Void closure and interdiffusion processes during latex film formation from surfactant-free polystyrene particles: a fluorescence study

This study reports a steady state fluorescence (SSF) technique for studying film formation from surfactant-free polystyrene (PS) latex particles. The latex films were prepared from pyrene (P)-labeled PS particles at room temperature and annealed at elevated temperatures for 5-, 10-, 20-, and 30-min time intervals above the glass transition (T(g)) temperature of polystyrene. During the annealing processes, the transparency of the film changed considerably. Scattered light (I(sc)) and fluorescence intensity (I(0P)) from P were measured after each annealing step to monitor the stages of film formation. Evolution of transparency of latex films were monitored using photon transmission intensity, I(tr). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to detect variation in the physical structure of annealed films. Onset temperature for film formation, T(0), void closure, T(v), and healing temperatures, T(h), were determined and corresponding activation energies were measured. Void closure and interdiffusion stages were modeled and related activation energies were determined.     

‘Naked-eye’ detection of F− ions by two novel colorimetric receptors

Two novel colorimetric receptors, S1 and S2, linked to one or two nitrophenylurea groups were synthesized in good yields, characterized and their chromogenic properties investigated towards various anions (F^?, Cl^?, Br^?, I^?, NO₃^?, AcO^?, ClO₄^?, HSO₄^?, and H₂PO₄^?) by UV–vis and ¹H NMR techniques. The receptors, effectively and selectively, recognized and distinguished the biologically important F^? from other anions such as Cl^?, Br^?, I^? etc. in CH₃CN. This selectivity could be easily observed by the naked eye, indicating that receptors S1 and S2 are potential colorimetric sensors for fluoride ion.     

Synthesis of New Substituted 1,2,4‐Triazines from Isonitrosoketones and Terephthalaldehydedihydrazone

This study describes a novel method for the synthesis of 1,2,4‐triazines. Firstly, isonitrosoacetophenone, p‐methylisonitrosoacetophenone, and isonitroso‐1‐acetylnaphthalene were synthesized from the reaction of butylnitrite with acetophenone, p‐methylisonitrosoacetophenone, and 1‐acetylnaphthalene, respectively. Then, symmetric derivatives of 1,2,4‐triazines were prepared from the condensation reaction of keto oximes with terephthalohydrazone. However, the heteroaromatic closure was not observed in the condensation reaction of pyruvic‐aldehyde‐1‐oxime(keto oxime) with terephthalohydrazone. Structures of the obtained products were confirmed by FTIR, ¹H‐NMR, and elemental analyses techniques.     

Critical parameters controlling the properties of monolithic poly(lactic acid) foams prepared by thermally induced phase separation

Monolithic poly(lactic acid) (PLA) foams were produced by thermally induced phase separation. PLA solutions with concentrations 8–22 wt % were prepared in tetrahydrofuran/methanol (THF/MeOH) solvent/nonsolvent mixtures at 55 °C. Homogenous solutions were quenched at ?20 °C to induce phase separation and gelation. Resulting gels were mechanically stabilized by solvent exchange. Subsequent supercritical CO₂ drying yielded monolithic PLA foams. Crystal structure and degree of crystallinity of the foams were obtained by x‐ray diffractometry and differential scanning calorimetry. Morphologies were determined by scanning electron microscopy. Tuning the PLA concentration and THF/MeOH ratio enabled preparation of monolithic PLA foams. Depending on the experimental conditions various morphologies, such as: interconnected networks, thin platelets, lamellar stacks, axialites, and spherulites were formed. Monoliths obtained were highly crystalline. By changing the PLA concentration monoliths with controlled average pore sizes (170–1440 nm) and porosities (80–90%) were produced. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 98–108     

Flow of elasto-viscoplastic liquids through a planar expansion–contraction

The steady flow of incompressible elasto-viscoplastic liquids through a planar expansion–contraction is investigated. A novel constitutive model is employed to describe the mechanical behavior of the flowing liquids. Numerical solutions of the constitutive and conservation equations were obtained via a finite element method to investigate the role of elasticity, yield stress, and inertia. The fields of velocity, stress, elastic strain, and rate of strain were obtained for different combinations of the governing parameters. It was observed that these fields, as well as the shape and position of the yield surface, are all strong functions of elasticity, yield stress, and inertia. The trends observed agree well with previous numerical and visualization results available in the literature. The present work offers a detailed study on the effects of elasticity, presenting, in particular, the fields of elastic strain.     

Immobilization of laccase on polymer grafted polytetrafluoroethylene membranes for biosensor construction

In this study, Trametes versicolor laccase was immobilized on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membranes using two different techniques, entrapment to gelatin and covalent immobilization to the surface. For surface immobilization, functional groups were formed on PTFE surface by radiofrequency (RF) plasma treatment followed by polymer grafting. Two different polymers, polyacrylamide (pAAm) and polyacrylic acid (pAAc) were tried. For polyacrylamide grafted PTFE, a two-step polymerization process was used. The membranes were first treated with hydrogen plasma and pAAm grafted PTFE (pAAm-g-PTFE) was then formed by argon plasma treatment. To produce pAAc grafted PTFE (pAAc-g-PTFE), the surface was first treated with argon plasma and AAc was then attached to the surface by heat treatment (70 °C, 6 h). For both cases, an optimized carbodiimide coupling reaction was used for laccase immobilization. Enzyme activity was measured by an oxygen electrode using guaiacol as substrate. All three biosensing membranes were characterized and compared in terms of optimum working conditions, storage stability and reusability. Our study concluded that although a higher activity was obtained by gelatin entrapped laccase, its mechanical instability and poor storage life makes the gelatin biosensor unattractive for multiple usages and for field measurements. pAAc-g-PTFE biosensor was found to be more stable and highly reusable (ca. 50 times) when compared with the other two biosensors. In addition, its sensitivity was suitable for field applications. Therefore, the pAAc-g-PTFE biosensor could be proposed as an alternative on-site detection tool for phenolic compound monitoring.     

Synthesis, spectroscopic, and thermal properties of some azomethine complexes of Cu(II), Ni(II), and Pt(II)

Four polydentate azomehines and their mono- and binuclear Pt(II), Cu(II), and Ni(II) complexes were synthesized and characterized. The resulting complexes were characterized by FTIR, magnetic measurements, elemental analysis, conductivity measurements, and thermal analysis. Electronic spectra and magnetic susceptibility measurements sustain the proposed distorted square-planar structures for the copper complexes. The electronic spectra display the characteristic pattern of square-planar stereochemistry for the other complexes. The thermal analyses have evidenced the thermal intervals of stability and also the thermodynamic effects that accompany them. Azomethine complexes have a similar thermal behavior for the selected metal ions. The decomposition processes as water elimination, chloride anion removal as well as degradation of the organic ligands were observed.     

Diffusion-weighted imaging evaluation of subtle cerebral microstructural changes in intrauterine fetal hydrocephalus

OBJECTIVE: Hydrocephalus is an important etiological factor in neurological decline. With the advent of fetal ultrasound, fetal hydrocephalus is now more frequently detected than in the past. Ultrasonography (USG) provides information on general morphology, but microstructural changes that may play a prognostic role are beyond the resolution of that technique. These changes may theoretically be revealed by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI). In this study, our preliminary findings of DW-MRI on the hydrocephalic fetuses are presented. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve fetuses with fetal USG diagnosis of hydrocephalus were investigated using a 1.5-T MR scanner. In addition to conventional techniques, DWI was performed. It was obtained using a single-shot echo-planar imaging sequence (TR/TE: 4393/81 ms; slice thickness: 5 mm; interslice gap: 1 mm; FOV: 230 mm; matrix size: 128x256; b values: 0 and 1000 s/mm2). Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were measured in the white matter of the periventricular frontal and occipital lobes, basal ganglia, thalamus, centrum semiovale and cerebrospinal fluid in the lateral ventricle. These values were compared with the normal prenatal ADC values from a radiological study published in the literature. RESULTS: All fetuses had moderate or severe bilateral supratentorial ventricular dilatation that was compatible with hydrocephalus. On conventional T1- and T2-weighted imaging, cerebral parenchyma had normal signal pattern and ADC values were significantly lower than those reported for fetuses with normal brain. These values were lower in hydrocephalic fetuses with statistical significance (P<.05-.01). CONCLUSION: DWI is a sensitive technique to investigate cerebral microstructure. The reduction in cerebral blood flow and alterations in cerebral energy metabolism in cases with hydrocephalus have been shown before. Changes in cerebral blood flow and energy metabolism, as a consequence of cerebral compression, may occur in hydrocephalus. Elevated ventricular pressure may cause cerebral ischemia. The anaerobic glycolysis seen in the hydrocephalic brain tissue by increasing the lactate concentration and intracellular fluid flux may be the reason for the reduced ADC values in hydrocephalic fetuses. However, long-term prospective trials on the correlation of ADC values and neurological outcome are necessary to exploit the full benefit of that novel technique.     

Statistics of a hydrophobic chain near a hydrophobic boundary

We study the behavior of a hydrophobic chain near a hydrophobic boundary in two dimensions, adapting the decorated lattice model of Berkema and Widom (G.T. Barkema, B. Widom, J. Chem. Phys. 113, 2349 (2000)) to obtain effective, temperature-dependent intrachain and chain-boundary interactions. We use these interactions to construct two model Hamiltonians. The resulting partition functions may be integrated numerically. Our results compare favorably with preliminary Monte Carlo computations, using the same effective interactions. At relatively low temperatures and at high temperatures, we find that the chain is randomly configured in the ambient water, and detached from the wall, whereas at intermediate temperatures it adsorbs onto the wall in a stretched or partially folded state, again depending upon the temperature, and the energy of solvation.