Asymmetric synthesis and biological activity of nor-α-tocopherol, a new vitamin E analogue

The vitamin E analogues (2R,4′R,8′R)‐nor‐α‐tocopherol (94 % de) and (2RS,4′R,8′R)‐nor‐α‐tocopherol have been synthesized from (all R)‐hexahydrofarnesol and phytol, respectively. According to in vitro experiments with murine macrophages nor‐α‐tocopherol is an anti‐inflammatory compound more potent than α‐tocopherol.     

Extrusion of Nanocellulose‐Reinforced Nanocomposites Using the Dispersed Nano‐Objects Protective Encapsulation (DOPE) Process

Cross‐linked alginate capsules a few millimeters in diameter have been formed by immersion in a CaCl₂ solution. When adding cellulose whiskers or microfibrillated cellulose to the aqueous alginate solution, nanocomposite capsules containing 40 wt.% cellulosic nanoparticles were obtained. The morphology and compression strength of these capsules were investigated by microscopic observations and crushing tests, respectively. The capsules were extruded with a thermoplastic polymer. Visual inspection of the ensuing films shows a nonhomogeneous dispersion of the capsules that kept their integrity after extrusion. It results in preliminary disappointing mechanical properties of the composite films. However, further investigation is in progress to optimize this simple and ecofriendly process.

     

Effect of processing procedures and conditions on structural,morphological, and rheological properties of polyethylene/polyamide/nanoclay blends

The article deals with the effect of processing procedures and conditions on structural, morphological, and rheological properties of ternary blends composed of polyethylene (PE), polyamide (PA)‐12, and organically modified montmorillonite nanoclay with selective affinity. Samples were prepared from PE/PA and PA/PE blends, either by simultaneous mixing or from a polymer/clay masterbatch, using two processing conditions. The results have shown the existence of a weight fraction threshold, above which no significant processing effect was observed. Below this weight fraction threshold, the results tend to underline the significant role of two parameters that depend on processing procedures and/or conditions: the contact time between PE and PA phases and the contact time between clay and PA. Clay structure, blend morphology, and rheological properties were all shown to depend on these two parameters, and also on the nature of the matrix (PE or PA), because of the selective affinity of clay toward polymer phases. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Electromagnetic modeling of waveguide amplifier based on Nd<Superscript>3+</Superscript> Si-rich SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> layers by means of the ADE-FDTD method

By means of ADE-FDTD method, this paper investigates the electromagnetic modelling of a rib-loaded waveguide composed of a Nd³⁺ doped Silicon Rich Silicon Oxide active layer sandwiched between a SiO₂ bottom cladding and a SiO₂ rib. The Auxilliary Differential Equations are the rate equations which govern the levels populations. The Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) scheme is used to solve the space and time dependent Maxwell equations which describe the electromagnetic field in a copropagating scheme of both pumping (λ _pump = 488 nm) and signal (λ _signal = 1064 nm) waves. Such systems are characterized by extremely different specific times such as the period of electromagnetic field ~ 10^-15 s and the lifetimes of the electronic levels between ~ 10^-10s and ~ 10^-4 s. The time scaling method is used in addition to specific initial conditions in order to decrease the computational time. We show maps of the Poynting vector along the propagation direction as a function of the silicon nanograin (Si-ng) concentrations. A threshold value of 10²⁴ Si-ng m^-3 is extracted below which the pump wave can propagate so that a signal amplication is possible.     

Copolymerization of norbornene with norbornene terminated polystyrene macromonomer in the presence of Ni-based/MAO catalytic systems

Copolymerization of -norbornenyl polystyrene macromonomer (NBE-PS) with norbornene (NBE) using Ni-based catalysts in combination with methylaluminoxane (MAO) was investigated. The nature of the catalyst, the of the polystyrene macromonomer as well as the [NBE-PS]/[NBE] ratio have been shown to be important parameters to obtain graft copolymers with high NBE-PS incorporation (up to 43 wt%). The compatibilization ability of these graft copolymers has been checked for PS/PNBE blends. The length of the grafts was proved not to be an important parameter to consider compatibilization of the PS/PNBE blend.     

Identification of asymmetric constitutive laws at high temperature based on Digital Image Correlation

The mechanical characterization of ceramics can be very challenging. Depending on their composition and fabrication process, ceramic materials may exhibit at room temperature different types of mechanical behaviours, ranging from linear elastic to quasi-brittle, like rocks, concrete or plasters. At elevated temperature, they may present a non-linear behaviour, due for instance to the presence of a vitreous phase. However, estimating the evolution of their behaviour from room temperature to elevated temperature is a challenging topic, especially when there is an asymmetry between tension and compression. A methodology based on Digital Image Correlation is presented in this paper where four point bending tests are analysed for temperatures ranging from 25 °C to 900 °C. For a ceramic mainly made of aluminium titanate, the evolution of an asymmetric constitutive law is identified with a strong link with microstructural observations using SEM images.     

Synthesis,Chiral Separation,Absolute Configuration Assignment,and Biological Activity of Enantiomers of Retro‐1 as Potent Inhibitors of Shiga Toxin

The Shiga toxin (Stx) family is composed of related protein toxins produced by the bacteria Shigella dysenteriae and certain pathogenic strains of E. coli. No effective therapies for Stx intoxication have been developed yet. However, inhibitors that act on the intracellular trafficking of these toxins may provide new options for the development of therapeutic strategies. This study reports the synthesis, chromatographic separation, and pharmacological evaluation of the two enantiomers of Retro‐1, a compound active against Stx and other such protein toxins. Retro‐1 works by inhibiting retrograde transport of these toxins inside cells. In vitro experiments proved that the configuration of the stereocenter at position 5 is not crucial for the activity of this compound. X‐ray diffraction data revealed (S)‐Retro‐1 to be slightly more active than (R)‐Retro‐1.     

Mechanical Behavior of Nanostructured and Microstructured Explosives

Nanostructured hexolites (40/60), (60/40), (80/20) and microstructured hexolite (60/40) powders are pressed by uniaxial compression to obtain explosive charges. This kind of composition is often used for the synthesis of detonation nanodiamonds. The morphology, density and cohesion of the resulting pellets are analyzed in the light of the different used compression parameters. This study allows optimizing the compression parameters to obtain well suited explosive charges from nanostructured explosive components. A good cohesion of the nanostructured explosive pellets could be obtained with increasing the temperature used for the compression. Another very important point is that the nanostructuring of the composites is maintained for every compression.     

Mechanical reinforcement of a high-performance aluminium alloy AA5083 with homogeneously dispersed multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Dense and homogeneous multi-walled carbon nanotube/metal composites are prepared by powder metallurgy. The distribution of the nano-reinforcements in the matrix is studied by scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The mechanical properties of the composites are determined by means of static tensile tests and Vickers micro-hardness measurements. We show that a homogeneous dispersion of the nanotubes at the micron scale is required in order to improve the mechanical properties of the metal matrix composite. This can be achieved using ball-milling through the mechanisms of plastic deformation and cold-welding. Accordingly, we report significant improvements to the mechanical properties of composites prepared with a high-performance aluminium alloy AA5083 matrix.     

Influence of moisture content on the specific methanogenic activity of dry mesophilic municipal solid waste digestate

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of moisture content on the specific methanogenic activity (SMA) of a fresh dry mesophilic digestate from a municipal solid waste digester plant. For this purpose, SMA tests were performed under mesophilic conditions in 500 mL glass bottles of volume used as batch reactors, during a period of 20–25 days. Cellulose, propionate and acetate were used as substrates (5 g_COD kg^?1 digestate) at four different moisture contents, ranging from 65 to 82%. The moisture content strongly influenced the specific methanogenic activity. The highest SMA values were observed at a moisture content of 82% (11.1, 7.8 and 6.0 mg_COD g_VS^?1 d^?1 for cellulose, propionate and acetate spikes, respectively). SMA and moisture content were found to be linearly linked. Dry digestion at low water content is thus detrimental to the biological activity, probably due to physical limitations. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry