Relative Cation-Anion Diffusion in Alkyltriethylammonium-Based Ionic Liquids

¹⁹F Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spin-lattice relaxation experiments have been performed for a series of ionic liquids including the same anion, bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, and cations with alkyl chains of different lengths: triethylhexylammonium, triethyloctylammonium_, decyltriethylammonium, dodecyltriethylammonium, decyltriethylammonium, and hexadecyltriethylammonium. The experiments have been carried out in a frequency range of 10 kHz to 10 MHz versus temperature. A thorough analysis of the relaxation data has led to the determination of the cation–anion as a relative translation diffusion coefficient. The diffusion coefficients have been compared with the corresponding cation–cation and anion–anion diffusion coefficients, revealing a correlation in the relative translation movement of the anion and the triethylhexylammonium, triethyloctylammonium, decyltriethylammonium, and dodecyltriethylammonium cations, whereas the relative translation diffusion between the anion and the cations with the longer alkyl chains, decyltriethylammonium and hexadecyltriethylammonium, remains rather uncorrelated (correlated to a much lesser extent).     

Inhibition of Streptococcus mutans binding to hydroxylapatite using partially digested whey protein concentrate and individual whey proteins

The effect of a bovine whey protein concentrate partially digested with lipase to release free fatty acids (WPD) on growth and viability of Streptococcus mutans, and its adherence to hydroxylapatite (HA) in phosphate-buffered saline were examined. The effects of other whey mixtures and individual whey proteins, β-lactoglobulin (BLG), lactoferrin (LF), caseinoglycomacropeptide (CGMP) and α-lactalbumin were also investigated. Bacterial viability was assessed by incubation with whey protein and measuring colony-forming units. S. mutans binding was quantified using Syto-13 nucleic-acid binding dye and Alamar Blue, which measures cellular metabolic activity. WPD was bactericidal, and inhibited S. mutans growth and adhesion to HA. Other wheys inhibited S. mutans adhesion, particularly acid whey, as well as the parent compound for WPD, Carbelac 80, and a whey protein isolate. BLG, CGMP and LF inhibited S. mutans adhesion. A mixture containing 56% BLG and 20% CGMP was as effective an inhibitor of bacterial adhesion as WPD.     

A case study towards validation of global illumination algorithms: progressive hierarchical radiosity with clustering

In this paper, we present an efficient global illumination technique, and then we discuss the results of its extensive experimental validation. The technique is a hybrid of cluster-based hierarchical and progressive radiosity techniques, which does not require storing links between interacting surfaces and clusters. We tested our technique by applying a multistage validation procedure, which we designed specifically for global illumination solutions. First, we experimentally validate the algorithm against analytically derived and measured real-world data to check how calculation speed is traded for lighting simulation accuracy for various clustering and meshing scenarios. Then we test the algorithm performance and rendering quality by directly comparing the virtual and real-world images of a complex environment.     

Potential of Bacterial Cellulose Chemisorbed with Anti-Metabolites, 3-Bromopyruvate or Sertraline,to Fight against Helicobacter pylori Lawn Biofilm

Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium known mainly of its ability to cause persistent inflammations of the human stomach, resulting in peptic ulcer diseases and gastric cancers. Continuous exposure of this bacterium to antibiotics has resulted in high detection of multidrug-resistant strains and difficulties in obtaining a therapeutic effect. The purpose of the present study was to determine the usability of bacterial cellulose (BC) chemisorbed with 3-bromopyruvate (3-BP) or sertraline (SER) to act against lawn H. pylori biofilms. The characterization of BC carriers was made using a N2 adsorption/desorption analysis, tensile strength test, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations. Determination of an antimicrobial activity was performed using a modified disk-diffusion method and a self-designed method of testing antibacterial activity against biofilm microbial forms. In addition, bacterial morphology was checked by SEM. It was found that BC disks were characterized by a high cross-linking and shear/stretch resistance. Growth inhibition zones for BC disks chemisorbed with 2 mg of SER or 3-BP were equal to 26.5–27.5 mm and 27–30 mm, respectively. The viability of lawn biofilm H. pylori cells after a 4-h incubation with 2 mg SER or 3-BP chemisorbed on BC disks was ≥4 log lower, suggesting their antibacterial effect. SEM observations showed a number of morphostructural changes in H. pylori cells exposed to these substances. Concluding, SER and 3-BP chemisorbed on BC carriers presented a promising antibacterial activity against biofilm H. pylori cells in in vitro conditions.     

Influence of tapes’ properties on the laser cutting process

Ceramic tapes are used to build 3-dimensional components and microsystems in layer manufacturing. The tapes are individually printed and structured before being stacked and laminated. The structuring process of the tapes affects the maximal resolution of fluidic channels, suspended bridges and beams, which in turn determines the scale of miniaturization of the produced components. The aim of this paper is to investigate if the tape composition can be optimized to improve the cutting resolution of laser cutting, which is a very flexible tool for micromachining. Using the Siemens star pattern, the laser cutting resolution was measured for alumina green tapes of different binder compositions with different laser settings. For all tapes the resolution was better the higher the laser beam velocity. At higher velocity though, a higher number of cutting cycles is necessary to cut the tape. The laser cutting resolution depends on the binder composition, but the laser parameters must also be optimized to achieve high cutting resolution.     

NEGF simulations of the effect of strain on scaled double gate nanoMOSFETs

The effect of biaxial strain on double gate (DG) nanoscaled Si MOSFET with channel lengths in the nanometre range is investigated using Non-Equilibrium Green’s Functions (NEGF) simulations. We have employed fully 2D NEGF simulations in order to answer the question at which body thickness the effects of strain is masked by the confinement impact. Following ITRS, we start with a 14 nm gate length DG MOSFET having a body thickness of 9 nm scaling the transistors to gate lengths of 10, 6 and 4 nm and body thicknesses of 6.1, 2.6 and 1.3 nm. The simulated I _D–V _G characteristics show a 6% improvement in the on-current for the 14 nm gate length transistor mainly due to the energy separation of the Δ valleys. The strain effect separates the 2 fold from the 4 fold valleys thus keeping mostly operational transverse electron effective mass in the transport direction. However, in the device with an extreme body thickness of 1.3 nm, the strain effect has no more impact on the DG performance because the strong confinement itself produces a large energy separation of valleys.     

Effectiveness outcomes of four age versions of the Strengthening Families Program in statewide field sites.

Family dysfunction is unacceptably high nationally and internationally with high costs to society in adolescent problems. A number of evidence-based (EB) parenting and family interventions have been proven in research to improve children's outcome. The question remains whether these EB family programs are as effective in practice. This article summarizes research outcomes from a quasi-experimental, 5-year statewide study of the 14-session Strengthening Families Program (SFP) with over 1,600 high-risk families. The study compared outcomes including effect sizes for the four different age versions of SFP (SFP 3–5, 6–11, 10–14, and 12–16 years). Quality assurance and program fidelity were enhanced by standardized training workshops, site visits by evaluators, and online supervision. Outcomes were measured using the SFP Parent Retrospective testing battery containing self-report standardized clinical measures of 18 parent, family, and child outcomes. The 2 repeated measures by 4 group ANOVA compared the four different age versions of SFP. All of the outcome variables for the four programs were statistically significant at less than the p d = .77 for SFP 6?11 years to effect size of d = .67 for SFP 3–5 and 10–14. The largest effect sizes were for improvements for the SFP 6–11 condition in Family Communication and Family Strengths and Resilience (d = .76 for both), Family Organization (d = .75), Parental Supervision (d = .73), Parenting Efficacy (d = .70), and Positive Parenting (d = .67). Parental alcohol and drug use was reduced most in the SFP 12–16 year version (d = .43). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Increasing mechanical strength of electrospun gelatin nanofibers by the addition of aluminum potassium sulfate

Increasing mechanical strength of gelatin‐based materials is required to expand the range of their applications, which is desirable because of biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low cost of gelatin. The effect of aluminum potassium sulfate on preparation and properties of nanofibrous gelatin were investigated. Samples were electrospun from 10M aqueous acetic acid and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared microscopy (FTIR), energy‐dispersive x‐ray analysis (EDX), and tensile test. The addition of AlK(SO₄)₂ considerably increases the elastic modulus of the material up to about 10% salt content. The elastic modulus of electrospun gelatin meshes prepared as described in the present work increased from 20 MPa to 70 MPa and the elastic modulus of the fiber material increased from 150 MPa to 620 MPa as the salt content in the fibers increased from 0% to 9.6%. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42431.     

Non‐Glovebox Ethenolysis of Ethyl Oleate and FAME at Larger Scale Utilizing a Cyclic (Alkyl)(Amino)Carbene Ruthenium Catalyst

A ruthenium metathesis catalyst Ru1 bearing a cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (CAAC) ligand is used in the ethenolysis reaction of biosourced 90% pure undistilled ethyl oleate or technical fatty acid methyl esters mixture with grade 3 ethylene, to yield 1‐decene and valuable terminal unsaturated 9‐decenoic acid ester. Under optimized conditions (25 ppm of catalyst Ru1 , 20 bar, 50 °C, 2 h, use of metal scavenger/quenching agent, SnatchCat), the title reaction proceeds with high productivity (up to 70% conversion) and selectivity, and is tested in scale up to 1 L, with the exclusion of a glovebox or Schlenk techniques usage, and the ethenolysis products are isolated by fractional distillation. In addition, a large‐scale synthesis of Ru1 is presented. Practical Applications: Decreasing availability of fossil organic feedstock and current policies of the European Union drives scientists to look for alternative sustainable sources of fine chemicals. In this context, olefin metathesis based ethenolysis of transesterified seed oils studied herein shows a significant potential as a sustainable way to obtain valuable products, such as 1‐decene and valuable terminal unsaturated 9‐decenoic acid ester. Unlike other published studies on ethenolysis, in the present work, the focus is on optimizing this reaction under industrially practical conditions, thus utilizing an air‐stable catalyst, technical grade oleic substrates, grade 3 ethylene, and excluding the use of a glovebox or Schlenk techniques.