Structure Lead (structure + lead)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Processing, Morphology, and Mechanical Properties of Liquid Pool Polypropylene with Different Molecular Weights

MACROMOLECULAR MATERIALS & ENGINEERING, Issue 6 2005
Claudia Stern
Abstract Summary: The processability, morphology, and resulting mechanical properties of novel polypropylene (PP) samples of varying molecular weight () were studied. A series of homopolymer PP in a wide range from 101,000 to 1,600,000 g,·,mol,1 was polymerised in a liquid pool (LP) under defined conditions. The LP-PP with a well-known polymerisation history was manufactured into micro dumbbell specimens by means of a micro injection-moulding process. The morphology and mechanical properties of the samples were studied by light microscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, and a quasi-static tensile test. Simulation of the filling behaviour of the molten polymer inside the mould shows that the shear rate increases as the molecular weight increases, up to a maximum shear rate of 750,000 s,1. In addition, the present crystallisation time of the high-molecular-weight PP samples is clearly lower than their retardation time; the long macromolecules do not have sufficient time to retard while cooling. As a result of the shear-induced crystallisation, a highly oriented crystalline structure is formed as a function of the acting shear rate. SEM and TEM investigations show the existence of an oriented shish kebab structure. The density of the shish kebab increases as the molecular weight increases. Evaluations of the shear rate and the morphological structure indicate a critical shear rate of about 300,000 s,1. Above this shear rate level, shish kebab structures are favourably formed. The shear-induced crystallisation and, therefore, the preferred formation of a highly oriented shish kebab structure lead, obviously, to unusual solid-state properties of the analysed LP-PP samples. With a tensile strength up to 100 N,·,mm,2 and an attainable strain at break of more than 30%, the mechanical performance is much higher than results ever reported in literature. True strain,stress behaviour of moulded the LP-PP samples of different molecular weight. [source]


Determination of cosmetic ingredients causing extrusion-coated and adhesive joint multilayer packaging delamination

PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Issue 7 2009
Álvaro Garrido-López
Abstract In order to study the effect of several compounds on packaging stability, different cosmetic ingredients at two concentration levels were added to a NeoPCL® (Acofarma, Terrassa, Spain) water emulsion, and the preparations packed in sachets and stored at 40°C during 3 months. After that, the packaging was subjected to a T-peel test and headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) analysis. The HS-SPME-GC-MS analyses were performed using a 75,,m carboxen polydimethylsiloxane fibre to check for the presence of the studied analytes in the inner layers. The study revealed that the presence of a phenyl and a hydroxyl group in the compound structure lead to an important loss of adhesion between packaging layers joined by an adhesive. The interaction between the cosmetic ingredient and the adhesive was proposed as the main cause of the loss of adhesion. However, extrusion-coating packaging was more susceptible to delamination, particularly with the volatile compounds. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Structure and sugar-specificity of basic winged-bean lectin: structures of new disaccharide complexes and a comparative study with other known disaccharide complexes of the lectin

ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D, Issue 7 2008
Kiran A. Kulkarni
Crystal structures of the complexes of basic winged-bean agglutinin with the disaccharides Gal,1-4Gal (galabiose), Gal,1-6Glc (mellibiose) and Gal,1-4Gal,-Et have been determined and the complex with Gal,1-2Gal has been modelled. The interactions of the nonreducing Gal with the lectin at the primary site are the same as those in the known complexes with disaccharides having the ,1,3 linkage. The second residue in Gal,1-4Gal and Gal,1-6Glc forms a water bridge to the lectin, while the ethyl group in Gal,1-4Gal,-Et makes nonpolar interactions. In complexes involving disaccharides with ,1-3 linkages, which form part of the A and B blood-group substances, the second sugar residue forms a direct hydrogen bond to the variable loop in the binding site of the lectin. This in part explains the specificity of the lectin for the blood-group substances and also the higher affinity of ,1,3-linked disaccharides for the lectin compared with disaccharides involving other linkages. Including those reported here, 14 crystal structures involving the lectin, accounting for 54 crystallographically independent subunits, are available. A comparative study of these structures shows that the region involving the curved ,-sheet which nestles the metal ions is relatively rigid. The carbohydrate-binding region is perched on this region. The flat ,-sheet, which is involved in oligomerization and exhibits considerable variability in legume lectins, is relatively flexible. Indeed, the structures of basic winged-bean lectin have been of critical importance in establishing legume lectins as a family of proteins in which small alterations in essentially the same tertiary structure lead to large variations in quaternary association. They have also provided a structural explanation of the blood-group specificity of the lectin. [source]


Formation of Human Telomeric G-quadruplex Structures Induced by the Quaternary Benzophenanthridine Alkaloids: Sanguinarine, Nitidine, and Chelerythrine

CHINESE JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY, Issue 5 2010
Shu Yang
Abstract The ligands which can facilitate the formation and stabilize G-quadruplex structures have attracted enormous attention due to their potential ability of inhibiting the telomerase activity and halting tumor cell proliferation. It is noteworthy that the abilities of the quaternary benzophenanthridine alkaloids (QBAs), the very important G-quadruplex binders, in inducing the formation of human telomeric DNA G-quadruplex structures, have not been reported. Herein, the interaction between single-strand human telomeric DNA and three QBAs: Sanguinarine (San), Nitidine (Nit) and Chelerythrine (Che), has been investigated. Although these molecules are very similar in structure, they exhibit significantly different abilities in inducing oligonucleotide d(TTAGGG)4 (HT4) to specific G-quadruplex structures. Our experimental results indicated that the best ligand San could convert HT4 into antiparallel G-quadruplex structure completely, followed by Nit, which could transform to mixed-type or hybrid G-quadruplex structure partially, whereas Che could only transform to antiparallel G-quadruplex structure in small quantities. The relative QBAs' inducing abilities as indicated by the CD data are in the order of San>Nit>Che. Further investigation revealed that the G-quadruplex structures from HT4 induced by QBAs are of intramolecular motif. And only sequences with certain length could be induced by QBAs because of their positive charges which could not attract short chain DNA molecules to close to each other and form intermolecular G-quadruplex. In addition, the factors that affect the interaction between HT4 and QBAs were discussed. It is proposed that the thickness of the molecular frame and the steric hindrance are the primary reasons why the subtle differences in QBAs' structure lead to their remarkable differences in inducing the formation of the G-quadruplex structures. [source]


Conjugated-Polymer Blends for Optoelectronics

ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 38-39 2009
Christopher R. McNeill
Abstract Solution-processed polymer optoelectronic devices such as light-emitting diodes and solar cells have many advantages for large-area manufacture, and show increasing levels of performance. Here, we review recent progress in using blends of two conjugated polymers for optoelectronic devices. The blending of two or more polymers allows tuning of device performance, and for photovoltaics presents an attractive way to combine donor and acceptor materials with a morphology controlled by polymer phase separation. We discuss recent advances in imaging the microstructure of conjugated polymer blends, and we demonstrate how the blend structure leads to performance advantages in both LEDs and photovoltaic devices. [source]


Influence of Grain Phase on Slag Corrosion of Low-Cement Castable Refractories

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Issue 2 2001
Hossain Sarpoolaky
The grain phase has a significant influence on the extent and mechanism of attack of low-cement castables with similar bond systems in a crucible corrosion test. The general corrosion mechanism, as determined by post mortem scanning electron microscopic examination of corroded samples and thermodynamic calculations for all four grain types examined (white-fused alumina (WFA), tabular alumina (TA), brown-fused alumina (BFA), and alumina-rich spinel (S)), involves initial reaction of the most penetrating slag (enriched in calcium, manganese, and iron, because these elements diffuse rapidly) with the fine alumina and calcium aluminates of the matrix. This reaction gives a CaO-rich local liquid, which can then react with each grain predominantly to form calcium hexaluminate (CA6) and hercynitic spinel. In the WFA system, a complete CA6 layer forms around the grain, whereas in the TA system, this layer is incomplete. In both systems, extensive penetration occurs, although corrosion is low. In the BFA system, titanates are released from the grain into the bond, leading to increased densification of the refractory, via liquid-phase sintering, and consequent low penetration. However, the resulting fluid liquid dissolves easily in the slag, so that corrosive wear is high, even though a CA6 layer forms around the grain. In the S grain system, uptake of the rapidly diffusing cations into the spinel crystal structure leads to silica-rich and viscous local liquid, which leads to low penetration and corrosion. [source]


An aza-cyclophane stacked in racemic columnar assemblies: whole-molecule disorder in a two-dimensional solid solution

ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION B, Issue 2 2009
Matthias Zeller
The oxime derivative of [1.1.1]cyclophane cyclotriveratrylene (CTV) was ring expanded utilizing a Beckmann rearrangement to provide a ten-membered N -acetyl macrocyclic amide that crystallizes as a chloroform monosolvate in columnar assemblies manifesting an unusual disorder within the crystal. Columns made up of this structure consist of infinite columnar assemblies of alternating d and l enantiomers and therefore necessarily are made up of a racemate, yet the chiralities of individual molecules in adjacent columns are independent of one another, leading to the overall formation of a two-dimensional solid solution. The random arrangement of the columns within the structure leads to the emergence of a crystallographic mirror plane not reflected by the molecular symmetry, to a change of symmetry from Pna21 to Pnma and to whole-molecule disorder of the bowl-shaped molecules within the columns. [source]


Structure of the single-stranded DNA-binding protein from Streptomyces coelicolor

ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D, Issue 9 2009
Zoran, tefani
The crystal structure of the single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB) from Streptomyces coelicolor, a filamentous soil bacterium with a complex life cycle and a linear chromosome, has been solved and refined at 2.1,Å resolution. The three-dimensional structure shows a common conserved central OB-fold that is found in all structurally determined SSB proteins. However, it shows variations in quaternary structure that have previously only been found in mycobacterial SSBs. The strand involved in the clamp mechanism characteristic of this type of quaternary structure leads to higher stability of the homotetramer. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first X-ray structure of an SSB protein from a member of the genus Streptomyces and it was predicted to be the most stable of the structurally characterized bacterial or human mitochondrial SSBs. [source]


Mechanical Properties of Compound Extruded Aircraft Stringer Profiles Under Cyclic Loading,

ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 7 2010
Kay A. Weidenmann
The worldwide competition in the field of aircraft structures leads to an increasing need for functionality and safety as well as for cost and weight reduction. For instance stringers could be directly welded on the aircraft's skin sheet. The requirements to be met are increased safety against crack initiation and crack growth as well as improved residual strength against failure after harmful impact of foreign objects. The application of continuously reinforced aluminium profiles which are manufactured by compound extrusion leads to increased strength and stiffness of the profiles by combining the aluminium matrix with high strength wires. Thus aircraft stringers of such profiles represent an innovative concept with improved properties. The characterisation of compound extrusions based on medium and high strength aircraft aluminium alloys EN AW-6056 and EN AW-2099 shows that a good embedding of the reinforcing high strength wires (Co-based and Fe-based) can be achieved. Furthermore the mechanical properties under cyclic loading of the profiles were measured and the S/N-curves for the different compound combinations were determined. Subsequently the crack initiation and propagation was analysed by using metallographic and SEM investigations. The fatigue resistance of reinforced specimens is increased compared to unreinforced ones. The fatigue cracks originate at the surface of unreinforced specimen while the cracks in reinforced specimens are initiated at the wire,matrix interface. [source]


Microfabricated devices: A new sample introduction approach to mass spectrometry

MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS, Issue 4 2006
Iulia M. Lazar
Abstract Instrument miniaturization is one way of addressing the issues of sensitivity, speed, throughput, and cost of analysis in DNA diagnostics, proteomics, and related biotechnology areas. Microfluidics is of special interest for handling very small sample amounts, with minimal concerns related to sample loss and cross-contamination, problems typical for standard fluidic manipulations. Furthermore, the small footprint of these microfabricated structures leads to instrument designs suitable for high-density, parallel sample processing, and high-throughput analyses. In addition to miniaturized systems designed with optical or electrochemical detection, microfluidic devices interfaced to mass spectrometry have also been demonstrated. Instruments for automated sample infusion analysis are now commercially available, and microdevices utilizing chromatographic or capillary electrophoresis separation techniques are under development. This review aims at documenting the technologies and applications of microfluidic mass spectrometry for the analysis of proteomic samples. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., Mass Spec Rev 25:573,594, 2006 [source]


Hydrogenation of strain engineered InAs/InxGa1,x As quantum dots

PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (C) - CURRENT TOPICS IN SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 3 2004
D. Ochoa
Abstract InxGa1,xAs/InAs/InxGa1,xAs structures have been grown by atomic layer molecular beam epitaxy on top of a GaAs buffer and substrate. In these structures, the thickness d and/or the In composition x of the lower InxGa1,xAs confining layer control the strain in self-assembled quantum dots. This strain engineering has allowed achieving emission energies as low as 1.5 ,m at low T, with a rapid quenching of the photoluminescence (PL) signal at high T. Hydrogen irradiation of these structures leads to an increase in the PL efficiency, higher in samples with higher x, with a blue shift in the peak energy. A higher concentration of non radiative defects in confining layers richer in indium is responsible for the observed PL quenching, more than an increased thermal escape of carriers toward the InxGa1,xAs barriers. (© 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]