Dendrimers as scaffolds for multifunctional reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer agents: Syntheses and polymerization

The synthesis and characterization of novel first‐ and second‐generation true dendritic reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agents carrying 6 or 12 pendant 3‐benzylsulfanylthiocarbonylsulfanylpropionic acid RAFT end groups with Z‐group architecture based on 1,1,1‐hydroxyphenyl ethane and trimethylolpropane cores are described in detail. The multifunctional dendritic RAFT agents have been used to prepare star polymers of poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA) and polystyrene (PS) of narrow polydispersities (1.4 < polydispersity index < 1.1 for PBA and 1.5 < polydispersity index < 1.3 for PS) via bulk free‐radical polymerization at 60 °C. The novel dendrimer‐based multifunctional RAFT agents effect an efficient living polymerization process, as evidenced by the linear evolution of the number‐average molecular weight (M_n) with the monomer–polymer conversion, yielding star polymers with molecular weights of up to M_n = 160,000 g mol^?1 for PBA (based on a linear PBA calibration) and up to M_n = 70,000 g mol^?1 for PS (based on a linear PS calibration). A structural change in the chemical nature of the dendritic core (i.e., 1,1,1‐hydroxyphenyl ethane vs trimethylolpropane) has no influence on the observed molecular weight distributions. The star‐shaped structure of the generated polymers has been confirmed through the cleavage of the pendant arms off the core of the star‐shaped polymeric materials. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5877–5890, 2004     

Students’ Reasoning About One-Object Stochastic Phenomena in an ICT-Environment

This paper focuses on the different ways in which students in lower secondary school (14–16 year olds) experience compound random events, presented to them in the form of combined junctions. A carefully designed ICT environment was developed enabling the students to interact with different representations of such structures. Data for the analysis was gathered from two interview sessions. The analysis of the interaction is based on constructivist principles on learning; i.e. we adopted a student-oriented perspective, taking into consideration the different ways students try to make sense of chance encounters. Our results show how some students give priority to geometrical and physical concerns, and we discuss how seeking causal explanations of random phenomena may have encouraged this. With respect to numerically oriented models a division strategy appears to stand out as the preferred one.     

An overview of the Telecommunications Information NetworkingArchitecture

The Telecommunications Information Networking Architecture (TINA) Consortium is an international collaboration aiming at defining and validating an open architecture for telecommunication services for the broadband, multimedia, and information era. The architecture is based on distributed computing, object orientation, and other concepts and standards from the telecommunications and computing industries. This paper provides an introduction to TINA. First, it presents an overall view of TINA, followed by a brief introduction to the main parts of the architecture, namely the computing, network, service, and management architectures. This is followed by a brief overview of interworking and migration scenarios for legacy systems. Finally, an overview of a tool-set to aid service specification and design is presented     

795 nm and 1064 nm dual pump thulium-doped tellurite fibre for S-band amplification

Gain measurement in thulium-doped tellurite fibre is demonstrated with a maximum internal gain of 7 dB at 1480 nm. An improvement in gain by a factor of 2 is achieved using a 795 nm and 1064 nm dual pump scheme. Gain in tellurite fibres extends to longer wavelength than in fluorides, showing improved overlap with the C-band EDFA.     

Complete single mode wavelength coverage over 40 nm with a superstructure grating DBR laser

The spectral characteristics of a widely tunable super structure grating distributed Bragg reflector (SSG-DBR) laser are investigated and the design considerations of the grating reflectors are given. By systematically adjusting the control currents of the two reflector sections and the phase section it is experimentally shown that every wavelength in an interval of 40 nm can be reached with a side-mode suppression usually better than 30 dB     

Optimization of a peak compression system for a remoxipride metabolite (FLA797) and its application to bioanalysis.

A peak compression system is optimized for FLA797 (I), a phenolic tertiary amine and a metabolite to the antipsychotic drug remoxipride. An application is described where this effect is used to give a 6-7-fold improvement of the quantification limit in an assay of I in plasma. The liquid chromatographic system is constructed so that the injection of I dissolved in a solution of a competing amine gives a very high and narrow analyte peak with an apparent efficiency of 1.5 x 10(6) plates/m. When the levels of I in plasma are determined, an internal standard, giving a normal isocratic peak, is added to the plasma sample before the extraction. Concentrations of I down to 0.5-1.0 nM can be determined with reasonable precision. FLA908, another phenolic remoxipride metabolite and a regioisomer to I, eluting as a normal isocratic peak, can be determined simultaneously although only at concentrations higher than 10-15 nM.     

Optimisation and robustness analysis of a hydrophobic interaction chromatography step

Process development, optimisation and robustness analysis for chromatography separations are often entirely based on experimental work and generic knowledge. The present study proposes a method of gaining process knowledge and assisting in the robustness analysis and optimisation of a hydrophobic interaction chromatography step using a model-based approach. Factorial experimental design is common practice in industry today for robustness analysis. The method presented in this study can be used to find the critical parameter variations and serve as a basis for reducing the experimental work. In addition, the calibrated model obtained with this approach is used to find the optimal operating conditions for the chromatography column. The methodology consists of three consecutive steps. Firstly, screening experiments are performed using a factorial design. Secondly, a kinetic-dispersive model is calibrated using gradient elution and column load experiments. Finally, the model is used to find optimal operating conditions and a robustness analysis is conducted at the optimal point. The process studied in this work is the separation of polyclonal IgG from BSA using hydrophobic interaction chromatography.     

Electrodynamic investigations of conduction processes in humid microcrystalline cellulose tablets

The conduction mechanism in microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) tablets at varying relative humidity (RH) has been investigated by using the techniques of low frequency dielectric spectroscopy and transient current analysis at room temperature. The dependence on RH on the measured conductivity and charge carrier density indicates that a high-power-law-exponent percolation process of cations being conducted on water molecules occupying available 6-OH units on the cellulose chains is the dominating dc conduction mechanism at RH below 3 wt % of moisture content. The experimentally observed decrease in charge carrier mobility with increasing moisture content shows that protons and H3O+ ions that are being blocked at empty 6-OH sites also contribute to the charge transport process in cellulose at low moisture contents.