Spinwave resonance in MBE grown iron films

Spinwave resonance (SWR) has been observed at 9.5 and 35 GHz on a number of single crystal iron films prepared by the molecular beam epitaxy technique. The external magnetic field is applied both normal to and in the plane of the films. The deduced exchange stiffness constant A is (1.91±0.10)×10^-6 erg/cm. The SWR data is interpreted in terms of a non-uniform distribution of the magnetization near the film surface.     

Monoaxial drawing behaviour of isotactic polypropylene quenched at different temperatures

Quenched films of isotactic polypropylene were obtained in different quenching conditions; the films structure was analyzed in terms of phases composition and gross morphology. The mechanical behaviour, analyzed at room temperature in monoaxial drawing shows that the initial structure strongly affects the drawing behaviour. The drawing occurs by necking propagation in all the samples, but the deformation in the neck depends on the gross morphology while the drawing load depends on crystallinity. The obtianed results are discussed on the basis of the molecular and structural model of the fibers formation by drawing of crystalline polymeric films.     

Diffusion behavior in polymer–clay nanocomposites

This paper reviews our previous studies on the diffusion behavior in polymers clay nanocomposites. A geometric model for predicting the effective diffusivity through this type of systems as a function of clay sheets orientation, volume fraction, polymer clay interaction, and aspect ratio is proposed. Model predictions are compared to the effective diffusivity generated using random walk simulations as well as with predictions obtained from already existing theoretical models. Fair agreement is found between the model prediction and the results of numerical simulations. With respect to the already existing theoretical models, the present mathematical derivation seems more adequate to describe diffusion behavior in conventional nanocomposites systems (i.e. when fillers present very low values of volume to surface ratio). Experimental diffusion tests are discussed and interpreted with the aid of the proposed model. In addition to the aspect ratio and clay concentration, the polymer clay interactions as well as the sheets orientation are the factors controlling the barrier properties of polymer‐layered silicate nanocomposites. Good agreement was found in the case of samples containing exfoliated clay, whereas the model fails in the case of micro‐composites, in which the inorganic lamellae are agglomerated in clusters. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 265–274, 2006     

A DSC Study of Thermal Transitions of Apple Systems at Several Water Contents

The dependence of phase transitions in apple systems at several different water contents has been studied by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The pre-cooled samples with high water fractions show a small but distinct thermal effect at low temperature before the final melting of the ice. The samples with low water content show a second order type transition, characterised by a temperature which increases with decreasing water content. The temperature/composition behaviour is reported in the form of the so-called 'supplemented' state diagram, including the solid/liquid coexistence boundaries and the extrapolated glass transition curve. This diagram contributes towards understanding the transformations encountered during the temperature process of partially dried samples of apple. An interpretation is presented about the existence of phase-segregated regions, which could give the observed thermal effects at low temperatures. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis of gabapentin in serum

A new highly sensitive analytical method for determining gabapentin [1-(aminomethyl) cyclohexaneacetic acid; Neurontin] in serum using gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) was developed. GC-MS/MS was applied to determine the levels of gabapentin in serum samples of mice at 1 and 6 h after oral or intraperitoneal treatment (300 mg/kg). At 1 h, the concentrations of the drug were 4.02 +/- 0.42 and 4.32 +/- 0.28 microg/mL in mice treated orally and intraperitoneally, respectively. At 6 h, drug levels decreased by about 66% in both groups. The method, coupling two stages of mass analysis, could be very useful in identifying the drug in complex mixtures such as blood and urine. Moreover, it is easy and rapid to perform, and sensitive enough to allow the presence of the drug to be determined at very low detection limits. It is a very reliable method for both clinical and experimental monitoring of gabapentin.     

Basic and reductive sulfone-directed ring-opening reactions of difluorinated oxa[2.2.1]bicycloheptanes

Phenylsulfenyl chloride reacts with racemic endo Diels-Alder adduct 4 (DEC = CONEt(2)) to afford lactone 8, which can be reduced and protected in a series of high-yielding steps. Key sulfone 10 can be ring opened under strong base conditions to afford vinyl sulfone 11. Attempted desulfonation resulted in the formation of a monofluoroalkene, but a direct desulfonation/eliminative ring opening with strain relief delivered highly functionalized monocyclic species 16. [reaction: see text]     

Interfacial effects in organophilic montmorillonite–poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) nanocomposites

In the last few years much progress has been made in the development of hybrid polymer–inorganic filler nanocomposites. Nevertheless, many questions remain. The comprehension of the structure and the interactions at the polymer–nanofiller interface are crucial to foresee and control the properties of nanocomposites. Because of the high surface ratio of the inorganic nanofiller, the interface is expected to have a prevailing role in determining the nanocomposite properties. In this study we use X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) as a tool for the surface characterization of an organophilic montmorillonite/poly(ε‐caprolactone) exfoliated nanocomposite. The XPS core levels of the nanocomposite have been compared with those obtained from its precursors, and analyzed as reference compounds to evaluate eventual differences attributable to the polymer–nanofiller interfacial interactions. The XPS investigation has allowed us to propose a qualitative model of possible interface interactions between poly(ε‐caprolactone) and the organo‐modified montmorillonite. The model is substantiated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 3907–3919, 2004     

Network structures from selection principles

We present an analysis of the topologies of a class of networks which are optimal in terms of the requirements of having as short a route as possible between any two nodes while yet keeping the congestion in the network as low as possible. Strikingly, we find a variety of distinct topologies and novel phase transitions between them on varying the number of links per node. Our results suggest that the emergence of the topologies observed in nature may arise both from growth mechanisms and the interplay of dynamical mechanisms with a selection process.