Fluorine containing phosphazene polymers

In this paper we highlighted the synthesis, characterization, and practical exploitation of different types of polyphosphazenes substituted with fluorinated groups. There are several ways in which fluorine atoms can be inserted into polyphosphazenes, all of which leading to different polymers showing a wide range of characteristics. In general it is true that the insertion of fluorine atoms into phosphazene macromolecules leads to an enhancement of the thermal stability, flame resistance, low-temperature elastomericity, and chemical inertness of the phosphazenes obtained. The contribution of Italian research groups to the preparation and exploitation of organic commercial macromolecules grafted onto fluorinated polyphosphazenes is also reviewed.     

UV‐ignited frontal polymerization of an epoxy resin

By combining frontal polymerization and radical‐induced cationic polymerization, it was possible to cure thick samples of an epoxy monomer bleached by UV light. The effect of the relative amounts of cationic photoinitiator and radical initiator was thoroughly investigated and was related to the front's velocity and its maximum temperature. The materials obtained were characterized by quantitative conversion also in the deeper layers, not reached by UV light. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2066–2072, 2004     

Obtaining 4-vinylphenols by decarboxylation of natural 4-hydroxycinnamic acids under microwave irradiation

4-Vinylphenols, useful compounds for industrial applications, were obtained by decarboxylation of 4-hydroxycinnamic acids under microwave irradiation in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) as base and basic aluminum oxide as solid support. The reactions were fast (15-30 min). The selective extraction of the final products with ethyl acetate avoids chromatographic purifications. The conversions are quantitative and the yields are satisfactory. Only the unstable 4-vinylcatechol was obtained in moderate yield. This procedure was successfully extended to a natural sample of ferulic acid extracted from wheat bran to get the corresponding 4-vinylguaiacol, a FEMA GRAS (Flavor and Extract Manufacturer's Association; General Regarded as Safe) approved flavoring agent.     

Normal human dermal fibroblasts: proteomic analysis of cell layer and culture medium.

Proteins present within the cell layer and those released in the cell medium from in vitro cultured normal human dermal fibroblasts were separated and characterized in terms of their isoelectric point and molecular weight, by two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis. All spots in the synthetic gel were firstly analyzed by the Melanie 3 software and compared with those of breast cancer cells, colorectal epithelial cells, HL60, lymphoma cells, and platelets, already available on-line. From the identification of 144 spots from both the cell layer and the medium, we were able to recognize 89 different proteins, since a certain number of spots represented different isoforms of the same molecule. Identifications were performed by matching with on-line 2-D databases, and by matrix assisted laser-desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), in order to confirm the identification by matching, or to identify new proteins. The procedure we used allows (i) to design a highly reproducible reference map of the proteome of adult human normal fibroblasts in culture, (ii) to evaluate protein species produced in the cell layer as well as those released in the culture medium, and (iii) to compare data from gel matching with those obtained by MS. This work represents an essential step for a better knowledge of mesenchymal cells, given the widespread use of this cell type in both clinical and experimental investigations.     

Statistical Analysis of the Effect of Mineral Admixtures on the Strength of the Interfacial Transition Zone

Microscopic evidence indicates that the thickness of the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between the aggregate and the cement paste is modified when mineral admixtures partially replace portland cement. Unfortunately, there is limited information on the significance of these microscopic modifications to the mechanical properties of the ITZ. This research reports experimental results on the shear and tensile strength of the ITZ as affected by the addition of the following mineral admixtures: silica fume, fly ash, and natural pozzolan. Statistical analysis was used to identify the significant parameters affecting the tensile and shear strength of the ITZ. Experimental results indicate that not only does the incorporation of silica fume and fly ash increase the strength of the ITZ, these mineral admixtures have a greater influence on the strength increase of the ITZ than in the strength increase of the cement paste.     

Cems characterization of SnO2 films obtained by sputtering and sol-gel route

Conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy (CEMS) has been used to study tin oxide films prepared by sol-gel dipping and sputtering. The spectra of films prepared by sol-gel route result close to that of crystalline SnO₂ after heat treatment at a temperature as low as 150°C. The Mössbauer parameters of as sputter deposited films indicate that the structure of the deposited stannic oxide has an amorphous character more pronounced for thinner samples. The structure becomes predominantly that of crystalline SnO₂ by heating at 550°C for 30 min provided the film thickness is higher than 10 nm.     

Non-local approximation of the Mumford-Shah functional

The Mumford-Shah functional, introduced to study image segmentation problems, is approximated in the sense of -convergence by a sequence of non-local integral functionals. Received June 6, 1996 / Accepted July 11, 1996