Variation of crystallographic parameters in PEEKK with heat treatment temperature

Using the wide-angle X-ray diffraction method, the variation of crystallographic parameters of poly(aryl ether ether ketone ketone) (PEEKK) has been studied in different heat treatment temperatures. All the reflections and their intensities as well as their Miller indices are presented in detail according to an orthorhombic system. The investigation indicates that the unit cell parameters a, b, c and the unit cell volume V systematically decrease with increasing heat treatment temperature. This variation is interpreted by the change of conformation of polymer molecular chains during thermal treatment. The results calculated from the formula of degree of crystallinity (W-c,W-x) for PEEKK, which was derived based on X-ray scattering intensity theory and the graphic multipeak resolution method, are compatible with the density measurement (W-c,W-d) and calorimetry (W-c,W-h) values. (C) 1997 Elesevier Science Ltd.

Crystallization behavior of blends of high-density polyethylene with novel linear low-density polyethylene

Blends of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with novel linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) samples in the whole range of compositions were investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). The LLDPEs are ethylene/octene-1 copolymers prepared with a single-site catalyst, with a narrower distribution of branches compared to Ziegler-Natta type polymers. It was found that cocrystallization or separate crystallization in the blends profoundly depends on the content of branches in the LLDPE, while the critical branch content of the novel LLDPE for separate crystallization is much lower than that of commercial LLDPE (prepared with Ziegler-Natta catalysts). This implies that the miscibility of linear and branched polyethylene is also affected by the distribution of branches. The marked expansion of the unit cell in cocrystals, which are formed by HDPE with the novel LLDPE, indicates that the branches are included in the crystal lattice during the cocrystallization process. The result is very helpful to understand the phenomenon that the unit cell dimensions of commercial branched polyethylene are larger than those of linear polyethylene.

Crystal structure of a Pr-III complex with a novel macrocyclic ligand

The crystal structure of a novel macrocyclic ligand complex of Pr-III, C112H178O52N8S4Pr2, [Pr2L2(HL)(2)(H2O)(6)]. 22H(2)O is reported. The macrocyclic ligand has pendant acetic acid through which the ligand is coordinated to the Pr-III ion. For the dimeric unit, [Pr2L2(HL)(2)(H2O)(6)], two Pr-III ions are connected by two bridging-chelating carboxyl groups and two bridging carboxyl groups of the ligands, and each Pr-III ion is also bonded to a unidentate carboxyl group of the ligand and three water molecules. The dimeric units are bridged by four ligands through their carboxyl groups to form an infinite one-dimensional chain. The coordination number of the Pr-III ion is nine, with a distorted tricapped trigonal prismatic configuration. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.

Synthesis of a series of chiral copolymers with azo groups and investigations of reversible liquid crystalline alignment induced by the LB films of these materials

A series of liquid crystalline copolymers, poly{2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate}-co-{6-[4-(S-2-methyl-1-butyloxycarbonylphenylazo)phenoxy]hexyl methacrylate} with an azobenzene moiety as photoreactive mesogenic unit, was prepared and investigated by using DSC, polarized optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results show that these polymers exhibit smectic phases. Z-type Langmuir-Blodgett films of these copolymers were successfully deposited onto calcium fluoride and quartz. Reversible homeotropic and planar liquid crystal alignments were induced by using the photochromism of the LB films of one of the copolymers containing 20.6 mol % of the azo unit.

Copolymerization of styrene with butadiene and isoprene using a rare earth catalyst

In the copolymerization of styrene-butadiene and styrene-isoprene, a novel rare earth catalyst system (CF3CO2)(3)Ln/R(3-n)AlH(n)/(CH3)(3)CCH2Br (Ln = Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu; R = Me-, Et-, i-Bu-, and Oct-; n = 0 and 1) has been studied. The 1, 4 unit contents in the copolymers obtained are found to range from 64.4 to 99.6% with St contents of 5.2 to 59.9%, and intrinsic viscosities of 0.1 to 0.5 dl g(-1) measured by i.r., H-1 n.m.r. and C-13 n.m.r. spectra. From the calculated data of linked ratios, a change in the microstructure is induced by the styrene unit, probably adjacent to the butadiene or isoprene unit. An interesting result is that the ratios of styrene unit linked with 1, 2 or 3,4 units in the copolymers are far higher than in copolymers obtained with the nickel catalyst. The experimental results are discussed in terms of rare earth pi-allyl coordination and back-biting mechanism.

GAS-PHASE REACTIONS OF C-60 WITH THE ION SYSTEMS OF CYCLOHEXANE AND CYCLOHEXENE

The DCI MS of C-60 with the reactions of gaseous cyclohexane and cyclohexene have been studied. Several kinds reactions of C-60 have been observed. The results show that the gasphase C-60 has very active chemical properties. The adduct ions of [C60C4H7](+) and [C60C5H7](+) may be formed by [2+4] cycloaddition where one of double bonds of C-60 acted as a dienophilic unit.

HOST-GUEST INTERACTIONS OF THIAMINE WITH ANIONS - CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF THIAMINE IODIDE SESQUIHYDRATE

The crystal structure of thiamine iodide sesquihydrate has been determined by X-ray diffraction methods as a host-guest model for coenzyme-substrate interactions. The asymmetric unit contains two chemical units. Both the thiamine molecules A and B, which are crystallographically independent, assume the usual F conformation and have a disordered hydroxyethyl side chain. An iodide anion (or a water molecule) bridges the pyrimidine and thiazolium rings of molecule A (or B) by forming a hydrogen bond with the amino group and an electrostatic contact with the thiazolium ring to stabilize the molecular conformation. In the crystal the thiamine molecules self-associate to form a pipe-like polymeric structure, in which four thiamine hosts surround an iodide guest and hold it through C(2)-H...I hydrogen bonds and thiazolium...I electrostatic interactions. Crystal data: C12H17N4OS+.I- . 1.5 H2O, monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 12.585(2), b = 25.303(5), c = 12.030(2) angstrom, beta = 115.15(1)degrees, V = 3468(1) angtrom3, Z = 8, D(c) = 1.606 g cm-3, R = 0.045 for 3328 observed reflections.

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POLY-ORTHO-METHYLANILINE WITH DIFFERENT DEGREES OF OXIDATION

Poly-ortho-methylanilines (POT) in three states fully oxidized, fully reduced and oxidized in varying degrees were synthesized by the reaction of common POT (C-POT) having nearly equal amounts of benzenediamine and quinonediimine units with iodine or phenyl-hydrazine, and the resulting polymers were characterized by IR, C-13-NMR, SEM and elemental analysis. The results showed that the quinonediimine unit in C-POT could be reduced by phenylhydrazine to the benzenediamine unit, forming the polymer with low OD (oxidation degree) or in a fully reduced state and that iodine-oxidation resulted in the increase of quinonediimine unit and decrease of benzenediamine unit. The solubility and flexibility of the formed polymers depend strongly on the amount of quinonediimine unit in it. It is necessary to reduce the content of quinonediimine structure unit in order to improve the solubility of aniline-class polymers.

A NOVEL METAL THIAMINE COMPLEX WITH A CYCLIC DIMER FORMED BY METAL-BRIDGED 2 THIAMINE LIGANDS - CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF [MN(THIAMINE)CL2(H2O)]2[THIAMINE]2CL4.2H2O

The crystal structure of [Mn(thiamine)Cl2(H2O)]2[thiamine]2Cl4.2H2O has been determined by X-ray diffraction methods. The compound contains a cyclic dimer of a complex cation with two thiamine ligands bridged by two Mn(II) ions across a crystallographic center of symmetry. Each Mn(II) is coordinated by two chloride atoms, a water molecule, a N(1') atom of the pyrimidine from a thiamine and an O(53) atom of the hydroxyethyl side chain from another thiamine. There are two free-base thiamine molecules related by a center of symmetry in the unit cell, which form a base-pair through the hydrogen bonds. Both the independent thiamine molecules in the asymmetric unit assume the common F conformation with phi-T = 10.0(9) and 3.6(10) and phi-P = 85.6(7) and 79.6(7), respectively. The compound provides a possible model for a metal-bridged enzyme-coenzyme complex in thiamine catalysis. Crystallographic data: triclinic, space group P1BAR, a = 12.441(4), b = 13.572(4), c = 11.267(3) angstrom, alpha = 103.15(2), beta 89.03(3), gamma = 115.64(2)-degrees, Z = 1, D(calc) = 1.524 g cm-3, and R = 0.050 for 3019 observed reflections with I > 3-sigma(I).

Highly brominated mono- and bis-phenols from the marine red alga Symphyocladia latiuscula with radical-scavenging activity

Four new highly brominated and fully substituted mono- and bis-phenols, 1-(2,3,6-tribromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl)pyrrolidin-2-one (1), 1,2-bis(2,3,6-tribromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)ethane (2), 6-(2,3,6-tribromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl)-2,5-dibromo-3,4-dihydroxybenzyl methyl ether (3), and 2,3,6-tribromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl methyl sulfone (4), were characterized from the marine red alga Symphyocladia latiuscula. In addition, five known bromophenols, bis(2,3,6-tribromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)methane (5), bis(2,3,6-tribromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl) ether (6), 2,3,6-tribromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl methyl ether (7), 2,3,6-tribromo-4,5-dihydroxymethylbenzene (8), and 2,3,6-tribromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (9), were also isolated and identified. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR as well as by low- and high-resolution mass spectrometric analysis. Structurally, all of these compounds are highly brominated and fully substituted, and contain one or two 2,3,6-tribromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl unit(s) in each of the molecules. In addition, compound 4 possesses a unique sulfone structural feature. Each of the isolated compounds was evaluated for alpha,alpha-diphenyl-beta-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity and all were found to be potent, with IC50 values ranging from 8.1 to 24.7 mu M, compared to the known positive control butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), with an IC50 of 81.8 mu M.

An acidic polysaccharide with xylose branches from Porphyra yezoensis

An acidic polysaccharide (PY3) was isolated from the hot water extract of the red algae Porphyra yezoensis by successive column chromatographies over DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex G-200. PY3 with an average molecular weight of 1.8x10(5) was demonstrated to be composed of galactose (Gal), 3,6-anhydrogalactose (3,6-AnGal), 6-OSO3-galactose (6-OSO3-Gal) and xylose (Xyl) in an approximate molar ratio of 25 : 15, 10, 1. In view of Smith degradation and methylation and on the basis of spectral evidence including those of IR, GC, GC-MS, and H-1 and C-13 NMR, the most probable repeating unit of PY3 could be proposed as [(1-->3)beta -D-Gal(1 --> 4)alpha -L-3,6-AnGal](3)-[(1 --> 3)beta -D-Gal(1 --> 4)alpha -L-6-OSO3-Gal](2) with a xylose moiety at the C-6 of one of every twenty-five beta -D-Gal residues. To our knowledge, PY3 was shown to be the first porphyran possessing occasional xylose branches.

Relation algebra operations on formal contexts.

This paper discusses the use of relation algebra operations on formal contexts. These operations are a generalisation of some of the context operations that are described in the standard FCA textbook (Ganter & Wille, 1999). This paper extends previous research in this area with respect to applications and implementations. It also describes a software tool (FcaFlint) which in combination with FcaStone facilitates the application of relation algebra operations to contexts stored in many formats.

Evaluating SWICE-R (South West Information for Clinical Effectiveness - Rural). Final report for South West Workforce Development Confederations (Knowledge Resources Development Unit)

Yeoman, A., Durbin, J. & Urquhart, C. (2004). Evaluating SWICE-R (South West Information for Clinical Effectiveness - Rural). Final report for South West Workforce Development Confederations, (Knowledge Resources Development Unit). Aberystwyth: Department of Information Studies, University of Wales Aberystwyth. Sponsorship: South West WDCs (NHS)

Molecular dynamics-based approach to study the anisotropic self-diffusion of molecules in porous materials with multiple cage types: Application to H-2 in losod

Van den Berg, A. W. C., Flikkema, E., Lems, S., Bromley, S. T., Jansen, J. C. (2006). Molecular dynamics-based approach to study the anisotropic self-diffusion of molecules in porous materials with multiple cage types: Application to H-2 in losod. Journal of physical chemistry b, 110 (1), 501-506. RAE2008

Multiplexing VBR Traffic Flows with Guaranteed Application-level QoS Using Statistical Rate Monotonic Scheduling

Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees are required by an increasing number of applications to ensure a minimal level of fidelity in the delivery of application data units through the network. Application-level QoS does not necessarily follow from any transport-level QoS guarantees regarding the delivery of the individual cells (e.g. ATM cells) which comprise the application's data units. The distinction between application-level and transport-level QoS guarantees is due primarily to the fragmentation that occurs when transmitting large application data units (e.g. IP packets, or video frames) using much smaller network cells, whereby the partial delivery of a data unit is useless; and, bandwidth spent to partially transmit the data unit is wasted. The data units transmitted by an application may vary in size while being constant in rate, which results in a variable bit rate (VBR) data flow. That data flow requires QoS guarantees. Statistical multiplexing is inadequate, because no guarantees can be made and no firewall property exists between different data flows. In this paper, we present a novel resource management paradigm for the maintenance of application-level QoS for VBR flows. Our paradigm is based on Statistical Rate Monotonic Scheduling (SRMS), in which (1) each application generates its variable-size data units at a fixed rate, (2) the partial delivery of data units is of no value to the application, and (3) the QoS guarantee extended to the application is the probability that an arbitrary data unit will be successfully transmitted through the network to/from the application.