.5Ca alloy with 40% HF is a promising candidate as biodegradable implants due to its low degradation kinetics and good biocompatibility.展开更多
Gelatin has been used in hard capsule shells for more than a century, and some shortcomings have appeared, such as high moisture content and risk of transmitting diseases of animal origin to people. Based on available...Gelatin has been used in hard capsule shells for more than a century, and some shortcomings have appeared, such as high moisture content and risk of transmitting diseases of animal origin to people. Based on available studies regarding gelatin and vegetable shells, we developed a new type of algal polysaccharide capsule (APPC) shells. To test whether our products can replace commercial gelatin shells, we measured in-vivo plasma concentration of 12 selected volunteers with a model drug, ibuprofen, using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), by calculating the relative bioavailability of APPC and Qualicaps referenced to gelatin capsules and assessing bioequivalence of the three types of shells, and calculated pharmacokinetic parameters with the software DAS 2.0 (China). The results show that APPC shells possess bioequivalence with Qualicaps and gelatin shells. Moreover, the disintegration behavior of four types of shells (APPC, Vegcaps , Qualicaps and gelatin shells) with the content of lactose and radioactive element (99mTc) was observed via gamma-scintigraphic images. The bioavailability and gamma-scintigraphic studies showed that APPC was not statistically different from other vegetable and gelatin capsule shells with respect to in-vivo behavior. Hence, it can be concluded that APPCs are exchangeable with other vegetable and gelatin shells.展开更多
In the presence of biofilms, stainless steels (SS) exhibits an increase in corrosion potential, called ennoblement. In the present study, the corrosion potential (Eco,) behavior of the duplex SS UNS S32760 was rec...In the presence of biofilms, stainless steels (SS) exhibits an increase in corrosion potential, called ennoblement. In the present study, the corrosion potential (Eco,) behavior of the duplex SS UNS S32760 was recorded simultaneously with the in situ marine biofilm formation in two areas at Arraial do Cabo, Southeastern Brazil. The biofilm at Forno Harbor (an anthropogenically disturbed area) was characterized by higher relative abundances of Bacteria at day 2, followed by diatoms (especially Navicula sp.) on day 10 and dinoflagellates on day 18, whereas no clear trend was recorded at Cabo Frio Island (an undisturbed area). The ennoblement of Ecor values was site-dependent. In a complementary laboratory assay, biofilms were removed and the Eco values registered in sterile conditions for the subsequent 10 days and corroborated in situ results. Understanding biofilms and SS interactions has important implications for materials science and engineering decisions as well as helping to fill in imnortant gaps in this knowledge.展开更多
Mineral phase characterization and thorough understanding of its transformation behavior during combustion are imperative to know the potential utilization of coal in the thermal industries. The primary objective of t...Mineral phase characterization and thorough understanding of its transformation behavior during combustion are imperative to know the potential utilization of coal in the thermal industries. The primary objective of this work is to analyze the quality of Indian Coals and obtain their mineral species-specific information at different depths. The samples were obtained from Talcher Coalfield, Odisha, India. Coal from four seam sections in the Talcher coalfield, India are mainly high ash coal (〉50 %) and volatile matter deceases along with the seam depth. XRD results show that the major mineral phases present in the coal are quartz and kaolinite. Siderite, illite, and anatase were found in minor quantities. It has been observed that the clay minerals (kaolinite, silimanite, illite) decompose at higher temperature and traces of dolomite, mullite, hematite etc. are formed during the process of combustion. Among the four seams (M2, M12, M24 and M43) studied, ash of M43 has high A1203%, TIO2% and K20% content and low SIO2%, CaO% and MgO% content. High acid- to-base ratios contributed to high ash fusion temperatures (IDT 〉 1500 ℃) and low slagging potential of the coals studied. Relatively low fouling index (〈0.3) was estimated for all the coal seams studied. Furthermore, thermodynamic modeling software, FactSage, have been used to envision the mineral phase transformations that take place between 800 and 1500℃ during coal combustion.展开更多
To characterize and recognize the debris flow-related deposits,the physico-mechanical performance of four deposits from the Dongyuege(DYG),Shawa(SW),Jiangjia Gully(JJG),and Gengdi(GD)debris flows in southwest China is...To characterize and recognize the debris flow-related deposits,the physico-mechanical performance of four deposits from the Dongyuege(DYG),Shawa(SW),Jiangjia Gully(JJG),and Gengdi(GD)debris flows in southwest China is investigated through laboratory analyses and tests.The four debris-flow materials can all be remolded into coherent,homogeneous cylinders with high densification and strength–porosity of 25%-36%,mean pore-throat radius of 0.46-5.89μm,median pore-throat radius of 0.43-4.28μm,P-wave velocity of 800-1200 m/s,modulus of elasticity of 28-103 MPa,unconfined compressive strength(UCS)of 220-760 kPa,and cohesion of 65-281 kPa.Based on the comparison in slurryability and formability among debris-flow deposits,granular flow deposits,fluvial deposits,residual lateritic clay and loess,whether a sediment can be cast into competent cylinders for physico-mechanical tests can be regarded as a diagnostic evidence of old debris-flow deposits.The discrepancy in physico-mechanical properties among the four debris-flow deposits suggests that the combination of foregoing physico-mechanical parameters can characterize assembling characteristics of debris flow-related sediments including grain size distribution,mineralogy,and accidental detritus.Four deposited sediments above can be surprisingly classified as hard soil-soft rocks according to UCS,and the hard soil-soft rock behaviors can advance the further understanding of debris flows.展开更多
When the temperature of a thin layer of a solution is vertically controlled, Rayleigh-Bemard convection is observed. When a binary isobutyric acid aqueous solution is used as the binary mixture, phase separation is si...When the temperature of a thin layer of a solution is vertically controlled, Rayleigh-Bemard convection is observed. When a binary isobutyric acid aqueous solution is used as the binary mixture, phase separation is simultaneously induced at the approximate critical solution temperature. In this study, these behaviors of phase separation and convection were observed under microwave irradiation. When the microwave power was higher, coalescence of fine droplets after the initial phase separation was accelerated and the coalescence size decreased. However, the solution became more unsteady because of smaller interfacial tension or greater heat generated by the radiation. Finally, in cases of higher microwave power, a steady convection pattern could not exist for a prolonged period because the water-rich phase was more active toward microwave irradiation, and the vertical temperature gradient became disordered.展开更多
Magnesium and its alloys have attracted great attention as biocompatible and degradable biomaterials recent years.But their corrosion rate has been proved to be too high,which limits their biomedical application great...Magnesium and its alloys have attracted great attention as biocompatible and degradable biomaterials recent years.But their corrosion rate has been proved to be too high,which limits their biomedical application greatly.In order to improve the corrosion resistance,nano-fluoridated apatite(FA) coating was prepared on ZK60 magnesium alloy by a simple chemical conversion method.The FA coating showed a needle-like morphology.The polarization curves and EIS plots indicated that the FA coating improved the corrosion potential by 125 mV and doubled the polarization resistance of the magnesium alloy,meanwhile decreasing the corrosion current by two orders of magnitude of the substrate in simulated body fluid.The MTT assay indicated good cytocompatibility of L-929 cells with the fluoridated apatite coated magnesium alloy.展开更多
Thermal behavior and phase behavior in blends of liquid crystalline poly(aryl ether ketone) with lateral methoxy groups (M-PAEK) and poly(aryl ether ether ketone) containing thioether units (S-PEEK) have been investig...Thermal behavior and phase behavior in blends of liquid crystalline poly(aryl ether ketone) with lateral methoxy groups (M-PAEK) and poly(aryl ether ether ketone) containing thioether units (S-PEEK) have been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized light microscopy (PLM) techniques. The results indicate that the composition of the blends has great effect on the phase behavior and morphology. Thin films of pure M-PAEK and S-PEEK crystallized from the melts exhibit typical mosaic and spherulitic structures, respectively. For the blends with higher M-PAEK contents (> 50%), an unusual ring-banded spherulite with structural discontinuity is formed. The bright core and rings of the ring-banded spherulites under PLM are composed of M-PAEK phase, while the dark rings consist mainly of S-PEEK phase. For the 50:50 M-PAEK/S-PEEK blend, the ring-banded spherulites and S-PEEK spherulites coexist, which implies that a partial phase separation between the two components takes place in the melting state. In S-PEEK-rich blends, a volume-filled spherulite is produced. In addition, the effect of isothermal crystallization temperature on the phase behavior, especially the ring-banded spherulite formation in the blends, is discussed.展开更多
In this paper, the phase behavior and interracial properties of symmetric ternary polymeric blends A/B/AB are studied by dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulations. By using the structure factor and nematic ord...In this paper, the phase behavior and interracial properties of symmetric ternary polymeric blends A/B/AB are studied by dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulations. By using the structure factor and nematic order parameter, we carefully characterized the diversified phases and phase transitions, and established the phase diagram of such symmetric ternary blends. It can be generally divided into four regions: disordered phase (DIS) region at high temperature, ordered lameUar phase (LAM) region, bicontinuous microemulsion (BμE) channel and phase-separated phase (2P) region at low temperature with the increase of the total volume fractions of homopolymers φn, which shows good accordance with that in previous experimental and theoretical reports. Furthermore, we calculated the elastic constants of 2P and LAM phase, and discussed the transition mechanisms from 2P and LAM to BμE phase, respectively. The results show a direct relevance between the phase transitions and the change of interfacial properties. Finally, we also demonstrate that the B,uE channel becomes narrower in lower temperature caused by the temperature dependence of interfacial properties of ternary blends.展开更多
In total, 177 of 245 terrestrial carnivores are described as solitary, and much of carnivore ecology is built on the assumptions that interactions between adult solitary carnivores are rare. We employed Global Positio...In total, 177 of 245 terrestrial carnivores are described as solitary, and much of carnivore ecology is built on the assumptions that interactions between adult solitary carnivores are rare. We employed Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and motion-triggered cameras to test predictions of land-tenure territoriality and the resource dispersion hypothesis in a territorial carnivore, the puma Puma concolor. We documented 89 independent GPS interactions, 60% of which occurred at puma kills (n=53), 59 camera interactions, 11 (17%) of which captured courtship behaviors, and 5 other interactions (1 F-F, 3 M-F, and 1 M-M). Mean minimum weekly contact rates were 5.5 times higher in winter, the season when elk Cervus elaphus were aggregated at lower elevations and during which puma courtship primarily occurred. In winter, contacts rates were 0.6_+ 0.3 (standard devi- ation (SD)) interactions/week vs. 0.1 _+ 0.1 (SD) interactions/week during summer. The preponder- ance of interactions at food sources supported the resource dispersion hypothesis, which predicts that resource fluxes can explain temporary social behaviors that do not result in any apparent benefits for the individuals involved. Conspecific tolerance is logical when a prey is so large that the predator that killed it cannot consume it entirely, and thus, the costs of tolerating a conspecific sharing the kill are less than the potential costs associated with defending it and being injured. Puma aggregations at kills numbered as high as 9, emphasizing the need for future research on what explains tolerance among solitary carnivores.展开更多
The scaling behavior of the second virial coefficient of ring polymers at the theta temperature of the corresponding linear polymer(θ_L) is investigated by off-lattice Monte Carlo simulations. The effects of the solv...The scaling behavior of the second virial coefficient of ring polymers at the theta temperature of the corresponding linear polymer(θ_L) is investigated by off-lattice Monte Carlo simulations. The effects of the solvents are modeled by pairwise interaction between polymer monomers in this approach. Using the umbrella sampling, we calculate the effective potential U(r) between two ring polymers as well as the second virial coefficient A_2 of ring polymers at θ_L, which results from a combination of 3-body interactions and topological constraints. The trend in the strength of the effective potential with respect to chain length shows a non-monotonic behavior, differently from that caused only by topological constraints. Our simulation suggests that there are three regimes about the scaling behavior of A_2 of ring polymers at θ_L: 3-body interactions dominating regime, the crossover regime, and the topological constraints dominating regime.展开更多
文摘The effects of Ag on the microstructure and corrosion behavior of pre-soldering Sn-xAg lead-free solders,and on the formation of intermetallic layer of the solders with Cu substrate were investigated.The Ag contents(x)were 0,3.0,3.5,4.0,and5.0 wt.%.The Ag content played a role in the morphology of Ag3 Sn phase in the solders.The microstructure analysis showed that theβ-Sn phase was surrounded by eutectic networks in the 3.0 Ag and 3.5 Ag solders and large plate-like Ag3 Sn formed in the 4.0 Ag and5.0 Ag solders.Nonetheless,the Ag content slightly impacted the corrosion behavior of the as-cast solders as characterized using potentiodynamic polarization test.After soldering,only a single layer of a Cu6 Sn5 intermetallic compound formed at the Sn-xAg/Cu interface.By comparison,the Cu6 Sn5 intermetallic layer of the Ag-doped solders was thinner than that of the 0Ag solder.The fine Ag3 Sn particles in the eutectic networks precipitating in the 3.0 Ag and 3.5 Ag solders effectively hindered the growth of Cu6 Sn5 grains compared to large plate-like Ag3 Sn in the 4.0 and 5.0Ag solders.
基金supported financially by Ministry of Higher Education of Malaysia under the Vote Number 78610
文摘The influence of hydrofluoric acid(HF) treatment on the corrosion behavior of the Mg-0.5Ca alloys was investigated by immersion specimen in sodium hydroxide and HF solutions with various concentrations and durations at room temperature.Microstructural evolutions of the specimens were characterized by atomic force microscopy,X-ray diffraction,field-emission scanning electron microscopy.The corrosion resistance was examined through potentiodynamic polarization and immersion test in Kokubo solution.The results revealed that the fluoride treated Mg-0.5Ca alloys produced by immersion in 40% HF provided more uniform,dense and thicker coating layer(12.6 μm) compared with the 35% HF treated specimen.The electrochemical test showed that the corrosion resistance of fluoride treated specimen was 35 times higher compared with the untreated Mg-0.5Ca alloy specimen in Kokubo solution.In vitro degradation rate of the fluoride treated specimens was much lower than untreated Mg-0.5Ca alloy in Kokubo solution.After immersion test the surface of 40% HF treated sample showed a few corrosion dots,while untreated specimens were fully covered by corrosion products and delamination.Fluoride treated Mg-0.5Ca alloy with 40% HF is a promising candidate as biodegradable implants due to its low degradation kinetics and good biocompatibility.
基金Supported by the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 program) (No. 2007AA091604)the Knowledge Innovation Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences(No. KZCX2-YW-209)
文摘Gelatin has been used in hard capsule shells for more than a century, and some shortcomings have appeared, such as high moisture content and risk of transmitting diseases of animal origin to people. Based on available studies regarding gelatin and vegetable shells, we developed a new type of algal polysaccharide capsule (APPC) shells. To test whether our products can replace commercial gelatin shells, we measured in-vivo plasma concentration of 12 selected volunteers with a model drug, ibuprofen, using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), by calculating the relative bioavailability of APPC and Qualicaps referenced to gelatin capsules and assessing bioequivalence of the three types of shells, and calculated pharmacokinetic parameters with the software DAS 2.0 (China). The results show that APPC shells possess bioequivalence with Qualicaps and gelatin shells. Moreover, the disintegration behavior of four types of shells (APPC, Vegcaps , Qualicaps and gelatin shells) with the content of lactose and radioactive element (99mTc) was observed via gamma-scintigraphic images. The bioavailability and gamma-scintigraphic studies showed that APPC was not statistically different from other vegetable and gelatin capsule shells with respect to in-vivo behavior. Hence, it can be concluded that APPCs are exchangeable with other vegetable and gelatin shells.
文摘In the presence of biofilms, stainless steels (SS) exhibits an increase in corrosion potential, called ennoblement. In the present study, the corrosion potential (Eco,) behavior of the duplex SS UNS S32760 was recorded simultaneously with the in situ marine biofilm formation in two areas at Arraial do Cabo, Southeastern Brazil. The biofilm at Forno Harbor (an anthropogenically disturbed area) was characterized by higher relative abundances of Bacteria at day 2, followed by diatoms (especially Navicula sp.) on day 10 and dinoflagellates on day 18, whereas no clear trend was recorded at Cabo Frio Island (an undisturbed area). The ennoblement of Ecor values was site-dependent. In a complementary laboratory assay, biofilms were removed and the Eco values registered in sterile conditions for the subsequent 10 days and corroborated in situ results. Understanding biofilms and SS interactions has important implications for materials science and engineering decisions as well as helping to fill in imnortant gaps in this knowledge.
文摘Mineral phase characterization and thorough understanding of its transformation behavior during combustion are imperative to know the potential utilization of coal in the thermal industries. The primary objective of this work is to analyze the quality of Indian Coals and obtain their mineral species-specific information at different depths. The samples were obtained from Talcher Coalfield, Odisha, India. Coal from four seam sections in the Talcher coalfield, India are mainly high ash coal (〉50 %) and volatile matter deceases along with the seam depth. XRD results show that the major mineral phases present in the coal are quartz and kaolinite. Siderite, illite, and anatase were found in minor quantities. It has been observed that the clay minerals (kaolinite, silimanite, illite) decompose at higher temperature and traces of dolomite, mullite, hematite etc. are formed during the process of combustion. Among the four seams (M2, M12, M24 and M43) studied, ash of M43 has high A1203%, TIO2% and K20% content and low SIO2%, CaO% and MgO% content. High acid- to-base ratios contributed to high ash fusion temperatures (IDT 〉 1500 ℃) and low slagging potential of the coals studied. Relatively low fouling index (〈0.3) was estimated for all the coal seams studied. Furthermore, thermodynamic modeling software, FactSage, have been used to envision the mineral phase transformations that take place between 800 and 1500℃ during coal combustion.
基金Project(41931294)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProjects(U1502232,U1033601)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China-Yunnan Joint Fund。
文摘To characterize and recognize the debris flow-related deposits,the physico-mechanical performance of four deposits from the Dongyuege(DYG),Shawa(SW),Jiangjia Gully(JJG),and Gengdi(GD)debris flows in southwest China is investigated through laboratory analyses and tests.The four debris-flow materials can all be remolded into coherent,homogeneous cylinders with high densification and strength–porosity of 25%-36%,mean pore-throat radius of 0.46-5.89μm,median pore-throat radius of 0.43-4.28μm,P-wave velocity of 800-1200 m/s,modulus of elasticity of 28-103 MPa,unconfined compressive strength(UCS)of 220-760 kPa,and cohesion of 65-281 kPa.Based on the comparison in slurryability and formability among debris-flow deposits,granular flow deposits,fluvial deposits,residual lateritic clay and loess,whether a sediment can be cast into competent cylinders for physico-mechanical tests can be regarded as a diagnostic evidence of old debris-flow deposits.The discrepancy in physico-mechanical properties among the four debris-flow deposits suggests that the combination of foregoing physico-mechanical parameters can characterize assembling characteristics of debris flow-related sediments including grain size distribution,mineralogy,and accidental detritus.Four deposited sediments above can be surprisingly classified as hard soil-soft rocks according to UCS,and the hard soil-soft rock behaviors can advance the further understanding of debris flows.
文摘When the temperature of a thin layer of a solution is vertically controlled, Rayleigh-Bemard convection is observed. When a binary isobutyric acid aqueous solution is used as the binary mixture, phase separation is simultaneously induced at the approximate critical solution temperature. In this study, these behaviors of phase separation and convection were observed under microwave irradiation. When the microwave power was higher, coalescence of fine droplets after the initial phase separation was accelerated and the coalescence size decreased. However, the solution became more unsteady because of smaller interfacial tension or greater heat generated by the radiation. Finally, in cases of higher microwave power, a steady convection pattern could not exist for a prolonged period because the water-rich phase was more active toward microwave irradiation, and the vertical temperature gradient became disordered.
基金supported by the Program for Young Excellent Talents in Tongji University (Grant No. 2009KJ003)"Chen Guang" project(Grant No. 10CG21) supported by Shanghai Municipal Education Commission and Shanghai Education Development Foundation
文摘Magnesium and its alloys have attracted great attention as biocompatible and degradable biomaterials recent years.But their corrosion rate has been proved to be too high,which limits their biomedical application greatly.In order to improve the corrosion resistance,nano-fluoridated apatite(FA) coating was prepared on ZK60 magnesium alloy by a simple chemical conversion method.The FA coating showed a needle-like morphology.The polarization curves and EIS plots indicated that the FA coating improved the corrosion potential by 125 mV and doubled the polarization resistance of the magnesium alloy,meanwhile decreasing the corrosion current by two orders of magnitude of the substrate in simulated body fluid.The MTT assay indicated good cytocompatibility of L-929 cells with the fluoridated apatite coated magnesium alloy.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (50973038)the Basic Research Fund of Jilin University
文摘Thermal behavior and phase behavior in blends of liquid crystalline poly(aryl ether ketone) with lateral methoxy groups (M-PAEK) and poly(aryl ether ether ketone) containing thioether units (S-PEEK) have been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized light microscopy (PLM) techniques. The results indicate that the composition of the blends has great effect on the phase behavior and morphology. Thin films of pure M-PAEK and S-PEEK crystallized from the melts exhibit typical mosaic and spherulitic structures, respectively. For the blends with higher M-PAEK contents (> 50%), an unusual ring-banded spherulite with structural discontinuity is formed. The bright core and rings of the ring-banded spherulites under PLM are composed of M-PAEK phase, while the dark rings consist mainly of S-PEEK phase. For the 50:50 M-PAEK/S-PEEK blend, the ring-banded spherulites and S-PEEK spherulites coexist, which implies that a partial phase separation between the two components takes place in the melting state. In S-PEEK-rich blends, a volume-filled spherulite is produced. In addition, the effect of isothermal crystallization temperature on the phase behavior, especially the ring-banded spherulite formation in the blends, is discussed.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(21174154,20874110,50930002)
文摘In this paper, the phase behavior and interracial properties of symmetric ternary polymeric blends A/B/AB are studied by dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulations. By using the structure factor and nematic order parameter, we carefully characterized the diversified phases and phase transitions, and established the phase diagram of such symmetric ternary blends. It can be generally divided into four regions: disordered phase (DIS) region at high temperature, ordered lameUar phase (LAM) region, bicontinuous microemulsion (BμE) channel and phase-separated phase (2P) region at low temperature with the increase of the total volume fractions of homopolymers φn, which shows good accordance with that in previous experimental and theoretical reports. Furthermore, we calculated the elastic constants of 2P and LAM phase, and discussed the transition mechanisms from 2P and LAM to BμE phase, respectively. The results show a direct relevance between the phase transitions and the change of interfacial properties. Finally, we also demonstrate that the B,uE channel becomes narrower in lower temperature caused by the temperature dependence of interfacial properties of ternary blends.
文摘In total, 177 of 245 terrestrial carnivores are described as solitary, and much of carnivore ecology is built on the assumptions that interactions between adult solitary carnivores are rare. We employed Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and motion-triggered cameras to test predictions of land-tenure territoriality and the resource dispersion hypothesis in a territorial carnivore, the puma Puma concolor. We documented 89 independent GPS interactions, 60% of which occurred at puma kills (n=53), 59 camera interactions, 11 (17%) of which captured courtship behaviors, and 5 other interactions (1 F-F, 3 M-F, and 1 M-M). Mean minimum weekly contact rates were 5.5 times higher in winter, the season when elk Cervus elaphus were aggregated at lower elevations and during which puma courtship primarily occurred. In winter, contacts rates were 0.6_+ 0.3 (standard devi- ation (SD)) interactions/week vs. 0.1 _+ 0.1 (SD) interactions/week during summer. The preponder- ance of interactions at food sources supported the resource dispersion hypothesis, which predicts that resource fluxes can explain temporary social behaviors that do not result in any apparent benefits for the individuals involved. Conspecific tolerance is logical when a prey is so large that the predator that killed it cannot consume it entirely, and thus, the costs of tolerating a conspecific sharing the kill are less than the potential costs associated with defending it and being injured. Puma aggregations at kills numbered as high as 9, emphasizing the need for future research on what explains tolerance among solitary carnivores.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (2012CB821500)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21222407, 21474111)
文摘The scaling behavior of the second virial coefficient of ring polymers at the theta temperature of the corresponding linear polymer(θ_L) is investigated by off-lattice Monte Carlo simulations. The effects of the solvents are modeled by pairwise interaction between polymer monomers in this approach. Using the umbrella sampling, we calculate the effective potential U(r) between two ring polymers as well as the second virial coefficient A_2 of ring polymers at θ_L, which results from a combination of 3-body interactions and topological constraints. The trend in the strength of the effective potential with respect to chain length shows a non-monotonic behavior, differently from that caused only by topological constraints. Our simulation suggests that there are three regimes about the scaling behavior of A_2 of ring polymers at θ_L: 3-body interactions dominating regime, the crossover regime, and the topological constraints dominating regime.