Mechanical, rheological, fatigue, and degradation behavior of PLLA, PGLA and PDGLA as materials for vascular implants

The biggest challenge in the treatment of arterial stenosis remains the issue of optimization of stent design. Despite continuous improvement in surgical techniques and use of intensive pharmacotherapy, the results of stent coronary interventions may be unsatisfactory, and long-term interaction of a metal implant with a blood vessel results in complications such as recurrent stenosis and thrombosis. Therefore, it is necessary to search for new materials and stent designs to obtain a stent capable of restoring flow in the vessel and disappearing after fulfilling its function. Such stent must also be compatible with the vessel wall to enable regeneration of new structure of endothelium and deeper artery layers damaged during implantation. Consequently, there is ongoing search for functional solutions with minimum effects of long-term implant-tissue interaction. In light of the above, the team investigated the possibility of using biodegradable polymers already mentioned in the literature as a construction material for vascular stent. The study used three polyhydroxyacids based on lactic acid and glycolic acid: poly(l-lactide), poly(lactide-co-glycolide) and poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide). The research focused on assessing changes in mechanical, thermomechanical, rheological, and fatigue properties during the process of hydrolytic degradation. The analysis also covered the rate of release of degradation products. The results of the conducted tests indicate the possibility of developing a vascular stent with biodegradable polymers.     

Constant current versus constant voltage plasma anodization techniques

In this paper a comparison is made between two basic techniques of plasma anodization, i.e. constant current and constant voltage methods. The comparison is based on new mathematical-physical models of both plasma anodization techniques, in which the condition of oxide growth during the process is expressed in terms of fluxes (oxygen ions and electrons) and/or voltages. Detailed analysis of these parameters, their changes during the oxide growth and their comparison enabled the confirmation of some of the experimentally observed effects and to predict others, unnoticed up till now. Based on this analysis it is concluded that the oxide growth during the constant current plasma anodization is not only easier to be monitored and controlled, but also should result in much better anodic oxide electrophysical properties, their better control and repeatability.     

Application of 2-(octylsulphanyl)benzoic acid as Pb<Superscript>2+</Superscript> selective ionophore in hybrid membrane system

A solution of 2-(octylsulphanyl)benzoic acid in 1,2-dichloroethane was used as a liquid membrane for selective pertraction of Pb²⁺ cations. Transport processes were carried out in a multi-membrane hybrid system (MHS) consisting of two cation-exchange membranes (CEM) and a flowing liquid membrane (FLM) in the following order: CEM | FLM | CEM. The liquid membrane phase was dehydrated continuously using a pervaporation method (PV). The system was capable of transporting Pb²⁺ ions selectively from a multi-cation aqueous solution composed of Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Pb²⁺ nitrates. A comparative study of the carrier efficiency under various feed pH conditions was performed. It was found that the carrier exhibited sufficient selectivity and transport efficiency under a broad range of operational conditions, with a maximum transport rate of Pb²⁺ ions attaining the value of (1.09 ± 0.03) × 10⁻¹⁰ mol cm⁻² s⁻¹ and the selectivity coefficient of up to 40.     

Quantum chemistry-based interpretations on the lowest triplet state of luminescent lanthanides complexes. Part 1. Relation between the triplet state energy of hydroxamate complexes and their luminescence properties

In this paper, we evaluate the potential use of theoretical calculations to obtain an energy scale of the lowest ligand-centred triplet excited state in luminescent terbium(III) complexes. In these complexes, non-radiative deactivation of the terbium emitting state via a back-energy transfer process (T1<--Tb(5D4)) is a common quenching process. Consequently the prediction of the energy gap between these two excited states should be useful for programming highly luminescent Tb(III) systems. We report on a strategy based upon experimental and theoretical investigations of the excited state properties of a series of four simple aromatic hydroxamate ligands coordinated to Tb(III) and Gd(III) ions. By using previously reported crystallographic data, the structural and energies properties of these systems were investigated in the ground and first excited triplet states at the density functional theory (DFT) level of calculations. Our theoretical results are consistent with a triplet excited state T1 which is localised on one ligand only and whose the energy level is independent of the lanthanide ion nature (Tb(III), Gd(III)). A good agreement between the calculated adiabatic transition energies and experimental data derived from emission spectra is obtained when a corrective term is considered. These satisfactory results are an indication that this type of modelling can lead to discriminate in terms of the position of the lowest ligand triplet energy level the best antenna among a family of chromophoric compounds. In addition this theoretical approach has provided indications that the difference between the adiabatic transition energies of all the investigated complexes can be mainly explained by metal-ligand electrostatic interactions. The influence of the number of antennae on the quantum yield and the luminescence lifetime is discussed.     

Matricial R-transform

We study the addition problem for strongly matricially free random variables which generalize free random variables. Using operators of Toeplitz type, we derive a linearization formula for the matricial R-transform related to the associated convolution. It is a linear combination of Voiculescu?s R-transforms in free probability with coefficients given by internal units of the considered array of subalgebras. This allows us to view this formula as the matricial linearization property of the R-transform. Since strong matricial freeness unifies the main types of noncommutative independence, the matricial R-transform plays the role of a unified noncommutative analog of the logarithm of the Fourier transform for free, boolean, monotone, orthogonal, s-free and c-free independence.     

Synthesis of 1-Aminoalkanephosphonic and Phosphonous Acids Bearing Furan Moiety

Abstract

Synthesis of a series of 1 -aminoalkanephosphonic acids bearing hran moiety was performed, starting from the preparation[I] of various N-substituted aminophosphonic esters. We were encouraged by previous Boduszek's study [2].     

Synthesis of (2-Furyl)Aminomethanephosphonic Acids Derivatives

Abstract

Synthetical aspects of furylaminophosphonic acids are discussed here.     

Review of AdS/CFT Integrability: An Overview

This is the introductory chapter of a review collection on integrability in the context of the AdS/CFT correspondence. In the collection, we present an overview of the achievements and the status of this subject as of the year 2010.     

On multiplicity correlations in the STAR data

The STAR data on the multiplicity correlations between narrow pseudorapidity bins in the pp and AuAu collisions are discussed. The PYTHIA 8.145 generator is used for the pp data, and a na?ve superposition model is presented for the AuAu data. It is shown that the PYTHIA generator with default parameter values describes the pp data reasonably well, whereas the superposition model fails to reproduce the centrality dependence seen in the data. Some possible reasons for this failure and a comparison with other models are presented.