RheoDSC: a hyphenated technique for the simultaneous measurement of calorimetric and rheological evolutions.

A newly developed hyphenated technique is presented combining an existing rheometer and differential scanning calorimeter into a single experimental setup. Through the development of a fixation accessory for differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) crucibles and a novel rotor, the simultaneous measurement is performed inside the well-controlled thermal environment of a Tzero DSC cell. Hence, the evolution of thermal and flow properties of a material can be simultaneously measured using steady or oscillatory shear measurements and regular or modulated temperature DSC measurements. Along with the construction of a prototype, a validation of the design was performed. The technique offers interesting opportunities for the investigation of flow-induced transitions, for instance, crystallization or phase separation, and provides an asset for high-throughput screening of materials. The potential of the novel technique is demonstrated by two case studies: the chemorheology during the cure of a thermosetting epoxy-amine system and the flow-induced crystallization of syndiotactic polypropylene.

The use of modulated temperature differential scanning calorimetry for the characterisation of food systems.

Modulated temperature Differential Scanning Calorimetry (MTDSC) is used to characterise food systems. It is shown that by splitting the total heat flow into reversing (related to heat capacity) and non-reversing contributions, overlapping thermal events can be separated. The combination of excellent sensitivity and high resolution provides more accurate results for weak and/or broad transitions. The thermal transitions of maltotriose, maltohexaose and thermoplastic starch are treated as examples. It is also shown that MTDSC is very useful to follow in situ slow crystallisation processes. These structural changes are detected by measuring the heat capacity in the quasi-isothermal mode. The (quasi-)isothermal crystallisation of pregelatinized waxy corn starch is given as an example.

Complete trisomy 5p owing to de novo translocation t(5;22)(q11;p11) with isochromosome 5p associated with a familial pericentric inversion of chromosome 2, inv 2(p21q11).

A boy with a de novo translocation (5;22) and isochromosome 5p associated with a pericentric inversion of chromosome 2 (p21q11) is described. The pericentric inversion was also present in the mother. The main clinical features of the 'complete trisomy 5p' syndrome were present in the proband.

A 46,XX,10Q+ chromosome constitution in a girl. Partial long arm duplication or insertional translocation?

A girl with slight psychomotor retardation, microphthalmia, and colobomata of the left eye, a hypotrophy of the right arm and a surnumerary digit on the right hand is described. The routine chromosome analysis and a G-banding analysis revealed an elongated long arm of chromosome 10. An extra light and dark band was present proximally. Both parents had normal chromosomes. While the visual comparison of the abnormal with the normal chromosome 10, did not enable the extra bands of the normal bands q21 and q22 to be distinguished. However, measurements of length, surface area, and relative reflection of the different light and dark bands of the long arm on tracings or directly on the normal and abnormal chromosomes, enabled us to precisely locate the extra bands and to determine that the abnormal chromosome was a result of an insertional translocation. The value of such measurements is discussed.

Trisomy 10p, due to an unusual translocation.

A mentally retarded boy with short stature, craniofacial dysmorphia, clubfeet, hypertonia and several other congenital anomalies is described. Chromosome analysis revealed a trisomy 10p, due to a peculiar t(10 ; 14) (p11 ; p12) translocation.

Extra Yq and partial monosomy 12p due to a Y;12 translocation in a boy with features of the 12p deletion syndrome.

A Y;12 translocation, resulting in extra Yq material and partial monosomy 12p, was found in a 7 1/2 year old boy. He showed growth and mental retardation and several of the congenital anomalies seen in the 12p deletion syndrome. LDHB activity, the gene for which is located at 12p12, was normal in serum, in accordance with the suspected 12p13 deletion in the patient.