Influence of plasticizer content on the transition of electromechanical behavior of PVC gel actuator

The actuation performance of plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) gel actuators in an electric field depends on their chemical composition and electrical and mechanical properties. The influence of plasticizer (dibutyl adipate) content on electromechanical behavior of PVC gels was investigated by impedance spectroscopy and space charge measurement. By plasticizing the PVC, the dielectric constant and space charge density of PVC gel were drastically increased at 1:2 w/w ratio of PVC to plasticizer. To apply the results obtained from the impedance spectroscopy and space charge measurement, electrostatic adhesive forces generated between the PVC gel and the anode were measured. The electrostatic adhesive force at the anode was also dramatically increased at the same plasticizer content. All of the results indicated a transition of electromechanical behavior of PVC gel in the electric field, which was considered to originate from the orientation of polarized plasticizer molecules and dipole rotation of PVC chains. By using the electrostatic adhesive force of PVC gel derived from the electromechanical transition, a new electroactive actuator can be developed for novel applications.     

Preparation and evaluation of a chrysotile asbestos-containing standard material for validating x-ray diffractometric quantitation

A standard material containing chrysotile asbestos for the validation of x-ray diffractometric quantitation was developed using an asbestos-containing building material i.e., perlite board. The board as the base material was crushed, pulverized, and homogenized. The homogeneity of the powder of perlite board was estimated by analysis of variance. The diffraction intensity values of the crystalline phases and the concentrations of elements determined by x-ray diffractometry and x-ray fluorescence analysis were used for analysis of variance. There is no significant difference between the within-bottle variance and the between-bottle variance, indicating that the powdered perlite board was sufficiently homogenous. The concentration of chrysotile in the material was determined using two methods: an internal standard/x-ray diffractometry method and the x-ray diffractometry/Rietveld refinement. The concentration of chrysotile in the material was determined by an internal standard/x-ray diffractometry method and the material had a chrysotile concentration of 24.1 ± 0.2 mass%.     

Neuroprotective effects of edaravone-administration on 6-OHDA-treated dopaminergic neurons

Background

A recent human clinical trial of an Alzheimer's disease (AD) vaccine using amyloid beta (Aβ) 1–42 plus QS-21 adjuvant produced some positive results, but was halted due to meningoencephalitis in some participants. The development of a vaccine with mutant Aβ peptides that avoids the use of an adjuvant may result in an effective and safer human vaccine.

Results

All peptides tested showed high antibody responses, were long-lasting, and demonstrated good memory response. Epitope mapping indicated that peptide mutation did not lead to epitope switching. Mutant peptides induced different inflammation responses as evidenced by cytokine profiles. Ig isotyping indicated that adjuvant-free vaccination with peptides drove an adequate Th2 response. All anti-sera from vaccinated mice cross-reacted with human Aβ in APP/PS1 transgenic mouse brain tissue.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated that an adjuvant-free vaccine with different Aβ peptides can be an effective and safe vaccination approach against AD. This study represents the first report of adjuvant-free vaccines utilizing Aβ peptides carrying diverse mutations in the T-cell epitope. These largely positive results provide encouragement for the future of the development of human vaccinations for AD.     

Thermodynamics of polymeric fluids – effect of volume on the configurational entropy of chain molecules

Various conformation‐dependent properties of chain molecules have been successfully treated within the rotational isomeric state approximation. The conformation entropy is one of such properties which can be readily defined by the partition function, the sum of all possible configurations of the chain. Flexible polymers often exhibit crystallization and in some cases liquid‐crystallization as well. In these first‐order transitions, changes in the spatial arrangement of polymer chains are considered to be a major factor involved. In order to explicitly determine the conformational contribution to the melting entropy, the latent entropy observed under the isobaric condition must be corrected for the volume change. The entropy separation involves a hypothetical assumption that the volume of the isotropic fluid may be compressed to that of the solid state without affecting the configurational part of the entropy of molecules. Finally thermodynamic significance of the conformation entropy in these transitions is emphasized on the basis of the critical studies of the entropy‐volume relation of chain molecules in the liquid state.     

Photoluminescent copolymer-pendant Ru(BPY)32+ grafted onto non-woven silk fabric and its application to oxygen sensor

Copolymer-pendant Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ grafted onto silk fibroin was prepared by at first grafting copoly(4-methyl-4′-vinyl-2,2′-bipyridine - methylmethacrylate) onto non-woven silk fabric, and then by reacting the grafted sample with cis-Ru(bpy)₂Cl₂. Photoluminescence of this silk-poly Ru complex and its quenching by oxygen were studied in gas, methanol and water phases. The relative emission intensity and the emission lifetime of the silk-poly Ru showed that there are two kinds of sites for the Ru complex. The major, longer lifetime component (1070 ns, 77.1%, under Ar gas) is considered to be surrounded by polymer matrices, and the minor, shorter one (288 ns, 22.9%) seems to be exposed and is subjected to concentration quenching. The shorter lifetime species are quenched by oxygen more effectively than the longer ones. The mechanism of the quenching by oxygen and its application to oxygen sensor were discussed.