Cassava retting: Optimisation of a traditional fermentation by an experimental research methodology

Retting, a spontaneous and traditional fermentation of cassava roots in Central Africa, was optimised in terms of time and the quality of the end-product. Optimal conditions were achieved by using an experimental research methodology. Temperature is the most influential factor, with an optimum of 34°C for quicker retting. The roots should be peeled and soaked in water immediately after harvesting to increase the quality of cassava foods. Inoculation of water with juice from a prior retting helps in cassava detoxification but has no influence on the time or the quality of foo-foo. Foo-foo samples had the most favourable organoleptic quality when an incubation temperature of between 28 and 37°C was used. Using optimal conditions, retting time was reduced 3-fold, and foo-foo of high and constant quality could be processed.     

Software to compute and conduct sequential Bayesian phase I or II dose-ranging clinical trials with stopping rules

The aim of dose-ranging phase I (resp. phase II) clinical trials is to rapidly identify the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) (resp., minimal effective dose (MED)) of a new drug or combination. For the conduct and analysis of such trials, Bayesian approaches such as the Continual Reassessment Method (CRM) have been proposed, based on a sequential design and analysis up to a completed fixed sample size. To optimize sample sizes, Zohar and Chevret have proposed stopping rules (Stat. Med. 20 (2001) 2827), the computation of which is not provided by available softwares. We present in this paper a user-friendly software for the design and analysis of these Bayesian Phase I (resp. phase II) dose-ranging Clinical Trials (BPCT). It allows to carry out the CRM with stopping rules or not, from the planning of the trial, with choice of model parameterization based on its operating characteristics, up to the sequential conduct and analysis of the trial, with estimation at stopping of the MTD (resp. MED) of the new drug or combination.     

Variation of MUF and PMUF resins mass fractions during preparation

The variation of molecular mass distribution with the progress of the reaction was studied for the following: (i) sequential‐type melamine–urea–formaldehyde (MUF) resin formulations in which the sequence of addition of chemicals follows well‐defined species reactivity principles; (ii) a nonsequential MUF formulation in which simultaneous melamine and urea competition for formaldehyde yields a MF resin cocondensed with small amounts of urea. This resin became soaked with reacted and unreacted monomeric urea species. (iii) A PMUF resin, namely a MUF resin with a small proportion of phenol (7.8% by weight on melamine and urea) cocondensed with the main MUF fraction. All the formulations used were industrial resins formulations in current use. Development and variation of molecular mass fractions, from which performance and other useful resin parameters depend, have been found to depend on the type of resin formulation used for these type of aminoplastic resins. The two very different MUF resin formulations yielded different variations in molecular mass fractions during the progress of the reaction and during the so‐called ambient temperature “maturing” of the resin. The PMUF resin also showed both similar and different fractions present during manufacturing and during short term ageing at ambient temperature. While similarities in recurrent fractions and in trends are common to all the three different formulations, differences between them are also clearly observed. A major proportion of the reaction of some of the aminoplastic resins examined also occurs on ageing (i.e.“maturing” of the resin at ambient temperature), this appearing to be an essential phase of the resin preparation process. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 4842–4855, 2006     

Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Combining ZnO Nanotip Arrays and Nonliquid Gel Electrolytes

We present a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) using a nanostructured ZnO photoelectrode and a gel electrolyte. The photoelectrode consists of well-aligned ZnO nanotips on a Ga-doped ZnO (GZO) transparent conducting film. The GZO film (400 nm, sheet resistance ~25 Ω/sq, transmittance over 85% in the visible wavelength) and ZnO nanotips (3.2 μm length) are sequentially grown on a glass substrate using metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. The ZnO photoelectrode is sensitized with dye N719 and impregnated with N-methyl pyrolidinone (NMP) gelled with poly(vinyl-difluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene) copolymer (PVDF-HFP). The cell exhibits an open-circuit voltage of 726 mV and a power conversion efficiency of 0.89% under one sun illumination. The aging testing shows that the cell using a gel electrolyte has better stability than its liquid electrolyte counterpart.     

Probing photonic and optoelectronic structures by apertureless scanning near-field optical microscopy

This report presents the Apertureless Scanning Optical Near-Field Microscope as a powerful tool for the characterization of modern optoelectronic and photonic components with sub-wavelength resolution. We present an overview of the results we obtained in our laboratory over the past few years. By significant examples, it is shown that this specific probe microscopy allows for in situ local quantitative study of semiconductor lasers in operation, integrated optical waveguides produced by ion exchange (single channel or Y junction), and photonic structures.     

Effective viscoelastic behavior of short fibers composites using virtual DMA experiments

Mechanics of Time-Dependent Materials - May it be for environmental or economic reasons, mass reduction has become one of the main goals in mechanics. The short fiber thermoplastics composite is an...     

Bulk Spin Torque-Driven Perpendicular Magnetization Switching in L10 FePt Single Layer

Due to its inherent superior perpendicular magnetocrystalline anisotropy, the FePt in L1₀ phase enables magnetic storage and memory devices with ultrahigh capacity. However, reversing the FePt magnetic state, and therefore encoding information, has proven to be extremely difficult. Here, it is demonstrated that an electric current can exert a large spin torque on an L1₀ FePt magnet, ultimately leading to reversible magnetization switching. The spin torque monotonically increases with increasing FePt thickness, exhibiting a bulk characteristic. Meanwhile, the spin torque effective fields and switching efficiency increase as the FePt approaches higher chemical ordering with stronger spin–orbit coupling. The symmetry breaking that generates spin torque within L1₀ FePt is shown to arise from an inherent structural gradient along the film normal direction. By artificially reversing the structural gradient, an opposite spin torque effect in L1₀ FePt is demonstrated. At last, the role of the disorder gradient in generating a substantial torque in a single ferromagnet is supported by theoretical calculations. These results will push forward the frontier of material systems for generating spin torques and will have a transformative impact on magnetic storage and spin memory devices with simple architecture, ultrahigh density, and readily application.     

Ester acceleration mechanisms in phenol–formaldehyde resin adhesives

An analysis of phenol–formaldehyde (PF) resins obtained by the addition of 0.5–5% glycerol triacetate (triacetin) as an accelerator during resin preparation showed the presence of intermediates involved in the acceleration mechanism. ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectroscopy (MS), and gel permeation chromatography allowed us to identify some of the intermediates left over in the PF resin itself. The permanence in the resin of these labile intermediates, not easily observed otherwise, appeared to be due to the reaching of the diffusion-controlled phase of the reaction. The mechanism involved appeared considerably more complex and different from any of the mechanisms presented previously. As a consequence of the evident complexity of the mechanism, it was not really possible to advance a complete mechanism of the reaction nor determine the real cause of the increase in the strength of the final network. The mechanism involved the phenate ion of the resin to apparently give a carbonyl or carboxyl group attached to the aromatic ring. Either directly or by subsequent rapid rearrangement after the initial attack, these CO groups were found on sites different from the ortho position. The appearance gathered from NMR shift calculation indicated preferential positioning or repositioning to the para site and, surprisingly, to the meta sites of the phenolic ring. The shifts of these CO groups correspond to those of an anhydride and to no other intermediate structures previously thought of. Anhydride-like bridges were clearly shown by MALDI-TOF MS to contribute to oligomer structures in which linkages between phenol rings were mixed methylene bridges and anhydride bridges. These structures appeared to be temporary, possibly due to the instability of the anhydride bridges; hence, they were in small proportions at any given moment of the reaction. MALDI-TOF analysis clearly indicated that these structures were at some moment an integral part of the structure of the liquid resin and that they existed parallel to the methylene bridges pertaining to a normal PF resin structure. Previous spectra showed that similar but not identical intermediates were present also in organic and inorganic catalyzed PF resins. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100:3075–3093, 2006     

Plant Chemical Defense Induced by a Seed-Eating Pollinator Mutualist

Plant-seed parasite pollination mutualisms involve a specific pollinator whose larvae develop by consuming a fraction of the host plant seeds. These mutualisms are stable only if the plant can control seed destruction by the larvae. Here, we studied the chemical response of the European globeflower Trollius europaeus to infestation by an increasing number of Chiastocheta fly larvae. We used liquid chromatographic analysis to compare the content of phenolic compounds in unparasitized and parasitized fruits collected in two natural populations of the French Alps, and mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance to elucidate the structure of adonivernith, a C-glycosyl-flavone. This compound is present in many of the organs of T. europaeus, but not found in other Trollius species. Furthermore, it is overproduced in the carpel walls of parasitized fruits, and this induced response to infestation by fly larvae is density-dependent (increases with larval number), and site-dependent (more pronounced in the high-altitude site). Mechanical damage did not induce adonivernith production. This tissue-specific and density-dependent response of T. europaeus to infestation by Chiastocheta larvae might be an efficient regulation mechanism of seed-predator mutualist population growth if it decreases survival or growth of the larvae.