A method for the preparation of PMMA-SiO2 nanocomposites with high homogeneity

It is possible to optimize the performance of the inorganic-organic composites dispersing the inorganic component in the organic matrix on a nanomiter length scale. If dry the inorganic phase cannot be intimately dispersed during the incorporation in the matrix. When the particle surface is organically modified, and the incorporation is made starting from a liquid dispersion (particles in polymer solution), the resulting composites exhibit an excellent homogeneity. Here, monolithic [poly(methyl methacrylate)/monodisperse silica particles] nanocomposites have been prepared and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), micro-hardness, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).     

PROPAGATION OF GASLESS COMBUSTION FRONTS: NONZERO REACTION RATE IN THE WHOLE DOMAIN

This paper deals with the gasless combustion problem in an infinite one-dimensional medium. The possibility of the existence of steadily propagating reaction waves is stated for system models with nonzero reaction rates everywhere but at the boundaries. Two forms for the chemical reaction rate dependence on the temperature are considered: the classical Arrhenius, and a modified Arrhenius incorporating and ignition temperature. The equations for the steadily propagating waves are studied in the phase-plane of the temperature and its derivative. The analysis first addresses the question of whether steadily propagating waves are admissible. Then bounds for the propagation velocity are sought and found. The results of the closed-form analysis are successfully tested against numerical experiments. Non-steady propagation regimes are also found, and regions in the parameter space associated with different asymptotic dynamical behaviour are identified.     

Some results on the genericity of the pole placement problem

In this note, the pole placement problem for a linear MIMO systems with p outputs and m inputs is studied from the algebraic point of view. A formulation is proposed, that allows to analyze both theoretical and numerical aspects of the case min(m,p)=2 with more sharpness. Moreover, here it is shown that arbitrary pole placement by static output feedback of unitary rank is generically not possible even if m+p>n holds true.     

Spatial resolution enhancement of ultrasound images using neural networks

Spatial resolution in modern ultrasound imaging systems is limited by the high cost of large aperture transducer arrays, which require a large number of transducer elements and electronic channels. A new technique to enhance the spatial resolution of pulse-echo imaging systems is presented. The method attempts to build an image that could be obtained with a transducer array aperture larger than that physically available. We consider two images of the same object obtained with two different apertures, the full aperture and a subaperture, of the same transducer. A suitable artificial neural network (ANN) is trained to reproduce the relationship between the image obtained with the transducer full aperture and the image obtained with a subaperture. The inputs of the neural network are portions of the image obtained with the subaperture (low resolution image), and the target outputs are the corresponding portions of the image produced by the full aperture (high resolution image). After the network is trained, it can produce images with almost the same resolution of the full aperture transducer, but using a reduced number of real transducer elements. All computations are carried out on envelope-detected decimated images; for this reason, the computational cost is low and the method is suitable for real-time applications. The proposed method was applied to experimental data obtained with the ultrasound synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT), giving quite promising results. Realtime implementation on a modern, full-digital echographic system is currently being developed.     

Macroporous hydroxyapatite as alloplastic material for dental applications

In the dentistry field, synthetic hydroxyapatite can be conveniently used as semiabsorbable alloplastic material to solve a number of clinical problems. The hydroxyapatite structure influences bone ingrowth as well as its resorption. In particular, pore size must exceed 100 μm to allow new bone ingrowth. Because of its brittleness, highly porous hydroxyapatite is difficult to handle without causing damage, and, therefore, its mechanical performance has to be improved placing the material on a dense hydroxyapatite substrate. Dense/porous hydroxyapatite laminates can be obtained by slip casting technology. The method starts with the preparation of a ceramic powder–binder–solvent system. This slurry produces, after solvent evaporation, a soft green tape, that is successively baked at 300 °C to remove all organic component, and finally sintered at high temperature (1200 °C). The material porosity cannot be significantly modified by changes in the slurry composition and sintering temperature; therefore, the macroporous hydroxyapatite layer must be obtained using a porous hydroxyapatite powder. The powder is prepared by grinding of green tape pieces and the resulting coarse material is successively baked at 300 °C. Such material is mixed with a polymer solution and cast on a green tape substrate. Layer fractures are not observed in both film bulks and interface, because during sintering the consolidation of two layers happens simultaneously. In the resulting material, the first layer consisted of macroporous hydroxyapatite with high osteoconductive properties, and the second layer was a dense hydroxyapatite substrate able to improve the laminate mechanical properties. © 1999 Kluwer Academic Publishers     

Desferrioxamine improves burst-forming unit-erythroid (BFU-E) proliferation in haemodialysis patients

Biotransformations with recombinant Escherichia coli expressing the genes encoding 2-nitrotoluene 2,3-dioxygenase (2NTDO) from Pseudomonas sp. strain JS42 demonstrated that 2NTDO catalyzes the dihydroxylation and/or monohydroxylation of a wide range of aromatic compounds. Extremely high nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence identity exists between the components from 2NTDO and the corresponding components from 2,4-dinitrotoluene dioxygenase (2,4-DNTDO) from Burkholderia sp. strain DNT (formerly Pseudomonas sp. strain DNT). However, comparisons of the substrates oxidized by these dioxygenases show that they differ in substrate specificity, regiospecificity, and the enantiomeric composition of their oxidation products. Hybrid dioxygenases were constructed with the genes encoding 2NTDO and 2,4-DNTDO. Biotransformation experiments with these hybrid dioxygenases showed that the C-terminal region of the large subunit of the oxygenase component (ISP alpha) was responsible for the enzyme specificity differences observed between 2NTDO and 2,4-DNTDO. The small subunit of the terminal oxygenase component (ISP beta) was shown to play no role in determining the specificities of these dioxygenases.     

Synthesis and characterization of gold‐based mesoscopic additives for polymers

A method for the controlled synthesis of alkanethiol‐derivatized gold clusters to be used as fillers for polymeric nanocomposites has been developed. Gold clusters embedded in poly(N‐vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) were obtained by reduction of AuCl₄^? with ethylene glycol in the presence of PVP as a stabilizer. The gold/PVP system was separated from the reactive mixture by flocculation with acetone, and this material was treated with a dodecanethiol/ethanol solution to produce thiol‐derivatized gold clusters. Then, the clusters were dispersed in polystyrene/chloroform solutions and highly transparent purple‐colored nanocomposite films were obtained by solution casting. This preparative scheme allows one to obtain high‐purity nanocomposites, with complete control over the filler percentage and size. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry