The “alexandrite effect” in gemstones

The term “alexandrite effect” is used in gemology to describe a distinct change of color appearance when a gemstone is switched from daylight to incandescent light. Gemstones that exhibit the alexandrite effect can actually be divided into four categories based upon the value of the calculated absolute hue-angle change of the material under different pairs of illuminants. the alexandrite effect is a non-color-constancy phenomenon. It can be explained by a combination of both chromaticity adaptations to the different light sources, and vision system responses to the spectral distribution of the light emitted by alexandrite effect gemstones when they are illuminated alternatively by the different light sources.     

Salt‐Controlled Selectivity in “on Water” and “in Water” Passerini‐Type Multicomponent Reactions

We have demonstrated that simple sodium salts can completely reverse the product ratios of the Passerini reaction in aqueous media. Furthermore, the use of the “salting‐in” salt and a small excess of the nucleophile gives significantly higher yields than the use of the saturated solution of the nucleophile alone.     

Application of time–stress superposition to viscoelastic behavior of polyamide 6,6 fiber and its “true” elastic modulus

The viscoelastic behavior of semi‐crystalline polyamide 6,6 fiber is exploited in viscoelastically prestressed polymeric matrix composites. To understand better the underlying prestress mechanisms, strain–time performance of the fiber material is investigated in this work, under high creep stress values (330–665 MPa). A latch‐based Weibull model enables prediction of the “true” elastic modulus through instantaneous deformation from the creep‐recovery data, giving 4.6 ± 0.4 GPa. The fiber shows approximate linear viscoelastic characteristics, so that the time–stress superposition principle (TSSP) can be implemented, with a linear relationship between the stress shift factor and applied stress. The resulting master creep curve enables creep behavior at 330 MPa to be predicted over a large timescale, thus creep at 590 MPa for 24 h would be equivalent to a 330 MPa creep stress for ～5200 years. Similarly, the TSSP is applied to the resulting recovery data, to obtain a master recovery curve. This is equivalent to load removal in the master creep curve, in which the yarns would have been subjected to 330 MPa creep stress for ～4.56 × 10⁷ h. Since our work involves high stress values, the findings may be of interest to those involved with long‐term load‐bearing applications using polyamide materials. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 44971.     

Crystallization behavior of “wet brush” and “dry brush” blends of PS‐b‐PEO‐b‐PS/h‐PEO

The crystallization behavior of the blending system consists of homopolymer poly(ethylene oxide) (h‐PEO) with different molecular weights, and polystyrene‐block‐poly (ethylene oxide)‐block‐polystyrene (PS‐b‐PEO‐b‐PS) triblock copolymer has been investigated by DSC measurements. The crystallization of PEO block (b‐PEO) in block copolymer occurs under much lower temperature than that of the h‐PEO in the bulk (ΔT > 65 °C), which is attributed to the homogeneous nucleation crystallization behavior of the b‐PEO microdomains. In both the “dry‐brush” and the “wet brush” blending systems, the homogeneous nucleation crystallization temperature of PS‐b‐PEO‐b‐PS/h‐PEO blends increases due to the increase of the domain size. The heterogeneous nucleation crystallization temperatures of h‐PEO in the wet brush blending systems are higher than that of the corresponding h‐PEO in the bulk. At the same time, the heterogeneous nucleation crystallization temperature of b‐PEO10000 decreases from 43°C to 30°C and 40°C in the h‐PEO600 and h‐PEO2000 blending systems, respectively, because of the stretching of the PEO chains in the wet brush. However, this kind of phenomenon does not happen in the dry brush blending systems. The self‐seeding procedure was used to further ascertain the nucleation mechanism in the crystallization process. As a result, the self‐seeding domains have been confirmed, and the difference between the dry brush and wet brush systems has been observed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Origin of the bimodal “melting” endotherm of α-form crystallites in wool keratin

The melting endotherm of α-form crystallites in wool keratin appears often to be bimodal. The origin of the bimodal endotherm has been considered to correspond to the differential melting of the α-form crystallites in the domains of ortho- and para-cortical cells. An alternative interpretation is presented, in which the bimodal peak arises from the overlapping of the melting endotherm of α-form crystallites and the thermal degradation of other wool histological components. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 63: 411–415, 1997     

The impact of the “memory effect” on the catalytic activity of Mg/Al; Mg,Zn/Al; Mg/Al,Ga hydrotalcite-like compounds used as catalysts for cycloxene epoxidation

The epoxidation of cyclohexene by hydrogene peroxide and benzonitrile, in methanol as solvent on solid base catalysts, hydrotalcites (HT) and corresponding mixed oxides (C-HT) was investigated. The employed catalysts were as-synthesized Mg/Al; Mg,Zn/Al; Mg/Ga,Al hydrotalcites, their derived mixed oxides and the corresponding reconstructed hydrotalcite forms (R-HT) obtained via the “memory effect” upon a rehydration treatment of C-HT. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, CO₂-TPD and N₂ adsorption–desorption measurements.

The reconstructed HT samples exhibit higher activity in comparison to the as-synthesized carbonated HT samples. A tentative correlation of the catalytic properties with the base strength of the active sites, the structural and textural characteristics of the catalysts, has been explored.     

Polymerization reactor: The influence of “gel effect” in batch and continuous solution polymerization of methyl methacrylate

This article describes the influence of gel effect in the free radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate. A mathematical model has been developed which tries to predict the performance of batch and continuous polymerization reactors under dynamic and steady-state conditions. The influence of diffusion phenomena on the process kinetics (gel effect) is very important. The autoacceleration in the polymerization rate of the batch reactor and the mulitple steady state for the continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) are connected with the attainment of critical conditions in the system. Such a model is useful for the design of the reactor and the choice of the control system.     

Fatty acids characterization in “Alicante” and “Jijona” nougat bars,two Spanish sweets

In this work the fatty acids in two typical Spanish sweets have been characterized: Alicante and Jijona nougat bars, using gas chromatography with a flame-ionization detector. The majority of the fatty acids in these two sweets are unsaturated, and only a low proportion is saturated, which turns them into a type of food with low influence on cholesterol resulting in low atherogenic power, due to the low amount of saturated fatty acids, which is far from constituting 1/3 of the total sum of fatty acids granted by a diet, a limit that has been advised by a great number of International Scientific Committees.     

The role of pore structure in the catalytic behavior of “unaged” and “aged” silica-alumina catalysts

This is a review of research concerning the role played by the porous structure of silica-alumina catalysts on the evolution of organic catalytic processes. A strong effect of the geometrical shape of the pores on catalytic activity and selectivity has been evidenced. The experimental results have also been interpreted by means of a simplified mathematical model, able to relate selectivity for a reaction of the type A → B → C to the geometrical features of macro-microporous catalyst pellets, or granules. The theoretical results are in qualitatively satisfactory agreement with the experimental data.     

Fabrication of cellulose membrane with “imprinted morphology” and low crystallinity from spherulitic [Bmim]Cl

In the present study, regenerated cellulose membrane with “imprinted morphology” and low crystallinity was fabricated from the crystal cellulose/[Bmim]Cl solution. Spherulites of 1‐butyl‐3‐methilimidazolium chloride ([Bmim]Cl) and cellulose/[Bmim]Cl solution were observed using polarized optical microscopy under certain condition. The fabricated cellulose membranes presented some particular characteristics compared with the membrane prepared from traditional cellulose/[Bmim]Cl solution. All the fabricated membranes were characterized by optical microscope, Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), thermo‐gravimetric analysis, and mechanical testing. The images showed that the resulting membranes prepared from crystal cellulose/[Bmim]Cl solution were “imprinted” with patterns which originated from the crystalline structure of [Bmim]Cl. The results of WAXD showed that the obtained cellulose membrane exhibited low diffraction peaks and crystallinity of approximately 24.57%. Furthermore, the low crystallinity led to the low mechanical property (27.5 MPa), thermal stability (315.4 °C), and high moisture regain (9.5%). © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43798.     

The contributions of “minimum primary emissions” and “new particle formation enhancements” to the particle number concentration in urban air

In an urban site affected by fresh vehicle exhaust emissions, the ambient air number concentrations of particles coarser than 3 nm (N) was split into two components, N=N1+N2. This was done using a method based on the high correlation between black-carbon (BC) and number (N) concentrations which is typically observed in ambient air and is the result of vehicle exhaust emissions. The component N1 accounts for “those aerosol components directly emitted in the particle phase” and “those components nucleating immediately after emission”. The component N2 accounts for the new particle formation enhancements during the “dilution and cooling of the vehicle exhaust” and is also influenced by “in situ new particle formation in ambient air”. The contribution of N1 to N exhibits a maximum of 55% during the morning rush hours (07:00–08:00). The contribution of N2 to N exhibits a daily evolution with a broad maximum during daylight (as solar radiation intensity), while for about 7 h (11:00–17:00) the N2 contribution to N is about 70%. During some “afternoon N2 events”, N2 contributions exceeded 90%. Enhancements in the new particle formation processes may increase the N/BC concentrations ratio in one order of magnitude, from 4.82×10⁶ particles/ng BC to 47×10⁶ particles/ng BC and during some events up to 97×10⁶ particles/ng BC. The results show evidence of the high potential of the vehicle exhausts and of the urban atmosphere to trigger new particle formation if the ambient air conditions are favourable. The method used in this study is useful in assessing future changes in the number to BC relationship due to forthcoming regulations in the vehicle exhaust emissions.     

Investigation of the “Surface” and “Interphase” Composition of Adhesion Promoter/Thermoplastic Olefin Systems: The Effect of Adhesion Promoter Bake Temperature

The interfacial chemistry of model systems consisting of two adhesion promoting primers and a single Thermoplastic Olefin (TPO) substrate was examined. Two commercial adhesion promoter (AP) materials were applied to a commercially-available TPO material and either flash dried at room temperature or baked at 100°C. The surface composition of the AP films and TPO substrate, and the interfacial compositions of the AP/TPO systems were characterized using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The AP films studied were based upon a chlorinated polyolefin (CPO). For one adhesion promoter film (AP-1), no chlorine was present at the surface suggesting a nonhomogeneous system. For the second adhesion promoter film (AP-2), the surface composition was about 15% CPO and 85% AP matrix. No changes in AP surface composition were evident for the different bake conditions for either AP. Interfacial compositions of the room temperature flashed materials were found to be very similar for both AP/TPO systems, with CPO being present for each and at similar concentrations. Interfacial compositions for the baked materials were also similar for the two systems, although the level of CPO at the interface increased for both the AP-1 and AP-2 relative to the unbaked materials. The relative increases observed were 46% and 41% for the AP-1 and AP-2 systems, respectively. The increase in the relative concentration of CPO at the interface with bake temperature suggests that there is a stronger interaction between the AP and TPO. The implication of these data is that a baked AP should result in a more robust paint system with respect to AP/TPO adhesion.     

Flow of polymer melts in a disc-type extruder and in rotational devices of the “cone-plate” and “plate-plate” type

The flow pattern of a polyethylene melt in the working gap of a disc-type extruder has been visualized. It is shown that there is complex circulating flow in the working gap of the extruder. The flow lines are spirals of Archimedes. An investigation into the qualitative picture of the flow of a polyethylene melt in rotational devices of the “plate-plate” and “cone-plate” type showed that in such devices a complex circulating flow is also realized and the flow lines are spirals of Archimedes.     

Evaluation of the Calmodulin‐SOX9 Interaction by “Magnetic Fishing” Coupled to Mass Spectrometry

Disruption of calmodulin (CaM)‐based protein interactions has been touted as a potential means for modulating several disease pathways. Among these is SOX9, which is a DNA binding protein that is involved in chrondrocyte differentiation and regulation of the hormones that control sexual development. In this work, we employed a “magnetic fishing”/mass spectrometry assay in conjunction with intrinsic fluorescence to examine the interaction of CaM with the CaM‐binding domain of SOX9 (SOX‐CAL), and to assess the modulation of this interaction by known anti‐CaM compounds. Our data show that there is a high affinity interaction between CaM and SOX‐CAL (27±9 nM ), and that SOX‐CAL bound to the same location as the well‐known CaM antagonist melittin; unexpectedly, we also found that addition of CaM‐binding small molecules initially produced increased SOX‐CAL binding, indicative of binding to both the well‐known high‐affinity CaM binding site and a second, lower‐affinity binding site.     

From “Strong” to “Much Stronger”: Utilization of Green Tea Extract Dispersant for SWCNT‐Reinforced Polymer Composites

PVA is reinforced with SWCNTs using green tea extract as a dispersant to achieve good dispersion of the SWCNTs in an organic solvent and finally high‐performance composite fibers. A combination of green tea extract/DMSO/SWCNT/PVA is found to disperse larger aggregates of SWCNTs to individual or thin bundles of a few nanotubes. Incorporation of 0.5 wt% SWCNTs into PVA fibers yields a tensile strength of 2.42 GPa, a Young's modulus of 46 GPa, toughness of 105 J · g^?1 at a failure strain of 11%, and a loop strength of 245 MPa, much higher than the values of commercial PVA fibers. The incorporation of highly dispersed SWCNTs suppresses the fibrillation tendency of the PVA fibers. The applied load is effectively transferred from the matrix to the SWCNTs.