Polymerization with TMA-protected polar vinyl comonomers. I. Catalyzed by group 4 metal complexes with η5-type ligands

This paper describes the use of several kinds of group IV Cp based catalyst systems, in the synthesis of co- and terpolymers of ethylene, propylene and α-olefins endowed with OH and COOH functional groups. The hydroxy monomers used were 5-hexen-1-ol (4) and 10-undecen-1-ol (5) and the carboxy monomer was 10-undecen-1-oic acid (6). The three catalyst systems used were the C₂ symmetric ansa-zirconocene (1) the “in-site” titanium complex (2) and the non-rigid zirconocene (3), all activated by methylaluminoxane. Trimethylaluminium was used to protect the functional group of polar monomers. The first two catalyst systems suffer similar activity loss in the presence of polar monomer whereas the third one exhibited better tolerance toward the hydroxyolefins. NMR and FTIR spectroscopies were used to characterize the polymerization products. All three catalyst systems afforded functionalized co- and terpolymers by direct polymerization of ethylene/propylene/hydroxy-α-olefins but only the catalyst system (1)/MAO displays appreciable activities for direct polymerization of ethylene, propylene and carboxy-α-olefins. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2457–2469, 1999     

Evaluating Efficacy of Antimicrobial and Antifouling Materials for Urinary Tract Medical Devices: Challenges and Recommendations

In Europe, the mean incidence of urinary tract infections in intensive care units is 1.1 per 1000 patient‐days. Of these cases, catheter‐associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) account for 98%. In total, CAUTI in hospitals is estimated to give additional health‐care costs of £1–2.5 billion in the United Kingdom alone. This is in sharp contrast to the low cost of urinary catheters and emphasizes the need for innovative products that reduce the incidence rate of CAUTI. Ureteral stents and other urinary‐tract devices suffer similar problems. Antimicrobial strategies are being developed, however, the evaluation of their efficacy is very challenging. This review aims to provide considerations and recommendations covering all relevant aspects of antimicrobial material testing, including surface characterization, biocompatibility, cytotoxicity, in vitro and in vivo tests, microbial strain selection, and hydrodynamic conditions, all in the perspective of complying to the complex pathology of device‐associated urinary tract infection. The recommendations should be on the basis of standard assays to be developed which would enable comparisons of results obtained in different research labs both in industry and in academia, as well as provide industry and academia with tools to assess the antimicrobial properties for urinary tract devices in a reliable way.     

Energetic characterization of indanone derivatives involved in biomass degradation

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The energetic study of 6-methyl-1-indanone, 6-methoxy-1-indanone and 5,6-dimethoxy-1-indanone has been developed using calorimetric techniques and a...     

A Hydride Route to Ternary Alkali Metal Borides: A Case Study of Lithium Nickel Borides

Ternary lithium nickel borides LiNi₃B_1.8 and Li_2.8Ni₁₆B₈ have been synthesized by using reactive LiH as a precursor. This synthetic route allows better mixing of the precursor powders, thus facilitating rapid preparation of the alkali-metal-containing ternary borides. This method is suitable for “fast screening” of multicomponent systems comprised of elements with drastically different reactivities. The crystal structures of the compounds LiNi₃B_1.8 and Li_2.8Ni₁₆B₈ have been re-investigated by a combination of single-crystal X-ray/synchrotron powder diffraction, solid-state ⁷Li and ¹¹B NMR spectroscopies, and scanning transmission electron microscopy. This has allowed the determination of fine structural details, including the split position of Ni sites and the ordering of B vacancies. Field-dependent and temperature-dependent magnetization measurements are consistent with spin-glass behavior for both samples.     

Natural radionuclide levels and the associated radiological risks in soils from the three mesoregions of Pernambuco state,Brazil

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - A large-scale survey of natural radionuclides in the soils is presented. 105 topsoil samples were collected and analysed by gamma spectrometry....     

An experimental study to swing up and control a pendulum with two reaction wheels

Meccanica - An experimental study is discussed on a strategy that combines on-off and sliding mode control to swing up and control a pendulum with two reaction wheels in the upright position. The...     

Noncompact quasi‐Einstein manifolds conformal to a Euclidean space

The goal of this article is to investigate nontrivial m‐quasi‐Einstein manifolds globally conformal to an n‐dimensional Euclidean space. By considering such manifolds, whose conformal factors and potential functions are invariant under the action of an $(n?1)$‐dimensional translation group, we provide a complete classification when $\lambda =0$ and $m\ge 1$ or $m=2?n$.     

Electrochromic and electrochemical properties of copolymer films based on EDOT and phenylthiophene derivatives

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - The poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene-co-3-phenylthiophene) (P(EDOT-co-3PT)) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene-co-3-(4-fluorophenyl)thiophene)...     

The Role of Lignocellulosic Composition and Residual Lipids in Empty Fruit Bunches on the Production of Humic Acids in Submerged Fermentations

The aim of this research was to study the production of humic acids (HA) by Trichoderma reesei from empty fruit bunches (EFBs) of palm oil processing, with a focus on the effects of lignocellulosic content and residual lipids. EFBs from two different soils and palm oil producers were previously characterized about their lignocellulosic composition. Submerged fermentations were inoculated with T. reesei spores and set up with or without residual lipids. The results showed that the soil and the processing for removal of the palm fresh fruits were crucial to EFB quality. Thus, EFBs were classified as type 1 (higher lignocellulosic and fatty acids composition similar to the palm oil and palm kernel oil) and type 2 (lower lignocellulosic content and fatty acids composition similar to palm oil). Despite the different profiles, the fungal growth was similar for both EFB types. HA production was associated with fungal growth, and it was higher without lipids for both EFBs. The highest HA productivity was obtained from type 1 EFB (approximately 90 mg L⁻¹ at 48 h). Therefore, the lignocellulosic composition and the nature of the residual lipids in EFBs play an important role in HA production by submerged fermentation.