• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 2008

Cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) is allosterically activated by cAMP and functions as a global transcription regulator in enteric bacteria. Structural information on CRP in the absence of cAMP (apo-CRP) is essential to fully understand its allosteric behavior. In this study we demonstrated interdomain interactions in apo-CRP, using a comparative thermodynamic approach to the intact protein and its isolated domains, which were prepared either by limited proteolysis or using recombinant DNA. Thermal denaturation of the intact apo-CRP, monitored by differential scanning calorimetry, revealed an apparently single cooperative transition with a slight asymmetry. Combined with circular dichroism and fluorescence analysis, the thermal denaturation of apo-CRP could be interpreted as a coupled process involving two individual transitions, each attributable to a structural domain. When isolated individually, both of the domains exhibited significantly altered thermal behavior, thus pointing to the existence of non-covalent interdomain interactions in the intact apo-CRP. These observations suggest that the allosteric conformational change of CRP upon binding to cAMP is achieved by perturbing or modifying pre-existing interdomain interactions. They also underline the effectiveness of a comparative approach using calorimetric and structural probes for studying the thermodynamics of a protein.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.341-352
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• 2024

This study investigates the heat and mass transfer characteristics of a MoS₂ nanoparticle suspension in ethylene glycol over a porous stretching sheet. MoS₂ nanoparticles are known for their exceptional thermal and chemical stability which makes it convenient for enhancing the energy and mass transport properties of base fluids. Ethylene glycol, a common coolant in various industrial applications is utilized as the suspending medium due to its superior heat transfer properties. The effects of variable thermal conductivity, variable mass diffusivity, thermal radiation and thermophoresis which are crucial parameters in affecting the transport phenomena of nanofluids are taken into consideration. The governing partial differential equations representing the conservation of momentum, energy, and concentration are reduced to a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations using appropriate similarity transformations. R software and MATLAB-bvp5c are used to compute the solutions. The impact of key parameters, including the nanoparticle volume fraction, magnetic field, Prandtl number, and thermophoresis parameter on the flow, heat and mass transfer rates is systematically examined. The study reveals that the presence of MoS₂ nanoparticles curbs the friction between the fluid and the solid boundary. Moreover, the variable thermal conductivity controls the rate of heat transfer and variable mass diffusivity regulates the rate of mass transfer. The numerical and statistical results computed are mutually justified via tables. The results obtained from this investigation provide valuable insights into the design and optimization of systems involving nanofluid-based heat and mass transfer processes, such as solar collectors, chemical reactors, and heat exchangers. Furthermore, the findings contribute to a deeper understanding of stretching sheet systems, such as in manufacturing processes involving continuous casting or polymer film production. The incorporation of MoS₂-C₂H₆O₂ nanofluids can potentially optimize temperature distribution and fluid dynamics.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.341-347
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• 2009

Nanohybrid based on environmentally friendly and biodegradable polymer, poly propylene carbonate (PPC) and cloisite 20B (PPC/C-20B) have been synthesized by solution blending method and their morphology, thermal and water absorption properties have been evaluated. The structure of PPC/C-20B nanohybrid was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The thermal property of PPC and PPC/C-20B nanohybrid were investigated by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC). The experimental results demonstrated that nanohybrid showed the highest thermal stability in TGA and DSC. TGA tests revealed that the thermal decomposition temperature ($T_{d50%}$) of the nanohybrid increased significantly, being $23^{\circ}C$ higher than that of pure PPC while DSC measurements indicated that the introduction of 5 mass% of clay increased the glass transition temperature from 21 to $30^{\circ}C$. Further the water absorption capacity of the PPC was significantly decreased by the incorporation of clay. Water absorption cause degradation of the coating by the moistures and affect the physical and mechanical performance. This result indicates that organic modifiers have effect on thermal and water absorption capacity of PPC and are of importance for the practical process and application of PPC.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.68-74
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• 2017

Epoxy resins are widely used in various fields due to their excellent thermal, mechanical and chemical properties. In order to improve the mechanical properties of the epoxy composition after curing, various materials are mixed in the epoxy resin. Among the nano materials, CNT is the most widely used. However, CNT has limitations in terms of manufacturing process and manufacturing cost. Therefore, there is a growing interest in naturally occurring HNTs having similar structure to that of CNT. In this study, the thermal and mechanical properties of epoxy compositions containing HNTs treated with two types of silane compounds were investigated. The mechanical properties of silane-treated HNT were measured by using a universal testing machine. The differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and thermomechanical analysis (TMA) were used to measure thermal properties. As a result of the above tests, when the HNT was surface-treated with aminosilane, the tensile strength of the epoxy composition containing the HNT was higher than that of the epoxy composition containing epoxy silane treated HNT. The linear thermal expansion coefficients (CTE) obtained from the thermomechanical analysis of the two epoxy compositions for the comparison of dimensional stability showed that the HNT composition treated with aminosilane showed a lower value of CTE than that of epoxy composition including the pristine HNT.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.41 no.7
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• pp.953-968
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• 2009

It is important to accurately predict the temperature and density distributions in large stratified enclosures both for design optimization and accident analysis. Current reactor system analysis codes only provide lumped-volume based models that can give very approximate results. Previous scaling analysis has shown that stratified mixing processes in large stably stratified enclosures can be described using one-dimensional differential equations, with the vertical transport by jets modeled using integral techniques. This allows very large reductions in computational effort compared to three-dimensional CFD simulation. The BMIX++ (Berkeley mechanistic MIXing code in C++) code was developed to implement such ideas. This paper summarizes major models for the BMIX++ code, presents the two-plume mixing experiment simulation as one validation example, and describes the codes' application to the liquid salt buffer pool system in the AHTR (Advanced High Temperature Reactor) design. Three design options have been simulated and they exhibit significantly different stratification patterns. One of design options shows the mildest thermal stratification and is identified as the best design option. This application shows that the BMIX++ code has capability to provide the reactor designers with insights to understand complex mixing behavior with mechanistic methods. Similar analysis is possible for liquid-metal cooled reactors.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.706-710
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• 2021

In the current research, thermal and catalytic thermogravimetric (TG) analysis of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) over natural zeolite (NZ), olivine, bentonite, HZSM-5, and HAl-MCM-41 were investigated using a TG analyzer and model-free kinetic analysis. Catalytic TG analysis of PET was carried out at multi-heating rates, 10, 20, 30, and 40 ℃/min, under nitrogen atmosphere. Apparent activation energy (Ea) values for the thermal and catalytic pyrolysis of PET were calculated using Flynn-Wall-Ozawa method. Although natural catalysts, NZ, olivine, and bentonite, could not lead the higher PET decomposition efficiency than synthetic zeolites, HZSM-5 and HAl-MCM-41, maximum decomposition temperatures on the differential TG (DTG) curves for the catalytic pyrolysis of PET, 436 ℃ over olivine, 435 ℃ over bentonite, and 434 ℃ over NZ, at 10 ℃/min, were definitely lower than non-catalytic pyrolysis. Calculated Ea values for the catalytic pyrolysis of PET over natural catalysts, 177 kJ/mol over olivine, 168 kJ/mol over bentonite, and 171 kJ/mol over NZ, were also not lower than those over synthetic zeolites, however, those were also much lower than the thermal decomposition, suggesting their feasibility as the proper and cost-effective catalysts on the pyrolysis of PET.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.813-832
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• 2016

This research deals with the behavior of Composite Box Girder Bridges (CBGBs) subjected to environmental effects such as solar radiation, atmospheric temperature, and wind speed. It is based on temperature and thermal stress results, which were recorded hourly from a full-scale experimental CBGB segment and Finite Element (FE) thermal analysis. The Hemi-cube method was adopted to achieve the accuracy in temperature distributions and variations in a composition system during the daily environmental variations. Analytical findings were compared with the experimental measurements, and a good agreement was found. On the other hand, parametric investigations are carried out to investigate the effect of the cross-section geometry and orientation of the longitudinal axis of CBGB on the thermal response and stress distributions. Based upon individual parametric investigations, some remarks related to the thermal loading parameters were submitted. Additionally, some observations about the CBGB configurations were identified, which must be taken into account in the design process. Finally, this research indicates that the design temperature distribution with a uniform differential between the concrete slab and the steel girder is inappropriate for describing the thermal impacts in design objective.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.29-32
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• 2018

Silkworm powder's thermal property is an important factor for its storage and marketing. This study examined the effect of edible enzyme on the thermal property of silkworm powder using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Results of the TGA showed that regardless of the enzyme treatment, the weight loss patterns of silkworm powders exhibited 3 step thermal property deterioration at approximately $80^{\circ}C$, $280^{\circ}C$, and $480^{\circ}C$ due to water evaporation and thermal degradation. This is similar with the DSC which also resulted in all samples two endothermic peaks attributed also to water evaporation and thermal degradation. These results indicated that the use of enzyme such as protease and cellulase might not affect significantly the thermal properties of silkworm powder.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.642-648
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• 2021

The precipitation effect of Al-6%Si-0.4%Mg-0.9%Cu-(Ti) alloy (in wt.%) after various heat treatments was studied using a laser flash device (LFA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Solid solution treatment was performed at 535 ℃ for 6 h, followed by water cooling, and samples were artificially aged in air at 180 ℃ and 220 ℃ for 5 h. The titanium-free alloy Al-6%Si-0.4%Mg-0.9%Cu showed higher thermal diffusivity than did the Al-6%Si-0.4%Mg-0.9%Cu-0.2%Ti alloy over the entire temperature range. In the temperature ranges below 200 ℃ and above 300 ℃, the value of thermal diffusivity decreased with increasing temperature. As the sample temperature increased between 200 ℃ and 400 ℃, phase precipitation occurred. From the results of DSC analysis, the temperature dependence of the change in thermal diffusivity in the temperature range between 200 ℃ and 400 ℃ was strongly influenced by the precipitation of θ'-Al₂Cu, β'-Mg₂Si, and Si phases. The most important factor in the temperature dependence of thermal diffusivity was Si precipitation.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.95-103
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• 1977

Characteristics of Ham Pyong clay and clay-organic complexes were investigated by means of geological exploration, chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis, electron microscopy, thermal mechanical analysis, cation exchange capacity and viscosity measurement. The results are as follows; 1) This caly is a transported clay which has black and white colors, and the amounts of deposit are estimated about 1, 600, 000M/T. 2) The major mineral phases identified by X-ray diffraction are kaolinite, sericite and halloysite and the minor phases are quartz and feldspar, these mineral phases can be seperated very easily by the elutriation method. 3) It was supposed that the black colored clay involved a certain clay-organic complexs by the mechanism of intercalation as well as surface absorption. 4) The clay-organic complexes in clay seemed to improve dispersity, to increase the fluidity of clay-water slips, to decrease the firing shrinkage and to promote the thermo-chemical reaction at temperature range up to 50$0^{\circ}C$, but not to effect on the resulted firing color.