Directing Polymorphism in the Helical Nanofilament Phase

Herein, it is reported that the polymorphism in the helical nanofilament (HNF, B₄) liquid-crystalline phase depends on the fabrication methods, that is, UV-driven formation and template-assisted self-assembly in the nanoconfined geometry. As a result, uniaxially oriented HNFs with different helical structures were obtained, in which generation of the twisted-ribbon and cylindrical-ribbon polymorphs showed that even the molecular lattice has a different orientation. The detailed structures were directly observed by SEM and grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction with synchrotron radiation. The resultant polymorphs could be used in chiro-optical applications due to the capability for fine control of the helical structures.     

Sampled‐data reliable stabilization of T‐S fuzzy systems and its application

In this article, based on sampled‐data approach, a new robust state feedback reliable controller design for a class of Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy systems is presented. Different from the existing fault models for reliable controller, a novel generalized actuator fault model is proposed. In particular, the implemented fault model consists of both linear and nonlinear components. Consequently, by employing input‐delay approach, the sampled‐data system is equivalently transformed into a continuous‐time system with a variable time delay. The main objective is to design a suitable reliable sampled‐data state feedback controller guaranteeing the asymptotic stability of the resulting closed‐loop fuzzy system. For this purpose, using Lyapunov stability theory together with Wirtinger‐based double integral inequality, some new delay‐dependent stabilization conditions in terms of linear matrix inequalities are established to determine the underlying system's stability and to achieve the desired control performance. Finally, to show the advantages and effectiveness of the developed control method, numerical simulations are carried out on two practical models. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 21: 518–529, 2016     

Spectral mapping theorems for exponentially bounded c-semigroups in Banach spaces

LetZ be a generator of an exponentially boundedC-semigroup {S _t } _t≥0 in a Banach space and letT _t =C ⁻¹ S _t . We show that the spectral mapping theorems such as exp(tσ(Z)) ⊂ σ(T _t ) and exp(tσ _p (Z)) ⊂ tσ _p (T _t ) ⊂ exp(tσ _p (Z)) ⋃ {0} for everyt≥0 hold. The present studies were supported by the Basic Science Research Institute Program, Ministry of Education, 1987.     

Application of the multiensemble sampling to the hydration free energy

We demonstrate the feasibility of using multiensemble sampling method (MESM) to determine the free energy difference between two far states for which the configurational distributions do not overlap at all. The MESM is a recently developed non‐Boltzmann sampling technique. The free energy of charging a sodium ion in water is accurately calculated in a single simulation, introducing nine intermediate ionic states. This is due to the ability of the method to explore the relevant parts of configuration space equally for every state, and this ability comes from the universality of weighting function W and the simplicity in adjusting its parameters. Detailed procedures of adjusting the parameters are presented. The comparison with a free energy perturbation method (FEPM) shows that the MESM is more reliable and efficient. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 22: 1004–1009, 2001     

Enhanced local density of states at the Fermi level of the surface platinum in carbon-supported platinum particles by Nafion ionomer

¹⁹⁵Pt nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was employed to study the influence of Nafion ionomers (NIs), a common ingredient used as a proton conducting mediator and binder in a membrane-electrode-assembly (MEA) for proton exchange membrane fuel cells, on the local density of states at the Fermi surface (E_F-LDOS) of Pt/C catalysts. NIs were observed to increase the surface E_F-LDOS of Pt particles, thereby altering of the catalytic properties of metal particles. This correlates well with the reduction of fuel oxidation rates. Thus, ionomers decreasing the surface E_F-LDOS of Pt particles would be desirable. In addition, a new concept to interpret the surface E_F-LDOS was introduced and validated.     

Upregulation of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) and gelatinases in human atherosclerosis infected with Chlamydia pneumoniae: the potential role of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in the progression of atherosclerosis

Chlamydia pneumoniae infection implicated as an important etiologic factor of atherosclerosis, especially in coronary artery disease (CAD), was found in vitro to be associated with the induction of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). An extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN)/ membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) system which induces and activates MMPs, is suggested to be functional and were upregulated in the failing myocardium. However, the upstream regulation of MMPs by C. pneumoniae within atheroma itself remains unclear. We evaluated the seroepidemiologic study of C. pneumoniae infection in CAD patients (n= 391) and controls (n=97) and performed histopathological and in vitro analysis in atherosclerotic vascular tissues obtained from patients with seropositive to C. pneumoniae (n=20), by using immunochemistry for C. pneumoniae, EMMPRIN/MT1-MMP, MMP-2, and MMP-9. The seropositive rates of both anti-C. pneumoniae IgG and IgA were 56.7% in CAD group and 43.3% in control group (P=0.033). Seropositive rate was increased in subgroups of CAD patients without conventional coronary risk factors compared to those with conventional risk factors. Immunoreactivities of EMMPRIN, MT1-MMP, MMP-2, and MMP-9 were increased in the atheromatous plaque itself, predominantly in immunoreactive macrophages/mononuclear cells to C. pneumoniae. Furthermore, Western blot analysis showed that EMMPRIN and MMP-2 were detected more prominently in atherosclerotic tissues infected with C. pneumoniae compared to control tissues. Zymographic analysis revealed that activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were more increased in atherosclerotic tissues infected with C. pneumoniae compared to control tissues. The present study demonstrated upstream regulation of MMPs can be induced by C. pneumoniae within atheromatous plaque itself. These findings help to understand the potential role of C. pneumoniae in the progression of atherosclerosis.     

Complement activation by sulfonated poly(ethylene glycol)-acrylate copolymers through alternative pathway

Previously, novel poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and sulfonated PEG acrylate (PEG-SO₃A/OA) copolymers were prepared as coating and/or blending materials for biomedical applications. Surfaces modified with copolymers exhibited increased anti-coagulation properties and decreased plasma adsorption level due to increased hydrophilic properties and reorientation characteristics of PEG/PEG-SO₃A chains in water phase. As continuation study, anti-complement effects of PEG-SO₃/OA copolymers were investigated in vitro, and compared with those of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and PEG/OA. C3 activation by PEG-SO₃/OA samples was lower than that by PEG/OA samples, which was attributed to decreased surface nucleophile level of samples. PEG-SO₃/OA samples increased inhibition of Bb production, resulting in decreased C5 activation. Owing to reduced activations of C3 and C5, PEG-SO₃/OA samples markedly decreased SC5b-9 levels in plasma.     

Enhancement of CO2 sorption uptake on hydrotalcite by impregnation with K2CO3

The awareness of symptoms of global warming and its seriousness urges the development of technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon dioxide (CO(2)) is a representative greenhouse gas, and numerous methods to capture and storage CO(2) have been considered. Recently, the technology to remove high-temperature CO(2) by sorption has received lots of attention. In this study, hydrotalcite, which has been known to have CO(2) sorption capability at high temperature, was impregnated with K(2)CO(3) to enhance CO(2) sorption uptake, and the mechanism of CO(2) sorption enhancement on K(2)CO(3)-promoted hydrotalcite was investigated. Thermogravimetric analysis was used to measure equilibrium CO(2) sorption uptake and to estimate CO(2) sorption kinetics. The analyses based on N(2) gas physisorption, X-ray diffractometry, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, Raman spectrometry, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were carried out to elucidate the characteristics of sorbents and the mechanism of enhanced CO(2) sorption. The equilibrium CO(2) sorption uptake on hydrotalcite could be increased up to 10 times by impregnation with K(2)CO(3), and there was an optimal amount of K(2)CO(3) for a maximum equilibrium CO(2) sorption uptake. In the K(2)CO(3)-promoted hydrotalcite, K(2)CO(3) was incorporated without changing the structure of hydrotalcite and it was thermally stabilized, resulting in the enhanced equilibrium CO(2) sorption uptake and fast CO(2) sorption kinetics.     

Clicked (AB)2C‐type miktoarm terpolymers: Synthesis,thermal and self‐assembly properties,and preparation of nanoporous materials

A well‐defined (PEO‐PS)₂‐PLA miktoarm terpolymer ( 1 ) was synthesized by stepwise click reactions of individually prepared poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), polystyrene (PS, polymerized by atom transfer radical polymerization), and polylactide (PLA, polymerized by ring‐opening polymerization) blocks. As characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and small‐angle X‐ray scattering techniques, the terpolymer self‐assembled into a hexagonal columnar structure consisting of PLA/PEO cylindrical cores surrounded by PS chains. In contrast, the ion‐doped sample ( 1‐Li⁺ ) with lithium concentration per ethylene oxide = 0.2 exhibited a three‐phase lamellar structure, which was attributed to the microphase separation between PEO and PLA blocks and to the conformational stabilization of the longest PLA chain. The two‐phase columnar morphology before the ion doping was used to prepare a nanoporous material. PLA chains in the cylindrical core region were hydrolyzed by sodium hydroxide, producing nanopores with a pore diameter of about 14 nm. The resulted nanoporous material sank to the bottom in water, because of water‐compatible PEO chains on the walls. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013