PVT,viscosity, and surface tension of ethanol: New measurements and literature data evaluation

In this work, the results of density, viscosity, and surface tension measurements for ethanol are presented. Ethanol with stated mass fraction purity greater than 0.998 was further purified using molecular sieves. Density was measured within the temperature and pressure ranges, respectively, T = (278.15 to 353.15) K and p = (0.1 to 35) MPa by means of a vibrating tube densimeter, model DMA 512P from Anton Paar with an estimated uncertainty of ±0.5 kg · m^?3. The experimental (p, ρ, T) results have been correlated by Tait equation. From this equation the isobaric expansivity, the isothermal compressibility, and the thermal pressure coefficient have been calculated. Viscosity was measured over the range T = (273.15 to 346.15) K using an Ubbelohde viscometer with a Schott–Geräte automatic measuring unit (Model AVS-470) with the associated uncertainty of ±0.001 mPa · s. The measured values were combined with selected values from the literature covering the range T = (223 K to 503) K, and the VTF model has been fitted to all the data. The surface tension of the liquid was measured using a tensiometer KSV Sigma 70 with a Du-Noüy ring for the range of T = (274.77 to 318.99) K with an uncertainty of ±0.01 mN · m^?1. Using these data and critically assessed data of other authors compiled from the literature, a form of the IAPWS equation was used to correlate the surface tension within the temperature range 223 K up to the critical temperature.     

SERS studies of DNA nucleobases using new silver poly(methyl methacrylate) nanocomposites as analytical platforms

The implementation of polymer‐based composites provides a plausible alternative to develop efficient, handy and scalable substrates for surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) aiming the widespread use of this technique for chemical analysis and molecular sensing. In this research, new poly(methylmethacrylate) based nanocomposites for SERS were prepared by in situ miniemulsion polymerization in the presence of organically capped metal silver nanoparticles. The ensuing composites have been investigated as analytical platforms for SERS detection of DNA constituents for variable analytical conditions. Finally, we show that in special cases, selective detection of DNA bases by SERS can be possible by varying the pH of the solution under analysis. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

First Curl,Then Wrinkle

The excellent properties of elastomers are exploited to trigger wrinkling instabilities in curved shells. Micro‐ and nano‐fibres are produced by electrospinning and UV irradiated: each fibre consists of a soft core and a stiff outer half‐shell. Upon solvent de‐swelling, the fibres curl because the shell and the core have different natural lengths. Wrinkling only starts after the fibre has attained a well‐defined helical shape. A simple analytical model is proposed to find the curling curvature and wrinkle wavelength, as well as the transition between the “curling” and “wrinkling” regimes. This new instability resembles that found in the tendrils of climbing plants as they dry and lignify.

     

Asymptotic properties of some subset vector autoregressive process estimators

We establish consistency and derive asymptotic distributions for estimators of the coefficients of a subset vector autoregressive (SVAR) process. Using a martingale central limit theorem, we first derive the asymptotic distribution of the subset least squares (LS) estimators. Exploiting the similarity of closed form expressions for the LS and Yule–Walker (YW) estimators, we extend the asymptotics to the latter. Using the fact that the subset Yule–Walker and recently proposed Burg estimators satisfy closely related recursive algorithms, we then extend the asymptotic results to the Burg estimators. All estimators are shown to have the same limiting distribution.     

OrbiSIMS metrology Part I: Optimisation of the target potential and collision cell pressure

In 2017, we introduced the OrbiSIMS instrument that features a dual analyser configuration with a time-of-flight (ToF) mass spectrometer (MS) and an Orbitrap MS, which confer advantages of speed and high-performance mass spectrometry, respectively. The ability to combine the MS performance usually found in a state-of-the-art proteomics and metabolomics MS with 3D imaging at the microscale and from nanolayers of <10 nm of material has proved popular in a broad field of application from organic electronics to drug discovery. There are now several instruments in operation around the world, and metrology is needed to help ensure repeatability and reproducibility of the intensity scale. We conduct a systematic study of two key parameters, the target potential, V_T, and the collision cell pressure, P, in the transfer optics on the transmitted secondary ion intensities. We measure V_T–P maps of the ions across the mass range for Ag as a representative of inorganic materials and two different organic materials, Irganox 1010 and NPB (N,N′-Di[1-naphthyl]-N,N′-diphenyl-4,4′-biphenyldiamine). The manufacturer's defaults for these values ensure very good transmission for a broad range of analyte classes. However, the maps reveal a sometimes complex behaviour and indicate the possibility for additional separation of ions based on their shape, labile nature and kinetics of formation. Guidance is provided on how to optimise these parameters for sensitivity for different material classes and also the need for optimisation to improve spectral repeatability and reproducibility.     

Monitoring the process mean based on attribute inspection when a small sample is available

This paper proposes a new control chart, denoted by Open image in new window to evaluate the stability of a process mean when a small sample is available. This chart is based on attribute inspection rather than the physical measurements (taken with an instrument, such as a caliper or precision balance) of the quality characteristics of interest of the sampled items. The main goal is to recover measurements on a continuous scale by generating random measurements using the frequencies observed for the sample as inputs. The average sample obtained using these recovery measures ( Open image in new window ) is calculated and used to draw the standard Open image in new window chart. The average sample Open image in new window can be shown to be a mixture of normal distributions. The values of the lower control limit (LCL) and the upper control limit (UCL) are chosen to minimize the average run length (ARL).     

Multiple Emulsion Templating of Hybrid Ag/SiO2 Capsules for Antibacterial Applications

Silver nanoparticles (NPs) encapsulated in amorphous silica shells are synthesized and evaluated for their antibacterial action using the Gram‐negative Escherichia coli bacterium. These inorganic capsules are synthesized using a new approach that comprises the use of oil‐in‐water‐in‐oil (O/W/O) multiple emulsions to fabricate SiO₂ capsules incorporating organically capped Ag NPs. This strategy is explored as a mean to promote the bioadhesion of the microorganisms to the silica rough surfaces while still keeping the system with a high surface area for the active metal. The results have shown that the hybrid capsules enable a slow release of cationic silver from the interior of the silica microsphere to the external medium probably through the pore channels in the shell. The antibacterial activity against E. coli is mainly determined by the Ag⁺ ion release rate, suggesting that these particulates can be employed as a robust system for prolonged used as an antimicrobial material.     

Analysis of the use of an industrial waste as reinforcement in epoxy composites

A study was done to investigate the use of the waste generated at a hydrometallurgical zinc plant as filler in epoxy matrix composites. The waste was processed before its incorporation into the matrix and composites with volume fraction from 10 to 50% were fabricated with six different particle sizes. The results show that the mechanical properties increase with the decrease of the particle size until a threshold value is reached. Below this value the distance between particles became the controlling parameter. The results also show that this waste can be satisfactorily used as filler. Its advantages over commonly used fillers are its low cost and the environmental gain of its convenient disposal.     

Differences in Sensitivity to UVC, UVB and UVA Radiation of a Multidrug-Resistant Cell Line Overexpressing P-Glycoprotein

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is the phenomenon in which cultured tumor cells, selected for resistance to one chemotherapeutic agent, simultaneously acquire resistance to several apparently unrelated drugs. The MDR phenotype is multifactorial. The best-studied mechanism involves the expression of a membrane protein that acts as an energy-dependent efflux pump, known as P-glycoprotein (Pgp), capable of extruding toxic materials from the cell. In this work, resistance to UVA radiation, but not to UVC nor UVB, was observed in an MDR leukemia cell line. This cell line overexpresses Pgp. To study the role of Pgp in the resistance to UVA radiation, two MDR modulators or reversing agents (verapamil and cyclosporin A) capable of blocking Pgp activity were used. Cell viability was assessed and the techniques of flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy were employed to measure the extrusion of rhodamine 123 by the efflux pump. The results show that MDR modulators did not modify the resistance to UVA radiation. Furthermore, although cell viability was not significantly altered, Pgp function was impaired after UVA treatment, suggesting that this glycoprotein may be a physical target for oxidative damage, and that other factors may be responsible for the UVA resistance. In agreement with this, it was found that the resistant cell line presented a higher catalase activity than the parental (non-MDR) cell line.     

Liquid–liquid equilibrium of (1H,1H,7H-perfluoroheptan-1-ol + perfluoroalkane) binary mixtures

This work presents new liquid–liquid equilibrium data for mixtures of 1H,1H,7H-perfluoroheptan-1-ol and linear perfluoroalkanes from C₆ to C₉. Data were measured at atmospheric pressure by turbidimetry and at pressures up to 5 MPa using a laser light scattering technique. The coexistence curves have been fitted to renormalization group extended-scaling expressions with the critical temperature and molar fraction obtained from the fit.