Structure and properties of self-assembled fluorocarbon–silica nanocomposites

The formation of fluorocarbon–silica nanocomposites by the self-assembly of a fluorinated surfactant and aminoalkoxysilane coupling agents was studied by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, NMR spectroscopy and thermal analysis. The prepared materials posses a lamellar nanostructure consisting of non-crystalline fluorinated and condensed silica layers, the latter being very thin. The prepared materials show interesting properties for applications, such as hydrophobicity, thermal stability, high content of aminopropyl groups and low dielectric constant (≈2.8), which is almost independent on frequency. Moreover, the dielectric response can be interpreted in the framework of the Maxwell–Wagner model.     

Cyclohexanecarboxamide

The title compound, C₇H₁₃NO, forms R²₂(8) N—H...O hydrogen‐bonded dimers and C4 N—H...O‐linked chains, which are further stabilized by a C—H...O interaction. The combination of these interactions results in a hydrogen‐bonded network parallel to (100), with a motif that can be described by the secondary graph set R⁴₆(16). The existence of the same hydrogen‐bonding motif in 1‐phenylcyclopentanecarboxamide and 1‐(2‐bromophenyl)cyclohexanecarboxamide [Lemmerer & Michael (2008). CrystEngComm, 10 , 95–102 indicates that replacing the H atom on position 1 with a more bulky group does not necessarily disrupt the observed hydrogen‐bonding pattern. The presence of a C—H...O interaction to stabilize the R⁴₆(16) network does, however, seem to be required. In addition, the title compound is isomorphous with a previously published structure of cyclopentanecarboxamide [Winter et al. (1981). Acta Cryst. B 37 , 2183–2185].     

A practical implementation of high‐order RKDG models for the 1D open‐channel flow equations

This paper comprises an implementation of a fourth‐order Runge–Kutta discontinuous Galerkin (RKDG4) scheme for computing the open‐channel flow equations. The main features of the proposed methodology are simplicity and easiness in the implementation, which may be of possible interest to water resources numerical modellers. A version of the RKDG4 is blended with the Roe Riemann solver, an adaptive high‐order slope limiting procedure, and high‐order source terms approximations. A comparison of the performance of the proposed method with lower‐order RKDG models is performed showing a benefit of considering the RKDG4 model. The scheme is applied to computerize the Saint Venant system by considering benchmark tests that have exact solutions. Finally, numerical results are illustrated discussing the performance of the proposed high‐order model. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ein Beitrag zum Nachweise des Arseniks in gerichtlichen F?llen

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

A meta-model for multiobjective routing in MPLS networks

MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) enables the utilisation of explicit routes and other advanced routing mechanisms in multiservice packet networks, capable of dealing with multiple and heterogeneous QoS (Quality of Service) parameters. Firstly the paper presents a discussion of conceptual and methodological issues raised by multiobjective routing optimisation models for MPLS networks. The major contribution is the proposal of a multiobjective routing optimisation framework for MPLS networks. The major features of this modelling framework are: the formulation of a three-level hierarchical routing optimisation problem including network and service performance objectives, the inclusion of fairness objectives in the different levels of optimisation and a two-level stochastic representation of the traffic in the network (traffic flow and packet stream levels). A variant of the general model for two classes of traffic flows, QoS traffic and Best Effort traffic, is also presented. Finally a stochastic teletraffic modelling approach, underlying the optimisation model, is fully described. Work partially supported by programme POSI of the III EC programme cosponsored by FEDER and national funds.     

Untersuchung über Chelidonsäure

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Butylene copolyesters based on aldaric and terephthalic acids. Synthesis and characterization

The synthesis, characterization, and some properties of new copolyesters analogous to poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT), based on L ‐arabinaric and galactaric acids, are described. These copolyesters were obtained by polycondensation reaction in the melt of mixtures of methyl 2,3,4‐tri‐O‐methyl‐L ‐arabinarate or methyl 2,3,4,5‐tetra‐O‐methyl‐galactarate and dimethyl terephthalate with 1,4‐butanediol. Their weight‐average molecular weights ranged between 10,000 and 34,000, with polydispersities ranging from 1.4 to 2.2. The composition of all the copolymers was analyzed by NMR, and was found to have a statistical microstructure. All these copolyesters were thermally stable, with degradation temperatures well above 300 °C. The melting temperature and crystallinity decreased in both series, and the glass transition temperature increased and decreased respectively, for the PBTGa and PBTAr series with increasing amounts of aldaric units in the copolyester chain. Only PBT‐derived copolyesters containing a maximum of 30% aldaric units showed discrete scattering characteristic of crystalline material. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 1168–1177, 2009     

Microseparation techniques for the study of the enantioselectivity of drug–plasma protein binding

Stereoselectivity in protein binding can have a significant effect on the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of chiral drugs. The investigation of enantioselectivity of drugs in their binding with human plasma proteins and the identification of the molecular mechanisms involved in the stereodiscrimination by the proteins represent a great challenge for clinical pharmacology. In this review, the separation techniques used for enantioselective protein binding experiments are described and compared. An overview of studies on enantiomer–protein interactions, enantiomer–enantiomer interactions as well as chiral drug–drug interactions, including allosteric effects, is presented. The contribution of individual plasma proteins to the overall enantioselective binding and the animal species variability in drug–plasma protein binding stereoselectivity are reviewed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.