Determination of filler content for natural filler polymer composite by thermogravimetric analysis

Determination of filler content by thermogravimetric (TG) analysis is commonly utilized to investigate the effectiveness of processing methods for composite materials and to quantify the dispersion of filler within the matrix. However, the existing analysis method is not capable of accurately predicting the filler content for natural fiber composites for the case where thermal degradation of the filler and matrix occurs within similar temperature ranges. In the present study, the authors have proposed a generic equation for the determination of filler content which can be utilized for any given range of thermal degradation temperatures in natural filler polymer composites. Oil palm shell unsaturated polyester composites were selected to verify the proposed equation using the TG test with the results indicating good agreement between the estimated and experimental filler contents with a maximum error on the order of 10 %. The suggested technique provides a simple, yet generic, approach to determining the filler content of green or lignocellulose-based polymer composites by TG analysis.

     

Hydrophobic Cysteine Poly(disulfide)‐based Redox‐Hypersensitive Nanoparticle Platform for Cancer Theranostics

Selective tumor targeting and drug delivery are critical for cancer treatment. Stimulus‐sensitive nanoparticle (NP) systems have been designed to specifically respond to significant abnormalities in the tumor microenvironment, which could dramatically improve therapeutic performance in terms of enhanced efficiency, targetability, and reduced side‐effects. We report the development of a novel L ‐cysteine‐based poly (disulfide amide) (Cys‐PDSA) family for fabricating redox‐triggered NPs, with high hydrophobic drug loading capacity (up to 25 wt % docetaxel) and tunable properties. The polymers are synthesized through one‐step rapid polycondensation of two nontoxic building blocks: L ‐cystine ester and versatile fatty diacids, which make the polymer redox responsive and give it a tunable polymer structure, respectively. Alterations to the diacid structure could rationally tune the physicochemical properties of the polymers and the corresponding NPs, leading to the control of NP size, hydrophobicity, degradation rate, redox response, and secondary self‐assembly after NP reductive dissociation. In vitro and in vivo results demonstrate these NPs’ excellent biocompatibility, high selectivity of redox‐triggered drug release, and significant anticancer performance. This system provides a promising strategy for advanced anticancer theranostic applications.     

Statistical variance reduction analysis in counting the highly overlapping nuclear tracks

In this paper, a statistical analysis is performed on counting the highly overlapping tracks. As the track density and tracks overlapping increase, the statistical error of track counting raises. An upper limit for the uncertainty of the track counting is found. The approximated number of tracks is computed based on the measured number of objects, approximated ratio of overlapping cases, measured number of tracks in the overlapping cases and calculated uncertainty. The approximation of the number of tracks obtained through both calculation and measurement processes is validated comparing with the real number of manually counted tracks and the uncertainty is calculated for each comparison.     

A hardware-friendly arithmetic method and efficient implementations for designing digital fuzzy adders

A new hardware-friendly mathematical method for realizing low-complexity universal Adder cells as well as its efficient hardware implementations is proposed in this paper. This method can be used in binary logic, Multiple-Valued Logic (MVL) and specifically digital fuzzy systems. The proposed mathematical method can be implemented in both voltage and current modes. The voltage-mode hardware implementation is very simple and is based on input capacitors and MVL or analog inverters and buffers. In addition, the current-mode hardware implementation leads to simple and efficient structures for digital fuzzy systems. Simulations are carried out for ternary logic as well as for digital fuzzy logic with high precision by using 180 nm standard CMOS technology and at 1.8 V supply voltage. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed designs have excellent functionality and are very suitable for implementing MVL and fuzzy arithmetic circuits.     

Traffic of leukocytes in microfluidic channels with rectangular and rounded cross-sections

Traffic of leukocytes in microvascular networks (particularly through arteriolar bifurcations and venular convergences) affects the dynamics of capillary blood flow, initiation of leukocyte adhesion during inflammation, and localization and development of atherosclerotic plaques in vivo. Recently, a growing research effort has been focused on fabricating microvascular networks comprising artificial vessels with more realistic, rounded cross-sections. This paper investigated the impact of the cross-sectional geometry of microchannels on the traffic of leukocytes flowing with human whole blood through a non-symmetrical bifurcation that consisted of a 50 μm mother channel bifurcating into 30 μm and 50 μm daughter branches. Two versions of the same bifurcation comprising microchannels with rectangular and rounded cross-sections were fabricated using conventional multi-layer photolithography to produce rectangular microchannles that were then rounded in situ using a recently developed method of liquid PDMS/air bubble injection. For microchannels with rounded cross-sections, about two-thirds of marginated leukocytes traveling along a path in the top plane of the bifurcation entered the smallest 30 μm daughter branch. This distribution was reversed in microchannels with rectangular cross-sections--the majority of leukocytes traveling along a similar path continued to follow the 50 μm microchannels after the bifurcation. This dramatic difference in the distribution of leukocyte traffic among the branches of the bifurcation can be explained by preferential margination of leukocytes towards the corners of the 50 μm mother microchannels with rectangular cross-sections, and by the additional hindrance to leukocyte entry created by the sharp transition from the 50 μm mother microchannel to the 30 μm daughter branch at the intersection. The results of this study suggest that the trajectories of marginated leukocytes passing through non-symmetrical bifurcations are significantly affected by the cross-sectional geometry of microchannels and emphasize the importance of using microfludic systems with geometrical configurations closely matching physiological configurations when modeling the dynamics of whole blood flow in the microcirculation.     

Dynamic NMR and computational study of 5,5-dimethyl-3,4-di-p-tolyl-2-cylopenten-1-one

The restricted rotation of p-tolyl moiety in 5,5-dimethyl-3,4-di-p-tolyl-2-cyclopenten-1-one was studied by variable temperature NMR spectroscopy at a temperature range of 218-368 K. A free rotation, in NMR time scale, was observed at temperatures higher than 368 K; while, the rotation froze below 248 K. From dynamic NMR analysis, the Arrhenius energy of activation ΔG? was calculated as 56.37 kJ mol(-1). The experimental results were confirmed by theoretical calculation using the density functional theory method B3LYP with basis sets, 6-31G and 6-31+G.     

Optimization of organic electrochemical transistors for sensor applications

Despite the recent interest in organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) as chemical and biological sensors, little is known about the role that device architecture and materials parameters play in determining sensor performance. We use numerical modeling to establish design rules in two regimes of operation: We find that for operation as an ion‐to‐electron converter, the response of OECTs is maximized through the use of a gate electrode that is much larger than the channel or through the use of a nonpolarizable gate electrode. Improving the conductivity of the polymer and using a channel geometry that maximizes channel width and thickness, and minimizes channel length helps increase the response. For operation as an electrochemical sensor, the sensitivity is maximized in OECTs with gate electrodes that are smaller than their channels. The sensitivity can be improved by increasing the charge carrier mobility and the capacitance per unit area of the conducting polymer, and also its ability to be penetrated by ions from the electrolyte. A channel geometry that maximizes channel width and minimizes channel length also improves sensitivity. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2010     

A Dimroth rearrangement approach for the synthesis of selenopheno[2,3-e][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidines with cytotoxic activity on breast cancer cells

Molecular Diversity - New selenopheno[2,3-e][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine derivatives have been synthesized via Dimroth rearrangement by cyclocondensation of...     

Modified nanoporous silicas for oral delivery of the water insoluble organotin compound: loading and release of methylphenyltin dichloride as an anti-tumor drug model

Different nanoporous silica materials, MCM-41, MCM-48 and SBA-15, were modified by pyridine and their applications for oral drug delivery system were evaluated. These pyridine functionalized nanoporous silicas were loaded with a water insoluble diorganotin(IV) dichloride complex as an antitumor drug model and its release from them were investigated by changing pH. An efficient pH-responsive carrier system was constructed by coordination of the pyridine group in modified nonoporous materials to tin complex. In vitro, releasing of loaded tin complex was studied in three different kinds of fluids, including a simulated gastric medium and a simulated body fluid. The loading and releasing of the diorganotin(IV) dichloride from various modified nanoporous silicas and also a non-porous silica (SiO₂) were investigated, and the results were compared. In addition, the effect of some factors such as pH, time of loading and releasing were investigated through this study.     

Synthesis of ethyl 3-phenyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)isoxazole-5-carboxylate via regioselective dipolar cycloaddition

Efforts to prepare ethyl 3-phenyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)isoxazole-5-carboxylate (1) by developing a regioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between phenyl nitrile oxide and various 4,4,4-trifluoromethyl crotonates are described. The substitution at the C2-position of crotonate dipolarophile 4 significantly influenced the regiochemistry and yield of the cycloaddition. Enol and enol ether-based crotonates underwent regioselective cycloadditions with phenyl nitrile oxide to provide 4-trifluoromethyl isoxazoles in good yields.