Hydrogel−Solid Hybrid Materials for Biomedical Applications Enabled by Surface‐Embedded Radicals

Combinations of hydrogels and solids provide high level functionality for devices such as tissue engineering scaffolds and soft machines. However, the weak bonding between hydrogels and solids hampers functionality. Here, a versatile strategy to develop mechanically robust solid?hydrogel hybrid materials using surface embedded radicals generated through plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) of polymeric surfaces is reported. Evidence is provided that the reactive radicals play a dual role: inducing surface‐initiated, spontaneous polymerization of hydrogels; and binding the hydrogels to the surfaces. Acrylamide and silk hydrogels are formed and covalently attached through spontaneous reactions with the radicals on PIII activated polymer surfaces without cross‐linking agents or initiators. The hydrogel amount increases with incubation time, monomer concentration, and temperature. Stability tests indicate that 95% of the hydrogel is retained even after 4 months in PBS solution. T‐peel tests show that failure occurs at the tape?hydrogel interface and the hydrogel‐PIII‐treated PTFE interfacial adhesion strength is over 300 N m^?1. Cell assays show no adhesion to the as‐synthesized hydrogels; however, hydrogels synthesized with fibronectin enable cell adhesion and spreading. These results show that polymers functionalized with surface‐embedded radicals provide excellent solid platforms for the generation of robust solid?hydrogel hybrid structures for biomedical applications.     

General and Facile Route to Isomerically Pure Tricyclic Peptides Based on Templated Tandem CLIPS/CuAAC Cyclizations

We report a one‐pot ligation/cyclization technology for the rapid and clean conversion of linear peptides into tricyclic peptides that is based on using tetravalent scaffolds containing two benzyl bromide and two alkyne moieties. These react via CLIPS/CuAAC reactions with cysteines and azides in the peptide. Flexibility in the scaffolds is key to the formation of isomerically pure products as the flexible scaffolds T4 ₁ and T4 ₂ mostly promote the formation of single isomeric tricycles while the rigid scaffolds T4 ₃ and T4 ₄ do not yield clean products. There seems to be no limitation to the number and types of amino acids present as 18 canonical amino acids were successfully implemented. We also observed that azides at the peptide termini and cysteine residues in the center gave better results than compounds with the functional groups placed the other way round.     

An Optimal Design of Fractal Antenna with Modified Ground Structure for Wideband Applications

This paper premeditates an optimal design of fractal antenna with modified ground structure for wideband applications. The proposed antenna has been designed by taking numerous iterations started from 0th to 3rd. To attain the wideband characteristics, the partial ground plane has been introduced in the 3rd iteration, and the length of the ground plane has been varied to enhance the bandwidth. The maximum value of bandwidth has been adorned in the final iteration as 1.88 and 0.20 GHz. Further, this bandwidth has been improved and embellished as 2.48 GHz within the frequency range of 3–6 GHz by employing horizontal and vertical extensions in the partial ground plane. Antenna is simulated by using HFSS and performance parameters of antenna like return loss (S_11?≤???10 dB), gain and radiation efficiency are in the acceptable limits. The maximum value of gain is reported as 5.1 dB and radiation pattern is also omnidirectional. The proposed antenna is useful for the wireless applications as WiMAX (3.4–3.69 GHz) and WLAN (5.15–5.35 and 5.72–5.82 GHz) Simulated and experimental results are also juxtaposed and found in good agreement with each other.     

Synthesis of jasminaldehyde using magnesium organo silicate as a solid base catalyst

Synthetic talc (magnesium organo silicates; MOS) was synthesized by sol–gel method under non-hydrothermal conditions and modified by introducing amine/diamine functionalities in the interlayer space. The applicability of amine/diamine functionalized MOS was studied as catalysts for the synthesis of jasminaldehyde or -pentylcinnamaldehyde by condensation of 1-heptanal with benzaldehyde. The effect of amine/diamine functionality, amount of catalyst, benzaldehyde to 1-heptanal molar ratio and temperature on the selectivity of jasminaldehyde was studied in detail. The highest conversion of 1-heptanal (99%) with 82% selectivity of jasminaldehyde was achieved using MOS3 as a catalyst. The rate constant for condensation of 1-heptanal with benzaldehyde was calculated under optimized reaction conditions. This is the first report on application of MOS as a solid base catalyst for the condensation of 1-heptanal with benzaldehyde.     

A novel one-pot synthesis of 3-carbomethoxy-4-arylfuran-2-(5H)-ones from ketones using [hydroxy(tosyloxy)iodo]benzene

A novel one-pot procedure for the synthesis of 3-carbomethoxy-4-aryl furan-2-(5H)-ones is reported via α-tosyloxylation of enolisable ketones with [hydroxy(tosyloxy)iodo]benzene, followed by treatment with potassium monomethyl malonate and K₂CO₃.     

Meander and Koch Hybrid Fractal Curve Based Dual Hexagonal Radiating Patch Antenna for Quad Band Wireless Applications

Wireless Personal Communications - A unique dual hexagonal-shaped radiating patch design with hybrid fractal curves (Meander and Koch) is presented for quad-band wireless applications. Initially,...     

Thermoelectric Generators for Automotive Waste Heat Recovery Systems Part I: Numerical Modeling and Baseline Model Analysis

A numerical model has been developed to simulate coupled thermal and electrical energy transfer processes in a thermoelectric generator (TEG) designed for automotive waste heat recovery systems. This model is capable of computing the overall heat transferred, the electrical power output, and the associated pressure drop for given inlet conditions of the exhaust gas and the available TEG volume. Multiple-filled skutterudites and conventional bismuth telluride are considered for thermoelectric modules (TEMs) for conversion of waste heat from exhaust into usable electrical power. Heat transfer between the hot exhaust gas and the hot side of the TEMs is enhanced with the use of a plate-fin heat exchanger integrated within the TEG and using liquid coolant on the cold side. The TEG is discretized along the exhaust flow direction using a finite-volume method. Each control volume is modeled as a thermal resistance network which consists of integrated submodels including a heat exchanger and a thermoelectric device. The pressure drop along the TEG is calculated using standard pressure loss correlations and viscous drag models. The model is validated to preserve global energy balances and is applied to analyze a prototype TEG with data provided by General Motors. Detailed results are provided for local and global heat transfer and electric power generation. In the companion paper, the model is then applied to consider various TEG topologies using skutterudite and bismuth telluride TEMs.     

Probiotic Escherichia coli CFR 16 Producing Pyrroloquinoline Quinone (PQQ) Ameliorates 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine-Induced Oxidative Damage in Colon and Liver of Rats

Inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract is associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) genesis. Alleviation of oxidative stress is achieved by using antioxidants and probiotics. Present study investigates a synergistic effect of the probiotic Escherichia coli CFR 16 containing Vitreoscilla haemoglobin gene (vgb), green fluorescent protein (gfp) gene and pyrroloquinoline quinone (pqq) gene cluster on oxidative stress induced by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH). Adult virgin Charles foster male rats (3–4 months) weighing 200–250 g were administered with DMH (25 mg/kg body weight, s.c.) twice a week for eight consecutive weeks. Rats receiving only DMH dose showed increased lipid peroxidation in liver and intestinal tissues with reduced activity of antioxidant enzymes, i.e. superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Oral dose of E. coli CFR 16::vgb-gfp harbouring pqq gene cluster increased rat faecal PQQ concentration by twofold, reduced lipid peroxidation and retained SOD, CAT and GPx activities close to normal levels in liver and colonic tissues following DMH treatment. In addition, significant protection was found in colonic histological sections of these rat groups. This study demonstrates a protective efficacy in the following order: E. coli CFR 16?<?E. coli CFR 16::vgb-gfp?<?vitamin C?=?PQQ?<?E. coli CFR 16::vgb-gfp (pqq).