Effect of Surfactants as Dispersing Agents on the Properties of Microemulsified Inkjet Inks for Polyester Fibers

The preparation of microemulsified disperse inkjet inks was carried out and the effect of the surfactant used as dispersing agents on the properties of the inks was studied. The dispersing agents used were anionic conventional and non-conventional surfactants and a gemini type surfactant. The properties studied were surface tension, pH, conductivity, viscosity and the particle size distribution. The use of the gemini type and the two non conventional surfactants even in submultiple amounts resulted in a significant increase in the ink stability.     

Definition and Performance Evaluation of Network Services Deployed Over a Differentiated Services Network

A vital requirement for next generation IP networks is the provision of services with differentiated behavior and characteristics. The basic reason for that is the need to provide Quality of Service (QoS) to the different types of user traffic produced by applications that are different in nature and behavior, analogously to the IP network services. The Differentiated Services (DiffServ) paradigm is still one of the major outcomes of the research community toward the provision of QoS to individual customer needs and applications. This paper addresses the definition and deployment of specific network services in a DiffServ environment. We reuse and extend the fundamental concepts of the Expedited Forwarding and Assured Forwarding per hop behaviors in order to define four new network services, apart from the well known Best Effort one, which introduce a specific traffic handling implementation along with an Admission Control methodology. These are analyzed and simulated in the paper in order to evaluate their performance and confirm the correctness of their fundamental principles.     

Thermoplastic Starch–PVA Nanocomposite Films Reinforced with Nanocellulose from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (OPEFBs): Effect of Starch Type

ABSTRACT

This research studied the effect of three types of starch on the properties of thermoplastic starch (TPS)–Poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA)–cellulose nanocomposite films. Three different types of starch with amylose and amylopectin contents used were corn starch, cassava starch, and sago starch. Meanwhile, the nanocellulose was isolated from oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFBs) by mechanical treatment using ultrafine grinder. The nanocomposite films were made by evaporation casting method. It was found that the difference of amylose content in the native starch affected the properties of nanocomposite films. Meanwhile, the nanocellulose added into matrix TPS–PVA could increase tensile strength of TPS–PVA nanocomposite films.     

Deciphering Specificity Determinants for FR900359‐Derived Gqα Inhibitors Based on Computational and Structure–Activity Studies

Direct targeting of intracellular Gα subunits of G protein‐coupled receptors by chemical tools is a challenging task in current pharmacological studies and in the development of novel therapeutic approaches. In this study we analyzed novel FR900359‐based analogs from natural sources, synthetic cyclic peptides, as well as all so‐far known G_qα inhibitors in a comprehensive study to devise a strategy for the elucidation of characteristics that determine interactions with and inhibition of G_q in the specific FR/YM‐binding pocket. Using 2D NMR spectroscopy and molecular docking we identified unique features in the macrocyclic structures responsible for binding to the target protein correlating with inhibitory activity. While all novel compounds were devoid of effects on G_i and G_s proteins, no inhibitor surpassed the biological activity of FR. This raises the question of whether depsipeptides such as FR already represent valuable chemical tools for specific inhibition of G_q and, at the same time, are suitable natural lead structures for the development of novel compounds to target Gα subunits other than G_q.     

Branched Poly(ε-caprolactone)-Based Copolyesters of Different Architectures and Their Use in the Preparation of Anticancer Drug-Loaded Nanoparticles

Limitations associated with the use of linear biodegradable polyesters in the preparation of anticancer nano-based drug delivery systems (nanoDDS) have turned scientific attention to the utilization of branched-chain (co-)polymers. In this context, the present study evaluates the use of novel branched poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)-based copolymers of different architectures for the preparation of anticancer nanoparticle (NP)-based formulations, using paclitaxel (PTX) as a model drug. Specifically, three PCL-polyol branched polyesters, namely, a three-arm copolymer based on glycerol (PCL-GLY), a four-arm copolymer based on pentaerythritol (PCL-PE), and a five-arm copolymer based on xylitol (PCL-XYL), were synthesized via ring-opening polymerization and characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), intrinsic viscosity, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and cytotoxicity. Then, PTX-loaded NPs were prepared by an oil-in-water emulsion. The size of the obtained NPs varied from 200 to 300 nm, while the drug was dispersed in crystalline form in all formulations. High encapsulation efficiency and high yields were obtained in all cases, while FTIR analysis showed no molecular drug polymer. Finally, in vitro drug release studies showed that the studied nanocarriers significantly enhanced the dissolution rate and extent of the drug.     

Endocrine disrupting, haematological and biochemical effects of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in a terrestrial songbird, the European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

We exposed female European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) during a 6 month period to environmentally relevant concentrations of a pentabromodiphenyl ether (Penta-BDE) mixture (about 1740 μg/kg body weight) through subcutaneous implants, and examined endocrine disruptive, haematological and biochemical effects. To investigate endocrine disrupting effects of PBDEs, testosterone, estradiol and thyroid hormones (T₃ and T₄) were measured in the plasma. We found no significant differences between the control and exposed groups for any of the hormones. However, 14 days after implantation, T₃ concentrations tended to be lower in the exposed group compared to the control group. For albumin, our results suggest that short term exposure of PBDEs may result in a negative effect on albumin, while the opposite was observed on a longer term (6 months after implantation). However, from the statistical analysis, effects on albumin disappeared when excluding females that laid eggs. These results demonstrate that observed effects during the breeding season should be interpreted carefully when the breeding status of females is unknown. There were no significant differences found between the control and exposed groups for the other biochemical parameters (total protein, uric acid, cholesterol, aspartate transaminase, total antioxidative capacity, high-density lipoproteins and creatine kinase) and haematological parameters (amount of red blood cells, haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin). All together, our results suggest that European starlings, similar to other passerine species, may be less sensitive to the effects of organohalogenated pollutants, such as PBDEs, than other bird species.     

Effects of laying order and experimentally increased egg production on organic pollutants in eggs of a terrestrial songbird species, the great tit (Parus major)

In this study, concentrations and profiles of organic pollutants were investigated in a passerine species with a large clutch size, the great tit (Parus major). In the first clutches, mean egg concentrations decreased significantly in relation to the laying order from 3025 ± 416 ng/g lw to 2267 ± 386 ng/g lw for sum PCBs and from 989 ± 339 ng/g lw to 695 ± 320 ng/g lw for sum DDTs. Sum PBDE concentrations also decreased in relation to the laying order from 68 ± 10 ng/g lw to 53 ± 11 ng/g lw, but not significantly. Although laying order effects were found, variation in concentrations within clutches was smaller than among clutches. To further investigate the impact of laying large numbers of eggs on levels and profiles of organic pollutants, initiation of replacement clutches was experimentally induced. Mean sum PCB and sum PBDE concentrations were significantly lower in eggs of replacement clutches compared to first clutches. In addition, first clutches had a higher contribution of the higher chlorinated and more persistent PCB congeners, CB 170, 180 and 183, and a lower contribution of CB 52, 95 and 149 compared to replacement clutches. Because of the differences in concentrations and profiles between the first and replacement clutches, the combined use of eggs from both the first and replacement clutches for monitoring purposes is not recommended. In conclusion, we suggest that, due to the larger variation among clutches compared to the variation within clutches, one randomly collected great tit egg from a first clutch is useful as a biomonitoring tool for organic pollutants. To our knowledge, this is the first study in which the impact of an experimentally increased clutch size on the levels and profiles of contaminants in eggs has been investigated.     

Hearing only one side of normal and mobile phone conversations

Mobile (cell) phone conversations are commonly perceived as annoying when conducted in a public space. An experiment is described that demonstrates one factor contributing to this phenomenon: hearing only one side of a conversation makes it more noticeable and intrusive. Two actors repeatedly staged the same conversation under three conditions: cell phone; normal, co-present both audible, and co-present only one audible. After the staged conversation, which took place on a train, a third person obtained verbal ratings from members of the travelling public. As in a previous experiment published in this journal, the cell phone conversation was rated as more noticeable and intrusive than the normal co-present both audible conversation. Critically, a new experimental condition, co-present one-audible, in which both actors were present but only one side of the conversation was heard, produced ratings equivalent to the cell phone condition. This 'need-to-listen' effect is discussed with regard to implications for design and theories of language use.