Ring-opening polymerization of decamethylcyclopentasiloxane initiated by a superbase: Kinetics and rheology

The use of phosphazene bases in combination with water was proved to be efficient in order to obtain polysiloxane polymers from cyclic monomers. Only a few minutes are necessary to obtain polymer chains with a monomer concentration of 5% at the equilibrium. For that purpose the space which is between a rheometer's plates is the most convenient device to monitor this reaction concerning a chemical and viscoelastic point of view. Therefore, here is proposed a chemo-rheology study that leads in the same time to the chemical kinetics equations and to the variation of the viscoelastic functions during the polymerization. In this way different catalysts are used and their efficiencies are compared as a function of their “basicity tank”. Whatever the experimental conditions involved are, viscosity versus polymer concentration or conversion shows a master curve for catalysts suitable to be used under extrusive conditions. Thus, only a few experiments are needed in order to develop a model which can be used to foresee the variation of the viscosity during the reaction.     

Analysis of Caching and Replication Strategies for Web Applications

Developers often use replication and caching mechanisms to enhance Web application performance. The authors present a qualitative and quantitative analysis of state-of-the art replication and caching techniques used to host Web applications. Their analysis shows that selecting the best mechanism depends heavily on data workload and requires a careful review of the application's characteristics. They also propose a technique for Web practitioners to compare different mechanisms' performance on their own     

Fast template tracking in video sequences

Tracking of poorly defined, rotating and/or distorted objects in a video sequence poses significant problems especially in medical diagnostics including ultrasound (sonographic) video used for examination and diagnosis of internal movement of tissue or muscle and nerve action. Cross-correlation techniques have been successful in retrieving dynamic information directly from ultrasound video data. We outline a fast implementation of tracking based on normalized cross-correlation using an adaptive template and present results from our application, developed in MATLAB?, which successfully tracks arbitrarily selected objects in deformed or severely compromised images. Common ultrasound image evaluation is qualitative but there is need to retrieve quantitative dynamic information such as the trajectory or velocity of selected areas. Our approach uses normalized two-dimensional cross-correlation to find the position of an initially selected template enclosing the feature of interest and map its trajectory frame-by-frame to produce displacement and velocity plots. We illustrate operation of the application using routine ultrasound data and demonstrate its performance using test video of objects rotating full circle and rolling down a ramp. We analyse errors associated with sampling to compare performance of our implementation with a more rigorous but tedious and computationally expensive correlation of a resampled, rotated, and shifted template.     

Experimental Evidence for Seed Metabolic Allometry in Barrel Medic (Medicago truncatula Gaertn.)

Seed size is often considered to be an important trait for seed quality, i.e., vigour and germination performance. It is believed that seed size reflects the quantity of reserve material and thus the C and N sources available for post-germinative processes. However, mechanisms linking seed size and quality are poorly documented. In particular, specific metabolic changes when seed size varies are not well-known. To gain insight into this aspect, we examined seed size and composition across different accessions of barrel medic (Medicago truncatula Gaertn.) from the genetic core collection. We conducted multi-elemental analyses and isotope measurements, as well as exact mass GC–MS metabolomics. There was a systematic increase in N content (+0.17% N mg⁻¹) and a decrease in H content (–0.14% H mg⁻¹) with seed size, reflecting lower lipid and higher S-poor protein quantity. There was also a decrease in ²H natural abundance (δ²H), due to the lower prevalence of ²H-enriched lipid hydrogen atoms that underwent isotopic exchange with water during seed development. Metabolomics showed that seed size correlates with free amino acid and hexoses content, and anticorrelates with amino acid degradation products, disaccharides, malic acid and free fatty acids. All accessions followed the same trend, with insignificant differences in metabolic properties between them. Our results show that there is no general, proportional increase in metabolite pools with seed size. Seed size appears to be determined by metabolic balance (between sugar and amino acid degradation vs. utilisation for storage), which is in turn likely determined by phloem source metabolite delivery during seed development.     

The Endothelium and COVID-19: An Increasingly Clear Link Brief Title: Endotheliopathy in COVID-19

The endothelium has a fundamental role in the cardiovascular complications of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) particularly affects endothelial cells. The virus binds to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptor (present on type 2 alveolar cells, bronchial epithelial cells, and endothelial cells), and induces a cytokine storm. The cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1 beta, and interleukin-6 have particular effects on endothelial cells—leading to endothelial dysfunction, endothelial cell death, changes in tight junctions, and vascular hyperpermeability. Under normal conditions, apoptotic endothelial cells are removed into the bloodstream. During COVID-19, however, endothelial cells are detached more rapidly, and do not regenerate as effectively as usual. The loss of the endothelium on the luminal surface abolishes all of the vascular responses mediated by the endothelium and nitric oxide production in particular, which results in greater contractility. Moreover, circulating endothelial cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 act as vectors for viral dissemination by forming clusters that migrate into the circulation and reach distant organs. The cell clusters and the endothelial dysfunction might contribute to the various thromboembolic pathologies observed in COVID-19 by inducing the formation of intravascular microthrombi, as well as by triggering disseminated intravascular coagulation. Here, we review the contributions of endotheliopathy and endothelial-cell-derived extracellular vesicles to the pathogenesis of COVID-19, and discuss therapeutic strategies that target the endothelium in patients with COVID-19.     

Modified Fluoroquinolones as Antimicrobial Compounds Targeting Chlamydia trachomatis

Chlamydia trachomatis causes the most common sexually transmitted bacterial infection and trachoma, an eye infection. Untreated infections can lead to sequelae, such as infertility and ectopic pregnancy in women and blindness. We previously enhanced the antichlamydial activity of the fluoroquinolone ciprofloxacin by grafting a metal chelating moiety onto it. In the present study, we pursued this pharmacomodulation and obtained nanomolar active molecules (EC₅₀) against this pathogen. This gain in activity prompted us to evaluate the antibacterial activity of this family of molecules against other pathogenic bacteria, such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae and bacteria from the ESKAPE group. The results show that the novel molecules have selectively improved activity against C. trachomatis and demonstrate how the antichlamydial effect of fluoroquinolones can be enhanced.     

Geometrical analysis of thread milling—part 2: calculation of uncut chip thickness

Thread milling offers interesting possibilities for machining internal or external threads. This machining technique uses a mill with a triangular profile for metric threads and a helical interpolation strategy. Thus, the uncut chip thickness cannot be easily evaluated from a simplified approach. The present study deals with a model for calculating uncut chip thickness during internal thread milling. This step is needed to understand and model the cutting forces. The model developed uses the geometrical definitions of the mill and takes into account the milling mode and the cutting conditions. The link with the interferences between the tool and the thread is also established and corroborates a previous study. A full analytical formulation of the problem is proposed, and results from different milling settings are presented.     

Magnetization Reversal in CsNiIICrIII(CN)6 Coordination Nanoparticles: Unravelling Surface Anisotropy and Dipolar Interaction Effects

CsNiCr(CN)₆ coordination nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 6 to 30 nm are highly diluted in an organic polymer matrix. Their static and dynamic magnetic behaviour allows unravelling of surface anisotropy and interparticle dipolar interaction effects. The single magnetic domain critical size is thus evaluated to be around 22 nm with a blocking temperature of 21 K (at ν = 1 Hz) and an effective energy barrier for the reversal of the magnetization of 426 K.     

A Complete Separation of Hexane Isomers by a Functionalized Flexible Metal Organic Framework

The separation ability of branched alkane isomers (nHEX, 3MP, 22DMB) of the flexible and functionalized microporous iron(III) dicarboxylate MIL‐53(Fe)‐(CF₃)₂ solid is evaluated through a combination of breakthrough experiments (binary or ternary mixtures), adsorption isotherms, X‐ray diffraction temperature analysis, quasi‐elastic neutron scattering measurements and molecular dynamics simulations. A kinetically controlled molecular sieve separation between the di‐branched isomer of hexane 22DMB from a mixture of paraffins is achieved. The reported total separation between mono‐ and di‐branched alkanes which was neither predicted nor observed so far in any class of porous solids is spectacular and paves the way towards a potential unprecedented upgrading of the RON of gasoline.