Effect of polymerization conditions on the microstructure of a liquid crystalline copolyester

The melt polycondensation of mixtures of sebacic acid (S), 4,4′‐diacetoxybiphenyl (B), and 4‐acetoxybenzoic acid (H), carried out for the synthesis of semiflexible liquid–crystalline copolyesters referred to as SBH 1 : 1 : x, has been studied with the aim of clarifying the effect of the reaction conditions on the microstructure and the thermal properties of the products. It has been shown that the segregation of a liquid–crystalline phase within the polymerizing mixture, coupled with the thermodynamic tendency of the two phases to undergo compositional differentiation as polymerization proceeds, is responsible for the formation of blocky, rather than ideally random, copolyesters with poor processibility, when the mole ratio of H to the other two monomers is higher than x ≈ 1.90. The results of this study have shown that this unwanted effect can be considerably limited by carrying out the polycondensation at a relatively high temperature from the very beginning, rather than by the standard technique involving progressive heating of the reaction mixture, thus allowing the production of SBH copolyesters with a higher degree of aromaticity. The results are discussed in terms of the relative rates of the condensation reactions, which are responsible for chain growth, and of the concurrent acidolysis and esterolysis reactions leading to copolyester sequence reorganization. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 141–150, 2000     

达涅利中板和炉卷轧机自动控制技术:Trametal,Valsider,KSC.

达涅利自动化公司在最近两年得到3个中板／炉卷轧机自动控制系统订货合同。这些自动控制系统是建立在达涅利HiPAC平台和建立在基于VME基础上的标准高性能平台上。介绍了这3套轧机的自动控制系统。其中Trametal中板轧机在意大利，Valsider炉卷轧机也在意大利，新建的宽板轧机KSC在伊朗。     

OPERATING PROBLEMS OF DISTILLATION COLUMNS: A DISCUSSION

A qualitative knowledge of how a continuous distillation column is expected to react to a physical parameter variation is often required, both in simulation and in practical operation. The topic is discussed in this paper with the aim to indicate some simple predictive rules concerning the steady-state variations, both under open- and closed-loop control. The binary distillation in conventional and non-conventional columns is examined in detail; some indications are also given for the multicomponent distillation in conventional columns. Geometrical constraints and asymptotic solutions are the basis for the adopted approach.     

The influence of ramped forcing on safe basins in a mechanical oscillator

This paper considers the behaviour of a mechanical oscillator with cubic nonhnearity subjected to a forcing excitation whose frequency remains constant while the amphtude is ramped, growing until it reaches a predetermined value. Behaviour of the system under such forcing is investigated with direct comparison with its constant-amplitude counterpart. We focus our attention on the nature of the basins of attraction noting the appearance of fractal basin boundaries which herald the onset of a loss of structural integrity and in particular we study transient behaviour captured within a safe basin. As might be expected,reduced forcing amplitudes lead to initial transients whose characteristics delay bifurcational events. However, it is noted with serendipity that the rate at which the system isramped does not follow a simple monotonic relationship.     

Reduction rules for time Petri nets

 The goal of net reduction is to increase the effectiveness of Petri-net-based real-time program analysis. Petri-net-based analysis, like all reachability-based methods, suffers from the state explosion problem. Petri net reduction is one key method for combating this problem. In this paper, we extend several rules for the reduction of ordinary Petri nets to work with time Petri nets. We introduce a notion of equivalence among time Petri nets, and prove that our reduction rules yield equivalent nets. This notion of equivalence guarantees that crucial timing and concurrency properties are preserved. Received September 12, 1994/July 4, 1995     

Selective Intramolecular Palladium(II)‐Catalyzed Aminooxygenation vs. Diamination of Alkenylureas: Efficient Microwave‐Assisted Reactions to Bicyclic Piperazinones

Alkenylureas arising from glycine allylamides were proven to be suitable substrates for the synthesis of bicyclic five‐membered ring‐fused piperazinones. The reported intramolecular domino processes, performed under oxidative conditions with bis(acetonitrile)palladium dichloride as catalyst and copper(II) chloride in a stoichiometric amount by microwave activation, were completely selective, involving either diamination or aminooxygenation. While the latter process is determined by the direct intervention of the urea oxygen on the σ‐alkylpalladium intermediate, the diamination reaction can in principle derive from a direct attack of the second nitrogen atom on the palladium complex or on the first formed chloromethylpiperazinone. Indeed, this latter species was isolated and proved to be capable of conversion solely into the imidazopiperazinone.     

Site‐Specific Labeling of MicroRNA Precursors: A Structure–Activity Relationship Study

Functionalized oligoribonucleotides are essential tools in RNA chemical biology. Various synthetic routes have been developed over recent years to conjugate functional groups to oligoribonucleotides. However, the presence of the functional group on the oligoribonucleotide backbone can lead to partial or total loss of biological function. The limited knowledge concerning the positioning of functional groups therefore represents a hurdle for the development of oligoribonucleotide chemical tools. Here we describe a systematic investigation of site‐specific labeling of pre‐miRNAs to identify positions for the incorporation of functional groups, in order not to hinder their processing into active mature miRNAs.     

Stress distribution in carbon-post applied with different composite core materials: a three-dimensional finite element analysis

The aim of this study was to investigate, using three-dimensional finite element analysis [3D-FEA], the stress and/or strain distribution of five different resin composites used in combination with carbon fibre posts. FEA models of five different light-cured composites were employed. The stress distribution of composite in combination with carbon fibre post was analysed under two different loading conditions: (i) polymerization shrinkage and (ii) load of 150 N with a 35° tilt to the long axis of the tooth. The Material Fatigue Rate [MFR%] of composite materials, dentin and fibre post was calculated. The highest stress values were recorded for Heliomolar and Clearfil-Photo P. The lowest stresses and MFR% values were attained when using Diamond Crown. High MFR% value [>45%] for carbon posts were found in all the tested cases under load. Composite materials with a Young’s modulus similar to that of dentin should be selected for the restoration of endodontically-treated teeth when using carbon fibre posts. The peak of the polymerization stress of the composite core is localized at the ferrule level. This might induce an open margin with higher risk of coronal leakage.     

Moving beyond PARP Inhibition: Current State and Future Perspectives in Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most frequent and lethal tumor in women and finding the best therapeutic strategy for each patient is an important challenge. PARP inhibitors (PARPis) are the first, clinically approved drugs designed to exploit synthetic lethality in tumors harboring BRCA1/2 mutations. Recent evidence indicates that PARPis have the potential to be used both in monotherapy and combination strategies in breast cancer treatment. In this review, we show the mechanism of action of PARPis and discuss the latest clinical applications in different breast cancer treatment settings, including the use as neoadjuvant and adjuvant approaches. Furthermore, as a class, PARPis show many similarities but also certain critical differences which can have essential clinical implications. Finally, we report the current knowledge about the resistance mechanisms to PARPis. A systematic PubMed search, using the entry terms “PARP inhibitors” and “breast cancer”, was performed to identify all published clinical trials (Phase I-II-III) and ongoing trials (ClinicalTrials.gov), that have been reported and discussed in this review.     

Elucidation of the flavonoid and furocoumarin composition and radical-scavenging activity of green and ripe chinotto (Citrus myrtifolia Raf.) fruit tissues,leaves and seeds

Citrus myrtifolia Raf. (chinotto) flavedo, albedo and carpel membranes from green and ripe fruits, as well as seeds and leaves, were investigated for the first time for their flavonoid and furocoumarin composition. Twenty-three unique compounds distributed in the different fruit/plant parts were identified and quantified. All samples analysed contained flavanone O-glycosides, flavone C- and O-glycosides and furocoumarins; flavedos and albedos also contained significant amounts of polymethoxyflavones. Flavedo and albedo extracts were found to be richest in flavonoids and furocoumarins, containing up to 1.95 g/kg fresh weight. Flavedo, albedo and carpel membranes from ripe fruits were found to be richer than the corresponding tissues from unripe fruits. The remarkable radical-scavenging activity of all the extracts was tested by DPPH^•, ABTS^•+ and FRAP methods, revealing that (i) they were particularly efficient in quenching ABTS^•+ radical cations (up to 9.8 mM Trolox equivalents), and (ii) flavedo and albedo extracts, on average, showed the highest antioxidant capacity.