University of Mons

About: University of Mons is a education organization based out in Mons, Belgium. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Large Hadron Collider & Standard Model. The organization has 3073 authors who have published 9465 publications receiving 294776 citations.

Polylactide (PLA)—Halloysite Nanocomposites: Production, Morphology and Key-Properties

Abstract: To evaluate the potential of halloysite nanotubes (HNT) as nanofiller for polylactide (PLA), various nanocomposites have been successfully produced by melt-blending the polyester matrix with HNT (HNT(QM)) HNT were also surface treated by silanization reaction with 3-(Trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate (TMSPM) The morphology, thermal, tensile and impact strength properties of the nanocomposites containing 3–12 % HNT were evaluated and compared to those of pristine (unfilled) PLA The nanocomposites were characterized by higher rigidity (with Young’s modulus increasing with HNT loading), higher tensile strength (about 70 MPa at 6 % HNT(QM)), whereas the elongation at break and impact strength did not decrease As demonstrated under dynamic solicitation (DMA), melt-blending PLA with HNT led to enhancement of storage modulus (E′) and offers the possibility to use PLA in applications requiring higher temperatures of utilization However, with few exceptions, TGA and DSC measurements did not reveal important changes of thermal parameters The surface silanization treatment proved to improve the quality of the nanofiller dispersion even at higher loading As a result, good thermal stability associated to high tensile strength, and noticeable increases in impact properties were recorded Furthermore, enhanced nucleating ability and crystallization kinetics of the PLA matrix were revealed as specific characteristics

A study of the temporary adhesion of the podia in the sea star asterias rubens (Echinodermata, asteroidea) through their footprints

Abstract: Sea stars are able to make firm but temporary attachments to various substrata owing to secretions released by their podia. A duo-glandular model has been proposed in which an adhesive material is released by two types of non-ciliated secretory (NCS1 and NCS2) cells and a de-adhesive material is released by ciliated secretory (CS) cells. The chemical composition of these materials and the way in which they function have been investigated by studying the adhesive footprints left by the asteroids each time they adhere to a substratum. The footprints of Asterias rubens consist of a sponge-like material deposited as a thin layer on the substratum. Inorganic residues apart, this material is made up mainly of proteins and carbohydrates. The protein moiety contains significant amounts of both charged (especially acidic) and uncharged polar residues as well as half-cystine. The carbohydrate moiety is also acidic, comprising both uronic acids and sulphate groups. Polyclonal antibodies have been raised against footprint material and were used to locate the origin of footprint constituents in the podia. Extensive immunoreactivity was detected in the secretory granules of both NCS1 and NCS2 cells, suggesting that their secretions together make up the bulk of the adhesive material. No immunoreactivity was detected in the secretory granules of CS cells, and the only other structure strongly labelled was the outermost layer of the cuticle, the fuzzy coat. This pattern of immunoreactivity suggests that the secretions of CS cells are not incorporated into the footprints, but instead might function to jettison the fuzzy coat, thereby allowing the podium to detach.

Gravitational cubic interactions for a simple mixed-symmetry gauge field in AdS and flat backgrounds

Abstract: Cubic interactions between the simplest mixed-symmetry gauge field and gravity are constructed in anti-de Sitter (AdS) and flat backgrounds. Non-Abelian cubic interactions are obtained in AdS following various perturbative methods including the Fradkin–Vasiliev construction, with and without Stuckelberg fields. The action that features the maximal number of Stuckelberg fields can be considered in the flat limit without loss of physical degrees of freedom. The resulting interactions in flat space are compared with a classification of vertices obtained via the antifield cohomological perturbative method. It is shown that the gauge algebra becomes Abelian in the flat limit, in contrast to what happens for totally symmetric gauge fields in AdS.

How to measure the transmetallation of a gadolinium complex.

Abstract: The suitability of paramagnetic complexes as contrast agents depends not only on their relaxivity but also on their stability and inertness towards transmetallation processes by endogenous ions. In this work, we describe a convenient method to study the stability of paramagnetic Gd complexes through the evolution of the paramagnetic longitudinal relaxation rate of water protons at 37 °C. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.