Synthesis,SAR, and Biological Evaluation of α‐Sulfonylphosphonic Acids as Selective Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors

Selective MMP inhibitors : Eleven α‐sulfonylphosphonates were synthesized and tested as MMP inhibitors. The IC₅₀ values for most of them are in the nanomolar range against MMP‐2, ‐8, ‐13, and ‐14, with an interesting selectivity profile versus MMP‐9.

     

Unsaturated polyester resins for thermoset applications using renewable isosorbide as a component for property improvement

Unsaturated polyester (UPE) resins are used in a variety of thermosetting applications due to the reduced cost when compared to epoxy resins; however, UPE resins also have reduced thermomechanical performance. Investigating avenues to improve the performance of UPEs has led to the use of bio‐based starting materials as structural components of the synthesized prepolymers as a result of their advantageous structural features. Isosorbide, a compound derived from renewable feedstocks, has been utilized to provide additional stiffness from the diol component for novel unsaturated polyesters resins. These resins have been shown to possess T_g's (32?72°C) and storage moduli (540?2200 MPa) that are in the desired range for composite materials with viscosities (1.2?25 Pa s) amenable to a variety of liquid molding techniques. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42315.     

Measurements of monomer partitioning in emulsion copolymerization systems

A new apparatus to measure the equilibrium solvent activity in a multiphase system containing a particulated polymer is presented. An experimental procedure to determine the monomer partitioning in typical emulsion copolymerization systems is developed; the method is devised in a way that no phase separation between water and swollen polymer particles is required in order to determine the monomer content in each phase. The analytical technique used is quantitative gas chromatography, either of the vapor or of the liquid phases. Different monomers (styrene, methyl methacrylate, and vinyl acetate) and polymeric matrices (polystyrene and methyl methacrylate–vinyl acetate copolymer) are examined both above and below saturation conditions (corresponding to intervals II and III of an emulsion polymerization process). The experimental results are compared with predictions of a literature model. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Discussion on the objective evaluation of virgin olive oil bitterness

The study aims at investigating the suitability of absorbance at 225 nm as an objective means to evaluate virgin olive oil (VOO) bitterness. Calculation of oleuropein score (OLS) using a standard curve instead of the so far employed K₂₂₅ value is proposed and a “taste index” based on the total phenol content determined by fluorimetry is examined as a complementary tool. Data from sensory evaluation of a series of VOO samples and RP-HPLC determination of phenolic compounds using diode array, fluorimetric or MS detection supported the applicability and merits of the introduced criteria. Phenol profiling using fluorescence detection (280 nm_excitation/320 nm_emission) became useful regarding oil bitterness. The presence of the non-fluorescent elenolic acid at 225 nm, indicated that the K₂₂₅ value is influenced by the presence of this non-bitter compound found at significant levels even in fresh oils. Our finding offers further ground to our proposal for the calculation of the “taste index”.     

An Interconnect Strategy for a Heterogeneous, Reconfigurable SoC

Editor's note:The diversification of the SoC market has increased the need for domain-specific programmable platforms that can be tailored to postfabrication products. This article presents a design case study on the interconnect for such a programmable platform, as part of the Morpheus project.—Li-Shiuan Peh, Princeton University     

Analysing and evaluating multi-actor multi-goal systems in use: social contexts and participation in three Vocational Guidance Systems (VGS)

The contexts of real use of information technology (IT) tools may be highly specific. Their distinctive features, especially normative and informational influences related to the social roles involved, can affect deeply both design and actual use of the artefact. Analysis and evaluation of the ongoing human-artefact interaction, particularly in systems addressed to multi-actor multi-goal environments like Vocational Guidance Systems (VGS), should thus be viewed as basically context-dependent. Studying three types of VGS (currently developed and running in public and private vocational agencies in Northern Italy), we constructed a taxonomy connecting types of systems and types of social environments, in order to explain differences between systems in design, communication and outcome. To assess the characteristics of the different types of VGS as dialogue tools, we considered their Social Design Structure (SDS) and Operating Social Structure (OSS), connecting steps and distance in each user-artefact interaction to the flow of the communication processes between designers, VG officers, and final users.