Poly(butylene terephthalate)/phenoxy blends: Synergistic behavior in mechanical properties

The mechanical properties of miscible poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT)/poly (hydroxy ether of bisphenol A) (phenoxy) blends obtained by melt mixing have been studied by means of the tensile test. The crystallinity of the blends has been studied by means of DSC and density measurements. A synergistic behavior, principally in the break properties, at high PBT contents in the blends is observed. As can be seen from the torque and density data, this synergistic behavior is related with the high level of miscibility which seems to exist at high PBT contents compared with that of the high phenoxy content region.     

Phase-matched nonlinear diffraction

We report on a new (to our knowledge) configuration incorporating both birefringence and quasi-phase-matching, enabling efficient phase-matched nonlinear diffraction in one-dimensional periodically poled nonlinear crystals. We demonstrate the method experimentally, showing an efficient nonlinear diffraction to the first few orders in two types of crystals, MgO doped congruent lithium niobate and congruent lithium niobate, and characterize its efficiency dependence on the fundamental power, the propagation angle, and the crystal temperature. This configuration can increase efficiencies observed in nonlinear diffraction experiments, enables ferroelectric domain characterization by nonlinear microscopy, and can be used to determine the duty cycles of periodically poled nonlinear crystals.     

On the Constant Metric Dimension of Generalized Petersen Graphs P（n, 4）

In this paper,we consider the family of generalized Petersen graphs P(n,4).We prove that the metric dimension of P(n,4) is 3 when n ≡ 0(mod 4),and is 4 when n = 4k + 3(k is even).For n ≡ 1,2(mod 4) and n = 4k + 3(k is odd),we prove that the metric dimension of P(n,4) is bounded above by 4.This shows that each graph of the family of generalized Petersen graphs P(n,4)has constant metric dimension.     

Urea dimethacrylates functionalized with bisphosphonate/bisphosphonic acid for improved dental materials

Incorporation of bisphosphonate/bisphosphonic acid groups in dental monomer structures should increase interaction of these monomers with dental tissue as these groups have strong affinity for hydroxyapatite. Therefore, new urea dimethacrylates functionalized with bisphosphonate (1a, 1b) and bisphosphonic acid (2a, 2b) groups are synthesized and evaluated for dental applications. Monomers 1a and 1b are synthesized from 2‐isocyanatoethyl methacrylate (IEM) and two bisphosphonated amines (BPA1 and BPA2), prepared as reported elsewhere. Selective dealkylation of the bisphosphonate ester groups of 1a and 1b using trimethylsilyl bromide (TMSBr) gives monomers (2a and 2b) with bisphosphonic acid functionality. X‐ray diffractometer (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses of monomer‐treated HAP particles show that 2a induces formation of stable monomer‐calcium salts, similar to 10‐methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP), with higher chemical interaction than 2b. The photopolymerization studies indicate good copolymerizability with commercial dental monomers. In vitro studies on NIH 3T3 mouse embryonic fibroblast cells have clearly shown that the tested monomers (1b and 2b) are not toxic according to the MTT standards. All these properties make these monomers suitable as biocompatible cross‐linkers/adhesives for dental applications. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 3195–3204     

Poiseuille Flow of a Third Grade Fluid in a Porous Medium

Effects of porous medium have been investigated on the steady flow of a third grade fluid between two stationary porous plates. The continuity and momentum equations along with modified Darcy??s law are used for the development of mathematical problem. The governing nonlinear problem is solved by a homotopy analysis method. The dimensionless velocity and shear stresses at the plates are analyzed.     

Specific Deuteration in Patuletin and Related Flavonoids via Keto–Enol Tautomerism: Solvent‐ and Temperature‐Dependent 1H‐NMR Studies

An H/D exchange process in patuletin ( 1 ) and its derivatives in D‐donor solvents (e.g., CF₃COOD), which occurs regioselectively at C(8) was observed for the first time during NMR studies. The effect of substituents and temperature on the deuteration of various flavonoids (see Fig. 1) which include apigenin, chrysin, galangin, kaempferol, luteolin, morin, myricetin, patuletin, patulitrin, and quercetin, as well as derivatives of patuletin was examined extensively under NMR conditions. The rate constant of deuteration at C(8) of patuletin ( 1 ) and two flavones, luteolin ( 3 ) and apigenin ( 12 ), was also determined in CF₃COOD. The D‐atom was introduced into the flavonoids via a keto–enol tautomerism (Scheme 1). During these studies, monodeuterated patuletin was also obtained as a new compound. The examined flavonoids have been reported to possess significant pharmacological activities, and their deuterated derivatives would be of importance for the identification and quantification of these compounds in biological matrices.     

Enhanced production of xylanase from locally isolated fungal strain using agro-industrial residues under solid-state fermentation

This study is related to the isolation of fungal strain for xylanase production using agro-industrial residues. Forty fungal strains with xylanolytic potential were isolated by using xylan agar plates and quantitatively screened in solid-state fermentation. Of all the tested isolates, the strain showing highest ability to produce xylanase was assigned the code Aspergillus niger LCBT-14. For the enhanced production of the enzyme, five different fermentation media were evaluated. Out of all media, M4 containing wheat bran gave maximum enzyme production. Effect of different variables including incubation time, temperature, pH, carbon and nitrogen sources has been investigated. The optimum enzyme production was obtained after 72 h at 30°C and pH 4. Glucose as a carbon source while ammonium sulphate and yeast extract as nitrogen sources gave maximum xylanase production (946 U/mL/min). This study was successful in producing xylanase by A. niger LCBT-14 economically by utilising cheap indigenous substrate.     

Bioconversion potential of Trichoderma viride HN1 cellulase for a lignocellulosic biomass Saccharum spontaneum

The industrialisation of lignocellulose conversion is impeded by expensive cellulase enzymes required for saccharification in bioethanol production. Current research undertakes cellulase production from pretreated Saccharum spontaneum through Trichoderma viride HN1 under submerged fermentation conditions. Pretreatment of substrate with 2% NaOH resulted in 88% delignification. Maximum cellulase production (2603 ± 16.39 U/mL/min carboxymethyl cellulase and 1393 ± 25.55 U/mL/min FPase) was achieved at 6% substrate at pH 5.0, with 5% inoculum, incubated at 35°C for 120 h of fermentation period. Addition of surfactant, Tween 80 and metal ion Mn⁺², significantly enhanced cellulase yield. This study accounts proficient cellulase yield through process optimisation by exploiting cheaper substrate to escalate their commercial endeavour.     

On exact solutions of Stokes second problem for a Burgers�� fluid, II. The cases �� =?��2/4 and �� > ��2/4

In this study, the exact solutions of the Stokes second problem for a Burgers?? fluid are presented when the relaxation time satisfies the conditions ?? =???²/4 and ?? >???²/4. The velocity field and the associated tangential stress, when only one initial condition is necessary for velocity, are determined by means of the Laplace transform. The physical interpretation for the emerging parameters is discussed with the help of graphical illustrations. The similar solutions for the Stokes?? first problem are obtained as the limiting cases of our solutions.     

Combined Chemical Modification and Collision Induced Unfolding Using Native Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Provides Insights into Protein Gas-Phase Structure

Native mass spectrometry is now an important tool in structural biology. Thus, the nature of higher protein structure in the vacuum of the mass spectrometer is an area of significant interest. One of the major goals in the study of gas-phase protein structure is to elucidate the stabilising role of interactions at the level of individual amino acid residues. A strategy combining protein chemical modification together with collision induced unfolding (CIU) was developed and employed to probe the structure of compact protein ions produced by native electrospray ionisation. Tractable chemical modification was used to alter the properties of amino acid residues, and ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS) utilised to monitor the extent of unfolding as a function of modification. From these data the importance of specific intramolecular interactions for the stability of compact gas-phase protein structure can be inferred. Using this approach, and aided by molecular dynamics simulations, an important stabilising interaction between K6 and H68 in the protein ubiquitin was identified, as was a contact between the N-terminus and E22 in a ubiquitin binding protein UBA2.