Arsenical grafted membranes for immobilization of thioredoxin-like proteins

In this work, we describe the cografting of glycidyl methacrylate and dimethyl acrylamide onto a macroporous polysulfone polymer. Aminophenyl arsenical compounds were covalently attached to the copolymer through epoxy ring add-on reactions followed by a 2-mercaptoethanol activation. Thioredoxin and thioredoxin-fusion proteins were immobilized onto this surface and detected by specific antibody recognition. Preservation of native protein folding was confirmed by the detection of the enzymatic activity of an unstable fusion protein. Immobilized fusion protein onto the modified material maintains the enzymatic activity for a longer time, up to two weeks, against the free protein under the same storage conditions that remains active for 2 days.     

Gelcasting of dense and porous ceramics by using a natural gelatine

An improved gel-casting procedure was successfully exploited to produce porous ceramic bodies having controlled porosity features in terms of mean pore size, total pore volume as well as pore geometry. The gel-casting process in which a natural gelatine for food industry is used as gelling agent was firstly set-up to prepare dense alumina and zirconia components. Then, commercial PE spheres, sieved to select proper dimensional ranges, were added to the starting slurries as pore-forming agent. Both alumina and zirconia porous bodies were then produced, having a porosity ranging between 40 and 50 vol%. The fired components were characterised by spherical pores surrounded by highly dense ceramic walls and struts, having a homogeneous and fine microstructure. Their mean pore size was directly dependent on the sieved fraction of the starting PE spheres selected as pore-forming phase.     

UV‐Cured Polysiloxane Epoxy Coatings Containing Titanium Dioxide as Photosensitive Semiconductor

UV‐cured polysiloxane epoxy coatings containing titanium dioxide were prepared by means of a cationic photopolymerization process. A good distribution of the inorganic filler was achieved within the polymeric network with an average size dimension of around 500 nm. UV‐vis analysis performed on organic dye (methylene blue) stained coatings showed a high efficiency of the titania photocatalytic activity: a complete degradation of the dye on the coating surface is reached after 60 min of UV irradiation without affecting the matrix photo‐degradation.

     

Physico‐Mechanical Properties of Biodegradable Starch Nanocomposites

Nanocomposites of cassava starch reinforced with waxy starch nanocrystals were prepared. They showed a 380% increase of the rubbery storage modulus (at 50 °C) and a 40% decrease in the water vapor permeability. X‐ray spectra show that the composite was more amorphous than the neat matrix, which was attributed to higher equilibrium water content in the composites. TGA confirmed this result and its thermal derivative suggested the formation of hydrogen bonding between glycerol and the nanocrystals. The reinforcing effect of starch nanocrystals was attributed to strong filler/matrix interactions due to the hydrogen bonding. The decrease of the permeability suggests that the nanocrystals were well dispersed, with few filler/filler interactions.

     

Thermo‐mechanical properties of candelilla wax and dotriacontane organogels in safflower oil

The thermo‐mechanical properties of organogels developed by a complex mixture of n‐alkanes present in candelilla wax (CW) were investigated and compared with the ones of organogels developed by a pure n‐alkane, dotriacontane (C₃₂). In both cases, the liquid phase used was safflower oil high in triolein (SFO) and the variables studied were two levels of gelator concentration (1 and 3%), cooling rates of 1 and 10 °C/min, and two gel setting temperatures, 5 and 25 °C (T_set). Based on comparisons of the organogels made with C₃₂, the presence of minor molecular components in CW had a profound effect on the crystal habit of the n‐alkanes in CW‐based organogels, and therefore on their physical properties. Thus, independent of the cooling rate and T_set, C₃₂ showed a higher solubility and higher self‐assembly capability in the SFO than CW. Nevertheless, for the same gelator concentration and time‐temperature conditions, C₃₂ organogels had lower G' profiles than CW organogels. Additionally, independent of the type of gelator, more stable organogel structures were developed at T_set = 5 °C and using the lower cooling rate. The rheological behavior of the organogels was explained considering the formation of a rotator phase by the n‐alkanes, its solid‐solid transition, and their dependence as a function of the cooling rate and T_set. The results here obtained showed that it is possible to gelate SFO through organogelation with CW and without the use of trans fats.     

Selective Antifolates for Chemically Labeling Proteins in Mammalian Cells

Antifolate labels : Molecules that bind specifically and with high affinity to proteins can be developed into powerful tools for chemical biology. The interaction between substituted 5‐benzyl pyrimidines and dihydrofolate reductase can be exploited for chemically labeling fusion proteins in mammalian cells.

     

Application of simulated annealing for simultaneous retrieval of particle size distribution and refractive index

This paper describes the application of the simulated annealing technique for the simultaneous retrieval of particle size distribution and refractive index based on polarization modulated scattering (PMS) measurements. The PMS technique is a well-established method to measure multiple elements of the Mueller scattering matrix. However, the inference of the scatterers’ properties (e.g., the size distribution function and refractive index) from such measurements involves solving an ill-conditioned inverse problem. In this paper, a new inversion technique was demonstrated to infer particle properties from PMS measurements. The new technique formulated the inverse problem into a minimization problem, which is then solved by the simulated annealing technique. Both numerical and experimental investigation on the new inversion technique was presented in the paper. The results obtained demonstrated the robustness and reliability of the new algorithm, and supported its expanded applications in scientific and technological areas involving particulates/aerosols.     

Vapor–gas/liquid nucleation experiments: A review of the challenges

The formation of new phase embryos is described by nucleation theory. However, nucleation is not yet fully understood. The goal of this review is to summarize measurement methods and recent experimental results for vapor/liquid nucleation. Substantial inconsistencies have been reported among experimental data that may originate from the use of different experimental approaches. These inconsistencies lead to the hypothesis that typical vapor/liquid nucleation rate measurements include an uncontrolled parameter. One such parameter might be the carrier gas that can be considered as an independent nucleation component for vapor–gas/liquid systems. Mass-spectrometry measurements suggest this possibility. The most commonly applied theories suggest a variety of responses of nucleation rates to nature and pressure of the carrier gas. Some approaches to interpret vapor–gas/liquid nucleation experiments consider nuclei formation from the vapor–gas system as a binary process. This approach can be considered in terms of converting the line that originates from isothermal nucleation of a single component system to a surface representing the isothermal nucleation of a binary system. In the binary approximation, adjusted nucleation conditions (i.e. consistent trajectories for nucleation parameters) are needed to obtain consistent data for nucleation rates across the nucleation rate surface. This framework provides an opportunity to resolve the data inconsistencies. Recommendations for future vapor–gas/liquid nucleation research can then be formulated. Experimental detection of singularities in the nucleation rate surface and phase transitions in a condensed phase are reviewed. The assumptions needed for the interpretation of the empirical parameters are analyzed. The experimental data inconsistencies make it currently impossible to suggest a standard system that would permit testing the performance of measuring systems for vapor–gas/liquid nucleation.     

Variations in Allelochemical Composition of Leachates of Different Organs and Maturity Stages of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus halepensis</Emphasis>

We investigated changes in the occurrence of allelochemicals from leachates of different Pinus halepensis organs taking into account the stages of pine stand age (i.e., young  < 15-years-old, middle age ± 30-years, and old  > 60-years-old). GC-MS analysis of aqueous extracts revealed approx. 59 components from needles and roots. The major constituents were divided into different phytochemical groups—phenolics (50%), fatty acids (44%), and terpenoids. Further analyses were carried out to characterize the distribution of allelochemicals in different organs and P. halepensis successional stages. Roots and needles had two distinct chemical profiles, while needle leachates were composed mainly of oxygenated terpenoids (e.g., α-eudesmol, α-cadinol, and α-terpineol). Roots mainly contained fatty acids. Needles from young pine stands had the highest content of monoterpenes, suggesting their role as potential allelochemicals that could help young pine stands to establish. Pooling the different functional chemical groups showed that needles and, to a lesser extent, old roots, had higher chemical diversity than the roots of young and medium-aged pines. The highest diversity in phenolic constituents and fatty acids was in young needles (D_chem = 2.38). Finally, caffeic acid, a compound that has allelopathic properties was found in aqueous extracts at high concentrations in both young needles and old roots. The role of this compound in mediation of biological interactions in P. halepensis ecosystem functioning is discussed.     

Effect of annealing on the properties of waterborne polyurethane adhesive containing urethane-based thickener

Different amounts of hydrophobically modified ethoxylated urethane-based thickener (HEUR) were added to improve the rheology of waterborne polyurethane adhesives. The thickened solid adhesive films were thermally annealed and characterised by IR spectroscopy, plate–plate rheology, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Hydrogen bonds played a key role in the thickening mechanism of polyurethane dispersions containing urethane-based thickener, along with ionic adsorption and micelles formation between hydrophobic groups. The adhesion properties were measured from T-peel test of leather/polyurethane adhesive/vulcanised styrene-butadiene rubber joints. Optimal results were obtained when water in the waterborne polyurethane adhesive (just before joint formation) was removed under open air, while forced air drying impeded the complete removal of water. On the other hand, the thermal annealing did not greatly affect the rheological and thermal properties of the thickened polyurethanes.