Anti-fingerprints fluorinated coating for anodized titanium avoiding color alteration

In this study amorphous fluorinated coatings applied to anodized titanium surface have been investigated. A copolymer between tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoro-4-trifluoromethoxy-1,3-dioxole (AD60) and two perfluoropolyether containing ammonium phosphate (F10) or triethoxysilane (S10) functionalities have been tested. To estimate the color alteration of the anodized titanium surfaces due to the application of the coatings, spectrophotometric analyses have been made. Water and n-dodecane contact angles as well as apparent surface energy have been evaluated. Ellipsometry and atomic force microscopy data have been used to measure the thickness of the fluorinated coatings. A tailored mechanical preliminary test has also been explored to evaluate the adhesion of the coatings on the anodized titanium surface. The resistance to surface soiling with castor oil was also preliminarily investigated. The fluorinated coating tested on anodized titanium showed a low apparent surface energy and high chromatic aspect conservation, this is particularly evident for the titanium anodized coated with triethoxysilane functionalities fluoropolymers S10.     

Electro-dissolution of 30Nb–Ti alloys in methanolic sulfuric acid—Optimal conditions for electropolishing

The electro-dissolution behaviour of a (30 at.%) Niobium–Titanium (NbTi) alloy in non-aqueous methanolic sulfuric acid solution using the rotating disc electrode (RDE) was ascertained. The optimal condition for electropolishing and the mechanism were proposed. The influence of the rotation rate, process temperature and sulfuric acid concentration on the dissolution kinetics was investigated. The dissolution rate (limiting current) increases linearly with increase in rotation rate and follows a Levich behaviour confirming a mass transport controlled process. The temperature dependence in terms of Arrhenius plot renders an activation energy value of E_a = 16.1 kJ mol⁻¹ for the process. The dissolution rate shows a strong dependence on the sulfuric acid concentration (1 M, 3 M and 5 M). Higher sulfuric acid concentrations lead to decreased dissolution rates (limiting current). The dissolution process is mass transport controlled in all concentrations of sulfuric acid. From an electrochemical perspective, a 3 M sulfuric acid was chosen as optimum owing to better controllability of the material removal rate. The dissolving ions are the probable rate limiting species, indicating a compact salt-film mechanism. The average root mean square (RMS) roughness value for an electropolished surface was approximately 10 nm, which is significantly lower than a mechanically polished surface.     

GC/EI-MS Determination of the Diastereomer Distribution of Phytanic Acid in Food Samples

Phytanic acid (3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadecanoic acid) is a branched-chain fatty acid, produced by bacteria by means of oxidation and biohydrogenation of the chlorophyll side chain phytol (3,7R,11R,15-tetramethylhexadec-2-en-1-ol). The later reaction generates to a new stereogenic center on C-3 which can be both 3R- or 3S-configured. Thus, two diastereomers (3S,7R,11R,15- and 3R,7R,11R,15-phytanic acid) are naturally produced. In this study we examined the diastereomer composition of phytanic acid in terrestrial and marine food samples. Phytanic acid was transferred into its methyl ester which was analyzed by GC/MS in the selected ion monitoring mode. The first eluted diastereomer in the samples was tentatively identified as 3S,7R,11R,15-phytanic acid. The marine samples were clearly dominated by 3S,7R,11R,15-phytanic acid whose abundance was higher in marine mammals than in fish. Milk from one organic cow collected over a period of 30 days showed lower proportions of 3S,7R,11R,15-phytanic acid than milk from one cow raised with conventional feed. The difference between organic and conventional dairy products (cheese and butter) was not as pronounced as in milk. Milk samples from other mammals (goat, sheep, mare, camel, moose, and human) also showed an excess of 3S,7R,11R,15-phytanic acid except for camel and moose milk.     

Aqueous Processing and Stabilization of Manganese Zinc Ferrite Powders via a Passivation–Dispersion Approach

A dispersion scheme for aqueous processing of manganese zinc ferrite suspensions is presented. The addition of oxalic acid leads to the formation of a uniform negative charge on the surface such that a cationic polyelectrolyte, polyethyleneimine (PEI), adsorbs and provides electrosteric dispersion. At 0.5 w/w (weight percent with respect to the dry powder) oxalic acid addition, there is a relatively uniform negative surface charge (approximately −30 mV) within the suspension pH range investigated (3–10), eliminating the isoelectric point (pH ∼7.6) present for the as-received metal oxide powder. At the addition of 0.5 w/w PEI on an oxalate-treated surface, the surface charge is constant and positive (∼20 mV) through a wide pH range, ∼5–10. The resulting rheological data for passivation–dispersion of relatively high-solids manganese zinc ferrite suspensions (∼80 wt%) demonstrate improved colloid stability with improved rheological properties. The resulting apparent viscosity and Bingham yield point is 0.01 Pa·s (12.0 cP) and 0.24 Pa (2.4 dynes/cm²), respectively. A sulfonated napthalene-based dispersant, typically used in industry, gives an apparent viscosity and Bingham yield point of 0.03 Pa·s (32 cP) and 3.1 Pa (31 dynes/cm²), respectively.     

Lattice Model for Estimating the Opacity of White Coatings

White pigments impart opacity to films and coatings by virtue of their ability to scatter incident light. This study considers a homogeneous coating that contains a low concentration of randomly dispersed, monodisperse pigment particles. The optical properties are determined using a lattice model with cell size defined by the diameter ( d ) of the particles. For pure scattering, the contrast ratio (CR) is an algebraic function of the scattering coefficient (κ), pigment volume fraction (φ), and coating layer thickness ( L ), as follows: [formula omitted]When tested against literature data for white films opacified with titanium dioxide, an empirical expression with a single adjustable constant provides a better interpolation formula than the above equation. This discrepancy is attributed to the contribution of a minor amount of absorption to the measured opacity.     

Identification and Cloning of a Pheromone-Binding Protein from the Oriental Beetle, Exomala orientalis

We have identified and cloned a pheromone-binding protein (EoriPBP) from the Japanese and American populations of the Oriental beetle, Exomala orientalis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). The protein showed more than 90% amino acid identity to the previously identified pheromone-binding proteins from Popillia japonica (PjapPBP) and Anomala osakana (AosaPBP), as well as to one of the odorant-binding proteins from Phyllopertha diversa (PdivOBP1). EoriPBP has 116 amino acids, with a calculated molecular mass of 12,981 Da, pI of 4.3, and six highly conserved cysteine residues. 5-RACE amplifications led to the characterization of a signal peptide with 19 amino acids. The signal peptide showed high amino acid identity to the signal peptide for AosaPBP. Comparison of the amino acid sequences of the PBPs involved in the detection of similar ligands, i.e., monounsaturated lactones and ketone, suggests that the most variable residues among the PBPs from E. orientalis, P. japonica, and A. osakana are probably the most discriminating residues. As with the pheromone-binding protein from Bombyx mori, the residues at positions 61, 64, 71, and 82 in EoriPBP, PajpPBP, and AosaPBP, which are either valine, leucine, isoleucine, or methionine, are likely to be specificity determinants.     

Technological Aspects of Orientational Strengthening of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate). Modern Schemes for Production of High-Strength Polyester Fibres

Theoretical and technological aspects of orientational strengthening of polyester fibres are examined. High strength of polyester fibres is attained by the combination of the high molecular weight of poly(ethylene terephthalate) with stage-wise (in several stages) drawing. Current schemes for production of high-strength polyester fibres are reported.     

Neutral and polar lipid phase transition of soybeans with various saturated fatty acid contents

Soybeans with modified saturated fatty acid compositions sometimes have lower seed germination rate or other undesirable agronomic traits. To determine if seed germination could be related to the melting transitions of their lipids, triacylglycerols (TAG) and phospholipids (PL) from soybeans with a wide range of saturated fatty acid compositions were examined by differential scanning calorimetry. The melting transition temperatures of both TAG and PL increased with increasing palmitate and stearate percentages. The mean melting points of the various lipids calculated on the basis of the melting points of their fatty acids correlated with the observed transition temperatures. Increased lipid saturation and elevated phase transition temperatures may have contributed to the reduced germination and seedling growth rates of these modified seeds.     

The Structures of Gd(III) Chelates Conjugated at the Periphery of 3-(1’-Hexyloxy)ethyl-3-devinylpyropheophorbide-a (HPPH) Have a Significant Impact on the Imaging and Therapy of Cancer

3-(1’-Hexyloxyethyl)-3-devinyl-pyropheophorbide-a (HPPH or Photochlor), a tumor-avid chlorophyll-a derivative currently undergoing human clinical trials, was conjugated at various peripheral positions (position-17 or 20) of HPPH with either Gd(III)-aminobenzyl-DTPA (Gd(III) DTPA) or Gd(III)-aminoethylamido-DOTA (Gd(III) DOTA). The corresponding conjugates were evaluated for in vitro PDT efficacy, T₁, T₂ relaxivities, in vivo fluorescence, and MR imaging under similar treatment parameters. Among these analogs, the water-soluble Gd(III)-aminoethylamido-DOTA linked at position-17 of HPPH, i. e., HPPH-17-Gd(III) DOTA, demonstrated strong potential for tumor imaging by both MR and fluorescence, while maintaining the PDT efficacy in BALB/c mice bearing Colon-26 tumors (7/10 mice were tumor free on day 60). In contrast to Gd(III) DTPA (Magnevist) and Gd(III) DOTA (Dotarem), the HPPH-Gd(III) DOTA retains in the tumor for a long period of time (24 to 48 h) and provides an option of fluorescence-guided cancer therapy. Thus, a single agent can be used for cancer-imaging and therapy. However, further detailed pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and toxicological studies of the conjugate are required before initiating Phase I human clinical trials.