The Das–Moser commutator closure for filtering through a boundary is well-posed

When filtering through a wall with constant averaging radius, in addition to the subfilter scale stresses, a non-closed commutator term arises. We consider a proposal of Das and Moser to close the commutator error term by embedding it in an optimization problem. This report shows that this optimization-based closure, with a small modification, leads to a well-posed problem showing the existence of a minimizer. We also derive the associated first order optimality conditions.     

Self-assembled architecture based on triiron-substituted polyoxomolybdate anion and positively charged polymer

A new self-assembled multilayer architecture was constructed by successive deposition of poly(4-vinylpyridine) partially quaternized with ethylamine (B) and Keggin trilacunary polyoxomolybdate [Aα-PFe₃^III(H₂O)₃Mo₉O₃₇]⁶⁻ (PFe₃Mo₉) on the Au electrode surface, covered with 3-mercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid (MPS). Surface plasmon resonance and cyclic voltammetry measurements were performed at Au/MPS/B/PFe₃Mo₉/B interface in order to investigate the structure and the electrochemical behavior of this electrode. Due to the presence of PFe₃Mo₉, the Au/MPS/B/PFe₃Mo₉/B-modified electrode showed electrocatalytic activity towards H₂O₂ amperometric detection. Additionally, when GOx was deposited as the outermost layer on the abovementioned multilayer structure, the Au/MPS/B/PFe₃Mo₉/B/GOx-modified electrode was able to detect glucose.     

Diluting the hydrogen bonds in viscous solutions of n-butanol with n-bromobutane: II. A comparison of rotational and translational motions

Mixtures of the monohydroxy alcohol n-butanol with n-bromobutane are investigated via dielectric and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. Static- and pulsed-field gradient proton NMR yielded self-diffusion coefficients as a function of concentration and temperature. To monitor reorientational motions, broadband dielectric and (13)C-spin relaxation time measurements were carried out. The latter demonstrate that the structural relaxation stems from the motion of the alkyl chains. By combining data from translational diffusion coefficients with published shear viscosities, hydrodynamic radii were determined that compare favorably with the van der Waals radii of single molecules. The results for the neat alcohol and for the binary mixtures are discussed with respect to a recent transient chain model. The approach of Debye and structural relaxation times at high temperatures, identified as a general feature of monohydroxy alcohols, is also discussed within that framework.     

Hybrid polymeric latexes containing magnetite

The work describes a study for preparing polystyrene (PSt) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) latex, containing magnetite (Fe₃O₄), covalently bounded to the polymeric chains. The magnetite was functionalized with various alkoxysilanes containing double bonds: vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES), methacryloyl propyl trimethoxysilane (MPTS) and vinyldimethylethoxysilane (VMe₂TES). The ferrite-silane composite forms higher average size particles with MPTS than with VTES. Ferrite functionalized with VMe₂TES forms stable latexes with both PSt and PMMA polymers. PSt forms also stable latexes with ferrite functionalized with VTES but unstable with ferrite functionalized with MPTS.     

Effects of the nanoassociation of hexadecyltrimethoxysilane precursors on the sol–gel process

Modifications to the refractive indices of meso-structured organic–inorganic films caused by variations in the mole fraction of precursors in ethanolic solutions were investigated. The refractive indices were dependent on the mole fraction of C₁₆TMS (hexadecyltrimethoxysilane) and of the C₁₆TMS/TMOS (tetramethoxysilane) (1/1) mixture in ethanol. The dependency was determined to be nonlinear, and the phenomenon was attributed to self-assembly caused by the long alkyl groups (C₁₆) on the C₁₆TMS. Changes in the maximum decreasing rate of d_n/d_x values [(d_n/d_x)_max—for d_n/d_x estimation, the curves from Fig. 1 were associated with a polynomial; using a dedicated program, d_n/d_x was calculated; maximum values of d_n/d_x were taken into account and were included in Table 1)] were used to distinguish the behavior of alcoholic precursor mixtures. In the case of using pyrene as a fluorescent probe, the ratio between two peaks from the pyrene emission spectra (I₁/I₃) strongly decreased as hydrophobic micro-surroundings formed due to the self-assembly process. The UV–VIS spectra of a cationic dye solution, R6G, was studied because dilute solutions of the dye in equilibrium form measurable ratios of dimers and monomers. The absorbance was modified as micro-surroundings with different polarities were formed. These three methods demonstrated that nano-structuration was present prior to the occurrence of the sol–gel process. The combination of C₁₆TMS with other alkyltrialkoxysilane precursors having hydrocarbon chain lengths between C₁ and C₈ provided further evidence for a nonlinear dependence of the refractive indice and fluorescence spectra of pyrene. The properties of the final hybrids obtained by the sol–gel process were significantly affected by the precursor hydrocarbon chain lengths. DSC, XRD and FTIR measurements were used to show the plasticizing phenomena of C₁₆ as other alkyltrialkoxysilanes (i.e., C₁–C₈) were added.

Morphology and chemical state of PVP-protected Pt,Pt–Cu,and Pt–Ag nanoparticles prepared by alkaline polyol method

Well-dispersed, uniform monometallic Pt and bimetallic Pt–Cu, and Pt–Ag nanoparticles protected with PVP have been synthesized by a modified-protocol alkaline polyol method. The nanoparticles were characterized by various methods (TEM, XPS, and XRD) to elucidate the relationship between morphology and preparation variables. The average of monodispersed nanoparticles ranged between 4.1 and 4.9 nm. Core–shell structure was obtained in the case of bimetallic nanoparticles. The core of bimetallic nanoparticles was found to be rich in platinum, whereas the shell contained mostly copper or silver. The final structure of bimetallic nanoparticles was found to be determined by the morphology particles resulted in the first reduction step. Explanations are advanced on the light of experimental results.     

Influence of ionic liquids on the surface properties of poplar veneers

In this paper, the influence of four types of imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) on the surface properties of common aspen (Populus tremula) veneers has been studied by using contact angle, electrical conductivity and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. The measurements showed that wood wettabillity is increased by IL treatment. The electrical conductivities of treated wood were in the 0.5-1 mS/cm range, higher than the ones reported in the reference literature. It has been determined that the ILs decrease the crystallinity and improve the flexibility of the cellulose matrix. It has been determined by photographic image analysis that the surface roughness of the IL treated veneers decreases in comparison with the untreated samples.     

Capsaicin and Gut Microbiota in Health and Disease

Capsaicin is a widespread spice known for its analgesic qualities. Although a comprehensive body of evidence suggests pleiotropic benefits of capsaicin, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-proliferative, metabolic, or cardioprotective effects, it is frequently avoided due to reported digestive side-effects. As the gut bacterial profile is strongly linked to diet and capsaicin displays modulatory effects on gut microbiota, a new hypothesis has recently emerged about its possible applicability against widespread pathologies, such as metabolic and inflammatory diseases. The present review explores the capsaicin–microbiota crosstalk and capsaicin effect on dysbiosis, and illustrates the intimate mechanisms that underlie its action in preventing the onset or development of pathologies like obesity, diabetes, or inflammatory bowel diseases. A possible antimicrobial property of capsaicin, mediated by the beneficial alteration of microbiota, is also discussed. However, as data are coming mostly from experimental models, caution is needed in translating these findings to humans.     

A note on the stabilizability of stochastic heat equations with multiplicative noiseSur la stabilisabilité des équations de la chaleur stochastiques avec bruit multiplicatif

We show that a stochastic heat equation with multiplicative noise on a bounded domain $\text{D}$ can be stabilized by a control acting only on a subdomain $\text{O}\text{?}\text{D}$ if $\text{D}\text{?}\text{O}$ is sufficiently ‘thin’. We consider both linear and semilinear stochastic heat equations. To cite this article: V. Barbu et al., C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 334 (2002) 311–316.     

Organized formation of 2D extended covalent organic frameworks at surfaces

The development of nanoscale masking for particle deposition is exceedingly important to push the future of nanoelectronics beyond the current limits of lithography. We present the first example of ordered hexagonal covalent nanoporous structures deposited in extended arrays of near monolayer coverage across a Ag(111) surface. The networks were formed from the deposition of the reagents from a heated molybdenum crucible between 370 and 460 K under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) onto a cleaned Ag(111) substrate and imaged using a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). Two surface covalent organic frameworks (SCOFs) are presented; the first is formed from the deposition of 1,4-benzenediboronic acid (BDBA) and its dehydration to form the boroxine-linked SCOF-1, the second is formed from the co-deposition of BDBA and 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexahydroxytriphenylene (HHTP) to form a dioxaborole-linked SCOF-2 network. The networks were found to produce nanoporous structures of 15 A for SCOF-1 and 29 A for SCOF-2, which agreed with theoretical pore sizes determined from DFT calculations. Both SCOFs were found to have exceptional thermal stability, maintaining their structure until approximately 750 K, which was found to be the polymer degradation temperature from thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA).