XNBR/LDH nanocomposites: Effect of vulcanization and organic modifier on nanofiller dispersion and strain‐induced crystallization

In elastomer/organo clay nanocomposites, the morphological characteristics, and hence the mechanical properties, of the vulcanizates are strongly influenced by the organic modifier and the vulcanization process. When the elastomer itself undergoes strain‐induced crystallization, both the organic modifier and the dispersed filler particles could significantly influence the crystallization process. These phenomena are very common in case of natural rubber‐based vulcanizates. In this study, the similar effects have been demonstrated with carboxylated nitrile rubber (XNBR) and organically modified layered double hydroxide (O‐LDH)‐based nanocomposites. The effect of size of the organic modifier was obviously visible on the interlayer distance of O‐LDH and also on the morphological reorganization of the dispersed O‐LDH particles during vulcanization process. The strain‐induced crystallization of the XNBR was found to be strongly dependent on the morphological change that occurs during vulcanization process. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2010     

Theoretical optimization of Irinotecan-based anticancer strategies in the case of drug-induced efflux

The anticancer drug Irinotecan (CPT11) is known to trigger the induction of ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) transporters, responsible for the efflux of the drug and its metabolites outside of the cells. The drug-modulated overexpression of those transporters prevents its accumulation in the intracellular medium, therefore decreasing its efficacy. A critical clinical concern lies in the design of CPT11-based therapeutic strategies which eradicate a maximum number of cancer cells despite their ability to become resistant. In order to address this issue, we supplemented an existing mathematical model of CPT11 molecular pharmacokinetics–pharmacodynamics (PK–PD) with a new model of CPT11-induced overexpression of ABC transporters. We then theoretically optimized exposure to CPT11 given as a single agent or combined either with ABC transporter inhibitors, or with inhibitors of nuclear factors whose activation is responsible for transporter overexpression. We firstly considered a cancer cell population endowed with the ability of inducing their transporters. For any drug combination, we concluded that the highest concentration of CPT11 should be administered in order to kill a maximum number of cancer cells, despite the triggering of resistance. We then considered a population of healthy cells which were assumed to be identical to cancer cells except that they were not able to become resistant. Optimal schemes were defined as the ones which maximized DNA damage in cancer cells under the constraint of DNA damage in healthy cells not exceeding a tolerability threshold. The optimal therapeutic strategy consisted in combining CPT11 with ABC transporter inhibitors as it achieved a complete reversal of resistance by means of the lowest concentrations of CPT11.     

Influence of elastic scattering on the measurement of core-level binding energy dispersion in X-ray photoemission spectroscopy

We explore the interplay between the elastic scattering of photoelectrons and the surface core level shifts with regard to the determination of core level binding energies in Au(111) and Cu₃Au(100). We find that an artificial shift is created in the binding energies of the Au 4f core levels, that exhibits a dependence on the emission angle, as well as on the spectral intensity of the core level emission itself. Using a simple model, we are able to reproduce the angular dependence of the shift and relate it to the anisotropy in the electron emission from the bulk layers. Our results demonstrate that interpretation of variation of the binding energy of core-levels should be conducted with great care and must take into account the possible influence of artificial shifts induced by elastic scattering.     

Lie geometry of flat fronts in hyperbolic space

We propose a Lie geometric point of view on flat fronts in hyperbolic space as special Ω-surfaces and discuss the Lie geometric deformation of flat fronts.     

Comparing Kirchhoff-approximation and boundary-element models for computing gadoid target strengths

To establish the validity of the boundary-element method (BEM) for modeling scattering by swimbladder-bearing fish, the BEM is exercised in several ways. In a computation of backscattering by a 50-mm-diam spherical void in sea water at the four frequencies 38.1, 49.6, 68.4, and 120.4 kHz, agreement with the analytical solution is excellent. In computations of target strength as a function of tilt angle for each of 15 surface-adapted gadoids for which the swimbladders were earlier mapped, BEM results are in close agreement with Kirchhoff-approximation-model results at each of the same four frequencies. When averaged with respect to various tilt angle distributions and combined by regression analysis, the two models yield similar results. Comparisons with corresponding values derived from measured target strength functions of the same 15 gadoid specimens are fair, especially for the tilt angle distribution with the greatest standard deviation, namely 16 degrees.     

On the Classification of Flag-Transitive c.c*- Geometries

Let ( G) be a flag-transitive c.c*-geometry whose point-stabilizer is not an affine group. We list all known examples and show that, if (, G) is a minimal unknown example, then G is an almost simple group and the commutator subgroup G is a simple group of Lie type.     

Une caractérisation des espaces affins basée sur la notion de droite

Sans résumé     

Molecular symmetry and exciton interaction in photosynthetic primary events

In this paper, the molecular details of the recently proposed energy upconversion theory of photosynthesis are reviewed. The primary light reactions are explained in terms of aC ₂ symmetrical structure of the reaction center involving a (Chl?H₂O)₂ adduct. It is shown that exciton interaction within the (Chl?H₂O)₂ complex leads to an antisymmetric triplet state which may act as an energy trap. The presence of the energy trap in the reaction center suggests that the trigger step for the photoionization of active chlorophylls may involve the summation of two red excitation photons. Under normal conditions, the steadystate one-photon-per-electron quantum requirement is obtained. The functional properties of the various molecular constituents of the Chl-a molecule, such as the Ring V β-ketoester group, the phytyl tail, the central Mg atom, and the π-system of the macrocycle are explained within the present theoretical framework. A detailed analysis is given of the postulates and the consequences of the proposed model. The ramifications of the theory are probed, and their biological consequences are suggested for future study.     

Etude comparative des proprietes magnetiques des oxydes lamellaires ACrO2 (A = Li,Na, K)—I: Etude par effet Mössbauer de LiCrO2 dope par le fer

A Mössbauer study of the dimensionality of magnetic interactions in the layer oxide LiCr_0.99Fe_0.01O₂ shows a 2-D behaviour.