TEM studies of structure in OFHC copper processed by equal channel angular rolling

In this study, UFG (ultrafine-grained) structure formed through ECAR (equal-channel angular rolling) process has been studied by methods of electron microscopy. The microstructure, mechanical properties and microhardness were investigated in OFHC (oxygen free high conductivity) copper after 1st–13th passes. The interpretation of microstructure changes was performed using a model which describes mechanism of UFG structures formation. It was found that ECAR is a tool used for the purpose of achieving significant structural refinement resulting in a final grain size d ～ 400 nm. Moreover, this method provides such specific structural changes which have highly advantageous influence on mechanical properties (yield stress, ultimate tensile strength, reduction of area) as well as microhardness.     

Speciation of heavy metals in sewage sludge after mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic digestion

Two types of sewage sludge anaerobic digestion were carried out: mesophilic and thermophilic. Metal speciation analysis was performed revealing some changes in the chemical form of the metals during the stabilization process of sludge. After both methane fermentation processes, a comparable level of organic matter distribution was obtained (≈ 40 %). The amount of produced methane during thermophilic and mesophilic digestion was 560 mL of CH4 and 580 mL of CH₄ from 1 g of removed organic matter, respectively. Low concentration of heavy metal ions in the liquid phase of sludge was observed. Metal ions precipitated and remained bound throughout the stabilization process. No accumulation of heavy metals in the mobile fractions of sludge (exchangeable and carbonate) was observed for either digestion process. The highest increase of zinc, copper, nickel, cadmium, and chromium concentration was observed in the organic-sulfide fraction, whereas the highest increase of lead was found in the residual fraction.     

Concerted, highly asynchronous, enzyme-catalyzed [4 + 2] cycloaddition in the biosynthesis of spinosyn A; computational evidence

A theoretical study has been carried out on model systems to study a recently reported, (Nature, 2011, 473, 109) biosynthetic, [4 + 2] cycloaddition catalyzed by a stand-alone enzyme (the cyclase SpnF). It was suggested in this paper that SpnF is the first known example of a Diels-Alderase (DA). In the present study, for a model system of the substrate a transition structure was found with density functional calculations (DFT). In addition, the intrinsic reaction coordinate calculations indicated that the transition structure is that of a concerted, but highly asynchronous, DA reaction. Based on the DFT and M?ller-Plesset second order calculations the activation energy was estimated to be about 15 kcal mol(-1). The results of a natural population analysis indicated that there is significant charge transfer in the transition state, and it is proposed that possibly the enzyme plays a dual role of not only folding the substrate into the proper conformation for the DA reaction to occur, but also lowering its activation energy by stabilization of the highly polarized transition structure.     

On Koornwinder classical orthogonal polynomials in two variables

In 1975, Tom Koornwinder studied examples of two variable analogues of the Jacobi polynomials in two variables. Those orthogonal polynomials are eigenfunctions of two commuting and algebraically independent partial differential operators. Some of these examples are well known classical orthogonal polynomials in two variables, such as orthogonal polynomials on the unit ball, on the simplex or the tensor product of Jacobi polynomials in one variable, but the remaining cases are not considered classical by other authors. The definition of classical orthogonal polynomials considered in this work provides a different perspective on the subject. We analyze in detail Koornwinder polynomials and using the Koornwinder tools, new examples of orthogonal polynomials in two variables are given.     

Nutritional genomics for the characterization of the effect of bioactive molecules in lipid metabolism and related pathways

Cardiovascular disease and cancer are the main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Thus, investigators have focused their efforts on gaining insight into understanding the mechanisms involved in the development and evolution of these diseases. In the past decade, and with the contribution of the -omics technologies, strong evidence has supported an essential role of gene-nutrient interactions in these processes, pointing at natural bioactive molecules as promising complementary agents that are useful in preventing or mitigating these diseases. In addition, alterations in lipid metabolism have recently gained strong interest since they have been described as a common event required for the progression of both diseases. In the present review, we give an overview of lipid metabolism, mainly focusing on lipoprotein metabolism and the mechanisms controlling lipid homeostasis. In addition, we review the modulation of lipid metabolism by bioactive molecules, highlighting their potential use as therapeutic agents in preventing, and treating chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. Finally, we report the usefulness of the -omics technologies in nutritional research, focusing on recent findings, within nutritional genomics, in the interaction of bioactive components from foods with several genes that are involved in the development and progression of these diseases.     

Dinuclear Cu(II) complexes of isomeric bis-(3-acetylacetonate)benzene ligands: synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties

Highly versatile coordinating ligands are designed and synthesized with two β-diketonate groups linked at the carbon 3 through a phenyl ring. The rigid aromatic spacer is introduced in the molecules to orient the two acetylacetone units along different angles and coordination vectors. The resulting para, meta, and ortho bis-(3-acetylacetonate)benzene ligands show efficient chelating properties toward Cu(II) ions. In the presence of 2,2'-bipyridine, they promptly react and yield three dimers, 1, 2, and 3, with the bis-acetylacetonate unit in bridging position between two metal centers. X-ray single crystal diffraction shows that the compounds form supramolecular chains in the solid state because of intermolecular interactions. Each of the dinuclear complexes shows a magnetic behavior which is determined by the combination of structural parameters and spin polarization effects. Notably, the para derivative (1) displays a moderate antiferromagnetic coupling (J = -3.3 cm(-1)) along a remarkably long Cu···Cu distance (12.30 ?).     

New poly(ether‐ester) thermosets obtained by cationic curing of DGEBA and 7,7‐dimethyl‐6,8‐dioxaspiro[3.5] nonane‐5,9‐dione with several Lewis acids as initiators

Scandium, ytterbium, and lanthanum triflates and boron trifluoride monoethylamine were used as cationic initiators to cure a mixture 2:1 (mol/mol) of diglycidylether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) and 7,7‐dimethyl‐6,8‐dioxaspiro[3.5]nonane‐5,9‐dione (MCB). The evolution of the epoxy and lactone during curing and the linear ester groups in the final materials were evaluated by Fourier Transform Infrared in the attenuated‐total‐reflection mode. The kinetic parameters of the curing process were calculated from DSC analysis applying isoconversional procedures. The shrinkage on curing and the thermal degradability of the materials on varying the initiator used were evaluated. The expandable character of MCB was confirmed. The materials obtained were more degradable than conventional epoxy resins due to the tertiary ester groups incorporated in the network by copolymerization. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 1229–1239, 2008     

A superprocess with a disappearing self-interaction

We start with a system of independent branching Brownian motions which, properly organized and normalized, generate a super Brownian motion in the high density limit. We introduce a weak interaction between the particles, that affects the diffusion but not the branching. The interaction is chosen in such a way that the infinite density limit is absolutely continuous with respect to the noninteracting system. We find that, despite the fact that the interaction mechanism never completely disappears, the limiting superprocesses areidentical. We study what actually happens to the interaction mechanism, or ghost-process.Research supported in part by US-Israel Binational Science Foundation, Israel Academy of Sciences. Faculty of Industrial Engineering and Management, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel 32000.     

Simultaneous electrochemical and electron paramagnetic resonance studies of fullerene anion radicals C 60 1− and C 60 3−

Simultaneous electrochemical and electron paramagnetic resonance experiments have been carried out on the reduced C₆₀ fullerene to examine theg-factor assignment of the radical species. C ₆₀ ^1? and C ₆₀ ^3? show the following EPR characteristics at room temperature: C ₆₀ ^1? :g _1?=2.0002±0.0001, 2ΔB _1s=0.17 mT, and C ₆₀ ^3? :g _{3?=2.0008±0.0002}, 2ΔB _1s=0.07 mT. EPR linewidths are apparently narrower compared to those in most of the spectra previously reported. Variable temperature EPR study on solution containing C ₆₀ ^1? has shown thatg _1? value is not while the linewidth is only slightly temperature dependent.