High strength modified nanofibrillated cellulose-polyvinyl alcohol films

In this study surface-modified nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) was used at low levels (0.5 to1.5 wt%) as a reinforcement in a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix. The modified-NFC–PVA composite films prepared using the solution casting technique showed improved mechanical performance. Birch pulp cellulose was initially modified by allylation using a solvent-free, dry modification method followed by subsequent epoxidation of the allyl groups and finally grinding the pulp to yield epoxy-NFC. In order to obtain optimal mechanical performance, epoxy-NFC with different degrees of substitution was evaluated in the reinforcement of PVA. The addition of 1 wt% epoxy-NFC (degree of substitution, DS 0.07) enhanced the modulus, strength, and strain of pure PVA film by 307, 139 and 23 %, respectively, thus producing the best performing film. The results demonstrate the favourable effect of chemically functionalized NFC on the mechanical properties of polyvinyl alcohol compared to unmodified NFC as reinforcement. In order to improve industrial and economic feasibility, the manufacture of the composite was also done in situ by grinding cellulose directly in PVA to produce the new biocomposite in a one-step process.     

Comparison of Microwave-Assisted Digestion Methods and Selection of Internal Standards for the Determination of Rh, Pd and Pt in Dust Samples by ICP-MS

Different temperature-pressure controlled microwave-assisted digestion methods were compared for the digestion of dust samples prior to the determination of rhodium and platinum by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results obtained for platinum and rhodium in the digested reference material (BCR-723, road dust) were generally in good agreement with the certified values. However, the determination of matrix elements (Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Hf and Pb) showed clear differences between the digestion methods. In addition, different internal standards were compared in the determination rhodium, palladium and platinum by ICP-MS. According to the results, even serious non-spectral interferences can be corrected by choosing a suitable internal standard or combination of internal standards.     

Hydrophobicities of poly(ε-caprolactone) oligomers functionalized with different succinic anhydrides

Different succinic anhydrides were used for modification of hydrophobicities of linear and star-shaped poly (ε-caprolactone) oligomers with different molecular weights. Hydroxyl-terminated poly(ε-caprolactone) oligomers were acid-functionalized either with succinic anhydride (SAH) or with alkenylsuccinic anhydrides (ASAs) containing 8 or 18 carbons in their alkenyl chains. Hydrophobicities of the linear and corresponding star-shaped oligomers were investigated by immersion studies and by water contact angle measurements. In comparison with SAH functionalized oligomers, alkenyl chain containing oligomers showed lower thermal transitions and higher hydrophobicities. In addition, oligomers with 18 carbons alkenyl chain showed considerably higher hydrophobicities than corresponding oligomers with 8 carbon alkenyl chain.     

Performance of an air sampler and a gamma-ray detector in a small unmanned aerial vehicle

The performance of an air sampler and a small gamma-ray spectrometer was tested in an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) able to carry payload with mass up to 0.5 kg. Operation of the sampler was investigated with the aid of radon progeny normally present in outdoor air. Detection limits for several transuranium nuclides in air are of the order of 0.3 Bq m^?3 assuming 0.5 h sampling time and 1 h counting time in direct alpha spectrometry. Unshielded ¹³⁷Cs and ⁶⁰Co point sources at the ground level were used to test the CsI spectrometer. Detection limits are approximately 1 GBq or larger depending on the flying altitude.     

Isopiestic study of the interactions between calcium chloride and methyl glycofuranosides in aqueous solution

Osmotic coefficients have been determined for three isomeric methyl glycofuranosides, viz. methyl -D-lyxo-, -D-ribo-, and -D-ribofuranosides in aqueous solution by the isopiestic comparison method. The method was further applied to measure the osmotic coefficients for the ternary system consisting of calcium chloride, methyl glycofuranoside, and water. The results are analyzed in terms of an excess function from which the salting constants for the glycosides are derived. Relationships between the salting constants and the complexing of methyl glycofuranosides with calcium ion are discussed.     

Macrocyclic amines as catalysts of the hydrolysis of the triphosphate bridge of the mRNA 5'-cap structure

The reactions of a 5'-cap model compound P1-(7-methylguanosine) P3-guanosine 5',5'-triphosphate, m7GpppG, were studied in the presence of three different macrocyclic amines (2-4) under neutral conditions. The only products observed in the absence of the macrocycles resulted from the base-catalysed imidazole ring-opening and the acid-catalysed cleavage of the N7-methylguanosine base, whereas in the presence of these catalysts hydrolysis of the triphosphate bridge predominated. The latter reaction yielded guanosine 5'-monophosphate, guanosine 5'-diphosphate, 7-methylguanosine 5'-monophosphate and 7-methylguanosine 5'-diphosphate as the initial products, indicating that both of the phosphoric anhydride bonds were cleaved. The overall catalytic activity of all three macrocycles was comparable. The hydrolysis to guanosine 5'-diphosphate and 7-methylguanosine 5'-monophosphate was slightly more favoured than the cleavage to yield guanosine 5'-monophosphate and 7-methylguanosine diphosphate. All the macrocycles also enhanced the subsequent hydrolysis of the nucleoside diphosphates, 2 being more efficient than 3 and 4.     

A novel coaxial electrospray ionization method for characterizing hexacosanoylceramides by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Because of poor aqueous solubility and lack of UV chromophores, the characterization of long-chain hydrocarbons and ceramides by conventional UV and mass spectrometric methods has not been successful. Therefore, a novel coaxial electrospray ionization method was developed for characterizing reaction products of phytosphingosine and hexacosanoic acid in toluene and tetrahydrofuran (THF), by high resolving power Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICRMS). Simultaneous spraying of a solution of apolar analytes and polar reagents into the gas phase readily enabled protonation and/or sodiation of analyte with enhanced signal-to-noise (S/N). Sample introduction was by direct infusion such that the sprayers were arranged either along the instrument line-of-sight (for monospray and coaxial spray modes) or in a 45 degrees configuration for dual-spray mode. For dual-spray and coaxial spraying, p-toluenesulphonic acid was used as a reagent and sprayed simultaneously with the analyte dissolved in toluene or THF. Compounds were characterized by accurate mass measurement of the protonated and/or sodiated molecules.     

Degradable polyesters through chain linking for packaging and biomedical applications

The major route to convert lactic acid to high-molecular-weight polymers is ring-opening polymerization of lactide. We have investigated alternative synthesis routes based on oligomerization and chain linking to produce high-molecular-weight thermoplastic degradable polymers cost-effectively. Chain linking also offers new possibilities to prepare degradable polyesters for biomedical applications by extending the range of polymer properties achievable. In this paper, we briefly review different chain linking techniques used in our laboratory. Typically, lactic acid prepolymers with molecular weights of around 3,000-15,000 g x mol(-1) have been prepared by direct polycondensation. Hydroxyl terminated oligomers have been chain linked by using diisocyanate coupling agents, preferably 1,4-butane diisocyanate, forming poly(ester-urethanes). Poly(ester-amides) have been prepared by using 2,2'-bis(2-oxazoline) as coupling agent for carboxylic acid telechelic oligomers. Chain linking by end functionalization has been used in the preparation of poly(ester-anhydrides). In addition, a variety of crosslinked degradable polymers and copolymers have been synthesized through different crosslinking routes, by using methacrylic, itaconic or maleic double bonds or triethoxysilane moieties. A biodegradation test and ecotoxicological evaluation of the degradation products were carried out in addition to hydrolysis tests. Lactic acid based chain linked polymers were biodegradable and the degradation products were harmless. In hydrolysis tests, enzymatic degradation was pronounced in the chain linked poly(epsilon-caprolactone).     

No 17‐player triplewhist tournament has nontrivial automorphisms

The existence of triplewhist tournaments for v players has recently been solved for all values of v except = 17. For v = 12 and v = 13, a complete enumeration has shown the nonexistence of TWh(v), while constructions of TWh(v) have been presented for v > 17. For several values of v, existence has been shown by constructing a TWh(v) with a prescribed, usually cyclic, automorphism group. In this article, it is shown that the strategy of constructing a TWh(v) with a prescribed automorphism group cannot succeed with TWh(17), since no 17‐player triplewhist tournament has nontrivial automorphisms. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.