Chain transfer reactions in emulsion polymerization of butadiene/styrene

Calculation of regulating index r from M̄_W values determined by experiments is proposed. The calculation is based on the assumption that the M̄_W values only depend on the conversion and the regulating index in emulsion polymerization. On this basis the calculation of regulator concentration in the latex particles was also possible. M̄_W values calculated in this way and experimental M̄_W values show good agreement.     

Application of flow-injection analysis in the on-line monitoring of sugars,lactic acid,protein and biomass during lactic acid fermentations

A laboratory system for the on-line monitoring of important lactic acid fermentation variables is described. The system contains flow-injection analysers for glucose, lactose, galactose, lactate and protein and a continuous-flow analyser for the biomass concentration. The sugar and lactate analysers are based on enzymatic reactions involving oxidases followed by chemiluminescence detection of the hydrogen peroxide formed. The protein analyser is based on the biuret reaction. The system has been used to monitor many fermentation experiments, and some results are presented as examples.     

A Chimeric DNA/RNA Antiparallel Quadruplex with Improved Stability

Nucleic acid quadruplexes are proposed to play a role in the regulation of gene expression, are often present in aptamers selected for specific binding functions and have potential applications in medicine and biotechnology. Therefore, understanding their structure and thermodynamic properties and designing highly stable quadruplexes is desirable for a variety of applications. Here, we evaluate DNA→RNA substitutions in the context of a monomolecular, antiparallel quadruplex, the thrombin-binding aptamer (TBA, GGTTGGTGTGGTTGG) in the presence of either K⁺ or Sr²⁺. TBA predominantly folds into a chair-type configuration containing two G-tetrads, with G residues in both syn and anti conformation. All chimeras with DNA→RNA substitutions (G→g) at G residues requiring the syn conformation demonstrated strong destabilization. In contrast, G→g substitutions at Gs with anti conformation increased stability without affecting the monomolecular chair-type topology. None of the DNA→RNA substitutions in loop positions affected the quadruplex topology; however, these substitutions varied widely in their stabilizing or destabilizing effects in an unpredictable manner. This analysis allowed us to design a chimeric DNA/RNA TBA construct that demonstrated substantially improved stability relative to the all-DNA construct. These results have implications for a variety of quadruplex-based applications including for the design of dynamic nanomachines.     

Representation type of Hecke algebras of type

In this paper we provide a complete classification of the representation type for the blocks for the Hecke algebra of type , stated in terms of combinatorical data. The computation of the complexity of Young modules is a key component in the proof of this classification result.     

Ruthenium alkylidenes: modulation of a new class of catalysts for controlled radical polymerization of vinyl monomers

Air-stable and readily available ruthenium benzylidene complexes of the general type [RuCl2(=CHPh)(L)(L')] (L, L' = PCy3 and/or N-heterocyclic carbene) constitute a new class of catalyst precursors for atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate and styrene, and provide an unprecedented example for the involvement of ruthenium alkylidenes in radical reactions. They promote the polymerization of various monomers with good to excellent yields, and in a controlled way with methyl methacrylate and styrene. Variations of their basic structural motif provide insights into the essential parameters responsible for catalytic activity. The ligands L (PCy3 and/or N-heterocyclic carbene) turned out to play a particularly important role in determining the rate of the polymerizations. A similarly pronounced influence is exerted by the substituents on the N-heterocyclic carbene. Our results indicate that the catalysts decompose quickly under ATRP conditions, and polymerizations are mediated by both [RuCl2(=CHPh)(L)(L')] complexes and ruthenium species bereft of the benzylidene moiety, through a pathway in which both tricyclohexylphosphane and/or N-heterocyclic carbene ligands remain bound to the metal center. Polymerization of n-butyl acrylate and vinyl acetate is not controlled and most probably takes place through a redox-initiated free-radical process.