Detection of Homologue and Isomer Vapors through Dynamic Reflection Spectra of Hollow Mesoporous Silica Sphere Photonic Crystals.

Vapors of homologues and isomers with very similar refractive indices can be easily distinguished by using dynamic reflection spectra (DRS) of hollow mesoporous silica sphere (HMSS) photonic crystals (PCs). Different diffusion behaviors render the HMSS PCs with a distinct response to different chemicals vapors, leading to diversity in the evolution of the reflection spectra and their DRS patterns. Therefore, by studying the geometric characteristics and color changes of color-filled contour maps, as well as the reflection peak shift speeds at different stages, even isomers such as n-butanol and iso-butanol, with a refractive index difference of only 0.001, can be recognized. The reflection peak shift speed depends on both the refractive index and the diffusion speed of chemicals. The proposed strategy provides a convenient, accurate, and low-cost method to detect vapors of homologues and isomers.

Effect of Load on the Thermal Expansion Behavior of T700 Carbon Fiber Bundles.

T700 carbon fiber bundles (CFBs) are the primary material used for manufacturing cable-net in a deployable antenna. In this paper, the relationships between the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of T700 CFBs and the experimental load were investigated. The microstructure of T700 CFBs was analyzed with Raman spectra and XRD before and after the thermomechanical test. The measured results indicated that the T700 CFBs that were parallel to the axis had negative expansion characteristics when in a temperature range of -150⁻+150 °C. The thermal strain that occurred during the heating and the cooling thermal cycles had an unclosed curve that served as the loop. When the thermal cycles were the same, the position of the strain loop and the length of the sample exhibited regular change. The average of the CTEs decreased as the experimental load increased. The microstructural analysis suggested that the degree of structural order and the degree of orientation along the fiber axis improved with the experimental load increase. The change of microstructure parameters could be the primary cause of the negative CTE's variation within the T700 CFBs. The experimental results provide some guidelines for improving the cable-net material selection.

Pharmacokinetic study of single- and multiple-dosing with metolazone tablets in healthy Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Metolazone is a diuretic, saluretic and antihypertensive chemical compound from the quinazoline category that possesses medicinal features similar to those of other thiazide diuretic drugs. However, the pharmacokinetics of metolazone in the Chinese population has rarely been studied. This study aimed to examine the pharmacokinetic characteristics, safety characteristic, and tolerability of metolazone in healthy Chinese subjects after single and multiple doses taken orally as well as the effects that food and gender have on oral metolazone pharmacokinetic parameters. METHODS: An open-label, randomized, and single- and multiple-dosing investigation was performed in healthy Chinese subjects. The investigation included 3 study groups: the 0.5 mg, 1 mg and 2 mg dose groups were the single-dose study groups in the first stage. Eligible volunteers were randomly and orally administered a single 0.5 mg, 1 mg, or 2 mg metolazone tablet. The 0.5 mg dose group was also part of the multiple-dose study group, and the 1 mg dose group was the food-effect study group in the second stage. Human plasma samples were gathered pre-dosing and up to 48 h after dosing. The human plasma sample concentration of metolazone was quantified using a validated liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method. Pharmacokinetic data were calculated by a noncompartmental analysis method using WinNonlin version 6.4. Tolerability was evaluated based on adverse events, medical examination, 12-lead ECG, and other clinical laboratory exams. RESULTS: Thirty eligible subjects (15 men and 15 women) were registered in our investigation and completed all of the study stages. The AUC and Cmax showed dose proportionality after a single dose based on the linear-regression analysis. A comparison of the pharmacokinetic data revealed that the differences between the male and female groups were not statistically significant. The tmax of metolazone was increased by approximately 100% in the fed condition. Metolazone was well tolerated at the tested dose, and no adverse effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Single dosing with 0.5 mg, 1 mg, or 2 mg metolazone yielded linear plasma pharmacokinetic properties in healthy Chinese subjects. Multiple oral doses of metolazone did not display significantly different distributions or elimination characteristics from those observed for a single dose. Gender factors did not appear to influence the pharmacokinetic parameter variation of metolazone. The tmax of metolazone increased in the fed condition. Metolazone was well tolerated at the tested dose in this study. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This investigation is retrospectively registered at chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR-IIR-17012929, October 09 2017).

Improved Electrochemical Cycling Durability in a Nickel Oxide Double-Layered Film.

For the first time, a crystalline-amorphous double-layered NiOx film has been prepared by reactive radio frequency magnetron sputtering. This film has exhibited improved electrochemical cycling durability, whereas other electrochromic parameters have been maintained at the required level, namely, a short coloration/bleaching time (0.8 s/1.1 s) and an enhanced transmittance modulation range (62.2 %) at λ=550 nm. Additionally, the double-layered film has shown better reversibility than that of amorphous and crystalline single-layered films.