On blocks with trivial source simple modules

Motivated by an observation in Danz and Külshammer (2009) [3], we determine the source algebra, and therefore all the structure, of the blocks without essential Brauer pairs where the simple modules of all the Brauer corespondents have trivial sources.     

Resonance tongues in the quasi-periodic Hill-Schrödinger equation with three frequencies

In this paper we investigate numerically the following Hill’s equation x″ + (a + bq(t))x = 0 where $ q(t) = \cos t + \cos \sqrt {2t} + \cos \sqrt {3t} $ is a quasi-periodic forcing with three rationally independent frequencies. It appears, also, as the eigenvalue equation of a Schrödinger operator with quasi-periodic potential. Massive numerical computations were performed for the rotation number and the Lyapunov exponent in order to detect open and collapsed gaps, resonance tongues. Our results show that the quasi-periodic case with three independent frequencies is very different not only from the periodic analogs, but also from the case of two frequencies. Indeed, for large values of b the spectrum contains open intervals at the bottom. From a dynamical point of view we numerically give evidence of the existence of open intervals of a, for large b, where the system is nonuniformly hyperbolic: the system does not have an exponential dichotomy but the Lyapunov exponent is positive. In contrast with the region with zero Lyapunov exponents, both the rotation number and the Lyapunov exponent do not seem to have square root behavior at endpoints of gaps. The rate of convergence to the rotation number and the Lyapunov exponent in the nonuniformly hyperbolic case is also seen to be different from the reducible case.     

Tailoring thermoresponsive nanostructured poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels made with poly(acrylamide) nanoparticles

The thermoresponsive behavior and mechanical properties of nanostructured hydrogels, which consist of poly(acrylamide) nanoparticles embedded in a cross-linked poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel matrix, are reported here. Nanostructured hydrogels exhibit a tuned volume phase transition temperature (T _VPT), which varies with nanoparticle content in the range from 32 up to 39–40 °C. Moreover, larger equilibrium water uptake, faster swelling and de-swelling rates, and larger equilibrium swelling at 25 °C were obtained with nanostructured hydrogels compared with those of conventional ones. Elastic and Young’s moduli were larger than those of conventional hydrogels at similar swelling ratios. The tuned T _VPT and the de-swelling rate were predicted with a modified Flory–Rehner equation coupled with a mixing rule that considers the contribution of both polymers. These behaviors are explained by a combination of hydrophilic/hydrophobic interactions and by the controlled inhomogeneities (nanoparticles) introduced by the method of synthesis.     

Sample stacking for the analysis of eight penicillin antibiotics by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

We studied the use of micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography for separating eight penicillins. The method consists of (i) an electrophoretic separation based on micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography, which uses sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as surfactant; (ii) a sample stacking technique called reverse electrode polarity stacking mode (REPSM); and (iii) direct UV detection. The background electrolyte that gave complete separation contained 20 mM sodium borate buffer and 60 mM SDS. The sensitivity of the method was improved by an enrichment step that used on-column stacking. The limits of detection were at the microg.L(-1) level for the penicillins and did not detract from the peak resolution.     

Semicontinuous heterophase copolymerization of styrene and acrylonitrile

The synthesis of styrene‐acrylonitrile copolymers by semicontinuous heterophase polymerization is reported here. The effect of feed composition at a fixed addition rate of monomer mixture on kinetics, particle size, polymer content, and molar masses, was studied. This process permits the synthesis of nanolatexes containing narrow size‐distribution particles with number‐average diameter (D_n) of about 18 nm, polymer content as high as 23 wt %, and copolymer‐to‐surfactant weight ratios between 23 and 25, depending on monomer feeding rate, which are larger than those reported for microemulsion copolymerization of several comonomers. Copolymers with homogeneous composition similar to the feeding monomers composition were obtained thorough the reaction, which is difficult to achieve by batch polymerization. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Effects of electrolyte concentration and counterion valence on the microstructural flow regimes in dilute cetyltrimethylammonium tosylate micellar solutions

The shear thickening behavior and the transition to shear thinning are examined in dilute cetyltrimethylammonium tosylate (CTAT) micellar solutions as a function of surfactant concentration and ionic strength using electrolytes with different counterion valence. Newtonian behavior at low shear rates, followed by shear thickening and shear thinning at higher shear rates, are observed at low and intermediate surfactant and electrolyte concentrations. Shear thickening diminishes with increasing surfactant concentration and ionic strength. At higher surfactant or electrolyte concentration, only a Newtonian region followed by shear thinning is detected. A generalized flow diagram indicates two controlling regimes: one in which electrostatic screening dominates and induces micellar growth, and another, at higher electrolyte and surfactant concentrations, where chemical equilibrium among electrolyte and surfactant counterions controls the rheological behavior by modifying micellar breaking and reforming. Analysis of the shear thickening behavior reveals that not only a critical shear rate is required for shear thickening, but also a critical deformation, which appears to be unique for all systems examined, within experimental error. Moreover, a superposition of the critical shear rate for shear thickening with surfactant and electrolyte concentration is reported.     

MR imaging of the her2/neu and 9.2.27 tumor antigens using immunospecific contrast agents

Molecular imaging of tumor antigens using immunospecific magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agents is a rapidly evolving field, which can potentially aid in early disease detection, monitoring of treatment efficacy, and drug development. In this study, we designed, synthetized, and tested in vitro two novel monocrystalline iron oxide nanoparticles (MION) conjugated to antibodies against the her2/neu tyrosine kinase receptor and the 9.2.27 proteoglycane sulfate. MION was synthetized by coprecipitation of iron II and iron III salts in 12-kD dextran solution; antibody coupling was performed by reductive amination. The relaxivity of the conjugates was 24.1-29.1 mM(-1) s(-1), with 1.8 to 2.1 antibody molecules per nanoparticle. A panel of cultured melanoma and mammary cell lines was used for testing. The cells were incubated with the particles at 16-32 microg Fe/ml in culture medium for 3 h at 37 degrees C, and investigated with immune fluorescence, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), MRI of cell suspensions in gelatine, and spectrophotometric iron determination. All receptor-positive cell lines, but not the controls, showed receptor-specific immune fluorescence, and strong changes in T(2) signal intensity at 1.5 T. The changes in 1/T(2) were between 1.5 and 4.6 s(-1) and correlated with the amount of cell-bound iron (R = 0.92). The relaxivity of cell-bound MION increased to 55.9 +/- 10.4 mM(-1) s(-1). TEM showed anti-9.2.27 conjugates binding to the plasma membrane, while the anti-her2/neu conjugates underwent receptor-mediated endocytosis. In conclusion, we obtained receptor-specific T(2) MR contrast with novel covalently bound, multivalent MION conjugates with anti-9.2.27 and anti-her2/neu to image tumor surface antigens. This concept can potentially be expanded to a large number of targets and to in vivo applications.     

Synthesis, properties and photopolymerization of liquid crystalline dioxetanes

The synthesis and photopolymerization of various liquid crystalline dioxetanes is described. The effects of the spacer length, structure of the mesogenic group and oxetane group on the liquid crystalline properties, polymerization behaviour and optical properties (birefringence) of the oriented and crosslinked network formed in photo-polymerization are discussed. Thermally stable films with birefringence values up to 0.13 can be formed from these materials. The dioxetanes show significantly lower polymerization shrinkage than do structurally related diacrylates.     

Semicontinuous heterophase polymerization under monomer starved conditions to prepare nanoparticles with narrow size distribution

The semicontinuous polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in heterogeneous medium under monomer‐starved conditions is reported here. The effect of monomer addition rate on kinetics, particle size, particle number, and PMMA average molar masses are reported. This process permits the synthesis of high‐solid content latexes containing nano‐sized particles (<40 nm) with narrow particle size distributions [(D_w/D_n) < 1.1]. Moreover, the molar masses (M_n ≈ 0.3–1.2 × 10⁶ g/mol) are much lower than those expected by chain transfer to monomer, which is the typical termination mechanism in 0–1 emulsion and microemulsion reactions. Both particle size and average molar masses decrease as the rate of monomer addition is diminished. Possible explanations for this process are provided. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1463–1473, 2007