Improved efficacy of bio‐mineralization of human mesenchymal stem cells on modified PLLA nanofibers coated with bioactive materials via enhanced expression of integrin α2β1

Current therapeutic interventions in bone defects are mainly focused on finding the best bioactive materials for inducing bone regeneration via activating the related intracellular signaling pathways. Integrins are trans‐membrane receptors that facilitate cell‐extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions and activate signal transduction. To develop a suitable platform for supporting human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBM‐MSCs) differentiation into bone tissue, electrospun poly L‐lactide (PLLA) nanofiber scaffolds were coated with nano‐hydroxyapatite (PLLA/nHa group), gelatin nanoparticles (PLLA/Gel group), and nHa/Gel nanoparticles (PLLA/nHa/Gel group) and their impacts on cell proliferation, expression of osteoblastic biomarkers, and bone differentiation were examined and compared. MTT data showed that proliferation of hBM‐MSCs on PLLA/nHa/Gel scaffolds was significantly higher than other groups (P < .05). Alkaline phosphatase activity was also more increased in hBM‐MSCs cultured under osteogenic media on PLLA/nHa/Gel scaffolds compared to others. Gene expression evaluation confirmed up‐regulation of integrin α2β1 as well as the osteogenic genes BGLAP, COL1A1, and RUNX2. Following use of integrin α2β1 blocker antibody, the protein level of integrin α2β1 in cells seeded on PLLA/nHa/Gel scaffolds was decreased compared to control, which confirmed that most of the integrin receptors were bound to gelatin molecules on scaffolds and could activate the integrin α2β1/ERK axis. Collectively, PLLA/nHa/Gel scaffold is a suitable platform for hBM‐MSCs adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation in less time via activating integrin α2β1/ERK axis, and thus it might be applicable in bone tissue engineering.     

Effects of ionomer coverage on agglomerate effectiveness in catalyst layers of polymer electrolyte fuel cells

A large proportion of voltage losses in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) originates in cathode catalyst layers. Catalyst utilization and performance of conventional catalyst layers depend largely on their ionomer content and distribution. The present study explores effects of agglomerate size and ionomer distribution on reaction rate distributions and effectiveness factor of Pt utilization. To study the oxygen reduction reaction, we have developed an agglomerate model, which consists of coupled relations for proton and oxygen transport, metal charging behavior, and interfacial charge transfer kinetics. The model is considered under steady state conditions. Results show that higher effectiveness factor is attained for agglomerates with smaller size and larger oxygen partial pressure on the surface. In addition, low to medium coverage of the ionomer skin layer is beneficial in view of high effectiveness factors due to the optimized interplay of oxygen and proton supply.     

From Nef‐Isocyanide Adducts toward Functionalized 5‐Iminothiazolidines Containing Polarized CC Bonds

An efficient synthesis of alkyl 5‐(alkylimino)‐3‐aryl(alkyl)‐2‐(dicyanomethylene)‐4‐hydroxythiazolidine‐4‐carboxylates, containing polarized C?C bonds, via reaction of malononitrile, arylisothiocyanates, and the Nef‐isocyanide adducts, under basic conditions, is described.     

Ion beam induced chemical vapor deposition (IBICVD) of cobalt particles

A novel method aiming at fabricating submicron-scale particles utilizing dicobalt octacarbonyl as a precursor for cobalt, formed upon localized ion beam induced decomposition, is presented. Patterns of deposited particles are fabricated through vector scan rastering. Measurements of cumulative magnetic properties (arrays of 2 μm–size dots) show coercivity of about 100 Oe and the saturation magnetization of approximately 1000 emu/cm³.     

4E analysis and three-objective optimization for selection of the best prime mover in smart energy systems for residential applications: a comparison of four different scenarios

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Recently, using integrated energy systems for residential-scale applications has been of great interest to the researchers. The objective of this study...     

Plant-Based Gums and Mucilages Applications in Pharmacology and Nanomedicine: A Review

Gums are carbohydrate biomolecules that have the potential to bind water and form gels. Gums are regularly linked with proteins and minerals in their construction. Gums have several forms, such as mucilage gums, seed gums, exudate gums, etc. Plant gums are one of the most important gums because of their bioavailability. Plant-derived gums have been used by humans since ancient times for numerous applications. The main features that make them appropriate for use in different applications are high stabilization, viscosity, adhesive property, emulsification action, and surface-active activity. In many pharmaceutical formulations, plant-based gums and mucilages are the key ingredients due to their bioavailability, widespread accessibility, non-toxicity, and reasonable prices. These compete with many polymeric materials for use as different pharmaceuticals in today’s time and have created a significant achievement from being an excipient to innovative drug carriers. In particular, scientists and pharmacy industries around the world have been drawn to uncover the secret potential of plant-based gums and mucilages through a deeper understanding of their physicochemical characteristics and the development of safety profile information. This innovative unique class of drug products, useful in advanced drug delivery applications, gene therapy, and biosynthesis, has been developed by modification of plant-based gums and mucilages. In this review, both fundamental and novel medicinal aspects of plant-based gums and mucilages, along with their capacity for pharmacology and nanomedicine, were demonstrated.     

Managing inventory and service levels in a safety stock‐based inventory routing system with stochastic retailer demands

The inherent uncertainty in supply chain systems compels managers to be more perceptive to the stochastic nature of the systems' major parameters, such as suppliers' reliability, retailers' demands, and facility production capacities. To deal with the uncertainty inherent to the parameters of the stochastic supply chain optimization problems and to determine optimal or close to optimal policies, many approximate deterministic equivalent models are proposed. In this paper, we consider the stochastic periodic inventory routing problem modeled as chance‐constrained optimization problem. We then propose a safety stock‐based deterministic optimization model to determine near‐optimal solutions to this chance‐constrained optimization problem. We investigate the issue of adequately setting safety stocks at the supplier's warehouse and at the retailers so that the promised service levels to the retailers are guaranteed, while distribution costs as well as inventory throughout the system are optimized. The proposed deterministic models strive to optimize the safety stock levels in line with the planned service levels at the retailers. Different safety stock models are investigated and analyzed, and the results are illustrated on two comprehensively worked out cases. We conclude this analysis with some insights on how safety stocks are to be determined, allocated, and coordinated in stochastic periodic inventory routing problem. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A divergent McMurry coupling of the bis-salisaldehyde with methylene linker: The characterization of a key by-product with the possible pathway formation

The McMurry coupling of a bis-salisaldehyde 3a with methyl linker as the smallest member of its alkyl series is known to give the remarkably lower yield of the corresponding stilbenophanes. The half part of this molecule, unlike bigger analogues, is a good leaving group which affordsthreo isomer of 4H, 4′H–4,4′-bibenzo[d][1,3]dioxine 4 in high diastereoisomeric ratio (99>). A further study showed that the formation of this key by-product is the reason for formation of other by-products, namely, 5a,10b-dihydrobenzofuro[2,3-b]benzofuran 9 and 2-(2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-2-yl)phenol 10. Two reaction pathways for the formation of by-products have been proposed which are responsible for the unusual activity of dialdehyde 3a.     

A New Method for Predicting Decomposition Temperature of Imidazolium‐based Energetic Ionic Liquids

Two novel correlations are introduced to predict decomposition temperatures of imidazolium‐based energetic ionic liquids. The first simple model is based only on the number of some of atoms in cationic and anionic structures. Meanwhile, a suitable correction term was added in the second correlation to adjust the predicted results for the presence of some specific cation/anion moieties. The measured data of 164 different types of imidazolium‐based energetic ionic liquids were used to derive the new correlations. The calculated mean absolute percent errors (MAPEs) of the first and second models are 6 and 4, respectively. The predicted results have confirmed that insertion of correcting function in the second correlation can provide better estimations. These models were also tested and compared with one of the best available group contribution methods, where group contribution method can be applied, for 17 further imidazolium‐based energetic ionic liquids containing complex molecular structures. Furthermore, the predicted values of MAPEs of the new models are close to that of obtained by group contribution method.     

PEBA/PVDF blend pervaporation membranes: preparation and performance

In the present research, novel polyether block amide (PEBA)/polyvinyldene fluoride (PVDF) blend pervaporation (PV) membranes were prepared for the removal of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) from the aqueous solution. The membranes obtained at PEBA/PVDF ratios of 100/0, 95/5, and 90/10 were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, water contact angle measurement, and tensile test. Moreover, the PV performance of the membranes was assessed via separation of IPA from the aqueous solution. The blended membranes exhibited higher hydrophobicity and separation factor as well as lower permeability in comparison with the pure PEBA membrane. The blended membrane that was prepared at PEBA/PVDF ratio of 95/5 was found as the optimum membrane providing PV separation index of 3171 that appeared to be the maximum value. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.