NIR Organic Dyes as Innovative Tools for Reprocessing/Recycling of Plastics: Benefits of the Photothermal Activation in the Near-Infrared Range

Photoinduced thermal polymerization upon Near-InfraRed (NIR) light has been recently reported in the literature as an efficient tool for polymer synthesis. In this work, a completely different approach is developed since polymeric materials containing a very low amount of a stimuli-responsive compound are prepared by using a benchmark UV photoinitiator. As the stimuli-responsive compound, an organic dye strongly absorbing in the near-infrared region is selected. The heat released by its irradiation with an inexpensive and highly penetrating NIR light source allows the development of an unprecedented approach for reprocessing, reshaping, recycling, and self-healing. Several parameters have been studied in order to determine their influence on the polymer temperature: the wavelength of the NIR irradiation, the irradiance of the NIR light source, the choice of heater (IR-813 p-toluenesulfonate or a squaraine dye), and the heater concentration. The thermoplastics bonding and debonding has also been studied and showed promising results since two pieces of polymers could be pasted together after a short time of NIR irradiation. Finally, self-healing ability of the thermoplastic is investigated and furnished impressive results even for large scratches.     

Effect of carbon nanotube network morphology on thin film transistor performance

The properties of electronic devices based on carbon nanotube networks (CNTNs) depend on the carbon nanotube (CNT) deposition method used, which can yield a range of network morphologies. Here, we synthesize single-walled CNTs using an aerosol (floating catalyst) chemical vapor deposition process and deposit CNTs at room temperature onto substrates as random networks with various morphologies. We use four CNT deposition techniques: electrostatic or thermal precipitation, and filtration through a filter followed by press transfer or dissolving the filter. We study the mobility using pulsed measurements to avoid hysteresis, the on/off ratio, and the electrical noise properties of the CNTNs, and correlate them to the network morphology through careful imaging. Among the four deposition methods thermal precipitation is found to be a novel approach to prepare high-performance, partially aligned CNTNs that are dry-deposited directly after their synthesis. Our results provide new insight into the role of the network morphologies and offer paths towards tunable transport properties in CNT thin film transistors.      

Non-profit housing,a tool for metropolitan cohesion? The case of the Vienna–Bratislava region

Non-profit housing has a long history both in Austria and in Slovakia, even if recent socio-economic and political transformations question this model born in the nineteenth century. This type of housing is considered as affordable housing according to a generalist conception in Austria and a residual one in Slovakia. But in spite of divergences in their national housing policies, both countries are facing common challenges which are epitomised in the Vienna–Bratislava region. This article analyses the role of non-profit housing in bringing more cohesion to a growing but fragmented metropolitan region.     

Evaluation in vivo of the endothelial function of the native gastroepiploic artery

The endothelial function of a coronary bypass graft is an important aspect, contributing not only to its patency but to its functional performance. To evaluate this aspect in vivo, we studied 16 patients who underwent selective catheterization of the native gastroepiploic artery (GEA). Quantitative angiography of the GEA was performed at baseline, after 2 minutes' infusion of acetylcholine in three ascending doses, and after 2 mg isosorbide dinitrate injection directly into the GEA. Mean GEA diameter was 2.02 +/- 0.38 mm at baseline. We observed dose-dependent vasodilation during acetylcholine infusion: The mean diameter increased slightly to 2.11 +/- 0.32 mm (+6%, not significant) with the second dosage and, more significantly, with the highest dosage, to 2.32 +/- 0.33 mm (+18%, p < 0.001). More important vasodilation was observed after administration of nitrates (+36%, p < 0.001). We found no difference between patients with and without coronary artery disease and no relationship with risk factors for atherosclerosis. A positive correlation was seen between the vasodilation observed after nitrate administration and the highest dose of acetylcholine (r = 0.728, p = 0.002). In conclusion, the GEA demonstrates a notable vasodilatory response to nitrates (non-endothelium-dependent) and a dose-related dilator response to acetylcholine, reflecting preserved endothelial function. This sensitivity should affect favorably the hemodynamic performance of grafts performed with GEA, as well as these grafts' long-term patency rate.     

MICROBIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF SPONTANEOUS WORT FERMENTATION IN THE PRODUCTION OF LAMBIC AND GUEUZE

Lambic and Gueuze are special Belgian beers obtained by spontaneous fermentation. Micro-organisms involved in this fermentation were counted and differentiated using several selective growth media. Micro-organisms were also isolated from samples of Lambic of different age and originating from different casks and brews and identified by classical tests. The following general pattern of microbial development was observed. After 3 to 7 days the fermentation started with the development of wort Enterobacteriaceae and strains of Kloeckera apiculata. These organisms were overgrown after 3 to 4 weeks by strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and S. bayanus. These were responsible for the main fermentation, lasting for 3 to 4 months. This was followed by a strong bacterial activity. This period was dominated by the growth of strains of Pediococcus cerevisiae. These reached their maximal numbers during the summer months and were responsible for a fivefold increase in lactic acid concentration. In some casks they caused ropiness. After the main fermentation period Lambic is very sensitive to spoilage by acetic acid bacteria of the genus Acetomonas. The presence of air may be the determining factor for their development. After 8 months a new increase in yeast cells was noted. These belonged now mainly to the genus Brettano-myces bruxellensis and Br. lambicus. They caused a further slow decrease in residual extract and the appearance of special flavours. Oxidative yeasts of the genera Candida, Cryptococcus, Torulopsis and Pichia were also detected and may be responsible for the formation of a flim on the beer surface after the main fermentation.     

BMAL1 Knockdown Leans Epithelial–Mesenchymal Balance toward Epithelial Properties and Decreases the Chemoresistance of Colon Carcinoma Cells

The circadian clock coordinates biological and physiological functions to day/night cycles. The perturbation of the circadian clock increases cancer risk and affects cancer progression. Here, we studied how BMAL1 knockdown (BMAL1-KD) by shRNA affects the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), a critical early event in the invasion and metastasis of colorectal carcinoma (CRC). In corresponding to a gene set enrichment analysis, which showed a significant enrichment of EMT and invasive signatures in BMAL1_high CRC patients as compared to BMAL1_low CRC patients, our results revealed that BMAL1 is implicated in keeping the epithelial–mesenchymal equilibrium of CRC cells and influences their capacity of adhesion, migration, invasion, and chemoresistance. Firstly, BMAL1-KD increased the expression of epithelial markers (E-cadherin, CK-20, and EpCAM) but decreased the expression of Twist and mesenchymal markers (N-cadherin and vimentin) in CRC cell lines. Finally, the molecular alterations after BMAL1-KD promoted mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition-like changes mostly appeared in two primary CRC cell lines (i.e., HCT116 and SW480) compared to the metastatic cell line SW620. As a consequence, migration/invasion and drug resistance capacities decreased in HCT116 and SW480 BMAL1-KD cells. Together, BMAL1-KD alerts the delicate equilibrium between epithelial and mesenchymal properties of CRC cell lines, which revealed the crucial role of BMAL1 in EMT-related CRC metastasis and chemoresistance.     

Matching office firms types and location characteristics: An exploratory analysis using Bayesian classifier networks

While most models of location decisions of firms are based on the principle of utility maximizing behavior, the present study assumes that location decisions are just part of business cycle models, in which location is considered along other business decisions. The business model results in a series of location requirements and these are matched against location characteristics. Given this theoretical perspective, the modeling challenge then becomes how to find the match between firm types and the set of location characteristics using observations of the spatial distribution of firms. In this paper, several Bayesian classifier networks are compared in terms of their performance, using a large data set collected for the Netherlands. Results demonstrate that by taking relationships between predictor variables into account the Bayesian classifiers can improve prediction accuracy compared to commonly used decision tree. From a substantive point of view, our results indicate that different sets of urban characteristics and accessibility requirements are relevant to different office types as reflected in the spatial distribution of these office firms.     

Development of an accurate and sensitive gas chromatographic method for the determination of acrolein content in Calvados and cider

Acrolein can be at the origin of an important organoleptic defect in beverages made from apples. Its content was investigated in freshly distilled Calvados and cider. The specificity of 3-methylbenzothiazolone hydrazine (MBTH) towards carbonyl compounds was used in order to derive acrolein in azines. Azines were separated and detected by gas chromatography coupled with a nitrogen-phosphorus Detector. Results showed that acrolein concentrations could be quickly determined in either Calvados or cider. Accuracy of quantification was better than 6% for concentrations about 1 mg/l in freshly distilled Calvados and 10% for concentrations about 10 μg/l in ciders. Acrolein content was found between 0.7 and 5.2 mg/l in samples of freshly distilled Calvados whereas it was between 7 and 15 μg/l in samples of cider. This method of quantification was applied to study disappearance kinetics of acrolein in cider. Acrolein content was found to decrease rapidly during the first hours and to change very slowly after a few days. Its behaviour during a distillation was also investigated showing that in spite of its high volatility it could also be found in the last fractions of distillation.