A scanning force microscopy study on the morphology of elastomer-coagent blends

Atomic force scanning microscopy (AFM) was used to investigate the dispersion of low molecular weight compounds in ethylene-propylene copolymers (EPM). Where other microscopical techniques failed to provide morphological details of this type of blend, as a result of the restricted resolution (light microscopy) or the volatility of the low molecular weight component (SEM), the AFM technique provided surface images, which show inclusions in the matrix of the uncrosslinked polymers

Die Supervision auf dem Weg zur Profession? Professionalisierung im Spannungsfeld von Expansionsbestrebung und Selbstbescheidung

Kühl S. Die Supervision auf dem Weg zur Profession? Professionalisierung im Spannungsfeld von Expansionsbestrebung und Selbstbescheidung. Organisationsberatung - Supervision - Coaching. 2006;13(1):5-18

Polysilylenes with ethynylphenyl-substituents

Ethynylphenyl-methyldichlorosilane (EPDMS) has been prepared as a new monomer for the synthesis of polysilylenes with triple bonds attached to the catenated Si chain. A series of copolymers with methylphenyldichlorosilane (MPDS) as well as the homopolymer, PEPMS, have been synthesized. The content of ethynylphenyl substituents was quantitatively analyzed by FTIR spectroscopy. The optical properties of the new polymers were studied with respect to potential - interaction. No significant bathochromic shift of the UV-absorption maximum could be detected. Unexpectedly, increasing content of incorporated EPMS units led to a decrease of the (-*) absorption. The ethynylphenyl-substituted polysilylenes exhibited strong, temperature-dependent fluorescence in solution as well as in films

Caffeine inheritance in interspecific hybrids of Coffea arabica x Coffea canephora (Gentianales, Rubiaceae)

Caffeine inheritance was investigated in F2 and BC1F1 generations between Coffea arabica var. Bourbon Vermelho (BV) and Coffea canephora var. Robusta 4x (R4x). The caffeine content of seeds and leaves was determined during 2004 and 2005. Microsatellite loci-markers were used to deduce the meiotic pattern of chromosome pairing of tetraploid interspecific hybrids. Genetic analysis indicated that caffeine content in seeds was quantitatively inherited and controlled by genes with additive effects. The estimates of broad-sense heritability of caffeine content in seeds were high for both generations. In coffee leaves, the caffeine content (BSH) from the same populations showed transgressive segregants with enhanced levels and high BSH. Segregation of loci-markers in BC1F1 populations showed that the ratios of the gametes genotype did not differ significantly from those expected assuming random associations and tetrasomic inheritance. The results confirm the existence of distinct mechanisms controlling the caffeine content in seeds and leaves, the gene exchange between the C. arabica BV and C. canephora R4x genomes and favorable conditions for improving caffeine content in this coffee population