The formation of propylene fumarate oligomers for use in bioerodible bone cement composites

Poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) oligomers were synthesized by step polymerization using bis(2-hydroxypropyl fumarate) or propylene bis(hydrogen maleate) as starting materials. Oligomers possessing identical degrees of polymerization (DP), but varying in their end group character (either hydroxyl or carboxyl) were first prepared and characterized, then used as part of a bone cement preparation consisting of oligomer, tricalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, and methyl methacrylate. Compressive strength of the resulting composite appeared to be dependent on both the degree of polymerization of the PPF, and the nature of the oligomers' end groups.     

Collective excitations in superconductors

The excitations connected with quantum condensation of a fermion gas are calculated quantitatively along the lines of a previous paper. We find exact agreement with earlier results: excitations of the phonon type in the absence of Coulomb interaction, strong indications for their nonexistence in the presence of this interaction.     

Seesaw neutrino masses with large mixings from dimensional deconstruction

We demonstrate a dynamical origin for the dimension-five seesaw operator in dimensional deconstruction models. Light neutrino masses arise from the seesaw scale which corresponds to the inverse lattice spacing. It is shown that the deconstructing limit naturally prefers maximal leptonic mixing. Higher-order corrections which are allowed by gauge invariance can transform the bimaximal into a bilarge mixing. These terms may appear to be nonrenormalizable at scales smaller than the deconstruction scale.     

Studies of degradation enhancement of polystyrene by flame retardant additives

Experimental methods as well as thermodynamic modeling techniques were utilized to explore potential gas and condensed-phase contributions of various flame retardant (FR) additives with polystyrene polymer. FR additives investigated include hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), triphenyl phosphine oxide (TPPO), triphenyl phosphate (TPP), triphenyl phosphine sulfide (TPPS), and sulfur. Flame studies of fundamental FR activity were also employed using molecular beam mass spectrometry analysis of FR active species directly in a flame system. The flame studies show direct evidence for active bromine (HBr, Br) species for HBCD and active phosphorous species (HPO₂, PO, PO₂ HPO₃) species for TPPO and TPP which provide high potential for gas-phase activity for these FR additives. Various experimental measurements were also done to assess the degradation species and the degree of degradation of polystyrene by the FR additives. These studies support enhanced degradation of the base polystyrene polymer by the FR additive as a major pathway for condensed FR activity for HBCD and sulfur FR additives. Phosphorous based structures appear to show little enhancement of polystyrene degradation.     

EDP + ADP = IDP

Zusammenfassung Zunächst wird der Grundgedanke des IDP (Integrated Data Processing) als logische Weiterentwicklung der Begriffe EDP (Electronic Data Processing) und ADP (Automatic Data Processing) erläutert; einige typische dem IDP zugrundeliegende Ideen werden näher diskutiert und ein Ausblick auf die nächste Zukunft gegeben.

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Summary In a first part, the thoughts that led up to IDP (Integrated Data Processing) are considered, as it emerged from EDP (Electronic Data Processing) and from ADP (Automatic Data Processing). Some typical aspects of IDP are discussed and a preview on possible future developments is given.