A perspective on vibration-induced size segregation of granular materials

Segregation of particulate mixtures is a problem of great consequence in industries involved with the handling and processing of granular materials in which homogeneity is generally required. While there are several factors that may be responsible for segregation in bulk solids, it is well accepted that nonuniformity in particle size is a fundamental contributor. When the granular material is exposed to vibrations, the question of whether or not convection is an essential ingredient for size segregation is addressed by distinguishing between the situation where vibrations are not sufficiently energetic to promote a mean flow of the bulk solid, and those cases where a convective flow does occur. Based on experimental and simulation results in the literature, as well as dynamical systems analysis of a recent model of a binary granular mixture, it is proposed that "void-filling" beneath large particles is a universal mechanism promoting segregation, while convection essentially provides a means of mixing enhancement

Modificación química y estructural de madera mediante tratamiento hidrotérmico alcalino

Se trataron probetas de Pinus ponderosa con agua a 100 ºC y con una solución acuosa de NaOH (tratamiento hidrotérmico alcalino) con el fin de analizar la posible hidrorrepelencia de las mismas, basado fundamentalmente en los efectos que estos produce en la celulosa. Los ensayos de resistencia a la rotura, absorción de agua y análisis estructural permitieron concluir que estos métodos modifican la química y estructura de la madera, otorgando hidrorrepelencia debido a la pérdida estructural de las fibras de la madera, lo cual impide que se produzca el fenómeno de capilaridad, manteniendo su resistencia mecánica y estabilidad dimensional. Por lo tanto, el tratamiento resultó útil para proteger la madera para nuevas construcciones como así también para la consolidación y protección de maderas que componen bienes de importancia patrimonial.Tópico 5: Conservación y restauración de bienes muebles y piezas (documentos de archivos, pinturas, cueros, maderas, textiles, metales, rocas ornamentales, vitrales, etc.)

Synthesis and characterisation of a new benzamide-containing nitrobenzoxadiazole as a GSTP1-1 inhibitor endowed with high stability to metabolic hydrolysis

The antitumor agent 6-((7-nitrobenzo[c][1,2,5]oxadiazol-4-yl)thio)hexan-1-ol (1) is a potent inhibitor of GSTP1-1, a glutathione S-transferase capable of inhibiting apoptosis by binding to JNK1 and TRAF2. We recently demonstrated that, unlike its parent compound, the benzoyl ester of 1 (compound 3) exhibits negligible reactivity towards GSH, and has a different mode of interaction with GSTP1-1. Unfortunately, 3 is susceptible to rapid metabolic hydrolysis. In an effort to improve the metabolic stability of 3, its ester group has been replaced by an amide, leading to N-(6-((7-nitrobenzo[c][1,2,5]oxadiazol-4-yl)thio)hexyl)benzamide (4). Unlike 3, compound 4 was stable to human liver microsomal carboxylesterases, but retained the ability to disrupt the interaction between GSTP1-1 and TRAF2 regardless of GSH levels. Moreover, 4 exhibited both a higher stability in the presence of GSH and a greater cytotoxicity towards cultured A375 melanoma cells, in comparison with 1 and its analog 2. These findings suggest that 4 deserves further preclinical testing