RAFT-mediated synthesis of cationic poly[(ar-vinylbenzyl)trimethylammonium chloride] brushes for quantitative DNA immobilization

The synthesis of cationic poly[(ar-vinylbenzyl)trimethylammonium chloride)] [poly(VBTAC)] brushes was achieved via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and used for quantitative DNA immobilization. Initially, silicon surfaces were modified with RAFT chain transfer agent by utilizing an amide reaction involving a silicon wafer modified with allylamine and 4-cyanopentanoic acid dithiobenzoate (CPAD). Poly(VBTAC) brushes were then prepared via RAFT-mediated polymerization from the surface immobilized CPAD. Various characterization techniques including ellipsometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, grazing angle-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and contact-angle goniometer were used to characterize the immobilization of CPAD on the silicon wafer and the subsequent polymer formation. The addition of free CPAD was required for the formation of well-defined polymer brushes, which subsequently resulted in the presence of free polymer chains in solution. The free polymer chains were isolated and used to estimate the molecular weights and polydispersity index of chains attached to the surface. Moreover, from atomic force microscopy and ellipsometry measurements, it was also determined that the density of immobilized DNA on the cationic poly(VBTAC) brushes can be quantitatively controlled by adjusting the solution concentration.     

Tensile and Springback Behavior of DP600 Advanced High Strength Steel at Warm Temperatures

 In recent years, the use of advanced high strength steels in automotive industry has been increased remarkably. From advanced high strength steels, dual-phase (DP) steels have gained a great attention due to a combination of high strength and good formability. However, high strength usually increases springback behavior of material which creates problem for the parts during the assembly. In this study, uniaxial tensile deformation and springback behaviors of DP600 advanced high strength steel were investigated at rolling (0o), diagonal (45o), and transverse (90o) directions in the temperature range from room (RT) to 300 oC. All tests were performed at 25 mm/min deformation speed. A V-shape die (60o) was used for springback measurements. Results indicate that the formability and springback of the material were decreased with increasing the temperatures. The material showed complex behaviors at different directions and temperatures.     

Thermal fracture analysis of orthotropic functionally graded materials using an equivalent domain integral approach

A new computational method based on the equivalent domain integral (EDI) is developed for mode I fracture analysis of orthotropic functionally graded materials (FGMs) subjected to thermal stresses. By using the constitutive relations of plane orthotropic thermoelasticity, generalized definition of the J-integral is converted to an equivalent domain integral to calculate the thermal stress intensity factor. In the formulation of the EDI approach, all the required thermomechanical properties are assumed to have continuous spatial variations through the functionally graded medium. Developed methodology is integrated into a fracture mechanics research finite element code FRAC2D using graded finite elements that possess cubic interpolation. Steady-state and transient temperature distribution profiles in orthotropic FGMs are computed using the finite elements based heat transfer analysis software HEAT2D. EDI method is validated and domain independence is demonstrated by comparing the numerical results obtained using EDI to those calculated by an enriched finite element method and to those available in the literature. Single and periodic edge crack problems in orthotropic FGMs are examined in order to study the influences of principal thermal expansion coefficient and thermal conductivity components, relative crack length and crack periodicity on the thermal stress intensity factors. Numerical results show that among the three principal thermal expansion coefficient components, the in-plane component perpendicular to the crack axis has the most significant influence on the mode I stress intensity factor. Gradation profile of the thermal expansion coefficient parallel to the crack axis is shown to have no effect on the outcome of the fracture analysis.     

Microarchitectures for Managing Chip Revenues under Process Variations

As transistor feature sizes continue to shrink intothe sub-90nm range and beyond, the effects of process variationson critical path delay and chip yields have amplified. A commonconcept to remedy the effects of variation is speed-binning, bywhich chips from a single batch are rated by a discrete range offrequencies and sold at different prices. In this paper, we discussstrategies to modify the number of chips in different bins andhence enhance the profits obtained from them. Particularly, wepropose a scheme that introduces a small Substitute Cacheassociated with each cache way to replicate the data elementsthat will be stored in the high latency lines. Assuming a fixedpricing model, this method increases the revenue by as much as13.8% without any impact on the performance of the chips.     

Advanced ePrometheus™ GNF fuel cycle optimization tool

This paper presents the advanced version of ePrometheus™ GNF Fuel Cycle Optimization Tool. ePrometheus is Global Nuclear Fuel-Americas LLC (“GNF”) patented computer system used to optimize Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) fuel management and operations. The advanced version of ePrometheus utilizes a new database structure (Oracle 11 g) and a new C#, WPF based graphical user interface (GUI), and employs a capability of performing refueling calculation. It also displays additional 2-D and 3-D core simulation data that are necessary to improve the fuel cycle design process, and utilizes many more advanced features based on user experience feedback. The objective of this paper is to present new advanced infrastructure of the system, and to provide overall information on the advanced features of the newly released version 3.0.     

Comparison of aroma,aroma-active,and phenolic compounds of crude and refined hazelnut oils

Hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) is an important shelled nut with its pleasant aroma. The refining process causes significant changes in the quality attributes of hazelnut oil. The aim of this study was to assess the aroma, aroma-active, and phenolic compounds of the crude and refined hazelnut oils by using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), GC–MS-olfactometry (GC–MS-O), and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). The antioxidant capacities were also determined by DPPH and ABTS methods. Results showed that terpenes and aldehydes constituted a significant portion of the aroma profile. Refining process dramatically reduced the numbers (from 63 to 25) and amounts of aroma compounds (from 36,769 to 4461 μg/kg). Similarly, the numbers of aroma-active compounds were reduced from 22 to 8 by the refining process. Their flavor dilution factors ranged from 2 to 1024 for crude oil and from 2 to 32 in the refined oil. As of the phenolics, five and two compounds were quantified in the crude and refined oil samples, respectively. In sum, the refining process had a considerable adverse effect on the aroma, aroma-active, and phenolic constituents of the hazelnut oil; hence, the refining process has to be planned with minimal negative effect on its organoleptic properties.     

The influence of reactive milling on the structure and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline MnFe2O4

Nanocrystalline manganese ferrites (MnFe₂O₄) have been synthesized by direct milling of metallic manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) powders in distilled water (H₂O). In order to overcome the limitation of wet milling, dry milling procedure has also been utilized to reduce crystallite size. The effects of milling time on the formation and crystallite size of wet milled MnFe₂O₄ nanoparticles have been investigated. It has been observed that single phase 18.4 nm nanocrystalline MnFe₂O₄ is obtained after 24 h milling at 400 rpm. Further milling caused deformation of the structure as well as increased crystallite size. With the aim of reducing the crystallite size of 18.4 nm, MnFe₂O₄ sample dry milling has been implemented for 2 and 4 h at 300 rpm. As a result, the crystallite size has been reduced to 12.4 and 8.7 nm, respectively. Effects of the crystalline sizes on magnetic properties were also investigated. Magnetization results clearly demonstrated that crystallite size has much more effect on the magnetic properties than average particle size.     

Functional Group Effects of New Calixarene Derivatives on Catalytic and Enantioselective Behavior of Lipase

ABSTRACT

In this study, two new calixarene derivatives bearing thiourea and carbamate moieties were synthesized and characterized. Moreover, thiourea- and carbamate-bridged calixarene derivatives with Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticle were employed for the first time as the convenient additives in the encapsulation process of lipase. The results of catalytic activity and enantioselectivity of the encapsulated lipases in the hydrolysis reaction of racemic flurbiprofen methyl ester indicate that both of the encapsulated lipases (Enc-TuC[4]@Fe₃O₄ and Enc-CbC[4]@Fe₃O₄) exhibit higher conversion and enantioselectivity compared to the free-encapsulated lipase (Enc-Lipase). However, the highest affinities result was obtained when the encapsulated lipase (Enc-CbC[4]@Fe₃O₄) was used in the kinetic resolution reaction of racemic flurbiprofen methyl ester.     

Performance of acrylic monomer based terpolymer/montmorillonite nanocomposite hydrogels for U(VI) removal from aqueous solutions

Acrylic monomer based terpolymer/montmorillonite nanocomposite hydrogels (NH-MMTs) synthesized using 2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA), 2-acrylamido-2-methlypropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) in the aqueous montmorillonite (MMT) suspension were employed as adsorbents for U(VI) removal from aqueous solutions. Adsorption efficiency of the NH-MMTs was strongly enhanced by increasing pH in the range of 3–6. Adsorption capacity of the NHs increased with the MMT weight ratio up to 1% and the complete removal of U(VI) from 1 mmol/L aqueous solutions was achieved by 2 g/L polymer but further increase of MMT up to 6% caused a gradual decrease in adsorption percentage up to 57%. Nearly 98% of U(VI) loaded on the adsorbents could be recovered by 0.1 M HNO₃. Consecutive adsorption/desorption cycles showed that the NH-MMTs are re-usable. Kinetic results were analyzed using Paterson's and Nernst Planck approximation's based on homogeneous solid phase diffusion (HSPD). Experimental data were fitted to equilibrium isotherm models, Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin–Radushkevich and Temkin. SEM, and FTIR analysis of bare and U(VI) loaded adsorbents were used to elucidate adsorption mechanisms. The results showed that the NH-MMTs tested in this study are very promising for the recovery of U(VI) from water.