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Epoxy/clay nanocomposites have been prepared using an diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) epoxy and its blend with an epoxy functionalized hyperbranched polymer (HBP). The formation of nanocomposites was confirmed by a wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. The mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were evaluated and compared with the corresponding matrix. The improvement in impact properties in blend and nanocomposites was explained in terms of fracture surface analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article discusses the use of layered silicates to supplementarily toughen high performance epoxy-carbon fiber composites. Most high performance composites are based upon thermosetting resin systems and unidirectional or woven fibers, such as carbon, glass, Kevlar or graphite. Unidirectional carbon fiber composites layered silicate in the epoxy phase were synthesized using diglycidylether of bisphenol A resin, diethyltoluene diamine hardener and an octadecyl ammonium ion modified layered silicate. It is clear that the optimal processing of ternary carbon fiber nanocomposite materials is critical to achieving significant improvement in the properties of the composite.

Background: Psychotherapy of mother-child dyads is an intervention which was developed to prevent maltreatment and negative children's development. There is a lack of good-quality research investigating psychotherapeutic interventions and social care for mothers at high-risk living in Mother-Child Facilities in Germany. The present randomized controlled pilot trial (RCT) aimed to evaluate the need for parent-infant psychotherapy (PIP) and to explore its impact on the mother-infant relationship. Primary feasibility objectives were recruitment and attrition, with potential efficacy defined as the secondary feasibility objective. Methods: This pilot RCT focused on (young) mothers with cumulative risk factors and their infants under 7 months of age living in Mother-Child Facilities. N=32 mother-child dyads were randomly allocated to PIP or Care as usual (CAU). Outcomes were assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months of intervention. The primary potential efficacy outcome was maternal sensitivity. Secondary outcomes were maternal mental health problems, reflective functioning, parenting stress, personality organization, infant's development, and attachment. Results: At baseline, all mothers showed low levels of emotional availability, but results revealed improvements in sensitivity, mental health problems, stress, and depressive symptomatology favoring PIP after 6 months. Positive developments in maternal sensitivity, a healthy aspect of mother-child interaction, were only found in the PIP group. Overall attrition was high at 6 months. Some evidence of fewer depressive symptoms and lower maternal distress after 6 months of PIP-intervention exists that did not reach significance. Conclusion: Findings revealed improvements in the mother's well-being for both groups, but PIP had a higher impact on the mother-child dyad. In sum, there is some evidence that PIP may represent an effective intervention offer besides the social and pedagogical support in these facilities, but further research is demanded. Trial registration: DRKS00022485 (retrospectively registered). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The surface properties and structure of mono-, di-, and tri-aminosilane treated glass surfaces were investigated using surface analytical techniques including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and streaming potential. An optimized dip-coating process was demonstrated to produce roughly silane monolayer coverage on the glass surface. The surface charge measurements indicated that aminosilanization converts the glass surface from negative to positive potentials at neutral pH values. Higher positive streaming potential was observed for tri-compared with mono- and di-aminosilane treated glass surfaces. For all aminosilane treated glass samples, the high-resolution N 1s XPS spectra indicated a preferential orientation of the protonated amino-groups towards the glass surface whereas the free amino groups were protruding outward. This study aimed to obtain uniform, reproducibly thin, strongly adhering, internally cross-linked, and high positively charged aminosilane-coated glass surfaces for the attachment of DNA fragments used in microarraying experiments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Using the reactions of copper(II) acetate magnesium(II) oxide with 2-furancarboxylic acid (HFur), compounds with chemical compositions [Cu2(Fur)4(MeCN)2] (I) and [Mg2(Fur)4(H2O)5]∙ MeCN∙H2O (II) are synthesized. According to the X-ray diffraction data (CIF files CCDC nos. 2085817 (I) and 2085818 (II)), both complexes have a binuclear structure. The metal core of I correspond to the tetracarboxylate bridged {Cu2(μ-Fur)4} complex, the coordination number of the copper atom in which is 5 (CuNO4); in II, the metal atoms are linked by two carboxylate groups and a water molecule, and the coordination environment of the metal centers is completed to the polyhedron (MgO6) by oxygen atoms of the Fur– anions and water molecules. According to EPR spectroscopy data, exchange-coupled copper(II) dimers with a substantial zero-field splitting are observed in I. For I and II, antibacterial activity against the nonpathogenic strain of M. smegmatis, and cytotoxicity against human ovarian adenocarcinoma cells SCOV3 and normal human fibroblast cells of the HDF line have been determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recommends a method to reliably count the number of ions in an ion trap. Difficulties associated with estimating the excitation rate of ions; Principles of the method.