Portable single-sided NMR measurements at variable temperatures: Implementation of a thermo-controlled device and application to the heating of bread dough

A temperature control unit was implemented to vary the temperature of samples studied on a commercial Mobile Universal Surface Explorer nuclear magnetic resonance (MOUSE-NMR) apparatus. The device was miniaturized to fit the maximum MOUSE sampling depth (25 mm). It was constituted by a sample holder sandwiched between two heat exchangers placed below and above the sample. Air was chosen as the fluid to control the temperature at the bottom of the sample, at the interface between the NMR probe and the sample holder, in order to gain space. The upper surface of the sample was regulated by the circulation of water inside a second heat exchanger placed above the sample holder. The feasibility of using such a device was demonstrated first on pure water and then on several samples of bread dough with different water contents. For this, T1 relaxation times were measured at various temperatures and depths and were then compared with those acquired with a conventional compact closed-magnet spectrometer. Discussion of results was based on biochemical transformations in bread dough (starch gelatinization and gluten heat denaturation). It was demonstrated that, within a certain water level range, and because of the low magnetic field strength of the MOUSE, a linear relationship could be established between T1 relaxation times and the local temperature in the dough sample.     

A framework to perform high-order deconvolution for finite-volume method on simplicial meshes

In this article, a new framework to design high-order approximations in the context of node-centered finite volumes on simplicial meshes is proposed. The major novelty of this method is that it relies on very simple and compact differential operators, which is a critical point to achieve good performances in the High-performance computing context. This method is based on deconvolution between nodal and volume-average values, which can be conducted to any order. The interest of the new method is illustrated through three different applications: mesh-to-mesh interpolation, levelset curvature computation, and numerical scheme for convection. Higher order can also be achieved within the present framework by introducing high-rank tensors. Although these tensors feature much symmetries, their manipulation can quickly become an overwhelming task. For this reason and without loss of generality, the present articles are limited to third-order expansion. This method, although tightly connected to the k-exact schemes theory, does not rely on successive corrections: the high-order property is obtained in a single operation, which makes them more attractive in terms of performances.     

Iodine-transfer polymerization and CuAAC “click” chemistry: A versatile approach toward poly(vinylidene fluoride)-based amphiphilic triblock terpolymers

This study presents the synthesis and properties of linear PVDF-based amphiphilic triblock terpolymers with PS and PEO, [PVDF-b-PS-b-PEO], by adopting a procedure that involves: (a) iodine-transfer polymerization (ITP) of VDF with 1-iodoperfluorohexane (C₆F₁₃I) serving as chain-transfer agent (CTA) to afford C₆F₁₃-PVDF-I, (b) ITP of styrene with the C₆F₁₃-PVDF-I macromolecular-CTA to obtain C₆F₁₃-PVDF-b-PS-I diblock copolymer, (c) end-group exchange from iodo- to azido-group by nucleophilic substitution reaction with NaN_3, and (d) copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) with alkyne-terminated PEO to achieve C₆F₁₃-PVDF-b-PS-b-PEO triblock terpolymers. The ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of all blocks, while gel permeation chromatography traces showed the living nature of ITP technique. The self-assembly of these terpolymers was investigated in films (atomic force microscopy and DSC), as well as in aqueous and organic solvents (DLS). The analysis of crystalline phases based on the FTIR spectroscopy indicated the conversion of PVDF α-phase into α + β-phases and β + γ-phases upon the incorporation of PS and PEO blocks, respectively. The synthesized amphiphilic copolymers were evaluated (fluorescence spectroscopy) as carriers of small hydrophobic molecules in water. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 58, 163–171     

TiC-MgO composite: an X-ray transparent and machinable heating element in a multi-anvil high pressure apparatus

ABSTRACT

TiC-MgO composite was developed as a heating element for X-ray study in the multi-anvil high pressure apparatus. We synthesized TiC-MgO blocks (50–70 wt.% of TiC) by compression in a cold isostatic press followed by baking in a gas flow furnace. Heaters of tubular shape were manufactured from the synthesized blocks either by lathe or numerically controlled milling machine. The so-produced heating elements have been proved to generate temperatures up to 2250?K at 10?GPa, condition where classical graphite heaters are not suitable anymore due to graphite-diamond transition. These new heaters have been successfully used for in situ X-ray radiography and diffraction measurements on liquid Fe alloys, exploiting excellent X-ray transparency.     

Thermodynamic study of transthyretin association (wild‐type and senile forms) with heparan sulfate proteoglycan: pH effect and implication of the reactive histidine residue

The tetramer destabilization of transthyretin into monomers and its fibrillation are phenomena leading to amyloid deposition. Heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) has been found in all amyloid deposits. A chromatographic approach was developed to compare binding parameters between wild‐type transthyretin (wtTTR) and an amyloidogenic transthyretin (sTTR). Results showed a greater affinity of sTTR for HSPG at pH 7.4 compared with wtTTR owing to the monomeric form of sTTR. Analysis of the thermodynamic parameters showed that van der Waals interactions were involved at the complex interface for both transthyretin forms. For sTTR, results from the plot representing the number of protons exchanged vs pH showed that the binding mechanism was pH‐dependent with a critical value at a pH 6.5. This observation was due to the protonation of a histidine residue as an imidazolium cation, which was not accessible when TTR was in its tetrameric structure. At pH >6.5, dehydration at the binding interface and several contacts between nonpolar groups of sTTR and HSPG were also coupled to binding for an optimal hydrogen‐bond network. At pH <6.5, the protonation of the His residue from sTTR monomer when pH decreased broke the hydrogen‐bond network, leading to its destabilization and thus producing slight conformational changes in the sTTR monomer structure. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Beyond Stereoselectivity,Switchable Catalysis: Some of the Last Frontier Challenges in Ring‐Opening Polymerization of Cyclic Esters

Metal‐based catalysts and initiators have played a pivotal role in the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of cyclic esters, thanks to their high activity and remarkable ability to control precisely the architectures of the resulting polyesters in terms of molar mass, dispersity, microstructure, or tacticity. Today, after two decades of extensive research, the field is slowly reaching maturity. However, several challenges remain, while original concepts have emerged around new types or new applications of catalysis. This Review is not intended to comprehensively cover all of these aspects. Rather, it provides a personal overview of the very recent progress achieved in some selected, important aspects of ROP catalysis—stereocontrol and switchable catalysis. Hence, the first part addresses the development of new metal‐based catalysts for the isoselective ROP of racemic lactide towards stereoblock copolymers, and the use of syndioselective ROP metal catalysts to control the monomer sequence in copolymers. A second part covers the development of ROP catalysts—primarily metal‐based catalysts, but also organocatalysts—that can be externally regulated by the use of chemical or photo stimuli to switch them between two states with different catalytic abilities. Current challenges and opportunities are highlighted.     

Amphiphilic block copolymer self‐assemblies of poly(NVP)‐b‐poly(MDO‐co‐vinyl esters): Tunable dimensions and functionalities

Functional, degradable polymers were synthesized via the copolymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc) and 2‐methylene‐1,3‐dioxepane (MDO) using a macro‐xanthate CTA, poly(N‐vinylpyrrolidone), resulting in the formation of amphiphilic block copolymers of poly(NVP)‐b‐poly(MDO‐co‐VAc). The behavior of the block copolymers in water was investigated and resulted in the formation of self‐assembled nanoparticles containing a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic corona. The size of the resultant nanoparticles was able to be tuned with variation of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments of the core and corona by changing the incorporation of the macro‐CTA as well as the monomer composition in the copolymers, as observed by Dynamic Light Scattering, Static Light Scattering, and Transmission Electron Microscopy analyses. The concept was further applied to a VAc derivative monomer, vinyl bromobutanoate, to incorporate further functionalities such as fluorescent dithiomaleimide groups throughout the polymer backbone using azidation and “click” chemistry as postpolymerization tools to create fluorescently labeled nanoparticles. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 2699–2710