Bound nonlocality and activation

We investigate nonlocality distillation using measures of nonlocality based on the Elitzur-Popescu-Rohrlich decomposition. For a certain number of copies of a given nonlocal box, we define two quantities of interest: (i) the nonlocal cost and (ii) the distillable nonlocality. We find that there exist boxes whose distillable nonlocality is strictly smaller than their nonlocal cost. Thus nonlocality displays a form of irreversibility which we term "bound nonlocality." Finally, we show that nonlocal distillability can be activated.     

Facile synthesis of core‐surface crosslinked nanoparticles by interblock RAFT polymerization

A new, efficient method for synthesizing stable nanoparticles with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) functionalities on the core surface, in which the micellization and crosslinking reactions occur in one pot, has been developed. First, amphiphilic PEO‐b‐PS copolymers were synthesized by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) radical polymerization of styrene using (PEO)‐based trithiocarbonate as a macro‐RAFT agent. The low molecular weight PEO‐b‐PS copolymer was dissolved in isopropyl alcohol where the block copolymer self‐assembled as core‐shell micelles, and then the core‐shell interface crosslink was performed using divinylbenzene as a crosslinking agent and 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator. The design of the amphiphilic RAFT agent is critical for the successful preparation of core‐shell interface crosslinked micellar nanoparticles, because of RAFT functional groups interconnect PEO and polystyrene blocks. The PEO functionality of the nanoparticles surface was confirmed by ¹H NMR and FTIR. The size and morphology of the nanoparticles was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic laser light scattering analysis. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Biodiesel from soybean oil,castor oil and their blends

Even not being described in the EN 14112 standard, PDSC has been used for the determination of the biodiesel oxidative stability, by OIT and OT measurements. In this study, biodiesel blends were obtained by mixing soybean (BES) and castor (BEM) ethyl esters and its induction periods were measured by Rancimat and PDSC. The blends (BSM _X ) showed intermediate values of OSI, OT, and OIT, compared with BES and BEM. Although, the molar fraction of the components varied linearly in BSM _X , OSI, OT, and OIT values increased exponentially in relation to the castor biodiesel amount in the blends. Introduction of castor oil biodiesel increased the blend stability, so the BSM₃₀ blend reached the OSI limit of 6 h. OSI, OIT, and OT showed a high-linear correlation, pointing out that PDSC can be used in the analysis of this kind of biodiesel, with a smaller sample and analysis time, as compared to Rancimat. The use of biodiesel blends was a good alternative in the correction of the oxidative stability of the final product without the need of antioxidant addition.     

Effect of artificial mucus properties on the characteristics of airborne bioaerosol droplets generated during simulated coughing

The effect of viscoelastic properties and surface tension of artificial mucus simulant samples on the size distribution and volume concentration of bioaerosol droplets generated during simulated coughing was investigated through in vitro experiments. The mucus simulant samples had viscoelastic properties in a similar range as those of real human airway mucus. The mucus simulant gels were prepared by mixing various proportions of 0.5–1.7% locust bean gum solution and 0.1 M sodium tetraborate (XLB) solution. Surface tension of one set of samples was varied by adding different amounts of SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate) surfactant while the measurement of surface tension was performed using ADSA (axisymmetric drop shape analysis) method. The viscoelastic properties of the samples were measured using a Bohlin Gemini 200 HR (Malvern, UK) nano-rheometer with peltier plate assembly. An artificial cough machine was used to simulate human cough, generating aerosol droplets in a model trachea attached to the front of the cough machine. The size distribution and volume concentration of the droplets generated through simulated cough were measured using a laser diffraction particle sizer (SprayTec, Malvern, USA). The surface tension was found to have negligible effect on the characteristic of generated droplets within the range of this investigation. The experimental results showed a decrease in particle size as the samples changed from a viscous fluid type to a viscoelastic to an elastic solid type sample. The volume concentration also changed significantly as the viscoelasticity of the samples was varied.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In situ</Emphasis> X-ray and neutron diffraction study of lipid membrane swelling

Liposome suspensions comprising the synthetic cationic lipid DOTAP, the zwitterionic DPPC and the anti-cancer agent Paclitaxel were deposited on solid substrates and investigated by X-ray and neutron reflectivity measurements at ESRF and ILL. Well ordered multilamellar drug/lipid membranes were obtained, such as indicated by the several orders of Bragg reflections in the diffraction pattern. With an excess of Paclitaxel, additional Bragg peaks from the drug crystalline phase could be observed. Changes of the molecular organization in the drug-lipid system were investigated as a function of relative humidity using a custom-built controlled humidity chamber. For DOTAP multilayers the effects of bilayer swelling were much more pronounced than for DPPC under similar conditions, while the crystalline peaks of the drug were not affected. The pronounced swelling of DOTAP multilayers might be related to the electrostatic repulsion between the charged lipid headgroups.     

Interaction of lectins withYersinia pestis strains

The ability of lectins to interact with Yersinia pestis strains isolated from rodent fleas and human biological fluids, obtained from different geographic areas, was examined. Lectins of Canavalia ensiformis, Ulex europaeus, Phaseolus vulgaris, and Triticum vulgaris, as well as a new autochthonous lectin of Swartzia pickellii of undefined specificity, were used. Most of the Y. pestis strains did not agglutinate with U. europaeus or C. ensiformis lectin. However, P. vulgaris lectin agglutinated suspensions of all the bacillus strains used. Fifteen of the 19 strains tested positive for assays using S. pickellii lectin. It is believed this is the first report of Y. pestis strain agglutination by lectins. A similar agglutination pattern was obtained for lectins with specificity for oligosaccharides containing N-acetylglucosamine and S. pickellii lectin, which did bind to the affinity matrix chitin, a polysaccharide of N-acetylglucosamine. The use of bacterial strains and commercial lectins of defined specificity may be an approach to providing evidence about the lectin binding sites of undefined monosaccharide specificity.     

Metal-free chlorodeboronation of organotrifluoroborates

A mild and metal-free method for the chlorodeboronation of organotrifluoroborates using trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCICA) was developed. Aryl-, heteroaryl-, alkenyl-, alkynyl-, and alkyltrifluoroborates were converted into the corresponding chlorinated products in good yields. This method proved to be tolerant of a broad range of functional groups.     

Real-time observation of structural and orientational transitions during growth of organic thin films

We study kinetically controlled orientational and structural transitions of molecular thin films during growth in situ and in real time, using diindenoperylene (DIP) as an example. By time-resolved surface-sensitive x-ray scattering (out of plane and in plane), we follow the organic molecular beam deposition of DIP on silicon oxide, on stepped sapphire, and on rubrene as an organic model surface. We identify transitions for the few-monolayer (ML) regime, as well as for thick (several 10's of ML) films. We show that the differences in the interaction of DIP with the substrate change the thickness as well as temperature range of the transitions, which include (transient) strain, subtle changes of the orientation, as well as complete reorientation. These effects should be considered rather general features of the growth of organics, which, with its orientational degrees of freedom, is qualitatively different from growth of inorganics.     

Exposure risk assessment of uranium intake of the milk products from the region of Pernambuco,Brazil

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - Haloperidol (HP) is a dopamine blocking agent. HP was radiolabeled with 125I using direct electrophilic substitution. Different HP formulations...