Measurements of size distribution nanoparticles in ultraviolet‐curable methacrylate‐based boehmite nanocomposites

A deep study on the possibility to increase the quality of the dispersion of organically modified Boehmite nanoparticles into photo‐polymerizable methacrylic‐siloxane monomers, to be used as coatings, was conducted using unconventional indirect analyses. The nanocomposite were produced using two different procedures, starting from the conventional “solvent dispersion method.” The two procedures used differ for the technique used to obtain the dispersion of Boehmite, i.e., sonication or magnetic stirring and for the time used in each procedure. The efficiency of each method of preparation of nanostructured systems was analyzed, both in the liquid (uncured) and ultraviolet (UV) cured state. First, dynamic light scattering and rheological measurements were performed on the liquid suspensions, supplying experimental data used in proper theoretical models to estimate the dimensions and distribution of Boehmite particles. The suspensions obtained with the two different methods were, then, UV cured obtaining thin and thick films, on which scanning electron microscopy and transmittance measurements were performed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Shelf life of ready‐to‐cook cauliflower mixtures as affected by packaging film mass transport properties

In this work, the influence of packaging mass transport properties on quality loss of fresh‐cut cauliflower mixtures was addressed. The study was organised in two subsequent experimental steps; first, the selection of micro‐perforated packaging films was carried out by monitoring the package headspace gas concentrations of fresh‐cut white, green cauliflower and roman cabbage. Then, the effects of the barrier properties of the selected micro‐perforated film on shelf life of two different fresh‐cut cauliflower mixtures, stored at 4 ± 1 °C, were addressed. Results suggested that, among the investigated films, the micro‐perforated polymeric matrix with the lowest oxygen transmission rate value showed the best performance as it created the optimum headspace gas composition for each cauliflower variety, as well as, for the product mixtures. The appearance of visible moulds was the factor limiting product shelf life that accounted for about 18 days for both the investigated cauliflower mixtures.     

A histochemical approach to glycan diversity in the urothelium of pig urinary bladder

Intracellular glycans in the urothelium of urinary bladder of 10 adult male Landrace pigs were characterized in situ by immunohistochemical detection of Muc1 mucin by anti MUC1 from rabbit, conventional histochemical techniques (Periodic‐Acid Schiff, Alcian Blue pH 2.5, High‐Iron Diamine), and binding with 13 lectins (PNA, DBA, RCA‐I, WGA, SBA, BSI‐B4, ConA, AAA, UEA‐I, LTA, LFA, MAA‐II, SNA) combined with chemical and enzymatic pre‐treatments (β‐elimination, desulfation and neuraminidase) to gather reference data for this model animal. Muc1 mucin was detected in the secreting granules of superficial cells and the underlying layer of intermediate cells. The secreting granules in both intermediate cells and superficial cells were rich in carbohydrates, with the oligosaccharidic chains mostly O‐linked to proteins. Glycoproteins were prevailing over glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). In both superficial and intermediate cells sulfated and/or sialylated glycans were present, sulfation decreasing in the deeper layers. Lectin‐binding detected presence of terminal sialic acid linked mostly in α2,6 to GalNAc, Gal terminal or subterminal to sulfates, GalNAc, GlcNAc, and Fuc, mostly linked in α1,6, α1,3 α1,4 and α1,2 to GlcNAc or Gal, but not to lactosamine chains. Except for fucosylation, the oligosaccharidic chains in the glycoproteins of the urothelium of pig urinary bladder were similar to those linked to human MUC1, which is fundamental in cell adhesion and immunological processes in the urothelium. The co‐distribution of Muc1 and saccharidic residues suggests that many of them are linked to the glycoprotein.     

Multifunctional cotton fabrics

Electrically conductive fabrics were produced by deposition of a thin film of doped polypyrrole on the surface of cotton fibres. In situ oxidative chemical polymerisation were carried out in aqueous solutions of pyrrole, oxidant and doping agents, at room temperature. Polypyrrole-coated fibres were characterized by Light Microscopy, SEM, EDX, FTIR and TGA. Moreover, fabric samples were also evaluated for moisture regain, electrical resistivity, heat generation and antibacterial activity. PPy alters the combustion process of cellulose fibres that maintain the fibrous shape after heating in air. Moreover, it seems that PPy is really an antibacterial agent, apart from the oxidant or dopant used. The results highlight potential applications as technical textiles with antistatic (low electrical resistance), heat generation, hygroscopy, antibacterial and high temperature resistance properties.     

Effect of a New High-Pressure Heat Treatment on Additively Manufactured AlSi10Mg Alloy

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - The application of an innovative high-pressure T6 treatment (HPT6) to additively manufactured AlSi10Mg alloy is reported in this paper. The aim of this...     

Towards mining the organizational structure of a dynamic event scenario

The increasing volume and value of data is an important enabler for data science. In this study, we consider the event data, i.e. information on things that happen in organizations, machines, systems and people’s lives. Each event refers to a well-defined activity in a certain business process execution, the resource (i.e. person or device) executing or initiating the activity, the timestamp of the event, as well as to various data elements recorded with the event (e.g. the geo-location of an activity). Process mining aims to analyze event data, in order to mine knowledge that can contribute to improving a business process behavior. In particular, the focus of this study is on organizational mining, that is a sub-field of process mining that aims at understanding the life cycle of a dynamic organizational structure (i.e. a configuration of organization units) and the interactions among co-workers (resources) arising from the analysis of real-world event logs. The innovative contribution of this study is that the organizational mining goal is here achieved by combining concepts from process mining, stream mining and social network analysis. This combination is an original contribution of this study, not still explored in organizational mining field. In an assessment, benchmark event data are explored, in order to understand how the presented solution allows us to identify the life cycle a dynamic organizational structure.     

A Monolithic Approach to Fluid–Composite Structure Interaction

We study a nonlinear fluid–structure interaction (FSI) problem between an incompressible, viscous fluid and a composite elastic structure consisting of two layers: a thin layer (membrane) in direct contact with the fluid, and a thick layer (3D linearly elastic structure) sitting on top of the thin layer. The coupling between the fluid and structure, and the coupling between the two structures is achieved via the kinematic and dynamic coupling conditions modeling no-slip and balance of forces, respectively. The coupling is evaluated at the moving fluid–structure interface with mass, i.e., the thin structure. To solve this nonlinear moving-boundary problem in 3D, a monolithic, fully implicit method was developed, and combined with an arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian approach to deal with the motion of the fluid domain. This class of problems and its generalizations are important in e.g., modeling FSI between blood flow and arterial walls, which are known to be composed of several different layers, each with different mechanical characteristics and thickness. By using this model we show how multi-layered structure of arterial walls influences the pressure wave propagation in arterial walls, and how the presence of atheroma and the presence of a vascular device called stent, influence intramural strain distribution throughout different layers of the arterial wall. The detailed intramural strain distribution provided by this model can be used in conjunction with ultrasound B-mode scans as a predictive tool for an early detection of atherosclerosis (Zahnd et al. in IEEE international on ultrasonics symposium (IUS), pp 1770–1773, 2011).     

Genetic Predisposition to Myelodysplastic Syndromes: A Challenge for Adult Hematologists

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) arising in the context of inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFS) differ in terms of prognosis and treatment strategy compared to MDS occurring in the adult population without an inherited genetic predisposition. The main molecular pathways affected in IBMFS involve telomere maintenance, DNA repair, biogenesis of ribosomes, control of proliferation and others. The increased knowledge on the genes involved in MDS pathogenesis and the wider availability of molecular diagnostic assessment have led to an improvement in the detection of IBMFS genetic predisposition in MDS patients. A punctual recognition of these disorders implies a strict surveillance of the patient in order to detect early signs of progression and promptly offer allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, which is the only curative treatment. Moreover, identifying an inherited mutation allows the screening and counseling of family members and directs the choice of donors in case of need for transplantation. Here we provide an overview of the most recent data on MDS with genetic predisposition highlighting the main steps of the diagnostic and therapeutic management. In order to highlight the pitfalls of detecting IBMFS in adults, we report the case of a 27-year-old man affected by MDS with an underlying telomeropathy.