Synthesis and properties of biodegradable elastomeric epoxy modified polyurethanes based on poly(ε-caprolactone) and poly(ethylene glycol)

Biodegradable polyurethane elastomers with potential for applications in medical implants with tunable degradation rate and physical properties were synthesized from reaction of epoxy terminated polyurethanes (EUP) with 1,6-hexamethylene diamine (HMDA) as curing agent. Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as well as 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) were used for preparation of isocyanate terminated polyurethanes which were subsequently blocked with glycidol to prepare EUPs. All materials were characterized by conventional methods, and their properties were studied fully. Results showed that elastomers based on PEG exhibit superior degradation rate and inferior mechanical properties in comparison to elastomers based on PCL. Optimum degradation rate and mechanical properties were obtained from elastomers made from mixture of PCL and PEG base EUPs.     

Mathematical modeling of a slurry reactor for DME direct synthesis from syngas

In this paper,an axial dispersion mathematical model is developed to simulate a three-phase slurry bubble column reactor for direct synthesis of dimethyl ether(DME) from syngas.This large-scale reactor is modeled using mass and energy balances,catalyst sedimentation andsingle-bubble as well as two-bubbles class flow hydrodynamics.A comparison between the two hydrodynamic models through pilot plantexperimental data from the literature shows that heterogeneous two-bubbles flow model is in better agreement with the experimental data thanhomogeneous single-bubble gas flow model.Also,by investigating the heterogeneous gas flow and axial dispersion model for small bubblesas well as the large bubbles and slurry(i.e.including paraffins and the catalyst) phase,the temperature profile along the reactor is obtained.Acomparison between isothermal and non-isothermal reactors reveals no obvious performance difference between them.The optimum values ofreactor diameter and height were obtained at 7 m and 50 m,respectively.The effects of operating variables on the axial catalyst distribution,DME productivity and CO conversion are also investigated in this research.     

Preparation of magnetic polyurethane rigid foam nanocomposites

Super paramagnetic Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ nanoparticle was incorporated into polyurethane rigid foams in order to prepare new corresponded magnetic nanocomposite foams via one-shot method. The core–shell-structured nanoparticles were prepared by sol–gel method and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, as well as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy techniques. Magnetic nanoparticles were used up to 3 % in the foam formulations and the samples prepared successfully. Thermal, mechanical, and magnetic properties of nanocomposites were studied and the results showed superior properties in comparison with pristine foams.     

A new molecularly imprinted polymer for selective extraction and pre‐concentration of guaifenesin in different samples: Adsorption studies and kinetic modeling

This paper describes the synthesis of a molecularly imprinted polymer by chemical oxidation of pyrrole as the functional monomer, and at the presence of guaifenesin as the template. The prepared polymer was used as adsorbent in molecularly imprinted solid‐phase extraction followed by spectrophotometric determination. Different parameters in the solid‐phase extraction including sample pH, adsorbent weight, washing solution, and elution solvent were studied to determine optimum conditions for isolation and enrichment of guaifenesin. The results showed guaifenesin was quantitatively adsorbed on the molecularly imprinted polymer at pH 6.0 and completely eluted with an ethanol–water solution (50% v/v). An enrichment factor of four with satisfactory recoveries (87.0–95.0%) was obtained. The solid‐phase extraction columns could be used for up to six consecutive elution‐loading cycles without significant decreases in the analyte recoveries. The method had a dynamic range of 3.0 × 10^?6–1.5 × 10^?4 mol/L with a limit of detection and limit of quantification of 1.4×10^?6 and 4.5×10^?6 mol/L, respectively. The proposed procedure was used for the extraction and determination of guaifenesin in different pharmaceutical formulations, with satisfying results being achieved.     

A digital implementation of 2D Hindmarsh–Rose neuron

Nonlinear Dynamics - Different architectures and techniques have developed in the neuromorphic field to mimic and investigate the activity of biological neural networks. This paper presents a set...     

Plasma with two-negative ions and immobile dust particles: planar and non-planar ion-acoustic wave propagation

By using the hydrodynamic equations of positive and two negative ions, Boltzmann electron density distribution, and Poisson equation with immobile positive/negative dust particles, a cylindrical Korteweg-de Vries (CKdV) equation is derived for small but finite amplitude ion-acoustic waves. At the critical total negative ion concentration and/or the critical density rate of the second-negative ions, the pulses collapse at this limit as nonlinearity fails to balance dispersion. Then the CKdV equation is not appropriate to describe the system. Therefore, the modified CKdV (MCKdV) and extended CKdV (ECKdV) equations are derived at the critical plasma compositions and in the vicinity of the critical plasma compositions, respectively. The physical parameters of two plasma environments (e.g., Xe⁺–F^-–SF₆^-_{6}^{-} and Ar⁺–F^-–SF₆^-_{6}^{-} plasmas) are examined on the wave phase velocity and the nonlinear localized pulse profile. The latter should satisfy necessary condition to exist. The localized pulse of Ar⁺–F^-–SF₆^-_{6}^{-} plasma is much spiky than Xe⁺–F^-–SF₆^-_{6}^{-} plasma. Thus, the mass ratio of the negative-to-positive ions is focused upon and it emphasizes to play an important role on the pulse profile. Dependence of the geometrical divergence on the pulse profile is also investigated, which indicates that the localized pulse damps with time. The implications of our results agrees with the experimental observations.     

Synthesis of Ag nanoparticles for the electrochemical detection of anticancer drug flutamide

Ag nanoparticles were synthesized on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode modified with p‐tert‐butylcalix[4]arene and p‐tert‐butylcalix[6]arene by the deposition of Ag+at an open circuit potential ...     

Ion-acoustic solitary waves in a dense pair-ion plasma containing degenerate electrons and positrons

Fully nonlinear propagation of ion-acoustic solitary waves in a collisionless dense/quantum electron–positron–ion plasma is investigated. The electrons and positrons are assumed to follow the Thomas–Fermi density distribution and the ions are described by the hydrodynamic equations. An energy balance-like equation involving a Sagdeev-type pseudo-potential is derived. Finite amplitude solutions are obtained numerically and their characteristics are discussed. The small-but finite-amplitude limit is also considered and an exact analytical solution is obtained. The present studies might be helpful to understand the excitation of nonlinear ion-acoustic solitary waves in a degenerate plasma such as in superdense white dwarfs.     

Three-dimensional electrostatic waves in a nonuniform quantum electron-positron magnetoplasma

The dispersion properties of three-dimensional electrostatic waves in a nonuniform quantum electron-positron magnetoplasma are examined. A new dispersion relation is derived using the electron and positron densities response arising from the balance between the quantum Bohm and electrostatic forces, and from the electron and positron continuity and Poisson equations. In the local approximation regime, the dispersion relation admits both oscillatory and purely growing instabilities those depend on the quantum parameters as well as the density, velocity and magnetic field inhomogeneities.     

Nonlinear vibration of the spiral bevel gear with a novel tooth surface modification method

Meccanica - The issue of gear noise is fairly common in power transmission systems. This noise largely stems from the gear pairs vibration triggered by transmission error excitation. This is mainly...