Antimicrobial PLA/TPS/gelatin sheets with enzymatically crosslinked surface containing silver nanoparticles

In the present work, poly (lactic acid)/thermoplastic starch/gelatin sheets were produced by calendering–extrusion process and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs, synthesized by chemical reduction with d ‐glucose), were incorporated at sheet surfaces to promote antimicrobial activity. A gelatin solution containing AgNPs was enzymatically crosslinked as a layer at sheets surface using transglutaminase. AgNPs presented 63 nm (z average size) and spherical shape (scanning electron microscopy, SEM) while morphology analysis showed that sheets presented internal porosity. Mechanical properties (Young modulus, elongation at break, and tensile strength) and water vapor permeability presented significant difference in function of gelatin amount added to sheets formulation due to increased internal porosity. Antimicrobial activity was demonstrated against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa for the AGNPs solution as well as for the surface treated films. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43039.     

Design and Synthesis of Highly Active Peroxisome Proliferator‐Activated Receptor (PPAR) β/δ Inverse Agonists with Prolonged Cellular Activity

Based on 3‐(((4‐(hexylamino)‐2‐methoxyphenyl)amino)sulfonyl)‐2‐thiophenecarboxylic acid methyl ester (ST247, compound 2 ), a recently described peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR)β/δ‐selective inverse agonist, we designed and synthesized a series of structurally related ligands. The structural modifications presented herein ultimately resulted in a series of ligands that display increased cellular activity relative to 2 . Moreover, with methyl 3‐(N‐(2‐(2‐ethoxyethoxy)‐4‐(hexylamino)phenyl)sulfamoyl)thiophene‐2‐carboxylate (PT‐S264, compound 9 u ), biologically relevant plasma concentrations in mice were achieved. The compounds presented in this study will provide useful novel tools for future investigations addressing the role of PPARβ/δ in physiological and pathophysiological processes.     

Discovery of Rogaratinib (BAY 1163877): a pan‐FGFR Inhibitor

Rogaratinib (BAY 1163877) is a highly potent and selective small‐molecule pan‐fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitor (FGFR1–4) for oral application currently being investigated in phase 1 clinical trials for the treatment of cancer. In this publication, we report its discovery by de novo structure‐based design and medicinal chemistry optimization together with its pharmacokinetic profile.     

Microstructure Evolution and Grain Growth Competition in Directionally Solidified Ternary Al–Ag2Al–Al2Cu Eutectic

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - Eutectics serve as an interesting material class for fundamental research on solidification as well as holding promise for new, high-tech applications....     

Magnetic Anisotropy Switch: Easy Axis to Easy Plane Conversion and Vice Versa

The rational design of the magnetic anisotropy of molecular materials constitutes a goal of primary importance in molecular magnetism. Indeed, the applications of molecular nanomagnets, such as single‐molecule magnets and molecular magnetic refrigerants, depend on the full control over this property. Axially anisotropic magnetic systems are frequently classified as easy axis or easy plane, depending on whether the lowest energy is obtained by application of a magnetic field parallelly or perpendicularly to the unique axis. Here, the magnetic anisotropy of three lanthanide complexes is studied as a function of magnetic field and temperature. It is found that for two of these the type of magnetic anisotropy switches as a function of these parameters. Thus, this paper experimentally demonstrates that the magnetic anisotropy is not uniquely defined by the intrinsic electronic structure of the systems in question but can also be reversibly switched using external stimuli: temperature and magnetic field.     

Integrating Smart Building Energy Data into Smart Grid Applications in the Intelligent Secondary Substations

Automation has arrived in the low voltage grid domain. In the next few years, the secondary substation —at the barriers of medium and low voltage grids—will thus be upgraded to enable novel functions. In this paper, we present various smart grid applications running on such intelligent secondary substations (iSSN) including their interaction with each other. We integrate energy consumption and production data, as well as forecasts, sensed from the smart buildings’ energy management systems (BEMSs) into the operation of the low voltage grid. A suitable framework for those modular applications includes features to initiate their installation, update, removal, the remote operator site, and not requiring staff on-site for such typical reappearing maintenance tasks.     

Lustre I/O performance investigations on Hazel Hen: experiments and heuristics

The Journal of Supercomputing - With ever-increasing computational power, larger computational domains are employed and thus the data output grows as well. Writing this data to disk can become a...