Ultra-large-scale directed assembly of single-walled carbon nanotube devices

One of the biggest limitations of conventional carbon nanotube device fabrication techniques is the inability to scale up the processes to fabricate a large number of devices on a single chip. In this report, we demonstrate the directed and precise assembly of single-nanotube devices with an integration density of several million devices per square centimeter, using a novel aspect of nanotube dielectrophoresis. We show that the dielectrophoretic force fields change incisively as nanotubes assemble into the contact areas, leading to a reproducible directed assembly which is self-limiting in forming single-tube devices. Their functionality has been tested by random sampling of device characteristics using microprobes.     

Cross‐linking of ethylene‐octene copolymer (EOC) by dicumyl peroxide (DCP)

Ethylene‐octene copolymer (EOC) was crosslinked by dicumyl peroxide (DCP) at various temperatures (150–200°C). Six concentrations of DCP in range 0.2–0.7 wt % were investigated. cross‐linking was studied by rubber process analyzer (RPA) and by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). From RPA data analysis real part modulus s', tan δ, and reaction rate were investigated as a function of peroxide content and temperature. The highest s'_max and the lowest tan δ were found for 0.7% of DCP at 150°C. Chain scission was analyzed by slope analysis of conversion ratio, X in times after reaching the maximum. Less susceptible to chain scission are temperatures in range 150–170°C and peroxide levels 0.2–0.5%. Heat of reaction was analyzed by DSC at various heating rates (5–40°C min⁻¹). It was found to be exothermic. By projection to zero heating rate, the reaction was found to start at 128°C with the maximum at 168°C. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Perennial grasses as prospective energy sources

Properties of nine composts obtained from perennial grasses for their potential use as an energy source were assessed in this study. The majority of grasses displayed high-moisture, hemicellulose, Na, K, Cl, and N contents, but low lignin content. The effect of composting was pronounced in (i) enhancement of lignin to 461.29%, fixed carbon to 49.46%, and cellulose to 35.05%; and (ii) reduction of Na to 98.77%, moisture to 93.49%, hemicellulose to 89.15%, K to 88.21%, N to 84.43%, Cl to 23.15%, and volatile matter to 12.57%. Subsequently, an increase in higher heating value to 13.90% was observed.     

High-pressure processing of meat: Molecular impacts and industrial applications

High-pressure processing (HPP) has been the most adopted nonthermal processing technology in the food industry with a current ever-growing implementation, and meat products represent about a quarter of the HPP foods. The intensive research conducted in the last decades has described the molecular impacts of HPP on microorganisms and endogenous meat components such as structural proteins, enzyme activities, myoglobin and meat color chemistry, and lipids, resulting in the characterization of the mechanisms responsible for most of the texture, color, and oxidative changes observed when meat is submitted to HPP. These molecular mechanisms with major effect on the safety and quality of muscle foods are comprehensively reviewed. The understanding of the high pressure–induced molecular impacts has permitted a directed use of the HPP technology, and nowadays, HPP is applied as a cold pasteurization method to inactive vegetative spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms in ready-to-eat cold cuts and to extend shelf life, allowing the reduction of food waste and the gain of market boundaries in a globalized economy. Yet, other applications of HPP have been explored in detail, namely, its use for meat tenderization and for structure formation in the manufacturing of processed meats, though these two practices have scarcely been taken up by industry. This review condenses the most pertinent-related knowledge that can unlock the utilization of these two mainstream transformation processes of meat and facilitate the development of healthier clean label processed meats and a rapid method for achieving sous vide tenderness. Finally, scientific and technological challenges still to be overcome are discussed in order to leverage the development of innovative applications using HPP technology for the future meat industry.     

Selected Simple Natural Antimicrobial Terpenoids as Additives to Control Biodegradation of Polyhydroxy Butyrate

In this experimental research, different types of essential oils (EOs) were blended with polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) to study the influence of these additives on PHB degradation. The blends were developed by incorporating three terpenoids at two concentrations (1 and 3%). The mineralization rate obtained from CO₂ released from each sample was the factor that defined biodegradation. Furthermore, scanning electron microscope (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) were used in this research. The biodegradation percentages of PHB blended with 3% of eucalyptol, limonene, and thymol after 226 days were reached 66.4%, 73.3%, and 76.9%, respectively, while the rate for pure PHB was 100% after 198 days, and SEM images proved these results. Mechanical analysis of the samples showed that eucalyptol had the highest resistance level, even before the burial test. The other additives showed excellent mechanical properties although they had less mechanical strength than pure PHB after extrusion. The samples’ mechanical properties improved due to their crystallinity and decreased glass transition temperature (Tg). DSC results showed that blending terpenoids caused a reduction in Tg, which is evident in the DMA results, and a negligible reduction in melting point (Tm).     

SMART RHESINs—Superparamagnetic Magnetite Architecture Made of Phenolic Resin Hollow Spheres Coated with Eu(III) Containing Silica Nanoparticles for Future Quantitative Magnetic Particle Imaging Applications

Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) is a powerful and rapidly growing tomographic imaging technique that allows for the non-invasive visualization of superparamagnetic nanoparticles (NPs) in living matter. Despite its potential for a wide range of applications, the intrinsic quantitative nature of MPI has not been fully exploited in biological environments. In this study, a novel NP architecture that overcomes this limitation by maintaining a virtually unchanged effective relaxation (Brownian plus Néel) even when immobilized is presented. This superparamagnetic magnetite architecture made of phenolic resin hollow spheres coated with Eu(III) containing silica nanoparticles (SMART RHESINs) was synthesized and studied. Magnetic particle spectroscopy (MPS) measurements confirm their suitability for potential MPI applications. Photobleaching studies show an unexpected photodynamic due to the fluorescence emission peak of the europium ion in combination with the phenol formaldehyde resin (PFR). Cell metabolic activity and proliferation behavior are not affected. Colocalization experiments reveal the distinct accumulation of SMART RHESINs near the Golgi apparatus. Overall, SMART RHESINs show superparamagnetic behavior and special luminescent properties without acute cytotoxicity, making them suitable for bimodal imaging probes for medical use like cancer diagnosis and treatment. SMART RHESINs have the potential to enable quantitative MPS and MPI measurements both in mobile and immobilized environments.     

Camouflage as Aesthetic Sustainability

A textile approach to architecture offers unique opportunities to explore a structure's surface and texture. Through a discussion of the history of the technique of camouflage and her own projects with Design Research and Development (DR_D), Dagmar Richter demonstrates the potential for surface enrichment to exceed mere ornament or patterning. A ‘performative texture’, camouflage interacts with its context mimicking the natural and effectively disguising whatever it covers. With a now long military association, camouflage also provides anything but a neutral background for its cover. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

1H- und 13C-NMR-Spektren von N-Methyl-chinoliniumchalkonen: Bestimmung von σ-Konstanten für die 2-, 3- und 4-Position des N-Methyl-chinoliniumrings

¹H- and ¹³C-N.M.R. Spectra of N-Methyl-quinolinium Chalcones: Determination of σ-Constants for the 2-, 3- and 4-Position of the N-Methyl-quinolinium Ring For the N-methyl-quinolinium chalcones 1a – c the ¹H- and ¹³C-n.m.r. data are reported. The unambiguous assignment of signals is based upon the ¹H/¹H homoshift and the ¹³C/¹H heteroshift correlated 2D-n.m.r. spectra. Using a Hammett relationship we have determined σ-constants for the 2-, 3- and 4-position of the N-methyl-quinolinium ring from the ¹³C-α chemical shifts of 1a – c . Their comparison with the σ-values for the equivalent positions in the pyridine, N-methyl-pyridinium and quinoline ring indicates the additivity of anellation and quaternization effect.