Poly(ε-caprolactone) + unsaturated isophtalic polyester blends: Thermal properties and morphology

Miscibility of blends composed by a linear unsaturated polyester (LUP) with poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) of different molecular weights (M_w = 50 × 10³, 18 × 10³ and 2 × 10³) has been studied. The blends were subjected to different thermal treatments and have been studied by FT-IR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electronic microscopy (ESEM). FT-IR results allow proving the miscibility of the blends at temperatures above the melting temperature of neat PCL. DSC measurements confirm the existence of a crystalline phase corresponding to neat PCL. The crystallization of PCL is observed in a wide range of blends composition, being detected in all the blend compositions when the crystallization time increases. Thermograms show clearly the glass transition temperatures of samples that have been rapidly quenched from the melt. However, the change in the heat flow corresponding to the glass transition temperatures is difficult to detect in samples with high PCL crystallization degree. The analysis of the results indicates that the morphology of the amorphous phase is heterogeneous for LUP + PCL blends and changes depending on the thermal treatment. The ESEM measurements, confirm the heterogeneity of the amorphous phase. The decrease of the molecular weight of the PCL favours the miscibility of the blends.     

Profile characterization and biological activities of cold pressed Garden Cress (Lepidium sativum) seed oil

Lepidium sativum is cultivated mainly for the edible oil from its seeds, and considered as an unutilized and neglected crop despite its important properties. Its oil fraction is used to produce soap and stabilize linseed oil when it is mixed with wild mustard seed oil. Once converted into fatty acid methyl esters, it represents a good substitute for imported petroleum diesel after alkaline transesterification reaction. In the current study, Lepidium sativum seeds cultivated in Tunisia and the physicochemical properties and nutrient profile of its cold pressed seed oil were investigated. The antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities of the above oil were also assessed. Lepidium sativum seed oil was abundant in both linolenic (35.59 ± 1.9%) and oleic (21.14 ± 0.63%) acids, and high amounts of β-sitosterol (42.57 ± 2.96 mg/100 g), campesterol (20.04 ± 1.4 mg/100 g) and Δ 5,24 stigmastadienol (11.82 ± 0.45 mg/100 g) were detected. The total tocopherol content of Lepidium sativum seed oil reached 136.83 ± 7.6 mg/100 g with a predominance of γ-tocopherol (86.23%). Its seed oil exhibited an IC₅₀ of 10.33 ± 0.05 mg/mL and a radical scavenging activity of 415.6 ± 40 Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) for the DPPH and the ABTS assays, respectively. While the thermal analysis proved a high thermal stability of Lepidium sativum seed oil, that of eight bacteria and one fungal strain showed no noticeable bacterial or antifungal effects. It was also revealed that Lepidium sativum seed oil held a remarkable anti-inflammatory activity. Hence, the obtained results evidenced remarkable chemical, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Lepidium sativum seed oil, which might potentially be promising for enhancing human health and preventing age-related diseases.     

The potential of mass spectrometry to study iron-containing proteins used in clinical diagnosis

Many proteins contain iron as metal ion either within their own structures or bound to their active sites. These iron-containing proteins are involved in numerous biological processes and some of them serve as biomarkers of clinical pathologies, not only related to iron homeostasis but also to other physiological disorders. Thus, a variety of analytical strategies have been developed over the last years in order to conduct studies on Fe-containing proteins. Among them, mass spectrometric (MS) methods still remain as preferred tools since they provide the capabilities of structure elucidation together with quantitative possibilities. Therefore, in this work we have tried to summarize the most recent applications of elemental and molecular mass spectrometric-based methods for the characterization (mostly qualitative but quantitative in some cases) of the high abundant Fe-containing proteins used for clinical diagnosis.     

A Convenient Synthesis of α-Phenylsclcno-α, β-unsaturated Nitriles via Arsonium Salt

a-Phenylseleno-a,0-unsaturatednitrilesareusefulintermediatesinorganicsynthesisinconsequenceoftheconsiderableversatilityofthetransformationofseleno"andcyano.gooddienophilesandradicophiles'.However,onlyonemethodfortheirpreparationhavebeenreported,'butitsyieldisverylow.Recently,ourinterestinsynthesisandapplicationofa-selenoarsoniumylidesledustoexploita-selenenylationofarsoniumsalt1andconsequentcondensationwitharomaticaldehydesunderweaklybasiccondition.Hereinwewishtoreportanefficientonepotsynthesi…     

双重介质分形油藏渗流问题

将油井有效半径引入双重介质分形油藏渗流问题的内边界之中,从而建立了双重介质分形油藏的一种渗流模型,并在考虑了井筒储集和表皮效应的情况求得了外边界为无限大、有界封闭和有界定压三种情况下双重介质分形油藏压力分布的精确解析表达式,利用拉氏数值反演Stehfest方法分析了双重介质分形油藏压力动态特征,讨论了各种参数对压力动态的影响。     

Mixed Langmuir monolayers of cholesterol and `essential' fatty acids

Langmuir monolayers of cholesterol and various fatty acids, such as stearic, oleic, linoleic, α-linolenic, and arachidonic acids, spread at the air/water interface are investigated. The system of cholesterol and stearic acid is found to be immiscible, with only one collapse, occurring at the same surface pressure for all composition range. However, surface pressure (π) – area (A) isotherms of cholesterol/unsaturated fatty acids show a characteristic course with two collapse states. The pressure of the first collapse varies with the proportion of the components in the mixture, while the second collapse, occurring at the surface pressure characteristic of cholesterol alone, is independent of mole fraction of the investigated fatty acid. The application of the surface phase rule indicates that the unsaturated fatty acids/cholesterol mixtures are miscible up to the surface pressure corresponding to the first collapse. Negative values of the excess free energy of mixing in all composition ranges prove that the mixtures are stable. The interactions existing in mixtures of cholesterol and unsaturated fatty acids possessing even numbers of double bonds are strongest in the lower region of fatty acid proportion, and the results are consistent with the minimum values of the excess free energy of mixing, indicating the most stable mixtures. For cholesterol and unsaturated fatty acids with odd numbers of double bonds the behavior is different, and the strongest interactions occur in both low and high regions of mole fraction of an acid. Received: 2 May 2000 Accepted: 26 October 2000     

An access to α, β-unsaturated ketones via dual cooperative catalysis

A dual cooperative organocatalytic approach for the synthesis of α, β-unsaturated ketones is described. This one pot transformation is realized via a domino Knoevenagel-Michael-retro Michael reaction sequence. Various aliphatic ketones reacted smoothly with aromatic as well as aliphatic aldehydes in presence catalytic amount of Meldrum’s acid and bifunctional amine. The highlights of this protocol are the easy availability of catalysts, high selectivity, and functional group tolerance. The reaction proved to highly E-selective with no side products emanating from self-condensation, unlike the base-mediated reactions.     

低渗透多孔介质非达西渗流动边界界面追踪

基于低渗透多孔介质非达西不稳定渗流的动边界数学模型,推导动边界移动速度的微分表达式,揭示动边界移动速度与动边界上地层压力关于径向距离的二次导数成正比;由此利用拉格朗日三点插值公式求得动边界附近控制方程的有限差分格式,并对下一时刻动边界的精确位置进行追踪.有限差分方法的数值结果表明界面追踪法可较好地反映低渗透多孔介质非达西不稳定渗流动边界的移动规律.     

二维裂隙渗流等效渗透系数张量的一种近似算法

地质体裂隙渗流十分复杂,通常可用等效渗透系数张量来描述其渗透特性. 本文基于无限延伸的多组平行裂隙的等效渗透系数张量的叠加算法,通过引入裂隙的贯通系数概念,并结合随机裂隙网络生成技术,发展了一种可用于估算二维裂隙等效渗透系数张量的叠加算法.     

断层内破碎岩石渗透性的实验研究

断层破碎带岩石的渗透性是影响地下工程中由渗流失稳而引发灾害事故的重要影响因素之一。利用一种专门的破碎岩石压实渗透仪,在MTS815.02岩石力学伺服试验系统上测试了取自断层内的破碎灰岩、破碎砂岩、破碎泥岩的渗透系数,得到并分析了轴向压力、岩样粒径、水流速度与渗透系数的关系曲线。研究表明:破碎岩石渗透系数与其压实状态密切相关,随着轴压的增加,渗透系数都相应降低;在相同的轴向压力状态下,岩样粒径越小,其渗透系数也越小,因此,挤压程度和充填程度都较低的小断层导水性好,容易导致突水;破碎岩石的渗透系数随着水流速度的增大呈减小趋势,但水流速度对破碎岩石渗透系数的影响程度有限;在相同的压力、粒径情况下,破碎泥岩的渗透系数比破碎灰岩、破碎砂岩的要小1～2个量级,说明当断层上下盘为坚硬岩石时,断层带渗透性好、易导水。研究结果可为采动过程中评价断层的导水性提供参考。