Synthesis of a PPV‐fluorene derivative: Applications in luminescent devices

Synthesis of a polyfluorene/poly(p‐phenylene vinylene) derivative, the Poly [(9,9′‐di‐hexylfluorenediylvinylene‐alt‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene)‐co‐((9,9′‐(3‐t‐butylpropanoate) fluorene‐1,4‐phenylene)] (LaPPS 42) was performed following Wittig and Suzuki routes. Polyfluorenes and derivatives have been used in electroluminescent devices, and the synthesis described here has the advantage in pave the way to get distinct structures having different emission spectra. An extensive study of its electrochemical, thermomechanical, optical, and structural properties was carried out, as well as its application in electroluminescent devices. Polymer light‐emitting diodes (PLEDs) and polymer light‐emitting electrochemical cells (PLECs) were built using LaPPS 42 as active layer, and their electric and optical characterizations confirm they have a potential as active element in electroluminescent devices. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42579.     

Torrefied biomass‐polypropylene composites

Torrefied almond shells and wood chips were incorporated into polypropylene as fillers to produce torrefied biomass‐polymer composites. The composites were prepared by extrusion and injection molding. Response surface methodology was used to examine the effects of filler concentration, filler size, and lignin factor (relative lignin to cellulose concentration) on the material properties of the composites. The heat distortion temperatures, thermal properties, and tensile properties of the composites were characterized by thermomechanical analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and tensile tests, respectively. The torrefied biomass composites had heat distortion temperatures of 8–24°C higher than that of neat polypropylene. This was due to the torrefied biomass restricting mobility of polypropylene chains, leading to higher temperatures for deformation. The incorporation of torrefied biomass generally resulted in an increase in glass transition temperature, but did not affect melting temperature. Also, the composites had lower tensile strength and elongation at break values than those of neat polypropylene, indicating weak adhesion between torrefied biomass and polypropylene. However, scanning electron microscopy results did indicate some adhesion between torrefied biomass and polypropylene. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41582.     

Ahiflower oil: A novel non‐GM plant‐based omega‐3+6 source

Ahiflower oil, a novel and proprietary dietary oil with the richest effective combined essential fatty acids from a single non‐GM plant, has been developed agronomically in a unique vertically integrated “soil to oil” model at commercial scale by Nature's Crops International. Ahiflower oil helps resolve a persistent dilemma in sustainable global omega‐3 nutrition from marine sources while dramatically improving dietary omega‐3 EPA conversion from plant sources and while supplying beneficial anti‐inflammatory GLA not found in fish or algal oils. Having achieved key regulatory clearances in the US and EU, Ahiflower oil is launching in the latter half of 2015 in supplements and foods.     

Structure and Substrate Recognition of the Bottromycin Maturation Enzyme BotP

The bottromycins are a family of highly modified peptide natural products, which display potent antimicrobial activity against Gram‐positive bacteria, including methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Bottromycins have recently been shown to be ribosomally synthesized and post‐translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). Unique amongst RiPPs, the precursor peptide BotA contains a C‐terminal “follower” sequence, rather than the canonical N‐terminal “leader” sequence. We report herein the structural and biochemical characterization of BotP, a leucyl‐aminopeptidase‐like enzyme from the bottromycin pathway. We demonstrate that BotP is responsible for the removal of the N‐terminal methionine from the precursor peptide. Determining the crystal structures of both apo BotP and BotP in complex with Mn²⁺ allowed us to model a BotP/substrate complex and to rationalize substrate recognition. Our data represent the first step towards targeted compound modification to unlock the full antibiotic potential of bottro‐ mycin.     

High-entropy boride–carbide ceramics by sequential boro/carbothermal synthesis

A dual-phase high-entropy boride (HEB)/carbide (HEC) ceramic with a fine grain size was synthesized by a sequential boro/carbothermal process. In the first step, an Hf–Nb–Ta–Ti–Zr-containing carbide was synthesized by a carbothermal reduction of oxides followed by the reaction of the carbide with B₄C and ZrH₂ to convert part of the carbide to boride. The resulting composition was ∼29 vol% HEB with an average grain size of ∼1.1 μm. Solid solution formation occurred at the densification temperature of 1900°C resulting in a relative density higher than 99%. The Vickers hardness was 26.5 ± 1.4 GPa. This is the first report of synthesizing dual-phase boride–carbide high-entropy ceramics from carbothermally synthesized, HEC powders.     

Zirconium Diboride with High Thermal Conductivity

Thermal properties were characterized for zirconium diboride produced by reactive hot pressing and compared to ZrB₂ ceramics that were hot pressed from commercial powders. No sintering additives were used in either process. Thermal conductivity was calculated from measured values of heat capacity, thermal diffusivity, and density for temperatures ranging from 298 to 2273 K. ZrB₂ produced by reactive hot pressing achieved near full density, but had a small volume fraction of ZrO₂, whereas hot‐pressed ZrB₂ contained porosity and carbon inclusions. Reactive hot pressing produced a ceramic with higher thermal diffusivity and heat capacity, resulting in thermal conductivities of 127 W·(m·K)^?1 at 298 K and 80 W·(m·K)^?1 at 2273 K, which were up to ~30% higher than typically reported for hot‐pressed ZrB₂.     

New breathable films using a thermoplastic cross‐linked starch as a porogen

Breathable films, which find in variety of product applications, are conventionally made using mineral porogens such as calcium carbonate (CaCO₃). This article addresses a novel biodegradable and highly breathable film without inorganic porogens. Unexpectedly, a thermoplastic cross‐linked natural polymer (corn starch) was used successfully to create tortuous passages for film breathability. This concept was demonstrated using two types of thermoplastic cross‐linked corn starches as porogens and contrasted to control samples: native corn and chemically cross‐linked starches, respectively. The films discussed had increased breathability and mechanical properties relative to the control samples. The film morphology reveals that filler was irregular when thermoplastic starch or CaCO₃ was used. The difference in filler from chemically modified cross‐linked starch and thermoplastic cross‐linked starch was observable as well. It is believed that spherical particles provided by thermoplastic cross‐linked starch helps film debonding and porosity during the film stretch processes. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 41016.     

Physical and chemical properties of polypyrrole–carbon fiber interphases formed by aqueous electrosynthesis

The properties of carbon fibers modified by aqueous electrochemical synthesis of pyrrole has been determined by using the dynamic contact angle analyzer (DCA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Electrochemical process parameters such as the initial pyrrole concentration, electrolyte concentration, applied voltage, electrolyte type, and reaction time were systematically varied, and their impact on the polypyrrole–carbon fiber interphases surface free energy and morphology was ascertained. The surface free energies of the polypyrrole–carbon fiber interphases were obtained by using single fiber filaments. SEM analysis of the interphases revealed several distinct surface structures, including smooth, porous, granular, microspheroidal, and leafoidal morphologies. The noncoated but commercially surface oxidized carbon fibers have smooth surface morphology with occasional longitudinal striations. FTIR analysis of the polypyrrole interphases confirmed that the counterions derived from the electrolytes were incorporated into the film. The surface free energies of the electrochemically formed polypyrrole–carbon fiber interphases equivalent to 60–75 dynes/cm, was determined to be up to 40% higher than that for the surface oxidized but unsized carbon fibers equivalent to 50 dynes/cm. This improvement in the surface free energies of the polypyrrole–carbon fiber interphases suggests easy wettability by polymer matrices such as epoxy resin, γ ˜ 47 dynes/cm and, polyimide matrix, γ ˜ 45 dynes/cm. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The DMACA–HCl Protocol and the Threshold Proanthocyanidin Content for Bloat Safety in Forage Legumes

A protocol using HCl-acidified 4-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (DMACA) was developed for screening proanthocyanidins (PA) in plants. Individual PA-containing cells could be observed following staining of decolourised leaves with DMACA. The quantitative assay using DMACA-HCl to detect soluble PA and butanol–HCl to detect insoluble PA could detect PA content lower than 0·4 mg g⁻¹ dry matter (DM). The DMACA–HCl protocol is recommended for PA detection in low-PA plants because of its higher sensitivity than vanillin–acid protocols. Twenty-two forage legume species, most of which had been reported free of leaf PA but bloat-safe, were re-examined using the DMACA–HCl protocol. PA-positive cells were observed in leaves of 15 species. Measurable amounts of PA were detected in leaves of seven species, with the PA content ranging from 0·6 to 11 mg g⁻¹ DM. White clover ( Trifolium repens L), red clover ( T pratense L) and lucerne ( Medicago sativa L) were also found to have PA-positive leaf trichomes. By analysis of these data and the literature, the threshold PA content for bloat safety in forage legumes was estimated to be 1–5 mg PA g⁻¹ DM.