Fabrication of transparent polymer-matrix nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical properties from chemically modified ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanoparticles

Optically transparent nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical properties were fabricated using stable dispersions of sub 10 nm ZrO₂ nanoparticles. The ZrO₂ dispersions were mixed with a commercially available bisphenol-A-based epoxy resin (RIMR 135i) and cured with a mixture of two amine-based curing agents (RIMH 134 and RIMH 137) after complete solvent removal. The colloidal dispersions of ZrO₂ nanoparticles, synthesized through a non-aqueous approach, were obtained through a chemical modification of the ZrO₂ nanoparticle surface, employing different organic ligands through simple mixing at room temperature. Successful binding of the ligands to the surface was studied utilizing ATR–FT-IR and thermogravimetric analysis. The homogeneous distribution of the nanoparticles within the matrix was proven by SAXS and the observed high optical transmittance for ZrO₂ contents of up to 8 wt%. Nanocomposites with a ZrO₂ content of only 2 wt% showed a significant enhancement of the mechanical properties, e.g., an increase of the tensile strength and Young’s modulus by up to 11.9 and 12.5%, respectively. Also the effect of different surface bound ligands on the mechanical properties is discussed.     

Electronic fingerprints of DNA bases on graphene

We calculate the electronic local density of states (LDOS) of DNA nucleotide bases (A,C,G,T), deposited on graphene. We observe significant base-dependent features in the LDOS in an energy range within a few electronvolts of the Fermi level. These features can serve as electronic fingerprints for the identification of individual bases in scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) experiments that perform image and site dependent spectroscopy on biomolecules. Thus the fingerprints of DNA-graphene hybrid structures may provide an alternative route to DNA sequencing using STS.     

TrkB Receptor Signalling: Implications in Neurodegenerative,Psychiatric and Proliferative Disorders

The Trk family of receptors play a wide variety of roles in physiological and disease processes in both neuronal and non-neuronal tissues. Amongst these the TrkB receptor in particular has attracted major attention due to its critical role in signalling for brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT3) and neurotrophin-4 (NT4). TrkB signalling is indispensable for the survival, development and synaptic plasticity of several subtypes of neurons in the nervous system. Substantial evidence has emerged over the last decade about the involvement of aberrant TrkB signalling and its compromise in various neuropsychiatric and degenerative conditions. Unusual changes in TrkB signalling pathway have also been observed and implicated in a range of cancers. Variations in TrkB pathway have been observed in obesity and hyperphagia related disorders as well. Both BDNF and TrkB have been shown to play critical roles in the survival of retinal ganglion cells in the retina. The ability to specifically modulate TrkB signalling can be critical in various pathological scenarios associated with this pathway. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms underlying TrkB signalling, disease implications and explore plausible ameliorative or preventive approaches.     

ON‐LINE MONITORING OF POLLUTION CONCENTRATIONS WITH AUTOREGRESSIVE MOVING AVERAGE TIME SERIES

The concentration of aerosol particles, largely caused by traffic volume and often enhanced during temperature inversion episodes in the cold season, can be a concern for human health in the urban environment. This particulate matter is typically recorded as PM₁₀, the total mass of particles below 10 μm in diameter. It is suspected that, within the PM₁₀ class, ultrafine particles ( < 100 nm) may be responsible for causing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Because of their low mass, ultrafine particles are hard to detect, and researchers try to utilize PM₁₀ in combination with nitrogen oxides NO_x and other trace gases to monitor their dynamic evolution. To meet pollution standards set by national government and European Union regulation, the city of Klagenfurt, Austria, began using calcium magnesium acetate as a deicer on 11 January 2012, hoping to literally glue pollutants to the ground and thereby reducing pollution concentrations. With the statistical methodology developed in this article, the dynamic evolution of PM₁₀ and NO_x is traced for the time period starting 4 January and ending 25 January 2012, and a change in dynamics is found. The findings are based on on‐line monitoring procedures that sequentially detect structural breaks in the mean and the parameter values of an autoregressive moving average process. These are defined in terms of model residuals and one‐step ahead predictors. Theoretical properties are studied, and a simulation study shows that the proposed procedures work well in finite samples.     

Thermal decomposition of SRC-II middle distillate under surface vaporizing conditions

Decomposition of SRC-II middle distillate under surface vaporizing conditions was studied as a function of temperature (heating rate), vapour phase residence time and oxygen level. The stressed and unstressed fuel was analysed by capillary gas chromatography. Decomposition was found to be greatest at low temperature. Boiling mode did not appear to affect the extent of decomposition. Decomposition was weakly related to chemical class and strongly related to component volatility. The effect of gas phase residence time and oxygen level were negligible at the conditions studied. It is concluded that decomposition occurs primarily within the liquid and at the vaporizer surface.     

“Greening Up” Cross-Coupling Chemistry

New methodologies that enable palladium catalyzed cross-coupling reactions to be performed under environmentally benign conditions (in water and/or at room temperature) have been developed. Described approaches involve in situ activation of carbon–halogen or carbon–hydrogen bonds using zinc metal, or cationic palladium, respectively.