Laser Induced Periodic Structures on Polymer Surfaces

Subhalf micron (0.2 nm) space and amplitude linear periodic structures and an array of dot images are obtained with the Nd:YAG laser irradiation on Kapton polyimide films, poly(ethylene terephthalate) films, spin-coated polyimide films and others. Different from the excimer laser irradiation, which requires a polarizer, our solid state Nd:YAG laser source provides polarized beams without a polarizer with advantage over excimer laser irradiation. AFM and SEM studies have been carried out. XPS studies of laser exposed areas indicate no significant chemical reactions took place on exposed areas.     

A New Triazole-Thiol Compound Organofunctionalized on the Silica Gel Surface: Chemical Properties and Copper Sorption in Ethanol / Water Media

Silicon - This study describes the preparation and characterization of 3-chloropropyl silica gel with 4-amino-5-(4pyridyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol (SGA) for copper adsorption in different media....     

Visceral Adipose Tissue Displays Unique Metabolomic Fingerprints in Obesity,Pre-Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes

Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) metabolic profiling harbors the potential to disentangle molecular changes underlying obesity-related dysglycemia. In this study, the VAT exometabolome of subjects with obesity and different glycemic statuses are analyzed. The subjects (n = 19) are divided into groups according to body mass index and glycemic status: subjects with obesity and euglycemia (Ob+NGT, n = 5), subjects with obesity and pre-diabetes (Ob+Pre-T2D, n = 5), subjects with obesity and type 2 diabetes under metformin treatment (Ob+T2D, n = 5) and subjects without obesity and with euglycemia (Non-Ob, n = 4), used as controls. VATs are incubated in culture media and extracellular metabolite content is determined by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR). Glucose consumption is not different between the groups. Pyruvate and pyroglutamate consumption are significantly lower in all groups of subjects with obesity compared to Non-Ob, and significantly lower in Ob+Pre-T2D as compared to Ob+NGT. In contrast, isoleucine consumption is significantly higher in all groups of subjects with obesity, particularly in Ob+Pre-T2D, compared to Non-Ob. Acetate production is also significantly lower in Ob+Pre-T2D compared to Non-Ob. In sum, the VAT metabolic fingerprint is associated with pre-diabetes and characterized by higher isoleucine consumption, accompanied by lower acetate production and pyruvate and pyroglutamate consumption. We propose that glucose metabolism follows different fates within the VAT, depending on the individuals’ health status.     

Bifunctional initiators: synthesis of phenylazo-formamidoethyl 4-t-butylazo-4-cyanovalerate

Summary The paper deals with the synthesis of the phenylazo-formamidoethyl 4-t-butylazo-4-cyanovalerate, a product which — by its two azo groups having different thermal stabilities — may be used in initiating processes of stepwise radicalic polymerization. The preparation is based on the condensation of the 4-t-butylazo-4-cyanovaleric acid chloride with N-hydroxy ethyl-phenylazoformamide (HEPF) in anhydrous chloroform, in the presence of pyridine. The initiator purification involves its passing over an alumina column, on using methylene chloride as eluent. HEPF is a new intermediate obtained by the reaction of the ethyl phenylazocarboxylate with ethanolamine. Both the HEPF structure and that of the bis-azo initiator is confirmed by elemental analysis and spectroscopic measurements (IR and H-NMR spectra), as well.     

A zeolite/polymer membrane for separation of ethanol-water azeotrope

A novel membrane effective in the separation of ethanol-water mixtures by pervaporation was made by combining zeolite NaA and poly(vinyl chloride) modified by 2-(2′-butoxyethoxy)ethyl thiolate. Under ambient conditions, a separation factor (α) of 29 and pervaporability (P) of 4 × 10^?4 g m^?1 h^?1 were obtained for the azeotropic mixture whereas, in the absence of zeolite, the respective values were 7 and 7 × 10^?5. A mechanism was proposed relating the preferential water transport at ≈? 50% zeolite content to an interfacial “phase” between the zeolite and the modified polymer.     

Nutritional recovery of mild and moderately malnourished children under two different treatment approaches (ambulatory versus day-care)

This retrospective analysis was conducted between May 1997 and May 2000 at the Centro de Atención Nutricional Infantil de Antímano, CANIA, in Caracas, Venezuela to assess the efficacy of two treatments (ambulatory versus day-care) of mild and moderate malnourished children. Inclusion criteria were: children under 10 years old with mild and moderate malnourishment, who attended a minimum of 3 control visits during a period of 12 months. One hundred fourteen malnourished children were included: fifty seven in ambulatory treatment and fifty seven in day-care treatment paired per nutritional diagnosis, gender and age (thirty nine mild and eighteen moderate malnourished children). The nutritional recovery criterion was weight for height above tenth percentile. No relation was found between treatment approaches and nutritional recovery at 3 and 6 months of treatment. In the group of mild malnourished children, the percentage of recovered patients at 3 months of treatment, that kept their recovered condition at 6 months was 83% (15/18) in the ambulatory treatment and 82% (18/22) in the day-care treatment Age of children, associated disease, acute morbidity, dietetic risk and mother's education and age were not associated with nutritional recovery at 6 months of treatment (p > 0.05). The day-care approach resulted as effective as ambulatory in mild malnourished children. In moderate malnourished new studies will need to be conducted with greater number of patients.     

The impact of watching television on evening melatonin levels

Self‐luminous electronic devices emit optical radiation at short wavelengths, close to the peak sensitivity of melatonin suppression. The present paper investigated if light from a 178‐cm (70 in.) television suppressed melatonin. Results showed that light from televisions does not impact melatonin levels in the evening.     

How can Cleaner Production practices contribute to meet ISO 14001 requirements? Critical analysis from a survey with industrial companies

The companies’ needs to adopt changes in their way of production to maximize the environmental performance required by their stakeholders, and at the same time, to maximize their economic and market performance, have made them seek for environmental strategies and certifications. In this sense, the Cleaner Production and the Environmental Management System based on ISO 14001 have been, respectively, presented, since the main objective of this research is to identify and analyze Cleaner Production contributions to comply with ISO 14001 requirements. For such, a survey research has been carried out in Brazilian industrial companies certified by ISO 14001. We have identified the main performance factors by leading practices and variables of Cleaner Production that contribute to the compliance with the standard requirements by companies. Thus, it has been noted that Cleaner Production is an important strategy for the preparation of companies for certification as well as for improving their environmental performance.