Multilayer films comprising polystyrene (PS)/polymethyl methalcrylate (PMMA) and PS/polycaprolatone (PCL) alternating nanolayers with varied layer thickness were fabricated by multilayer coextrusion. The nanolayers breakup phenomena of PMMA and PCL were characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM), oxygen permeability, light transmission, wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The continuous layers started to break up into nanosheets and nanodroplets during the coextrusion process when the nominal layer thickness decreased to between 30 nm and 40 nm. Further decrease of the nominal layer thickness of PMMA and PCL resulted in less nanosheets and more nanodroplets. Oxygen permeability was effective for characterizing the onset thickness of layer breakup. The oxygen permeability for the PS/PCL system was modeled and demonstrated good correlation with estimated composition of continuous layers, nanosheets, and nanodroplets.

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Two fluorescent probes STP1–2 for GSH and mercapto-containing proteins were designed. Both probes have potential application in fluorescence imaging of GSH within living cells.

A time lag between sap flux density (Js) and meteorological factors has been widely reported, but the controlling factors of the time lag are poorly understood. To interpret the time lag phenomenon systematically, thermal dissipation probes were placed into each of eight trees to measure the Js of Larix principis-rupprechtii Mayr. in the Liupan Mountains in Northwest China. Meteorological factors, including vapor pressure deficit (VPD), solar radiation (Rs) and air temperature (Ta), were synchronously measured with Js, and the dislocation contrast method was used to analyze the time lag between Js and the meteorological factors. The analysis indicated the following for the whole experimental period. (1) The time lag between Js and VPD (TLV) and the time lag between Js and Rs (TLR) both exhibited different patterns under different weather conditions, and Js could precede Rs on dry days. (2) Both TLV and TLR varied with the day of the year (DOY) throughout the experimental period; namely, both exhibited a decreasing tendency in September. (3) Reference crop evapotranspiration (ETref) had a greater influence on the time lag than the other meteorological factors and directly controlled the length and direction of TLV and TLR; relative extractable water (REW) modified the relationship between ETref and time lag. (4) The regression analysis results showed differences between the time lags and the environmental factors (ETref and REW) within different ranges of REW. Namely, TLR was better determined by ETref and REW when REW < 0.38, while TLV was better correlated with ETref and REW in the absence of soil water limitations (REW > 0.38). This project provided an important opportunity to advance the understanding of the interaction between plant transpiration and meteorological factors in a changing climate.