Comparison of epithelial and fibroblastic cell behavior on nano/micro-topographic PCL membranes produced by crystallinity control

In this study, the relationship between the cellular morphology and the material surface topography was investigated. Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) membranes were prepared in a wide range of surface wettabilities by means of crystallinity-controlled solvent casting process. Membrane surfaces were characterized by atomic force microscope (AFM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and static/dynamic water contact angle measurements. It was found that solvent evaporation and non-solvent (methanol) addition to the solvent (THF) are the most decisive parameters to change the surface topography. The non-solvent addition and the decrease in solvent evaporation temperature from room temperature to -20 °C caused increased polymeric chain mobility and crystallization time. Such changes in crystallization parameters led to the formation of micro/nano-sized features on the membrane. Cell culture studies indicated that in contrast to Madin Darby kidney (MDBK) epithelial cells, L929 mouse fibroblast preferred rough and porous surfaces.     

Template-induced enhanced ordering under confinement

We report a surprisingly strong ordering of Si-(CH(3))(2) groups upon confinement between two surfaces, an oxidized poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS(ox)) elastomer and a methyl-terminated self-assembled monolayer (octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS)) on sapphire substrates. This enhanced ordering is induced by the template of ordered methyl groups of OTS and is not observed for other surfaces (fluorinated monolayers and sapphire substrates). This strong ordering is reminiscent of layering observed for confined symmetric molecules between two mica surfaces but was expected to vanish between rough macroscopic surfaces. These results provide new insights on confined structure at the interface between two solids and are important in the understanding of surface-controlled processes of practical importance.     

An alternative approach to heavy-traffic limits for finite-pool queues

Queueing Systems - We consider a model for transitory queues in which only a finite number of customers can join. The queue thus operates over a finite time horizon. In this system, also known as...     

In situ electrochemical solid-phase extraction of anions and cations using polypyrrole and overoxidized sulfonated polypyrrole

A new method for the extraction of both anions and cations is proposed using electro-synthesized polypyrrole (PPy) and overoxidized sulfonated polypyrrole film (OSPPy). In situ anion (chloride, nitrate, sulfate) and cation (calcium, magnesium) uptake and release were examined under controlled potential conditions for prospective applications in electrochemically controlled solid-phase extraction (EC-SPE). The PPy film was used as an anode (anion-exchanger) and OSPPy film was used as a cathode (cation-exchanger) material and reverse order of the electrodes were investigated in EC-SPE. This new cell arrangement containing two ion exchanger polymer electrodes was developed to provide in situ removal of both anions and cations from aqueous solution. Simple preparation of the film coatings on a platinum plate was possible using a constant potential method. Applied positive and negative potentials facilitated the in situ extraction and desorption of ions, respectively. Both anions and cations were desorbed into sample aliquot and were determined by ion chromatography (IC). The method was validated using a standard reference material and tested for the determination of the ions in real water samples.     

Molecular structure of 2-methylamino-5-[(5-methyl-2-benzoxazolinone-3-yl)methyl]-1,3,4-thiadiazole dihydrophosphate: a combined X-ray crystallographic and ab initio study

Crystal structure of the compound entitled 2-methylamino-5-[(5-methyl-2-benzoxazolinone-3-yl)methyl]-1,3,4-thiadiazole dihydrophosphate is determined using X-ray analysis and compared with the structure obtained from semiempirical and RHF methods at various levels of theory. RHF/6-31G(d) calculations offer the best conformity with X-ray results for bond lengths and bond angles. Moreover, at the result of the comparison of various combinations of basis sets and methods, it appears that there is not much gain in accuracy by using sophisticated methods.     

X- and gamma-ray irradiation effects on vanadium pentoxide thin films

Thickness and composition of thin films can be measured with X- and gamma-rays. In this work, thickness and composition of vanadium pentoxide thin films are investigated by energy dispersive and wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence systems. Also, the surface analysis of vanadium pentoxide thin films irradiated with Rhodium Kα X-rays and 59.54?keV gamma-rays emitted from 100?mCi and 5?Ci Americium-241 radioactive sources is performed by scanning electron microscope. It is observed that X- and gamma-rays are destructive for vanadium pentoxide thin films. Also, the composition of vanadium pentoxide thin films changes by irradiation with X- and gamma-rays.     

Syntheses and modifications of bisdiazonium salts of 3,8-benzo[c]cinnoline and 3,8-benzo[c]cinnoline 5-oxide onto glassy carbon electrode and the characterization of the modified surfaces

The goal of this study was to prepare novel glassy carbon electrode surfaces using two similar bis-diazonium salts, 3,8-benzo[c]cinnoline (3,8-BCC-BDAS) and 3,8-benzo[c]cinnoline 5-oxide (3,8-BCCNO-BDAS) at the glassy carbon (GC) surface. These diazonium salts were reduced electrochemically and covalently electrografted onto the glassy carbon electrode surface to form modified electrodes. Electrochemical reduction of 3,8-BCC-BDAS and 3,8-BCCNO-BDAS salts on the electrode surface yielded a compact and stable film. The existence of BCC moieties on the GC surface was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, reflectance-adsorption infrared spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, ellipsometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The stability and working potential range of the novel modified electrodes were also studied. The possibility of analytical application of these novel surfaces for inorganic cations and especially selectivity to copper ions was investigated. 3,8-diaminobenzo[c]cinnoline (3,8-DABCC) and its 5-oxide derivative (3,8-DABCCNO) were synthesized from the reductive cyclization of 2,2′-dinitrobenzidine and prepared their bisdiazonium salts via the tetrazotization reactions of the diamines with NaNO₂. The structures of 3,8-DABCC and 3,8-DABCCNO and their corresponding bisdiazonium salts are confirmed by spectral analysis.     

The performance assessment of a refrigeration system which exists on a cargo vessel influenced by seawater-intake temperature

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The effects of the seawater-intake temperature on the performance of the refrigeration system which exists on a cargo vessel were introduced in this...     

Isolation,characterization, and comparison of nanocrystalline cellulose from solid wastes of horse chestnut and chestnut seed shell

The horse chestnut seed shell (HC) and chestnut seed shell (CT) were evaluated as renewable, sustainable, and cheap raw materials transformed into valuable products, “cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs).” Alkali and bleaching treatments were performed to obtain horse chestnut cellulose (HCS) and chestnut cellulose (CTS) and subsequently isolated to the horse chestnut cellulose nanocrystal (HC-CNC) and chestnut cellulose nanocrystal (CT-CNC) by sulphuric acid hydrolysis. Raw materials and their products were comparatively investigated at each stage of the isolation process. The cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin content of HC and CT were determined via chemical composition analysis. The structural analysis was performed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction technics for CNCs. Morphological analysis and size range determination of the samples were carried out via atomic force microscopy (AFM) and particle size analysis. Zeta potential and particle size distribution were determined by analyzing the surface and particle size. The thermal behaviors were investigated at different phases of treatments using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA/DTG). HC-CNC demonstrates a higher crystallinity index value of 85.49% and a lower yield of 20.46%, whereas CT-CNC shows a lower crystallinity of 65.06% and a higher yield of 36.59%. A differentiation in structural, thermal, and morphological properties of extracted celluloses and isolated CNCs was observed depending on the source of the raw materials. However, a morphological alteration in CNC structures has emerged relative to precursor cellulose after the acid hydrolysis process as an essential finding via AFM studies. The solid wastes horse chestnut and chestnut seed shells offer great potential as suitable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly starting raw materials to produce CNC and in applications, including wastewater treatments, biosensing, wound dressing, and reinforcement for polymer composites due to their excellent thermal and structural properties.

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