13C n.m.r. study of solvation mechanisms in the radiation-induced polymerization of vinyl ethers

A ¹³C n.m.r. study of the microstructure of ethyl vinyl ether (EVE) and isopropyl vinyl ether (IPVE) polymers prepared under various experimental conditions and using chemical or γ-ray initiation has been made. Long stereo-sequence assignments were conducted for poly EVE allowing determination of the configurational statistic of propagation in the radiation-induced polymerization of EVE in low polar solvents. Stereo-sequence intensities are found in good agreement with the Markovian model. The results are considered as further support for the occurence of a specific interaction between the growing active centres and the polymer chains. In the case of IPVE polymers much more important overlappings of the resonance patterns are observed thus preventing any similar detailed study.     

Design of New Cardanol Derivative: Synthesis and Application as Potential Biobased Plasticizer for Poly(lactide)

A novel biobased plasticizer made of cardanol is designed for poly(lactide) (PLA). This cardanol‐derived plasticizer, i.e., methoxylated hydroxyethyl cardanol (MeCard), is synthesized through methoxylation of the double bonds on the side chain of cardanol, and characterized by ¹H NMR and mass spectrometry. The plasticization effect of MeCard on the molecular structure, morphology, thermal and mechanical properties of PLA is evaluated and compared to that of a commercial cardanol, i.e., hydroxyethyl cardanol (pCard). The plasticization efficiency of MeCard is demonstrated by a substantial decrease of the glass transition temperature and storage modulus together with a significant increase of the elongation at break as compared to neat PLA. Moreover, MeCard exhibits higher plasticization performance than pCard toward PLA. Such behavior is related to a higher miscibility and compatibility between PLA and MeCard thanks to the methoxylation of the double bonds on the side chain of cardanol as shown by SEM micrographs.

     

Updated estimates of HAL n and RN− effects on pork quality: Fresh and processed loin and ham

A 1000-pig F2 intercross QTL detection experimental population was generated using two commercial sire lines. Independent carriers of HAL n and RN− mutations (10% and 14%, respectively) were included in this population as control genotypes. The effects of HAL n and RN− heterozygous genotypes on fresh and transformed loins and hams were estimated using a mixed model methodology. The results document the unfavorable effects of both mutations on meat quality. Smaller effects of HAL Nn genotype compared to HAL nn or RN−rn+ genotypes were estimated. Interestingly, effects of HAL Nn genotype on meat pH and loin color could be insignificant at 24-h postmortem, but translate into higher water losses on storage and cooking, and result in tougher cooked loin. Using the same methodology, significant effects of the PRKAG3 (RN) I199 allele on ultimate pH values but not on glycolytic potential were observed.     

Single crystals morphology of biodegradable double crystalline PLLA-b-PCL diblock copolymers

The morphology of solution grown single crystals of a series of double crystalline diblock copolymers derived from l-lactide and ?-caprolactone has been investigated by means of transmission electron microscopy. The copolymers had a variable composition with a poly(l-lactide) weight percentage that ranged between 81 and 10%. All samples had a low polydispersity index (1.4-1.1) and a similar number average molecular weight (20,000-35,000 g/mol).Bulk crystallization and melting behaviour of diblock copolymers were evaluated by DSC and the results demonstrated the double crystalline nature of the samples. Fractionated crystallization clearly occurred in copolymers having an intermediate composition.Isothermal crystallizations were performed in dilute n-hexanol solutions at temperatures that ranged between 80 and 50 °C. Crystal morphologies were dependent on the crystallization temperature and even on the composition. Thus, the inability of poly(?-caprolactone) (PCL) blocks to crystallize between 80 and 70 °C rendered lozenge, truncated and spindle-shaped crystals associated to the poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) block. These usually had thicker edges due to PLLA overgrowths that mainly took place in their periphery. However, an overgrowth of irregular PCL crystals during subsequent cooling and crystallization at room temperature was also detected. Complex morphologies constituted by lamellar crystals of both PCL and PLLA blocks were developed at intermediate temperatures (70-65 °C), whereas elongated hexagonal morphologies mainly associated to the PCL block were detected at the lowest crystallization temperature. In general, electron diffraction patterns showed for all samples’ reflections associated to both poly(?-caprolactone) and poly(l-lactide) (α-form) crystals. The relative intensity between the two types of reflections varied according to the copolymer composition.     

Mass‐transfer enhancement by a reversible chemical reaction across the interface of a bubble rising under Stokes flow

Mass transfer around a bubble rising in a liquid under Stokes regime is investigated when a reversible chemical reaction, , is taken into account. Four dimensionless parameters control the interfacial transfer rate: the Péclet and Damköhler numbers, the ratio of the diffusion coefficient of both species, and the reaction equilibrium constant. The mass‐transfer equations are solved numerically with a finite element technique. A boundary layer approach is also proposed and solved with a coupled technique of finite difference and Chebyshev‐spectral method. The equilibrium constant and the ratio of diffusion coefficients have a strong influence on the coupling between the chemical reaction and mass transfer leading to an increase of the Sherwood number. The interaction between the chemical reaction and advection is clearly established by the simulations. Conditions corresponding to Péclet number larger than the Damköhler number reduces the effect of the chemical reaction. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 3376–3388, 2014     

Claramines: A New Class Of Broad‐Spectrum Antimicrobial Agents With Bimodal Activity

The emergence of multidrug‐resistant bacteria and pathogens has created an urgent need for the development of new antibiotics. Herein we report our investigations into the broad‐spectrum activity of an easily prepared water‐soluble polyaminosterol compound, namely claramine A1, against both drug‐sensitive and drug‐resistant Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacterial strains. We also report its peculiar mechanism of action, which differs from that of all the other well‐known classes of antibiotics, toward Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria. Given their low cytotoxicity, this class of compounds based on claramine A1 could constitute an effective response to combat the emergence of multidrug‐resistant bacteria and nosocomial diseases.     

Multi-scale roughness transfer in cold metal rolling

We report on a comparative Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) multi-scale roughness analysis of cold rolled Al alloy and steel roll, in order to characterize the roughness transfer from the steel roll to the workpiece in cold strip rolling processes. More than three orders of length-scale magnitudes were investigated from 100 microns to 50 nanometers on both types of surfaces. The analysis reveals that both types of surfaces are anisotropic self-affine surfaces. Transverse and longitudinal height profiles exhibit a different roughness exponent (Hurst exponent) ζ=0.93±0.03 and ζ=0.5±0.05 Different length-scale cut-offs are obtained in each direction l^sup=50μm, l^sup>100μm. Height and slope distributions are also computed to complement this study. The above mentionned self-affine characteresitics are found to be very similar for the roll and the strip surfaces, which suggest that roughness transfer takes place from the macroscopic (100 μm) to the very small scale (50 nm).     

Der Einfluß der Luftdichte nach den neuen IEC-Mittelwerten für Kugelfunkenstrecken

Zusammenfassung Aus den neuen IEC-Mittelwerten wird auf Grund von Ähnlichkeitsgesetzen der Einfluß der Luftdichte errechnet. Die FunkenspannungU ist nur in erster Annäherung der Luftdichte proportional. In Wirklichkeit hängt der Einfluß der Luftdichte (Korrektionsfaktork, U=k · U _n ) in verwickelter Weise vom KugeldurchmesserD, von der Schlagweites, von den Potentialen der Kugeln gegen Erde, der Polarität und der Größe der Luftdichte selbst ab. Dies rührt davon her, daß man die Korrektion eigentlich nicht an der Spannung, sondern an den Elektrodenabmessungen (Schlagweite und Kugeldurchmesser) anzubringen hat. Die Funkenspannung ändert sich durchweg weniger als proportional mit der Luftdichte, am wenigsten bei kleinem Verhältniss/D und beliebiger Potentialverteilung und Polarität und bei großem Verhältniss/D und einpoliger Erdung. Dazwischen liegt eine Stelle, bei der sich der Funkenspannungsverlauf am meisten der Proportionalität mit der Luftdichte nähert. Diese Stelle (Minimum vonk bei < 1) stimmt mit der Stelle des Minimums der Durchbruchfeldstärke überein, wie überhaupt der Verlauf vonk dem Verlauf der Durchbruchfeldstärke auch bezüglich der Abhängigkeit vons/D, D, dem Potentialverlauf und der Polarität ähnelt.Bei symmetrischer Spannungsverteilung an den Polen überwiegt oberhalb vons=0,5 cm der Einfluß des Kugeldurchmessers, so daß es berechtigt ist, Korrektionsfaktorenk nach Tafel 4 aufzustellen, die nur vonD und von abhängen.Auch bei gestörter Funkenstrecke (Käfigfunkenstrecke) gelten die Ahnlichkeitsgesetze, dagegen nicht mehr bei Auftreten von Vorentladungen, insbesondere bei Stoßspannungen.Die auf Grund von Meßwerten (IEC-Mittelwerte) bestimmte Luftdichtenabhängigkeit wird mit Angaben von Peek und Ver Planck verglichen, die beide nicht von Meßwerten, sondern von Formeln abgeleitet und daher, insbesondere bei Ver Planck, nicht genau sind.