Very efficient epoxidation of 1,4‐polybutadiene with the biphasic system methyltrioxorhenium (MTO)‐CH2Cl2/H2O2

The biphasic system methyltrioxorhenium (MTO)‐H₂O₂/CH₂Cl₂ was studied in the epoxidation of polybutadiene and the results showed that this system presents a high selectivity and the extension of epoxidation (10–50%) can be modulated by the amount of oxidant added, without significant change in the molecular weight of the polymer.     

Photothermal deflection microscopy for imaging sub-micronic defects in optical materials

Photothermal deflection is widely used to study defects in optical coatings and role of these defects in laser damage. Because defects responsible for laser damage are assumed to be nanometer-sized and lowly absorbing, both high spatial resolution and high sensitivity are required to detect them. In this work we theoretically and experimentally explore the capability of collinear photothermal deflection to give micronic resolution by reduction of the pump beam diameter. Thanks to a model describing temperature distribution and photothermal deflection, we have studied the effects of pump beam focusing on photothermal deflection. Then, we have developed a high resolution, high sensitivity microscope based on the photothermal deflection of a transmitted probe beam. The setup is characterized and the theoretical predictions are checked. We present a test of lateral spatial resolution obtained on specially prepared absorbing resolution targets and show that a lateral spatial resolution of 1 μm is reached on non-isolated defects. In case of single defects, we expect that 10 nm sized defects could be detected.     

Instrumented shoes for pathological gait assessment

After analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of each existing system, we propose a homemade shoe with an “instrumented sole”. This sole contains several holes designed to receive force transducers. Each homemade transducer is composed of one dynamometric ring and one strain gauge. When defined forces are exerted on each transducer separately, the responses are very linear and the absolute error is less than 2%. This instrumented shoe is a robust tool to assess the instantaneous vertical forces and plantar pressures exerted during gait over a great number of steps.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Modified Chitosan Through Immobilization of Complexing Agents

Summary: The complexation agents 2[-bis-(pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl]-4-methyl-6-formyl-phenol (BPMAMFF) and 2-[2-(hydroxybenzyl)-2-(pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl]-4-methyl-6-formyl-phenol (HBPAMFF) were immobilized on chitosan biopolymer in order to obtain new adsorbent materials for metal ions. The chitosan derivatives were characterized by IR spectroscopy, DSC, TGA, and CHN analysis. The characterization study proved that the chitosan surface was chemically modified with both complexing agents and however, it is expected that these modifications improve the selectivity for metal ions specific in relation to the chitosan.     

A dielectric study of secondary relaxations and the “memory effect” in two compatible polystyrene blends

Dielectric permittivities and loss tangents of 10 and 30% poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO)–polystyrene (PS) blends and 10 and 25% poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME)–polystyrene blends have been measured from 80 to 360 K at 1 and 10 kHz. The PPO-PS blends have two secondary relaxations below T_g and the PVME-PS blends have three regions. All blends have a β process which appears near 290 K, is independent of PPO or PVME concentration, and is associated with the local modes of motions of PS chains. It is suggested that the β process of PS allows a dipolar reorientation of the PPO or PS chain segments by creating more favorable surroundings for the motions of the latter. The effect of physical aging in the PPO-PS blend is substantial but the “memory effect” is significantly less. This is due to the lower contribution to tanδ from the β process of the blend.     

Acrylamide: update on selected research activities conducted by the European food and drink industry

This paper reviews the progress made by the European food and drink industry (CIAA) on acrylamide with regard to analytical methods, mechanisms of formation, and mitigation research in the major food categories. It is an update on the first CIAA review paper, "A Review of Acrylamide: An Industry Perspective on Research, Analysis, Formation and Control." Initial difficulties with the establishment of reliable analytical methods, in most cases, have now been overcome, but challenges remain in terms of the need to develop simple and rapid test methods and certified reference materials. Many trials have been conducted under laboratory and experimental conditions in a variety of foods, and a number of possible measures have been identified to relatively lower the amounts of acrylamide in food. Promising applications were studied in reconstituted potato models by addition of amino acids or use of asparaginase. In bakery wares, predictive models have been established to determine the role of ammonium carbonate and invert sugar in acrylamide formation. Studies in several commercial foods showed that acrylamide is not stable over time in roasted and ground coffee. Some progress in relatively lowering acrylamide in certain food categories has been achieved, but at this stage can only be considered marginal. Any options that are chosen to reduce acrylamide in commercial products must be technologically feasible and must not adversely affect the quality and safety of the final product.