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Various Molecular Weights (various + molecular_weight)
Selected AbstractsControlling diffusion of 3He by buffer gases: A structural contrast agent in lung MRIJOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING, Issue 6 2006Rodolfo H. Acosta PhD Abstract Purpose To study the influence of admixing inert buffer gases to laser-polarized 3He in terms of resulting diffusion coefficients and the consequences for image contrast and resolution. Materials and Methods The diffusion coefficient of 3He was altered by admixing buffer gases of various molecular weights (4He, N2, and SF6). The influence of the pulse sequence and the diffusion coefficient on the appearance of MRI of (laser-polarized) gases was analyzed by comparison of basic theoretical concepts with demonstrative experiments. Results Excellent agreement between theoretical description and observed signal in simple gradient echoes was observed. A maximum signal gain can be predicted and was experimentally validated. Images acquired under such conditions revealed improved resolution. The nature and concentration of the admixed gas defines a structural threshold for the observed apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) as demonstrated with diffusion-weighted MRI on a pig's lung flooded with suitable gas mixtures. Conclusion A novel procedure is proposed to control the diffusion coefficient of gases in MRI by admixture of inert buffer gases. Their molecular mass and concentration enter as additional parameters into the equations that describe structural contrast. This allows for setting a structural threshold up to which structures contribute to the image. For MRI of the lung this enables images of very small structural elements (alveoli) only, or in the other extreme, all airways can be displayed with minimal signal loss due to diffusion. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Effect of polymer size and cosolutes on phase separation of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) and dextran in frozen solutionsJOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 4 2005Ken-ichi Izutsu Abstract The aim of this study was to elucidate the effect of the molecular weight of polymers on their miscibility in frozen solutions to model the physical properties of freeze-dried pharmaceutical formulations. Thermal analysis of frozen solutions containing poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) and dextran of various molecular weights was performed at polymer concentrations below the binodal curve at room temperature. Frozen solutions containing PVP 29,000 and dextran 10,200 showed two thermal transitions (glass transition temperature of maximally freeze-concentrated solution: Tg,) representing two freeze-concentrated amorphous phases, each containing predominantly one of the polymers. A combination of smaller polymers (PVP 10,000 and dextran 1,060) was freeze-concentrated into an amorphous mixture phase across a wide range of concentration ratios. Combinations of intermediate size polymers separated into two freeze-concentrated phases only at certain concentration ratios. Addition of NaCl prevented the phase separation of PVP and dextran in the aqueous and frozen solutions. Higher concentrations of NaCl were required to retain the miscibility of larger polymer combinations in the freeze-concentrate. The molecular weights of the component polymers, polymer concentration ratio, and cosolute composition are the important factors that determine component miscibility in frozen solutions. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 94:709,717, 2005 [source] Star polymers by cross-linking of linear poly(benzyl- L -glutamate) macromonomers via free-radical and RAFT polymerization.JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 20 2010A simple route toward peptide-stabilized nanoparticles Abstract Poly(benzyl- L -glutamate) (PBLG) macromonomers were synthesized by N -carboxyanhydride (NCA) polymerization initiated with 4-vinyl benzylamine. MALDI-ToF analysis confirmed the presence of styrenic end-groups in the PBLG. Free-radical and RAFT polymerization of the macromonomer in the presence of divinyl benzene produced star polymers of various molecular weights, polydispersity, and yield depending on the reaction conditions applied. The highest molecular weight (Mw) of 10,170,000 g/mol was obtained in a free-radical multibatch approach. It was shown that the PBLG star polymers can be deprotected to obtain poly(glutamic acid) star polymers, which form water soluble pH responsive nanoparticles. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010 [source] Fluoropolyethers end-capped by polar functional groups.JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 21 2002Abstract The kinetics of the dibutyltin dilaurate (DBTDL)-catalyzed urethane formation reactions of cyclohexyl isocyanate (CHI) with model monofunctional fluorinated alcohols and fluoropolyether diol Z-DOL H-1000 of various molecular weights (100,1084 g mol,1) in different solvents were studied. IR spectroscopy and chemical titration methods were used for measuring the rate of the total NCO disappearance at 30,60 °C. The effects of the reagents and DBTDL catalyst concentrations, the solvent and hydroxyl-containing compound nature, and the temperature on the reaction rate and mechanism were investigated. Depending on the initial reagent concentration and solvent, the reactions could be well described by zero-order, first-order, second-order, or more complex equations. The reaction mechanism, including the formation of intermediate ternary or binary complexes of reagents with the tin catalyst, could vary with the concentration and solvent and even during the reaction. The results were treated with a rate expression analogous to those used for enzymatic reactions. Under the explored conditions, the rate of the uncatalyzed reaction of fluorinated alcohols with CHI was negligible. Moreover, there was no allophanate formation, nor were there other side reactions, catalysis by urethane in the absence of DBTDL, or a synergetic effect in the presence of the tin catalyst. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3771,3795, 2002 [source] Synthesis and properties of segmented main-chain liquid-crystalline polyurethanes with a high aspect ratio mesogenic diol as a chain extenderJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 10 2002T. Padmavathy Abstract Main-chain liquid-crystalline polyurethanes were synthesized based on a high aspect ratio mesogenic diol (4-{[4-(6-hydroxyhexyloxy)-phenylimino]-methyl}-benzoic acid 4-{[4-(6-hydroxyhexyloxy)-phenylimino]-methyl}-phenyl ester) as a chain extender; polycaprolactone (PCL) diol soft segments of different number-average molecular weights (530, 1250, or 2000); and different diisocyanates, including 1,4-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI), 4,4,-methylene bis(cyclohexyl isocyanate) (H12MDI), and 4,4,-methylene bis(phenyl isocyanate) (MDI). The structure of the polymers was confirmed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry and polarizing microscopy measurements were carried out to examine the liquid-crystalline and thermal properties of the polyurethanes, respectively. The mesogenic diol was partially replaced with 20,50 mol % PCL. A 20 mol % mesogen content was sufficient to impart a liquid crystalline property to all the polymers. The partial replacement of the mesogenic diol with PCL of various molecular weights, as well as the various diisocyanates, influenced the phase transitions and the occurrence of mesophase textures. Characteristic liquid-crystalline textures were observed when a sufficient content of the mesogenic diol was present. Depending on the flexible spacer length and the mesogenic content, grained and threadlike textures were obtained for the HMDI and H12MDI series polymers, whereas the polyurethanes prepared from MDI showed only grained textures for all the compositions. The polymers formed brittle films and could not be subjected to tensile tests. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1527,1538, 2002 [source] Hydrophilization of polypropylene films by using migratory additivesJOURNAL OF VINYL & ADDITIVE TECHNOLOGY, Issue 2 2007Siqiang Zhu Linear and branched hydrophilic additives of various molecular weights (MWs) were extruded with polypropylene (PP) to make blend films. The surface-modifying additives included polyethylene glycol (PEG), hydroxyl-terminated four-arm polyethylene oxide (PEO), and a commercial hydrophilic additive, Irgasurf HL560. Films were extruded by using a twin-screw microcompounder at 200°C, and the resulting film thickness was 100 ,m. Attenuated total reflectance (ATR)-FTIR spectrometry and water contact angle measurements were performed on the film surfaces over time to investigate the additive migration behavior. Although ATR-FTIR detected concentration increases for all additives in the subsurface region, there was no significant improvement in surface hydrophilicity for the PEGs and four-arm PEOs in the same period of time as water contact angles were measured on the surfaces. Among the linear additives, low MW PEG (1 kDa) was found to migrate faster than the high MW varieties. The linear PEG and four-arm PEO with MW higher than 2 kDa did not exhibit significant migration to the surface within a month. Irgasurf was found to change the surface wettability effectively in a relatively short time. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 13:57,64, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers. [source] Self-reinforced polypropylene/LCP prepregs and laminatesPOLYMER COMPOSITES, Issue 5 2002Y. C. Liang Polypropylenes (PPs) of various molecular weights were mixed with a thermotropic liquid crystal polymer (LCP) to prepare unidirectional sheets (prepregs), quasi-isotropic and unidirectional laminates. The mechanical properties and the morphology of the prepregs and the laminates at 0° and 90° with respect to the machine direction were investigated as a function of draw ratio, LCP concentration and molecular weight of the PP. The results for prepregs and laminates showed that both drawing and LCP concentration generally enhanced modulus and tensile strength in machine direction. The morphology of LCP changed from spherical or ellipsoidal droplets to elongated fibrils as the draw ratio increased. The diameter of LCP fibrils decreased with increasing molecular weight of the PP matrix, indicating more effective droplet breakup and better mixing in the case of high molecular weight PP. [source] Interfacial characteristics of film insert molded polycarbonate film/polycarbonate-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene substrate, part 1: Influence of substrate molecular weight and film thicknessPOLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 12 2006Y.W. Leong Adhesion properties between a polycarbonate (PC)/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene blend substrate and PC films of various thicknesses, bonded through film insert molding, were investigated. The use of various molecular weights of PC and incorporation of PC-oligomer in the blend substrate has been found to severely affect the adhesion strength and alter the delamination characteristics at the film,substrate interface. Thicker films were able to increase film,substrate adhesion, apart from providing added impact resistance to a brittle substrate. Polym. Eng. Sci. 46:1674,1683, 2006. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers [source] Theoretical and experimental studies of anisotropic shrinkage in injection moldings of semicrystalline polymersPOLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 6 2006Keehae Kwon A novel approach to predict anisotropic shrinkage of semicrystalline polymers in injection moldings was proposed using flow-induced crystallization, frozen-in molecular orientation, elastic recovery, and PVT equation of state. The anisotropic thermal expansion and compressibility affected by the frozen-in orientation function and the elastic recovery that was not frozen during moldings were introduced to obtain the in-plane anisotropic shrinkages. The frozen-in orientation function was calculated from amorphous and crystalline contributions. The amorphous contribution was based on the frozen-in and intrinsic amorphous birefringence, whereas the crystalline contribution was based on the crystalline orientation function, which was determined from the elastic recovery and intrinsic crystalline birefringence. To model the elastic recovery and frozen-in stresses related to birefringence during molding process, a nonlinear viscoelastic constitutive equation was used with temperature- and crystallinity-dependent viscosity and relaxation time. Occurrence of the flow-induced crystallization was introduced through the elevation of melting temperature affected by entropy production during flow of the viscoelastic melt. Kinetics of the crystallization was modeled using Nakamura and Hoffman-Lauritzen equations with the rate constant affected by the elevated melting temperature. Numerous injection molding runs on polypropylene of various molecular weights were carried out by varying the packing time, flow rate, melt temperature, and mold temperature. The anisotropic shrinkage of the moldings was measured. Comparison of the experimental and simulated results indicated a good predictive capability of the proposed approach. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 46:712,728, 2006. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers [source] Twin-screw compounding of poly(methyl methacrylate)/clay nanocomposites: effects of compounding temperature and matrix molecular weightPOLYMER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 8 2007Jr Hao Liaw Abstract Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/organoclay nanocomposites prepared by melt-compounding using a co-rotating twin-screw extruder were intercalated nanocomposites. Commercially available PMMA resins of various molecular weights were used for comparison. The results showed an optimum compounding temperature for maximum intercalation with balanced shear and diffusion. Higher operating temperature reduced the shear mixing effect, and might have induced early degradation of the organoclay. Lower operating temperature, in contrast, reduced the mobility of the polymer molecules, which not only hampered the intercalation attempts, but also generated high torque in the extrusion. The mechanical behavior of the nanocomposites was studied. The tensile modulus, storage modulus and glass transition temperature of the nanocomposites increased with increasing clay content; however, an associated decrease in strength and strain at break was also observed. The notched impact strength also showed a slight decrease with clay content. Nanocomposites based on the lower molecular weight PMMA yielded more significant improvement in mechanical and thermal properties at the same clay content. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Enamel matrix derivative (Emdogain®) for periodontal tissue regeneration in intrabony defectsAUSTRALIAN DENTAL JOURNAL, Issue 1 2010M Esposito Background:, Periodontitis is a chronic infective disease of the gums caused by bacteria present in dental plaque. This condition induces the breakdown of the tooth supporting apparatus until teeth are lost. Surgery may be indicated to arrest disease progression and regenerate lost tissues. Several surgical techniques have been developed to regenerate periodontal tissues including guided tissue regeneration (GTR), bone grafting (BG) and the use of enamel matrix derivative (EMD). EMD is an extract of enamel matrix and contains amelogenins of various molecular weights. Amelogenins are involved in the formation of enamel and periodontal attachment formation during tooth development. Objectives:, To test whether EMD is effective, and to compare EMD versus GTR, and various BG procedures for the treatment of intrabony defects. Search strategy:, We searched the Cochrane Oral Health Group Trials Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE and EMBASE. Several journals were handsearched. No language restrictions were applied. Authors of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) identified, personal contacts and the manufacturer were contacted to identify unpublished trials. Most recent search: February 2009. Selection criteria:, RCTs on patients affected by periodontitis having intrabony defects of at least 3 mm treated with EMD compared with open flap debridement, GTR and various BG procedures with at least 1 year follow-up. The outcome measures considered were: tooth loss, changes in probing attachment levels (PAL), pocket depths (PPD), gingival recessions (REC), bone levels from the bottom of the defects on intraoral radiographs, aesthetics and adverse events. The following time-points were to be evaluated: 1, 5 and 10 years. Data collection and analysis:, Screening of eligible studies, assessment of the methodological quality of the trials and data extraction were conducted in duplicate and independently by two authors. Results were expressed as random-effects models using mean differences for continuous outcomes and risk ratios (RR) for dichotomous outcomes with 95% confidence intervals (CI). It was decided not to investigate heterogeneity, but a sensitivity analysis for the risk of bias of the trials was performed. Main results:, Thirteen trials were included out of 35 potentially eligible trials. No included trial presented data after 5 years of follow-up, therefore all data refer to the 1-year time point. A meta-analysis including nine trials showed that EMD treated sites displayed statistically significant PAL improvements (mean difference 1.1 mm, 95% CI 0.61 to 1.55) and PPD reduction (0.9 mm, 95% CI 0.44 to 1.31) when compared to placebo or control treated sites, though a high degree of heterogeneity was found. Significantly more sites had <2 mm PAL gain in the control group, with RR 0.53 (95% CI 0.34 to 0.82). Approximately nine patients needed to be treated (NNT) to have one patient gaining 2 mm or more PAL over the control group, based on a prevalence in the control group of 25%. No differences in tooth loss or aesthetic appearance as judged by the patients were observed. When evaluating only trials at a low risk of bias in a sensitivity analysis (four trials), the effect size for PAL was 0.62 mm (95% CI 0.28 to 0.96), which was less than 1.1 mm for the overall result. Comparing EMD with GTR (five trials), GTR showed statistically significant more postoperative complications (three trials, RR 0.12, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.85) and more REC (0.4 mm 95% CI 0.15 to 0.66). The only trial comparing EMD with a bioactive ceramic filler found statistically significant more REC (-1.60 mm, 95% CI ,2.74 to ,0.46) at the EMG treated sites. Authors' conclusions:, One year after its application, EMD significantly improved PAL levels (1.1 mm) and PPD reduction (0.9 mm) when compared to a placebo or control, however, the high degree of heterogeneity observed among trials suggests that results have to be interpreted with great caution. In addition, a sensitivity analysis indicated that the overall treatment effect might be overestimated. The actual clinical advantages of using EMD are unknown. With the exception of significantly more postoperative complications in the GTR group, there was no evidence of clinically important differences between GTR and EMD. Bone substitutes may be associated with less REC than EMD. Plain language summary:, Enamel matrix derivative (Emdogain®) for periodontal tissue regeneration in intrabony defects. Emdogain might have some advantages over other methods of regenerating the tissue supporting teeth lost by gum disease, such as less postoperative complications, but has not been shown to save more compromised teeth or that patients noticed any aesthetic improvement 1 year after its application. Bacteria in plaque can cause gum disease (periodontitis) that breaks down tissue supporting teeth. Surgical cleaning tries to stop the disease to save loose teeth. Bone grafting, guided tissue regeneration and enamel matrix derivatives (such as Emdogain) aim to regenerate support tissues. Emdogain contains proteins (derived from developing pig teeth) believed to regenerate tooth attachment. The review found that adjunctive application of Emdogain regenerates about 1 mm more tissue than surgical cleaning alone, although it is unclear to which extent such improvement is noticeable since patients did not find any difference in the aesthetic results. Emdogain showed similar clinical results to guided tissue regeneration, but is simpler to use and determines less complications. Bone substitutes may induce less gum retraction than Emdogain. No serious adverse reactions to Emdogain were reported in trials. [source] Monovalent cations affect the free solution mobility of DNA by perturbing the hydrogen-bonded structure of water,BIOPOLYMERS, Issue 2 2005Earle Stellwagen Abstract The free solution mobilities of single- and double-stranded DNA molecules of various molecular weights have been measured by capillary electrophoresis in solutions of constant ionic strength containing a common anion and fifteen different monovalent cations. In solutions with the same ionic composition, the mobilities of different DNA molecules can vary by up to 20%, depending on molecular weight, the number of strands, and the presence or absence of A-tracts, runs of four or more contiguous adenine residues. Importantly, the mobilities observed for the same DNA sample can vary by up to 40% in solutions containing different cations. The mobility differences observed for the same DNA in solutions containing different cations cannot be rationalized by differences in the anhydrous radii or intrinsic conductivities of the various cations, or by the sequence-dependent binding of certain cations to A-tracts. Instead, the observed mobilities are linearly correlated with the average number of water,water hydrogen bonds that are present in solutions containing different cations. The mobilities are also correlated with the viscosity B coefficients of the various cations and with the rotational correlation times frictional coefficients observed for water molecules in solutions containing different cations. Hence, monovalent cations modify the free solution mobility of DNA primarily by perturbing the hydrogen-bonded structure of water, affecting the friction experienced by the migrating DNA molecules during electrophoresis. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 78: 62,68, 2005 [source] | ||||||||||||||||