The Interaction of Bacteria with Engineered Nanostructured Polymeric Materials: A Review

PubMed Central

Armentano, Ilaria; Arciola, Carla Renata; Fortunati, Elena; Ferrari, Davide; Mattioli, Samantha; Amoroso, Concetta Floriana; Rizzo, Jessica; Kenny, Jose M.; Imbriani, Marcello; Visai, Livia

2014-01-01

Bacterial infections are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In spite of great advances in biomaterials research and development, a significant proportion of medical devices undergo bacterial colonization and become the target of an implant-related infection. We present a review of the two major classes of antibacterial nanostructured materials: polymeric nanocomposites and surface-engineered materials. The paper describes antibacterial effects due to the induced material properties, along with the principles of bacterial adhesion and the biofilm formation process. Methods for antimicrobial modifications of polymers using a nanocomposite approach as well as surface modification procedures are surveyed and discussed, followed by a concise examination of techniques used in estimating bacteria/material interactions. Finally, we present an outline of future sceneries and perspectives on antibacterial applications of nanostructured materials to resist or counteract implant infections. PMID:25025086

Plasma dynamics and structural modifications induced by femtosecond laser pulses in quartz

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hernandez-Rueda, J.; Puerto, D.; Siegel, J.; Galvan-Sosa, M.; Solis, J.

2012-09-01

We have investigated plasma formation and relaxation dynamics induced by single femtosecond laser pulses at the surface of crystalline SiO2 (quartz) along with the corresponding topography modifications. The use of fs-resolved pump-probe microscopy allows combining spatial and temporal resolution and simultaneous access to phenomena occurring in adjacent regions excited with different local fluences. The results show the formation of a transient free-electron plasma ring surrounding the location of the inner ablation crater. Optical microscopy measurements reveal a 30% reflectivity decrease in this region, consistent with local amorphization. The accompanying weak depression of ≈15 nm in this region is explained by gentle material removal via Coulomb explosion. Finally, we discuss the timescales of the plasma dynamics and its role in the modifications produced, by comparing the results with previous studies obtained in amorphous SiO2 (fused silica). For this purpose, we have conceived a new representation concept of time-resolved microscopy image stacks in a single graph, which allows visualizing quickly suble differences of the overall similar dynamic response of both materials.

Recent studies of laser science in paintings conservation and research.

PubMed

Pouli, Paraskevi; Selimis, Alexandros; Georgiou, Savas; Fotakis, Costas

2010-06-15

The removal of aged and deteriorated molecular overlayers from the surface of paintings is a delicate and critical intervention in Cultural Heritage (CH) conservation. This irreversible action gets particularly complicated given the multitude of materials that may be present within a painted work of art (often in ultrathin layers or traces), as well as the exceptional sensitivity of the original surfaces to environmental conditions such as heat, light, and so on. Lasers hold an important role among the available cleaning methodologies, as they enable high control and accuracy, material selectivity, and immediate feedback. Still, prior to their implementation, it is imperative to optimize the cleaning parameters, so to ensure that any potential implications to the remaining materials are minimal and well understood. Toward this aim, research at IESL-FORTH is focused on both refining and continuously updating the laser-cleaning protocols (by introducing novel laser technologies into the field, i.e., ultrashort laser pulses), as well as on investigating and studying the nature and extent of laser-induced physicochemical alterations to the involved materials. In this Account, extended work for the understanding of ultraviolet (UV) laser ablation of polymers is presented. Emphasis is placed on the use of model systems (polymers doped with chromophores of known photochemistry) to examine the in-depth laser-induced modifications at the processed surfaces and thus to illustrate the dependence of their nature and extent on laser parameters and material properties. Furthermore, studies for the potential use of femtosecond UV pulses to overcome certain limitations involved with the nanosecond ablation of molecular overlayers from CH surfaces are highlighted. In particular, it is demonstrated that in the femtosecond regime any chemical modifications are, qualitatively and quantitatively, highly defined, limited and nearly independent of the material properties, such as the absorptivity and the degree of polymerization/molecular weight. Thus, they can be highly potent in the treatment of molecular substrates, enabling new material processing schemes that have not been possible with nanosecond laser technology, as for example, processing of ultrathin varnish layers. Finally, a sensitive indicator is introduced to elucidate the extent of any photochemical or structural modification induced at the substrate on the process of the laser-assisted removal of overpaints. A realistic scenario of an overlayered modern painting is simulated by a sensitive polymer film covered with acrylic paint. The indicator is doped with photosensitizers of known photochemistry and strong fluorescence emission, which allow the employment of laser induced fluorescence (LIF) for the detection of any chemical modifications generated into the substrate during laser cleaning. In addition, nonlinear microscopy techniques are successfully employed to examine the extent of these modifications. The suggested methodology is proven to reliably and accurately detect potential changes, and thus, it can serve as a monitoring tool to fine-tune the cleaning protocol and safeguard the original painting.

Time-resolved study of femtosecond laser induced micro-modifications inside transparent brittle materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hendricks, F.; Matylitsky, V. V.; Domke, M.; Huber, Heinz P.

2016-03-01

Laser processing of optically transparent or semi-transparent, brittle materials is finding wide use in various manufacturing sectors. For example, in consumer electronic devices such as smartphones or tablets, cover glass needs to be cut precisely in various shapes. The unique advantage of material processing with femtosecond lasers is efficient, fast and localized energy deposition in nearly all types of solid materials. When an ultra-short laser pulse is focused inside glass, only the localized region in the neighborhood of the focal volume absorbs laser energy by nonlinear optical absorption. Therefore, the processing volume is strongly defined, while the rest of the target stays unaffected. Thus ultra-short pulse lasers allow cutting of the chemically strengthened glasses such as Corning Gorilla glass without cracking. Non-ablative cutting of transparent, brittle materials, using the newly developed femtosecond process ClearShapeTM from Spectra-Physics, is based on producing a micron-sized material modification track with well-defined geometry inside. The key point for development of the process is to understand the induced modification by a single femtosecond laser shot. In this paper, pump-probe microscopy techniques have been applied to study the defect formation inside of transparent materials, namely soda-lime glass samples, on a time scale between one nanosecond to several tens of microseconds. The observed effects include acoustic wave propagation as well as mechanical stress formation in the bulk of the glass. Besides better understanding of underlying physical mechanisms, our experimental observations have enabled us to find optimal process parameters for the glass cutting application and lead to better quality and speed for the ClearShapeTM process.

Observation of ultrafast temporal evolution of symmetry in short-pulsed laser induced transient states of matter (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garnett, Joy; Krzyzanowska, Halina; Baydin, Andrey; Tolk, Norman H.

2017-02-01

In condensed matter physics, ultrafast photoexcitation has been shown to result in modification of macroscopic material properties, sometimes involving phase changes, on a subpicosecond time scale. In semiconductors, irreversible non-thermal solid-to-liquid structural transitions have been demonstrated at high laser fluences. In the pump-probe experiments reported here, we observe a striking continuously varying low-fluence pump-induced time-dependent structural symmetry modification in intrinsic gallium arsenide (GaAs) using a probe that produces femtosecond polarization-resolved second harmonic generation (f-PRSHG) data. SHG spectroscopy is particularly suited to monitor symmetry changes since its magnitude is governed by the nonlinear optical susceptibility tensor whose elements are determined by the underlying material symmetry. Conceptually, these experiments seek to provide insight into the details of the time evolution of symmetry arising from laser induced transient states of matter in GaAs. Overall, the basic explanation of these experimental observations is that as a result of the photoinduced electronic excitation, many electrons, including bond electrons are excited to higher states. This results in subpicosecond changes in the local anharmonic potential and produces a changing nonlinear polarization response thus accounting for the nonthermal time dependent symmetry changes. Clearly, our approach may be easily extended to many different crystalline materials with different levels of defects, dopants and stresses to fully characterize the time dependent behavior of laser induced transient states in material systems.

Effect of edge modification on the zigzag BC2N nanoribbons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiao, Xiang; Li, Hong; Tie, Jun; Lu, Jing

2016-08-01

We use first principles calculations to investigate the effects of edge modification with nonmetal species on zigzag-edged BC2N nanoribbons (ZBC2NNRs). These ZBC2NNRs show either semiconducting or metallic behaviors depending on the edge modifications and ribbon widths. We find that the O-modification induces a ferromagnetic ground state with a metallic behavior for all the ribbon widths investigated. And when the ribbon width is more than 3.32 nm (NZ ⩾ 16), an antiferromagnetic ground state with a half-metallic behavior is realized in the H-passivated ZBC2NNRs. These versatile electronic properties render the ZBC2NNRs a promising candidate material in nanoelectronics and nanospintronics.

Polydopamine-mediated surface modification of scaffold materials for human neural stem cell engineering.

PubMed

Yang, Kisuk; Lee, Jung Seung; Kim, Jin; Lee, Yu Bin; Shin, Heungsoo; Um, Soong Ho; Kim, Jeong Beom; Park, Kook In; Lee, Haeshin; Cho, Seung-Woo

2012-10-01

Surface modification of tissue engineering scaffolds and substrates is required for improving the efficacy of stem cell therapy by generating physicochemical stimulation promoting proliferation and differentiation of stem cells. However, typical surface modification methods including chemical conjugation or physical absorption have several limitations such as multistep, complicated procedures, surface denaturation, batch-to-batch inconsistencies, and low surface conjugation efficiency. In this study, we report a mussel-inspired, biomimetic approach to surface modification for efficient and reliable manipulation of human neural stem cell (NSC) differentiation and proliferation. Our study demonstrates that polydopamine coating facilitates highly efficient, simple immobilization of neurotrophic growth factors and adhesion peptides onto polymer substrates. The growth factor or peptide-immobilized substrates greatly enhance differentiation and proliferation of human NSCs (human fetal brain-derived NSCs and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived NSCs) at a level comparable or greater than currently available animal-derived coating materials (Matrigel) with safety issues. Therefore, polydopamine-mediated surface modification can provide a versatile platform technology for developing chemically defined, safe, functional substrates and scaffolds for therapeutic applications of human NSCs. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Modified polyether-sulfone membrane: a mini review

PubMed Central

Alenazi, Noof A.; Hussein, Mahmoud A.; Alamry, Khalid A.; Asiri, Abdullah M.

2017-01-01

Abstract Polyethersulfone has been widely used as a promising material in medical applications and waste-treatment membranes since it provides excellent mechanical and thermal properties. Hydrophobicity of polyethersulfone is considered one main disadvantage of using this material because hydrophobic surface causes biofouling effects to the membrane which is always thought to be a serious limitation to the use of polyethersulfone in membrane technology. Chemical modification to the material is a promising solution to this problem. More specifically surface modification is an excellent technique to introduce hydrophilic properties and functional groups to the polyethersulfone membrane surface. This review covers chemical modifications of the polyethersulfone and covers different methods used to enhance the hydrophilicity of polyethersulfone membrane. In particular, the addition of amino functional groups to polyethersulfone is used as a fundamental method either to introduce hydrophilic properties or introduce nanomaterials to the surface of polyethersulfone membrane. This work reviews also previous research reports explored the use of amino functionalized polyethersulfone with different nanomaterials to induce biological activity and reduce fouling effects of the fabricated membrane. PMID:29491825

Modified polyether-sulfone membrane: a mini review.

PubMed

Alenazi, Noof A; Hussein, Mahmoud A; Alamry, Khalid A; Asiri, Abdullah M

2017-01-01

Polyethersulfone has been widely used as a promising material in medical applications and waste-treatment membranes since it provides excellent mechanical and thermal properties. Hydrophobicity of polyethersulfone is considered one main disadvantage of using this material because hydrophobic surface causes biofouling effects to the membrane which is always thought to be a serious limitation to the use of polyethersulfone in membrane technology. Chemical modification to the material is a promising solution to this problem. More specifically surface modification is an excellent technique to introduce hydrophilic properties and functional groups to the polyethersulfone membrane surface. This review covers chemical modifications of the polyethersulfone and covers different methods used to enhance the hydrophilicity of polyethersulfone membrane. In particular, the addition of amino functional groups to polyethersulfone is used as a fundamental method either to introduce hydrophilic properties or introduce nanomaterials to the surface of polyethersulfone membrane. This work reviews also previous research reports explored the use of amino functionalized polyethersulfone with different nanomaterials to induce biological activity and reduce fouling effects of the fabricated membrane.

Liquid Crystal Bragg Gratings: Dynamic Optical Elements for Spatial Light Modulators (Preprint)

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-01-01

of the index of refraction in a material . If the index of refraction can be strongly modulated on a pixel •sutherlandr@saic.com 1 • level, then a...two optical beams .~,incident on a photorefractive material write a grating, due to the generation of a periodic space-charge field inducing an index ...modification of the material’s optical properties proportional to the applied voltage. A "read" beam of light incident on the material is thus spatially

Plasma-induced polymerization for enhancing paper hydrophobicity.

PubMed

Song, Zhaoping; Tang, Jiebin; Li, Junrong; Xiao, Huining

2013-01-30

Hydrophobic modification of cellulose fibers was conducted via plasma-induced polymerization in an attempt to graft the hydrophobic polymer chains on paper surface, this increasing the hydrophobicity of paper. Two hydrophobic monomers, butyl acrylate (BA) and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (2-EHA), were grafted on cellulose fibers, induced by atmospheric cold plasma. Various influencing factors associated with the plasma-induced grafting were investigated. Contact-angle measurement, Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to ascertain the occurrence of the grafting and characterized the changes of the cellulose fiber after modification. The results showed that the hydrophobicity of the modified paper sheet was improved significantly after the plasma-induced grafting. The water contact angle on the paper surface reached up to 130°. The morphological differences between modified and unmodified samples were also revealed by SEM observation. The resulting paper is promising as a green-based packaging material. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Radiation modification of Ni nanotubes by electrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kozlovskiy, A.; Kaikanov, M.; Tikhonov, A.; Kenzhina, I.; Ponomarev, D.; Zdorovets, M.

2017-10-01

Electron irradiation of metal nanostructures is an effective tool for stimulating a controlled modification of the structural and conductive material properties. Use of the electron irradiation with energies less than 500 keV allows conducting controlled annealing of nanotube defects, which leads to the improvement of the conductive properties due to decreasing resistance. In this case, the use of radiation doses above 150 kGy induces the samples destruction, caused by the thermal heating of nanotubes, leading to the crystal lattice destruction and the sample amorphization.

Parent-Body Modification of Chondritic Meteorites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rubin, Alan

2003-01-01

This proposal focused on the parent-body modification of chondritic materials and substantial progress was made in the last year. A summary of the work accomplished during this period is discussed. The topics include: 1) Chromite-Plagioclase Assemblages in Ordinary Chondrites; 2) The Gujba Bencubbin-like meteorite fall; 3) NWA428: A rock that Experienced Impact-induced Annealing; 4) Spade: An Annealed H-chondrite Impact-melt Breccia; and 5) Post-shock Annealing in Ordinary Chondrites. A list of the papers submitted or published during the period is also presented.

Channeling techniques to study strains and defects in heterostructures and multi quantum wells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pathak, A. P.; Dhamodaran, S.; Sathish, N.

2005-08-01

The importance and advantages of heterostructures and Quantum Wells (QWs) in device technology has made research challenging due to lack of direct techniques for their characterization. Particularly the characterization of strain and defects at the interfaces has become important due to their dominance in the electrical and optical properties of materials and devices. RBSiC has been used to study variety of defects in single crystalline materials, for nearly four decades now. Channeling based experiments play a crucial role in giving depth information of strain and defects. Ion beams are used for both material characterizations as well as for modifications. Hence it is also possible to monitor the modifications online, which are discussed in detail. In the present work, Swift Heavy Ion (SHI) modification of III-V semiconductor heterostnictures and MQWs and the results of subsequent strain measurements by RBSiC in initially strained as well as lattice matched systems are discussed. We find that the compressive strain decreases due to SHI irradiation and a tensile strain is induced in an initially lattice matched system. The incident ion fluence dependence of strain modifications in the heterostructures will also be discussed. The use of high energy channeling for better sensitivity of strain measurements in low mismatch materials will be discussed in detail. Wherever possible, a comparison of results with those obtained by other techniques like HRXRD is given.

Depth-Dependent Defect Studies Using Coherent Acoustic Phonons

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-09-29

using CAP waves as an active moving interface to induce local changes in electric, acoustic , and optical properties. This is able to generate ultrafast...the elastic strain component [6]. b) Modification of the crystal lattice due to transient strain caused by the coherent acoustic phonon wave . The...opto-electronic properties of materials. We are also using CAP waves as an active moving interface to induce local changes in electric, acoustic , and

Low damage electrical modification of 4H-SiC via ultrafast laser irradiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahn, Minhyung; Cahyadi, Rico; Wendorf, Joseph; Bowen, Willie; Torralva, Ben; Yalisove, Steven; Phillips, Jamie

2018-04-01

The electrical properties of 4H-SiC under ultrafast laser irradiation in the low fluence regime (<0.50 J/cm2) are presented. The appearance of high spatial frequency laser induced periodic surface structures is observed at a fluence near 0.25 J/cm2 and above, with variability in environments like in air, nitrogen, and a vacuum. In addition to the formation of periodic surface structures, ultrafast laser irradiation results in possible surface oxidation and amorphization of the material. Lateral conductance exhibits orders of magnitude increase, which is attributed to either surface conduction or modification of electrical contact properties, depending on the initial material conductivity. Schottky barrier formation on ultrafast laser irradiated 4H-SiC shows an increase in the barrier height, an increase in the ideality factor, and sub-bandgap photovoltaic responses, suggesting the formation of photo-active point defects. The results suggest that the ultrafast laser irradiation technique provides a means of engineering spatially localized structural and electronic modification of wide bandgap materials such as 4H-SiC with relatively low surface damage via low temperature processing.

Electron-induced electron yields of uncharged insulating materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoffmann, Ryan Carl

Presented here are electron-induced electron yield measurements from high-resistivity, high-yield materials to support a model for the yield of uncharged insulators. These measurements are made using a low-fluence, pulsed electron beam and charge neutralization to minimize charge accumulation. They show charging induced changes in the total yield, as much as 75%, even for incident electron fluences of <3 fC/mm2, when compared to an uncharged yield. The evolution of the yield as charge accumulates in the material is described in terms of electron recapture, based on the extended Chung and Everhart model of the electron emission spectrum and the dual dynamic layer model for internal charge distribution. This model is used to explain charge-induced total yield modification measured in high-yield ceramics, and to provide a method for determining electron yield of uncharged, highly insulating, high-yield materials. A sequence of materials with progressively greater charge susceptibility is presented. This series starts with low-yield Kapton derivative called CP1, then considers a moderate-yield material, Kapton HN, and ends with a high-yield ceramic, polycrystalline aluminum oxide. Applicability of conductivity (both radiation induced conductivity (RIC) and dark current conductivity) to the yield is addressed. Relevance of these results to spacecraft charging is also discussed.

Theoretical parametric study of the relative advantages of winglets and wing-tip extensions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heyson, H. H.; Riebe, G. D.; Fulton, C. L.

1977-01-01

It was found that for identical increases in bending moment, a winglet provides a greater gain in induced efficiency than a tip extension. Winglet toe-in angle allows design trades between efficiency and root moment. A winglet showed the greatest benefit when the wing loads were heavy near the tip. Washout diminished the benefit of either tip modification, and the gain in induced efficiency became a function of lift coefficient; heavy wing loadings obtained the greatest benefit from a winglet, and low speed performance was enhanced even more than cruise performance. Both induced efficiency and bending moment increased with winglet length and outward cant. The benefit of a winglet relative to a tip extension was greatest for a nearly vertical winglet. Root bending moment was proportional to the minimum weight of bending material required in the wing; it is a valid index of the impact of tip modifications on a new wing design.

Theoretical Parametric Study of the Relative Advantages of Winglets and Wing-Tip Extensions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heyson, H. H.; Riebe, G. D.; Fulton, C. L.

1977-01-01

For identical increases in bending moment, a winglet provides a greater gain in induced efficiency than tip extension. Winglet toe angle allows design trades between efficiency and root moment. A winglet shows the greatest benefit when the wing loads are heavy near the tip. Washout diminishes the benefit of either tip modification, and the gain in induced efficiency becomes a function of lift coefficient; thus, heavy wing loadings obtain the greatest benefit from a winglet, and low-speed performance is enhanced even more than cruise performance. Both induced efficiency and bending moment increase with winglet length and outward cant. The benefit of a winglet relative to a tip extension is greatest for a nearly vertical winglet. Root bending moment is proportional to the minimum weight of bending material required in the wing; thus, it is a valid index of the impact of tip modifications on a new wing design.

Focused helium-ion-beam-induced deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alkemade, P. F. A.; Miro, H.

2014-12-01

The recent introduction of the helium ion microscope (HIM) offers new possibilities for materials modification and fabrication with spatial resolution below 10 nm. In particular, the specific interaction of He+ ions in the tens of keV energy range with materials—i.e., minimal deflection and mainly energy loss via electronic excitations—renders the HIM a special tool for ion-beam-induced deposition. In this work, an overview is given of all studies of helium-ion-beam-induced deposition (He-IBID) that appeared in the literature before summer 2014. Continuum models that describe the deposition processes are presented in detail, with emphasis on precursor depletion and replenishment. In addition, a Monte Carlo model is discussed. Basic experimental He-IBID studies are critically examined. They show deposition rates of up to 0.1 nm3/ion. Analysis by means of a continuum model yields the precursor diffusion constant and the cross sections for beam-induced precursor decomposition and beam-induced desorption. Moreover, it is shown that deposition takes place only in a small zone around the beam impact point. Furthermore, the characterization of deposited materials is discussed in terms of microstructure and resistivity. It is shown that He-IBID material resembles more electron-beam-induced-deposition (EBID) material than Ga-ion-beam-induced-deposition (Ga-IBID) material. Nevertheless, the spatial resolution for He-IBID is in general better than for EBID and Ga-IBID; in particular, proximity effects are minimal.

Light-induced changes in silicon nanocrystal based solar cells: Modification of silicon-hydrogen bonding on silicon nanocrystal surface under illumination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Ka-Hyun; Johnson, Erik V.; Cabarrocas, Pere Roca i.

2016-07-01

Hydrogenated polymorphous silicon (pm-Si:H) is a material consisting of a small volume fraction of nanocrystals embedded in an amorphous matrix. pm-Si:H solar cells demonstrate interesting initial degradation behaviors such as rapid initial change in photovoltaic parameters and self-healing after degradation during light-soaking. The precise dynamics of the light-induced degradation was studied in a series of light-soaking experiments under various illumination conditions such as AM1.5G and filtered 570 nm yellow light. Hydrogen effusion experiment before and after light-soaking further revealed that the initial degradation of pm-Si:H solar cells originate from the modification of silicon-hydrogen bonding on the surface of silicon nanocrystals in pm-Si:H.

Basic procedures for epigenetic analysis in plant cell and tissue culture.

PubMed

Rodríguez, José L; Pascual, Jesús; Viejo, Marcos; Valledor, Luis; Meijón, Mónica; Hasbún, Rodrigo; Yrei, Norma Yague; Santamaría, María E; Pérez, Marta; Fernández Fraga, Mario; Berdasco, María; Rodríguez Fernández, Roberto; Cañal, María J

2012-01-01

In vitro culture is one of the most studied techniques, and it is used to study many developmental processes, especially in forestry species, because of growth timing and easy manipulation. Epigenetics has been shown as an important influence on many research analyses such as cancer in mammals and developmental processes in plants such as flowering, but regarding in vitro culture, techniques to study DNA methylation or chromatin modifications were mainly limited to identify somaclonal variation of the micropropagated material. Because in vitro culture is not only a way to generate plant material but also a bunch of differentially induced developmental processes, an approach of techniques and some research carried out to study the different changes regarding DNA methylation and chromatin and translational modifications that take place during these processes is reviewed.

Morphology of ejected particles and impact sites on intercepting substrates following exit-surface laser damage with nanosecond pulses in silica

DOE PAGES

Demos, Stavros G.; Negres, Raluca A.

2016-09-08

A volume of superheated material reaching localized temperatures of the order of 1 eV and pressures of the order of 10 GPa is generated following laser-induced damage (breakdown) on the surface of transparent dielectric materials using nanosecond pulses. This leads to material ejection and the formation of a crater. To elucidate the material behaviors involved, we examined the morphologies of the ejected particles and found distinctive features that support their classification into different types. The different morphologies arise from the difference in the structure and physical properties (such as the dynamic viscosity and presence of instabilities) of the superheated andmore » surrounding affected material at the time of ejection of each individual particle. In addition, the temperature and kinetic energy of a subset of the ejected particles were found to be sufficient to initiate irreversible modification on the intercepting silica substrates. Finally, the modifications observed are associated with mechanical damage and fusion of melted particles on the collector substrate.« less

Optical properties of Si+ implanted PMMA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balabanov, S.; Tsvetkova, T.; Borisova, E.; Avramov, L.; Bischoff, L.; Zuk, J.

2010-04-01

In the present work, low energy ion beam irradiation was used for surface modification of polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) using silicon (Si+) as the ion species. After high doses ion implantation of Si+ in the polymer material, a characterization of the optical properties was performed using optical transmission measurements in the visible and near infra-red (IR) wavelength range. The optical absorption increase observed with the ion dose was attributed to ion beam induced structural changes in the modified material.

CO2 laser induced refractive index changes in optical polymers.

PubMed

Liu, Qing; Chiang, Kin Seng; Reekie, Laurence; Chow, Yuk Tak

2012-01-02

We study the infrared photosensitivity properties of two optical polymer materials, benzocyclobutene (BCB) and epoxy OPTOCAST 3505, with a 10.6 μm CO2 laser. We discover that the CO2 laser radiation can lower the refractive index of BCB by as much as 5.5 × 10(-3), while inducing no measurable index change in the epoxy. As confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the observed index change in BCB can be attributed to photothermal modification of chemical bonds in the material by the CO2 laser radiation. Our findings open up a new possibility of processing polymer materials with a CO2 laser, which could be further developed for application in the areas of post-processing and direct-writing of polymer waveguide devices.

Micro-processing of polymers and biological materials using high repetition rate femtosecond laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ding, Li

High repetition rate femtosecond laser micro-processing has been applied to ophthalmological hydrogel polymers and ocular tissues to create novel refractive and diffractive structures. Through the optimization of laser irradiation conditions and material properties, this technology has become feasible for future industrial applications and clinical practices. A femtosecond laser micro-processing workstation has been designed and developed. Different experimental parameters of the workstation such as laser pulse duration, focusing lens, and translational stages have been described and discussed. Diffractive gratings and three-dimensional waveguides have been fabricated and characterized in hydrogel polymers, and refractive index modifications as large as + 0.06 have been observed within the laser-irradiated region. Raman spectroscopic studies have shown that our femtosecond laser micro-processing induces significant thermal accumulation, resulting in a densification of the polymer network and increasing the localized refractive index of polymers within the laser irradiated region. Different kinds of dye chromophores have been doped in hydrogel polymers to enhance the two-photon absorption during femtosecond laser micro-processing. As the result, laser scanning speed can be greatly increased while the large refractive index modifications remain. Femtosecond laser wavelength and pulse energy as well as water and dye concentration of the hydrogels are optimized. Lightly fixed ocular tissues such as corneas and lenses have been micro-processed by focused femtosecond laser pulses, and refractive index modifications without any tissue-breakdown are observed within the stromal layer of the corneas and the cortex of the lenses. Living corneas are doped with Sodium Fluorescein to increase the two-photon absorption during the laser micro-processing, and laser scanning speed can be greatly increased while inducing large refractive index modifications. No evidence of cell death has been observed in or around the laser-induced refractive index modification regions. These results support the notion that femtosecond laser micro-processing method may be an excellent means of altering the refraction or higher order aberration content of corneal tissue without cell death and short-term tissue damage, and has been named as Intra-tissue Refractive Index Shaping (IRIS). The femtosecond laser micro-processing workstation has also been employed for laser transfection of single defined cells. Some preliminary results suggest that this method can be used to trace individual cells and record their biological and morphological evolution, which is quite promising in many biomedical applications especially in immunology science. In conclusion, high repetition rate femtosecond laser micro-processing has been employed to fabricate microstructures in ophthalmological hydrogels and ocular tissues. Its unique three-dimensional capability over transparent materials and biological media makes it a powerful tool and will greatly impact the future of laser material-processing.

Stem cell responses to plasma surface modified electrospun polyurethane scaffolds.

PubMed

Zandén, Carl; Hellström Erkenstam, Nina; Padel, Thomas; Wittgenstein, Julia; Liu, Johan; Kuhn, H Georg

2014-07-01

The topographical effects from functional materials on stem cell behavior are currently of interest in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Here we investigate the influence of argon, oxygen, and hydrogen plasma surface modification of electrospun polyurethane fibers on human embryonic stem cell (hESC) and rat postnatal neural stem cell (NSC) responses. The plasma gases were found to induce three combinations of fiber surface functionalities and roughness textures. On randomly oriented fibers, plasma treatments lead to substantially increased hESC attachment and proliferation as compared to native fibers. Argon plasma was found to induce the most optimal combination of surface functionality and roughness for cell expansion. Contact guided migration of cells and alignment of cell processes were observed on aligned fibers. Neuronal differentiation around 5% was found for all samples and was not significantly affected by the induced variations of surface functional group distribution or individual fiber topography. In this study the influence of argon, oxygen, and hydrogen plasma surface modification of electrospun polyurethane fibers on human embryonic stem cell and rat postnatal neural stem cell (NSC) responses is studied with the goal of clarifying the potential effects of functional materials on stem cell behavior, a topic of substantial interest in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Surface modification induced by UV nanosecond Nd:YVO4 laser structuring on biometals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fiorucci, M. Paula; López, Ana J.; Ramil, Alberto

2014-08-01

Laser surface texturing is a promising tool for improving metallic biomaterials performance in dental and orthopedic bone-replacing applications. Laser ablation modifies the topography of bulk material and might alter surface properties that govern the interactions with the surrounding tissue. This paper presents a preliminary evaluation of surface modifications in two biometals, stainless steel 316L and titanium alloy Ti6Al4V by UV nanosecond Nd:YVO4. Scanning electron microscopy of the surface textured by parallel micro-grooves reveals a thin layer of remelted material along the grooves topography. Furthermore, X-ray diffraction allowed us to appreciate a grain refinement of original crystal structure and consequently induced residual strain. Changes in the surface chemistry were determined by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; in this sense, generalized surface oxidation was observed and characterization of the oxides and other compounds such hydroxyl groups was reported. In case of titanium alloy, oxide layer mainly composed by TiO2 which is a highly biocompatible compound was identified. Furthermore, laser treatment produces an increase in oxide thickness that could improve the corrosion behavior of the metal. Otherwise, laser treatment led to the formation of secondary phases which might be detrimental to physical and biocompatibility properties of the material.

Transient flows in active porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kosmidis, Lefteris I.; Jensen, Kaare H.

2017-06-01

Stimuli-responsive materials that modify their shape in response to changes in environmental conditions—such as solute concentration, temperature, pH, and stress—are widespread in nature and technology. Applications include micro- and nanoporous materials used in filtration and flow control. The physiochemical mechanisms that induce internal volume modifications have been widely studied. The coupling between induced volume changes and solute transport through porous materials, however, is not well understood. Here, we consider advective and diffusive transport through a small channel linking two large reservoirs. A section of stimulus-responsive material regulates the channel permeability, which is a function of the local solute concentration. We derive an exact solution to the coupled transport problem and demonstrate the existence of a flow regime in which the steady state is reached via a damped oscillation around the equilibrium concentration value. Finally, the feasibility of an experimental observation of the phenomena is discussed.

Mechanical and thermal stability of graphene and graphene-based materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galashev, A. E.; Rakhmanova, O. R.

2014-10-01

Graphene has rapidly become one of the most popular materials for technological applications and a test material for new condensed matter ideas. This paper reviews the mechanical properties of graphene and effects related to them that have recently been discovered experimentally or predicted theoretically or by simulation. The topics discussed are of key importance for graphene's use in integrated electronics, thermal materials, and electromechanical devices and include the following: graphene transformation into other sp^2 hybridization forms; stability to stretching and compression; ion-beam-induced structural modifications; how defects and graphene edges affect the electronic properties and thermal stability of graphene and related composites.

A saponification-triggered gelation of ester-based Zn(II) complex through conformational transformations.

PubMed

Kumar, Ashish; Dubey, Mrigendra; Kumar, Amit; Pandey, Daya Shankar

2014-09-11

Novel saponification-triggered gelation in an ester-based bis-salen Zn(II) complex (1) is described. Strategic structural modifications induced by NaOH in 1 tune the dipolar-/π-interactions leading to J-aggregation and the creation of an inorganic gel material (IGM), which has been established by photophysical, DFT and rheological studies.

The effect of VUV radiation from Ar/O2 plasmas on low-k SiOCH films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, J.; Graves, D. B.

2011-08-01

The degradation of porous low-k materials, like SiOCH, under plasma processing continues to be a problem in the next generation of integrated-circuit fabrication. Due to the exposure of the film to many species during plasma treatment, such as photons, ions, radicals, etc, it is difficult to identify the mechanisms responsible for plasma-induced damage. Using a vacuum beam apparatus with a calibrated Xe vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) lamp, we show that 147 nm VUV photons and molecular O2 alone can damage these low-k materials. Using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, we show that VUV/O2 exposure causes a loss of methylated species, resulting in a hydrophilic, SiOx-like layer that is susceptible to H2O absorption, leading to an increased dielectric constant. The effect of VUV radiation on chemical modification of porous SiOCH films in the vacuum beam apparatus and in Ar and O2 plasma exposure was found to be a significant contributor to dielectric damage. Measurements of dielectric constant change using a mercury probe are consistent with chemical modification inferred from FTIR analysis. Furthermore, the extent of chemical modification appears to be limited by the penetration depth of the VUV photons, which is dependent on wavelength of radiation. The creation of a SiOx-like layer near the surface of the material, which grows deeper as more methyl is extracted, introduces a dynamic change of VUV absorption throughout the material over time. As a result, the rate of methyl loss is continuously changing during the exposure. We present a model that attempts to capture this dynamic behaviour and compare the model predictions to experimental data through a fitting parameter that represents the effective photo-induced methyl removal. While this model accurately simulates the methyl loss through VUV exposure by the Xe lamp and Ar plasma, the methyl loss from VUV photons in O2 plasma are only accurately depicted at longer exposure times. We conclude that other species, such as oxygen radicals or ions, may play a major role in chemical modification at short times near the surface of the material, while VUV photons contribute to the majority of the damage in the bulk.

Excimer laser-induced hydrohynamical effects and surface modifications on silicon carbide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nicolas, Gines; Autric, Michel

1996-04-01

The use of lasers in many applications requires an understanding and control of the fundamental processes involved during the laser radiation-material interaction. The importance and the duration of the phenomena involved (optical, thermal, mechanical, electromagnetic, radiative) depend on parameters such as the power density of the laser radiation, the nature and the surface morphology of the material, the surrounding gas and the wavelength of the radiation. A part of the incident energy is reflected by the surface, while the remaining quantity of this energy is absorbed by the material. This incident energy contributes to heating, melting, vaporization and plasma formation if the laser intensity is sufficiently high. The present study is devoted to the ceramic material irradiation in air by an excimer laser at a wavelength of 248 nm and a pulse duration of 20 ns. The objective is to understand the different phenomena induced by radiation and to improve mechanical properties of the surface. Presented results concern the dynamics of plasmas and shock waves, plus surface modifications (porosity, roughness, composition changes) on silicon carbide samples (SiC). A part of the study has resulted in the characterization of the flow created in front of the sample revealing different hydrodynamical regimes. Visualizations of the luminous plasma front and shock waves have been obtained using a fast electronic camera IMACON 790 and a ICCD camera. These optical devices have permitted us to observe simultaneously the formation and expansion of different fronts (plasma and shock waves) propagating into the surrounding gas. The results have been compared to the theory. Complex structures inside the plume have been observed inducing a turbulence phenomena some milliseconds after the irradiation. On the other hand, the surface morphology has been characterized by observations with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) showing important modifications of the morphology according to the energy density and number of pulses applied. A decrease of surface porosity is revealed using image processing technique. This improvement is accompanied with an increase of roughness which has been measured by mechanical profilometry and might be detrimental for friction applications. In addition, an analysis of the material in depth by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) has shown chemical composition changes (an increase in the percentage of silicon) in the zone irradiated.

The effect of chemically modified alginates on macrophage phenotype and biomolecule transport.

PubMed

Bygd, Hannah C; Bratlie, Kaitlin M

2016-07-01

Macrophage (MΦ) reprogramming has received significant attention in applications such as cancer therapeutics and tissue engineering where the host immune response to biomaterials is crucial in determining the success or failure of an implanted device. Polymeric systems can potentially be used to redirect infiltrating M1 MΦs toward a proangiogenic phenotype. This work exploits the concept of MΦ reprogramming in the engineering of materials for improving the longevity of tissue engineering scaffolds. We have investigated the effect of 13 different chemical modifications of alginate on MΦ phenotype. Markers of the M1 response-tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and inducible nitric oxide synthase-and the M2 response-arginase-were measured and used to determine the ability of the materials to alter MΦ phenotype. It was found that some modifications were able to reduce the pro-inflammatory response of M1 MΦs, others appeared to amplify the M2 phenotype, and the results for two materials suggested they were able to reprogram a MΦ population from M1 to M2. These findings were supplemented by studies done to examine the permselectivity of the materials. Diffusion of TNF-α was completely prevented through some of these materials, while up to 84% was found to diffuse through others. The diffusion of insulin through the materials was statistically consistent. These results suggest that the modification of these materials might alter mass transport in beneficial ways. The ability to control polarization of MΦ phenotypes with immunoprotective materials has the potential to augment the success of tissue engineering scaffolds. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 1707-1719, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Optical properties modification induced by laser radiation in noble-metal-doped glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nedyalkov, N.; Stankova, N. E.; Koleva, M. E.; Nikov, R.; Atanasov, P.; Grozeva, M.; Iordanova, E.; Yankov, G.; Aleksandrov, L.; Iordanova, R.; Karashanova, D.

2018-03-01

We present results on laser-induced color changes in gold- and silver-doped glass. The doped borosilicate glass was prepared by conventional melt quenching. The study was focused on the change of the optical properties after irradiation of the glass by femtosecond laser pulses. Under certain conditions, the laser radiation induces defects associated with formation of color centers in the material. We studied this process in a broad range of laser radiation wavelengths – from UV to IR, and observed changes in the color of the irradiated areas after annealing of the processed glass samples, the color being red for the gold-doped glass red and yellow for the silver-doped glass. The structural and morphological analyses performed indicated that this effect is related to formation of metal nanoparticles inside the material. The results obtained show that femtosecond laser processing of noble-metal-doped glasses can be used for fabrication of 3D-nanoparticles systems in transparent materials with application as novel optical components.

Bio-functionalization of biomedical metals.

PubMed

Xiao, M; Chen, Y M; Biao, M N; Zhang, X D; Yang, B C

2017-01-01

Bio-functionalization means to endow biomaterials with bio-functions so as to make the materials or devices more suitable for biomedical applications. Traditionally, because of the excellent mechanical properties, the biomedical metals have been widely used in clinic. However, the utilized functions are basically supporting or fixation especially for the implantable devices. Nowadays, some new functions, including bioactivity, anti-tumor, anti-microbial, and so on, are introduced to biomedical metals. To realize those bio-functions on the metallic biomedical materials, surface modification is the most commonly used method. Surface modification, including physical and chemical methods, is an effective way to alter the surface morphology and composition of biomaterials. It can endow the biomedical metals with new surface properties while still retain the good mechanical properties of the bulk material. Having analyzed the ways of realizing the bio-functionalization, this article briefly summarized the bio-functionalization concepts of six hot spots in this field. They are bioactivity, bony tissue inducing, anti-microbial, anti-tumor, anticoagulation, and drug loading functions. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

New chemical approach to obtain dense layer phosphate-based ionic conductor coating on negative electrode material surface: Synthesis way, outgassing and improvement of C-rate capability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fleutot, Benoit; Davoisne, Carine; Gachot, Grégory; Cavalaglio, Sébastien; Grugeon, Sylvie; Viallet, Virginie

2017-04-01

Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) based batteries have severe gassing behavior during charge/discharge and storage process, due to interfacial reactions between active material and electrolyte solution. In the same time, the electronic and ionic conductivity of pristine LTO is very poor and induces the use of nanoparticles which increase the outgassing phenomena. The coating of LTO particles could be a solution. For this the LTO spinel particles are modified with ionic conductor Li3PO4 coating using a spray-drying method. For the first time a homogeneous thin dense layer phosphate based conductor is obtained without nanoparticles, as a thin film material. It is so possible to study the influence of ionic conductor deposited on the negative electrode material on performances by the controlled layer thickness. This coating was characterized by XRD, SEM, XPS and TEM. The electrochemical performance of Li3PO4 coated Li4Ti5O12 is improved at high C-rate by the surface modification (improvement of 30 mAh g-1 at 5 C-rate compared to pristine LTO for 5 nm of coating), inducing by a modification of surface energy. An optimum coating thickness was studied. This type of coating allows a significant decrease of outgassing phenomena due the conformal coating and opens the way to a great number of studies and new technologies.

Property changes induced by the space environment in composite materials on LDEF: Solar array materials passive LDEF experiment A0171 (SAMPLE)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1993-01-01

Surface modifications to composite materials induced by long term exposure in low earth orbit (LEO) were dominated by atomic oxygen erosion and micrometeoroid and space debris impacts. As expected, calculated erosion rates were peculiar to material type and within the predicted order of magnitude. Generally, about one ply of the carbon fiber composites was eroded during the 70 month LDEF experiment. Matrix erosion was greater than fiber erosion and was more evident for a polysulfone matrix than for epoxy matrices. Micrometeoroid and space debris impacts resulted in small (less than 1mm) craters and splattered contaminants on all samples. Surfaces became more diffuse and darker with small increases in emissivity and absorption. Tensile strength decreased roughly with thickness loss, and epoxy matrices apparently became slightly embrittled, probably as a result of continued curing under UV and/or electron bombardment. However, changes in the ultimate yield stress of the carbon reinforced epoxy composites correlate neither with weave direction nor fiber type. Unexpected developments were the discovery of new synergistic effects of the space environment in the interaction of atomic oxygen and copious amounts of contamination and in the induced luminescence of many materials.

Effects of optical design modifications on thermal performance of a highly reflective HfO2/SiO2/TiO2 three material coating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ocak, M.; Sert, C.; Okutucu-Özyurt, T.

2018-02-01

Effects of layer thickness modifications on laser induced temperature distribution inside three material, highly reflective thin film coatings are studied with numerical simulations. As a base design, a 21 layer coating composed of HfO2, SiO2 and TiO2 layers of quarter wave thickness is considered. First, the laser induced temperature distribution in this base design is obtained. Then the layer thicknesses of the base design are modified and the corresponding temperature distributions in four alternative non-quarter wave coatings are evaluated. The modified thicknesses are determined using an in-house code developed to shift the electric field intensity (EFI) peak from the first high/low layer interface towards the adjacent low index layer that has a higher thermal conductivity, hence, higher laser damage resistance. Meanwhile, the induced increase in the EFI peak is kept at a user defined upper limit. The laser endurance of the base and alternative designs are compared in terms of their estimated temperature distributions. The results indicated that both the peak temperature and the highest interface temperature are decreased by at least 32%, in non-dimensional form, when alternative designs are used instead of the base design. The total reflection of the base design is only decreased from 99.8% to at most 99.4% when alternative designs are used. The study is proved to be successful in improving the laser endurance of three material thin film coatings by lowering the peak and interface temperatures.

Microstructural modifications induced by accelerated aging and lipid absorption in remelted and annealed UHMWPEs for total hip arthroplasty

PubMed Central

Puppulin, Leonardo; Zhu, Wenliang; Sugano, Nobuhiko

2014-01-01

Three types of commercially available ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) acetabular cups currently used in total hip arthroplasty have been studied by means of Raman micro-spectroscopy to unfold the microstructural modification induced by the oxidative degradation after accelerated aging with and without lipid absorption. The three investigated materials were produced by three different manufacturing procedures, as follows: irradiation followed by remelting, one-step irradiation followed by annealing, 3-step irradiation and annealing. Clear microstructural differences were observed in terms of phase contents (i.e. amorphous, crystalline and intermediate phase fraction). The three-step annealed material showed the highest crystallinity fraction in the bulk, while the remelted polyethylene is clearly characterized by the lowest content of crystalline phase and the highest content of amorphous phase. After accelerated aging either with or without lipids, the amount of amorphous phase decreased in all the samples as a consequence of the oxidation-induced recrystallization. The most remarkable variations of phase contents were detected in the remelted and in the single-step annealed materials. The presence of lipids triggered oxidative degradation especially in the remelted polyethylene. Such experimental evidence might be explained by the highest amount of amorphous phase in which lipids can be absorbed prior to accelerated aging. The results of these spectroscopic characterizations help to rationalize the complex effect of different irradiation and post-irradiation treatments on the UHMWPE microstructure and gives useful information on how significantly any single step of the manufacturing procedures might affect the oxidative degradation of the polymer. PMID:25179830

Self-regulated transport in photonic crystals with phase-changing defects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thomas, Roney; Ellis, Fred M.; Vitebskiy, Ilya; Kottos, Tsampikos

2018-01-01

Phase-changing materials (PCMs) are widely used for optical data recording, sensing, all-optical switching, and optical limiting. Our focus here is on the case when the change in transmission characteristics of the optical material is caused by the input light itself. Specifically, the light-induced heating triggers the phase transition in the PCM. In this paper, using a numerical example, we demonstrate that the incorporation of the PCM in a photonic structure can lead to a dramatic modification of the effects of light-induced phase transition, as compared to a stand-alone sample of the same PCM. Our focus is on short pulses. We discuss some possible applications of such phase-changing photonic structures for optical sensing and limiting.

Photothermal and infrared thermography characterizations of thermal diffusion in hydroxyapatite materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bante-Guerra, J.; Conde-Contreras, M.; Trujillo, S.; Martinez-Torres, P.; Cruz-Jimenez, B.; Quintana, P.; Alvarado-Gil, J. J.

2009-02-01

Non destructive analysis of hydroxyapatite materials is an active research area mainly in the study of dental pieces and bones due to the importance these pieces have in medicine, archeology, dentistry, forensics and anthropology. Infrared thermography and photothermal techniques constitute highly valuable tools in those cases. In this work the quantitative analysis of thermal diffusion in bones is presented. The results obtained using thermographic images are compared with the ones obtained from the photothermal radiometry. Special emphasis is done in the analysis of samples with previous thermal damage. Our results show that the treatments induce changes in the physical properties of the samples. These results could be useful in the identification of the agents that induced modifications of unknown origin in hydroxyapatite structures.

Interface modification based ultrashort laser microwelding between SiC and fused silica.

PubMed

Zhang, Guodong; Bai, Jing; Zhao, Wei; Zhou, Kaiming; Cheng, Guanghua

2017-02-06

It is a big challenge to weld two materials with large differences in coefficients of thermal expansion and melting points. Here we report that the welding between fused silica (softening point, 1720°C) and SiC wafer (melting point, 3100°C) is achieved with a near infrared femtosecond laser at 800 nm. Elements are observed to have a spatial distribution gradient within the cross section of welding line, revealing that mixing and inter-diffusion of substances have occurred during laser irradiation. This is attributed to the femtosecond laser induced local phase transition and volume expansion. Through optimizing the welding parameters, pulse energy and interval of the welding lines, a shear joining strength as high as 15.1 MPa is achieved. In addition, the influence mechanism of the laser ablation on welding quality of the sample without pre-optical contact is carefully studied by measuring the laser induced interface modification.

8 MeV electron beam induced modifications in the thermal, structural and electrical properties of nanophase CeO2 for potential electronics applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Babitha, K. K.; Sreedevi, A.; Priyanka, K. P.; Ganesh, S.; Varghese, Thomas

2018-06-01

The effect of 8 MeV electron beam irradiation on the thermal, structural and electrical properties of CeO2 nanoparticles synthesized by chemical precipitation route was investigated. The dose dependent effect of electron irradiation was studied using various characterization techniques such as, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy and impedance spectroscopy. Systematic investigation based on the results of structural studies confirm that electron beam irradiation induces defects and particle size variation on CeO2 nanoparticles, which in turn results improvements in AC conductivity, dielectric constant and loss tangent. Structural modifications and high value of dielectric constant for CeO2 nanoparticles due to electron beam irradiation make it as a promising material for the fabrication of gate dielectric in metal oxide semiconductor devices.

Band structure modification of the thermoelectric Heusler-phase TiFe2Sn via Mn substitution.

PubMed

Zou, Tianhua; Jia, Tiantian; Xie, Wenjie; Zhang, Yongsheng; Widenmeyer, Marc; Xiao, Xingxing; Weidenkaff, Anke

2017-07-19

Doping (or substitution)-induced modification of the electronic structure to increase the electronic density of states (eDOS) near the Fermi level is considered as an effective strategy to enhance the Seebeck coefficient, and may consequently boost the thermoelectric performance. Through density-functional theory calculations of Mn-substituted TiFe 2-x Mn x Sn compounds, we demonstrate that the d-states of the substituted Mn atoms induce a strong resonant level near the Fermi energy. Our experimental results are in good agreement with the calculations. They show that Mn substitution results in a large increase of the Seebeck coefficient, arising from an enhanced eDOS in Heusler compounds. The results prove that a proper substitution position and element selection can increase the eDOS, leading to a higher Seebeck coefficient and thermoelectric performance of ecofriendly materials.

Ion irradiation induced surface modification studies of polymers using SPM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tripathi, A.; Kumar, Amit; Singh, F.; Kabiraj, D.; Avasthi, D. K.; Pivin, J. C.

2005-07-01

Various types of scanning probe microscopy (SPM) techniques: atomic force microscopy (AFM) (contact and tapping in height and amplitude mode), scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) and conducting atomic force microscopy (C-AFM) are used for studying ion beam induced surface modifications, nanostructure/cluster formation and disintegration in polymers and similar soft carbon based materials. In the present study, the results of studies on four materials, namely, (A) methyltriethoxysilane/phenyltriethoxysilane (MTES/PTES) based gel, (B) triethoxisilane (TH) based gel, (C) highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) bulk and (D) fullerene (C60) thin films are discussed. In the case of Si based gels prepared from pre-cursors containing organic groups (MTES/PTES), hillocks are observed at the surface and their size decreases from 70 to 25 nm with increasing fluence, whereas, in the case of a gel with a stoichiometry SiO1.25H1, prepared from TH, an increases in the size of hillocks is observed. Hillocks are also formed at the surface of HOPG irradiated with 120 MeV Au beam at a low fluence, whereas, formation of craters and a re-organisation of surface features is observed at a higher fluence. In the case of C60 films, 120 MeV Au ion irradiation induces the formation of conducting ion tracks, which is attributed to the transformation from insulating C60 to conducting graphite like carbon.

Surface modification of polyisobutylene via grafting amino acid-based poly (acryloyl-6-aminocaproic acid) as multifunctional material.

PubMed

Du, Yanqiu; Li, Chunming; Jin, Jing; Li, Chao; Jiang, Wei

2018-01-01

Amino acid-based P(acryloyl-6-aminocaproic acid) (PAACA) brushes were fabricated on polyisobutylene (PIB) surface combined with plasma pre-treatment and UV-induced grafting polymerization to construct an antifouling and functional material. The hydrophilicity and hemocompatibility of PIB were largely improved by surface modification of AACA, which were confirmed by water contact angle and platelet adhesion, respectively. PAACA brushes were precisely located onto the surface of PIB to create a patterned PIB-g-PAACA structure, and then the carboxyl groups on PAACA was activated to immobilize functional protein-Concanavalin A (Con A). The obtained Con A-coupled microdomains could further capture erythrocytes. This method developed a platform on commercial PIB surface via amino acid-based polymer brushes which had a promising application in drug delivery and disease diagnosis. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Process for derivatizing carbon nanotubes with diazonium species and compositions thereof

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bahr, Jeffrey L. (Inventor); Tour, James M. (Inventor); Yang, Jiping (Inventor)

2011-01-01

Methods for the chemical modification of carbon nanotubes involve the derivatization of multi- and single-wall carbon nanotubes, including small diameter (ca. 0.7 nm) single-wall carbon nanotubes, with diazonium species. The method allows the chemical attachment of a variety of organic compounds to the side and ends of carbon nanotubes. These chemically modified nanotubes have applications in polymer composite materials, molecular electronic applications, and sensor devices. The methods of derivatization include electrochemical induced reactions, thermally induced reactions, and photochemically induced reactions. Moreover, when modified with suitable chemical groups, the derivatized nanotubes are chemically compatible with a polymer matrix, allowing transfer of the properties of the nanotubes (such as, mechanical strength or electrical conductivity) to the properties of the composite material as a whole. Furthermore, when modified with suitable chemical groups, the groups can be polymerized to form a polymer that includes carbon nanotubes.

He implantation induced microstructure- and hardness-modification of the intermetallic γ-TiAl

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pouchon, Manuel A.; Chen, Jiachao; Hoffelner, Wolfgang

2009-05-01

TiAl is a well known high temperature material with good creep properties. It is investigated as a potential structural material for Generation IV high temperature gas cooled nuclear reactors. The tests are performed with the ABB-2 (Ti-rich TiAl with 2 at.% W) developed by ASEA Brown Boveri Ltd. (ABB). Thin samples are irradiated throughout with 24 MeV 4He2+ ions; the irradiated material is then investigated towards its microstructure and its hardness. The microstructure is studied by transmission electron microscopy and the hardness is investigated using a micro-hardness tester and a nano-indenter. Different effects can be identified. From room to moderate irradiation temperatures, the radiation induced hardening of the material slowly vanishes until the material completely recovers at about 943 K. Beyond this temperature, He-bubble formation seems to harden the material again, until beyond 1200 K a steep increase in hardening is detected. This effect can be correlated with bubbles being identified in the micrographs. The results are consistent and give strong indications to a microstructural development as a function of temperature.

Photoassisted physical vapor epitaxial growth of semiconductors: a review of light-induced modifications to growth processes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Alberi, Kirstin; Scarpulla, Michael A.

Herein, we review the remarkable range of modifications to materials properties associated with photoexcitation of the growth surface during physical vapor epitaxy of semiconductors. We concentrate on mechanisms producing measureable, utilizable changes in crystalline perfection, phase, composition, doping, and defect distribution. We outline the relevant physics of different mechanisms, concentrating on those yielding effects orthogonal to the primary growth variables of temperature and atomic or molecular fluxes and document the phenomenological effects reported. Based on experimental observations from a range of semiconductor systems and growth conditions, the primary effects include enhanced anion desorption, molecular dissociation, increased doping efficiency, modification tomore » defect populations and improvements to the crystalline quality of epilayers grown at low temperatures. Future research directions and technological applications are also discussed.« less

Photoassisted physical vapor epitaxial growth of semiconductors: a review of light-induced modifications to growth processes

DOE PAGES

Alberi, Kirstin; Scarpulla, Michael A.

2017-11-22

Herein, we review the remarkable range of modifications to materials properties associated with photoexcitation of the growth surface during physical vapor epitaxy of semiconductors. We concentrate on mechanisms producing measureable, utilizable changes in crystalline perfection, phase, composition, doping, and defect distribution. We outline the relevant physics of different mechanisms, concentrating on those yielding effects orthogonal to the primary growth variables of temperature and atomic or molecular fluxes and document the phenomenological effects reported. Based on experimental observations from a range of semiconductor systems and growth conditions, the primary effects include enhanced anion desorption, molecular dissociation, increased doping efficiency, modification tomore » defect populations and improvements to the crystalline quality of epilayers grown at low temperatures. Future research directions and technological applications are also discussed.« less

X-ray diffraction on radioactive materials

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schiferl, D.; Roof, R.B.

1978-01-01

X-ray diffraction studies on radioactive materials are discussed with the aim of providing a guide to new researchers in the field. Considerable emphasis is placed on the safe handling and loading of not-too-exotic samples. Special considerations such as the problems of film blackening by the gamma rays and changes induced by the self-irradiation of the sample are covered. Some modifications of common diffraction techniques are presented. Finally, diffraction studies on radioactive samples under extreme conditions are discussed, with primary emphasis on high-pressure studies involving diamond-anvil cells.

Prediction of the niche effect for single flat panels with or without attached sound absorbing materials.

PubMed

Sgard, Franck; Atalla, Noureddine; Nélisse, Hugues

2015-01-01

The sound transmission loss (STL) of a test sample measured in sound transmission facilities is affected by the opening in which it is located. This is called the niche effect. This paper uses a modal approach to study the STL of a rectangular plate with or without an attached porous material located inside a box-shaped niche. The porous material is modeled as a limp equivalent fluid. The proposed model is validated by comparison with finite element/boundary element computations. Using a condensation of the pressure fields in the niche, the niche effect is interpreted in terms of a modification of the modal blocked pressure fields acting on the panel induced by the front cavity and by a modification of the radiation efficiency of the panel modes due to the presence of the back cavity. The modal approach is then used to investigate the impact of (1) the presence of a porous material attached to the panel on the niche effect and (2) the niche effect on the assessment of the porous material insertion loss. A simplified model for the porous material based on a transfer matrix approach is also proposed to predict the STL of the system and its validity is discussed.

Milling induced amorphisation and recrystallization of α-lactose monohydrate.

PubMed

Badal Tejedor, Maria; Pazesh, Samaneh; Nordgren, Niklas; Schuleit, Michael; Rutland, Mark W; Alderborn, Göran; Millqvist-Fureby, Anna

2018-02-15

Preprocessing of pharmaceutical powders is a common procedure to condition the materials for a better manufacturing performance. However, such operations may induce undesired material properties modifications when conditioning particle size through milling, for example. Modification of both surface and bulk material structure will change the material properties, thus affecting the processability of the powder. Hence it is essential to control the material transformations that occur during milling. Topographical and mechanical changes in surface properties can be a preliminary indication of further material transformations. Therefore a surface evaluation of the α-lactose monohydrate after short and prolonged milling times has been performed. Unprocessed α-lactose monohydrate and spray dried lactose were evaluated in parallel to the milled samples as reference examples of the crystalline and amorphous lactose structure. Morphological differences between unprocessed α-lactose, 1 h and 20 h milled lactose and spray dried lactose were detected from SEM and AFM images. Additionally, AFM was used to simultaneously characterize particle surface amorphicity by measuring energy dissipation. Extensive surface amorphicity was detected after 1 h of milling while prolonged milling times showed only a moderate particle surface amorphisation. Bulk material characterization performed with DSC indicated a partial amorphicity for the 1 h milled lactose and a fully amorphous thermal profile for the 20 h milled lactose. The temperature profiles however, were shifted somewhat in the comparison to the amorphous reference, particularly after extended milling, suggesting a different amorphous state compared to the spray-dried material. Water loss during milling was measured with TGA, showing lower water content for the lactose amorphized through milling compared to spray dried amorphous lactose. The combined results suggest a surface-bulk propagation of the amorphicity during milling in combination with a different amorphous structural conformation to that of the amorphous spray dried lactose. The hardened surface may be due to either surface crystallization of lactose or to formation of a low-water glass transition. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

76 FR 15046 - Office of Hazardous Materials Safety; Notice of Applications for Modification of Special Permit

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-18

... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Office of Hazardous Materials Safety; Notice of Applications for Modification of Special Permit AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), DOT. ACTION: List of applications for modification of...

Oxygen ion implantation induced microstructural changes and electrical conductivity in Bakelite RPC detector material

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kumar, K. V. Aneesh, E-mail: aneesh1098@gmail.com; Ravikumar, H. B., E-mail: hbr@physics.uni-mysore.ac.in; Ranganathaiah, C., E-mail: cr@physics.uni-mysore.ac.in

2016-05-06

In order to explore the structural modification induced electrical conductivity, samples of Bakelite Resistive Plate Chamber (RPC) detector materials were exposed to 100 keV Oxygen ion in the fluences of 10{sup 12}, 10{sup 13}, 10{sup 14} and 10{sup 15} ions/cm{sup 2}. Ion implantation induced microstructural changes have been studied using Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy (PALS) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) techniques. Positron lifetime parameters viz., o-Ps lifetime and its intensity shows the deposition of high energy interior track and chain scission leads to the formation of radicals, secondary ions and electrons at lower ion implantation fluences (10{sup 12} to10{sup 14} ions/cm{supmore » 2}) followed by cross-linking at 10{sup 15} ions/cm{sup 2} fluence due to the radical reactions. The reduction in electrical conductivity of Bakelite detector material is correlated to the conducting pathways and cross-links in the polymer matrix. The appropriate implantation energy and fluence of Oxygen ion on polymer based Bakelite RPC detector material may reduce the leakage current, improves the efficiency, time resolution and thereby rectify the aging crisis of the RPC detectors.« less

Materials science education: ion beam modification and analysis of materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zimmerman, Robert; Muntele, Claudiu; Ila, Daryush

2012-08-01

The Center for Irradiation of Materials (CIM) at Alabama A&M University (http://cim.aamu.edu) was established in 1990 to serve the University in its research, education and services to the need of the local community and industry. CIM irradiation capabilities are oriented around two tandem-type ion accelerators with seven beam lines providing high-resolution Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, MeV focus ion beam, high-energy ion implantation and irradiation damage studies, particle-induced X-ray emission, particle-induced gamma emission and ion-induced nuclear reaction analysis in addition to fully automated ion channeling. One of the two tandem ion accelerators is designed to produce high-flux ion beam for MeV ion implantation and ion irradiation damage studies. The facility is well equipped with a variety of surface analysis systems, such as SEM, ESCA, as well as scanning micro-Raman analysis, UV-VIS Spectrometry, luminescence spectroscopy, thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, IV/CV systems, mechanical test systems, AFM, FTIR, voltammetry analysis as well as low-energy implanters, ion beam-assisted deposition and MBE systems. In this presentation, we will demonstrate how the facility is used in material science education, as well as providing services to university, government and industry researches.

Studying radiolytic ageing of nuclear power plant electric cables with FTIR spectroscopy.

PubMed

Levet, A; Colombani, J; Duponchel, L

2017-09-01

Due to the willingness to extend the nuclear power plants length of life, it is of prime importance to understand long term ageing effect on all constitutive materials. For this purpose gamma-irradiation effects on insulation of instrumentation and control cables are studied. Mid-infrared spectroscopy and principal components analysis (PCA) were used to highlight molecular modifications induced by gamma-irradiation under oxidizing conditions. In order to be closer to real world conditions, a low dose rate of 11Gyh -1 was used to irradiate insulations in full cable or alone with a dose up to 58 kGy. Spectral differences according to irradiation dose were extracted using PCA. It was then possible to observe different behaviors of the insulation constitutive compounds i.e. ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) and aluminium trihydrate (ATH). Irradiation of insulations led to the oxidation of their constitutive polymers and a modification of filler-polymer ratio. Moreover all these modifications were observed for insulations alone or in full cable indicating that oxygen easily diffuses into the material. Spectral contributions were discussed considering different degradation mechanisms. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Structural modifications and corrosion behavior of martensitic stainless steel nitrided by plasma immersion ion implantation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Figueroa, C. A.; Alvarez, F.; Zhang, Z.; Collins, G. A.; Short, K. T.

2005-07-01

In this work we report a study of the structural modifications and corrosion behavior of martensitic stainless steels (MSS) nitrided by plasma immersion ion implantation (PI3). The samples were characterized by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, photoemission electron spectroscopy, and potentiodynamic electrochemical measurements. Depending on the PI3 treatment temperature, three different material property trends are observed. At lower implantation temperatures (e.g., 360 °C), the material corrosion resistance is improved and a compact phase of ɛ-(Fe,Cr)3N, without changes in the crystal morphology, is obtained. At intermediate temperatures (e.g., 430 °C), CrN precipitates form principally at grain boundaries, leading to a degradation in the corrosion resistance compared to the original MSS material. At higher temperatures (e.g., 500 °C), the relatively great mobility of the nitrogen and chromium in the matrix induced random precipitates of CrN, transforming the original martensitic phase into α-Fe (ferrite), and causing a further degradation in the corrosion resistance.

Direct laser interference patterning of transparent and colored polymer substrates: ablation, swelling, and the development of a simulation model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alamri, Sabri; Lasagni, Andrés. F.

2017-02-01

It is well known that micro and sub-micrometer periodical structures play a significant role on the properties of a surface. Ranging from friction reduction to the bacterial adhesion control, the modification of the material surface is the key for improving the performance of a device or even creating a completely new function. Among different laser processing techniques, Direct Laser Interference Patterning (DLIP) relies on the local surface modification process induced when two or more beams interfere and produce periodic surface structures. Although the produced features have controllable pitch and geometry, identical experimental conditions applied to different polymers can result on totally different topologies. In this frame, observations from pigmented and transparent polycarbonate treated with ultraviolet (263 nm) and infrared (1053 nm) laser radiation permitted to identify different phenomena related with the optical and chemical properties of the polymers. As a result from the experimental data analysis, a set of material-dependent constants can be obtained and both profile and surface simulations can be retrieved, reproducing the material surface topography after the surface patterning process.

Modification of narrow ablating capillaries under the influence of multiple femtosecond laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gubin, K. V.; Lotov, K. V.; Trunov, V. I.; Pestryakov, E. V.

2016-09-01

Powerful femtosecond laser pulses that propagate through narrow ablating capillaries cause modification of capillary walls, which is studied experimentally and theoretically. At low intensities, the laser-induced periodic surface structures and porous coating composed of sub-micron particles appear on the walls. At higher intensities, the surface is covered by deposited droplets of the size up to 10 μm. In both cases, the ablated material forms a solid plug that completely blocks the capillary after several hundreds or thousands of pulses. The suggested theoretical model indicates that the plug formation is a universal effect. It must take place in any narrow tube subject to ablation under the action of short laser pulses.

Effects of sterilization processes on NiTi alloy: surface characterization.

PubMed

Thierry, B; Tabrizian, M; Savadogo, O; Yahia, L

2000-01-01

Sterilization is required for using any device in contact with the human body. Numerous authors have studied device properties after sterilization and reported on bulk and surface modifications of many materials after processing. These surface modifications may in turn influence device biocompatibility. Still, data are missing on the effect of sterilization procedures on new biomaterials such as nickel-titanium (NiTi). Herein we report on the effect of dry heat, steam autoclaving, ethylene oxide, peracetic acid, and plasma-based sterilization techniques on the surface properties of NiTi. After processing electropolished NiTi disks with these techniques, surface analyses were performed by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and contact angle measurements. AES analyses revealed a higher Ni concentration (6-7 vs. 1%) and a slightly thicker oxide layer on the surface for heat and ethylene oxide processed materials. Studies of surface topography by AFM showed up to a threefold increase of the surface roughness when disks were dry heat sterilized. An increase of the surface energy of up to 100% was calculated for plasma treated surfaces. Our results point out that some surface modifications are induced by sterilization procedures. Further work is required to assess the effect of these modifications on biocompatibility, and to determine the most appropriate methods to sterilize NiTi. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Research on dental implant and its industrialization stage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dongjoon, Yang; Sukyoung, Kim

2017-02-01

Bone cell attachment to Ti implant surfaces is the most concerned issue in the clinical implant dentistry. Many attempts to achieve the fast and strong integration between bone and implant have been tried in many ways, such as selection of materials (for example, Ti, ZrO2), shape design of implant (for example, soft tissue level, bone level, taped or conical, etc), and surface modification of implants (for example, roughed. coated, hybrid), etc. Among them, a major consideration is the surface design of dental implants. The surface with proper structural characteristics promotes or induces the desirable responses of cells and tissues. To obtain such surface which has desirable cell and tissue response, a variety of surface modification techniques has been developed and employed for many years. In this review, the method and trend of surface modification will be introduced and explained in terms of the surface topography and chemistry of dental implants.

77 FR 71033 - Notice of Applications for Modification of Special Permit

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-28

... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Notice of Applications for Modification of Special Permit AGENCY: Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), DOT. ACTION: List of applications for modification of...

Contribution to the beam plasma material interactions during material processing with TEA CO2 laser radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jaschek, Rainer; Konrad, Peter E.; Mayerhofer, Roland; Bergmann, Hans W.; Bickel, Peter G.; Kowalewicz, Roland; Kuttenberger, Alfred; Christiansen, Jens

1995-03-01

The TEA-CO2-laser (transversely excited atmospheric pressure) is a tool for the pulsed processing of materials with peak power densities up to 1010 W/cm2 and a FWHM of 70 ns. The interaction between the laser beam, the surface of the work piece and the surrounding atmosphere as well as gas pressure and the formation of an induced plasma influences the response of the target. It was found that depending on the power density and the atmosphere the response can take two forms. (1) No target modification due to optical break through of the atmosphere and therefore shielding of the target (air pressure above 10 mbar, depending on the material). (2) Processing of materials (air pressure below 10 mbar, depending on the material) with melting of metallic surfaces (power density above 0.5 109 W/cm2), hole formation (power density of 5 109 W/cm2) and shock hardening (power density of 3.5 1010 W/cm2). All those phenomena are usually linked with the occurrence of laser supported combustion waves and laser supported detonation waves, respectively for which the mechanism is still not completely understood. The present paper shows how short time photography and spatial and temporal resolved spectroscopy can be used to better understand the various processes that occur during laser beam interaction. The spectra of titanium and aluminum are observed and correlated with the modification of the target. If the power density is high enough and the gas pressure above a material and gas composition specific threshold, the plasma radiation shows only spectral lines of the background atmosphere. If the gas pressure is below this threshold, a modification of the target surface (melting, evaporation and solid state transformation) with TEA-CO2- laser pulses is possible and the material specific spectra is observed. In some cases spatial and temporal resolved spectroscopy of a plasma allows the calculation of electron temperatures by comparison of two spectral lines.

Implications of Polishing Techniques in Quantitative X-Ray Microanalysis

PubMed Central

Rémond, Guy; Nockolds, Clive; Phillips, Matthew; Roques-Carmes, Claude

2002-01-01

Specimen preparation using abrasives results in surface and subsurface mechanical (stresses, strains), geometrical (roughness), chemical (contaminants, reaction products) and physical modifications (structure, texture, lattice defects). The mechanisms involved in polishing with abrasives are presented to illustrate the effects of surface topography, surface and subsurface composition and induced lattice defects on the accuracy of quantitative x-ray microanalysis of mineral materials with the electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA). PMID:27446758

Citrullination of proteins: a common post-translational modification pathway induced by different nanoparticles in vitro and in vivo

PubMed Central

Mohamed, Bashir M; Verma, Navin K; Davies, Anthony M; McGowan, Aoife; Crosbie-Staunton, Kieran; Prina-Mello, Adriele; Kelleher, Dermot; Botting, Catherine H; Causey, Corey P; Thompson, Paul R; Pruijn, Ger JM; Kisin, Elena R; Tkach, Alexey V; Shvedova, Anna A; Volkov, Yuri

2012-01-01

Aim Rapidly expanding manufacture and use of nanomaterials emphasize the requirements for thorough assessment of health outcomes associated with novel applications. Post-translational protein modifications catalyzed by Ca2+-dependent peptidylargininedeiminases have been shown to trigger immune responses including autoantibody generation, a hallmark of immune complexes deposition in rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess if nanoparticles are able to promote protein citrullination. Materials & methods Human A549 and THP-1 cells were exposed to silicon dioxide, carbon black or single-walled carbon nanotubes. C57BL/6 mice were exposed to respirable single-walled carbon nanotubes. Protein citrullination, peptidylargininedeiminases activity and target proteins were evaluated. Results The studied nanoparticles induced protein citrullination both in cultured human cells and mouse lung tissues. Citrullination occurred via the peptidylargininedeiminase-dependent mechanism. Cytokeratines 7, 8, 18 and plectins were identified as intracellular citrullination targets. Conclusion Nanoparticle exposure facilitated post-translational citrullination of proteins. PMID:22625207

Electronic and crystal structure changes induced by in-plane oxygen vacancies in multiferroic YMnO 3

DOE PAGES

Cheng, Shaobo; Meng, Qingping; Li, Mengli; ...

2016-02-08

Here, the widely spread oxygen vacancies (V O) in multiferroic materials can strongly affect their physical properties. However, their exact influence has rarely been identified in hexagonal manganites. Here, with the combined use of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and first-principles calculations, we have systematically studied the electronic and crystal structure modifications induced by V O located at the same Mn atomic plane (in-plane V O). Our TEM experiments reveal that the easily formed in-plane V O not only influence the electronic structure of YMnO 3 but alter the in-plane Wyckoff positions of Mn ions, which may subsequently affect the intraplanemore » and interplane exchange interaction of Mn ions. The ferroelectricity is also impaired due to the introduction of V O. Further calculations confirm these electronic and structural changes and modifications. Our results indicate that the electronic and crystal structure of YMnO 3 can be manipulated by the creation of V O.« less

Biomaterials in Cardiovascular Research: Applications and Clinical Implications

PubMed Central

Jaganathan, Saravana Kumar; Supriyanto, Eko; Murugesan, Selvakumar; Balaji, Arunpandian; Asokan, Manjeesh Kumar

2014-01-01

Cardiovascular biomaterials (CB) dominate the category of biomaterials based on the demand and investments in this field. This review article classifies the CB into three major classes, namely, metals, polymers, and biological materials and collates the information about the CB. Blood compatibility is one of the major criteria which limit the use of biomaterials for cardiovascular application. Several key players are associated with blood compatibility and they are discussed in this paper. To enhance the compatibility of the CB, several surface modification strategies were in use currently. Some recent applications of surface modification technology on the materials for cardiovascular devices were also discussed for better understanding. Finally, the current trend of the CB, endothelization of the cardiac implants and utilization of induced human pluripotent stem cells (ihPSCs), is also presented in this review. The field of CB is growing constantly and many new investigators and researchers are developing interest in this domain. This review will serve as a one stop arrangement to quickly grasp the basic research in the field of CB. PMID:24895577

Investigating the reversibility of structural modifications of Li xNi yMn zCo 1-y-zO₂ cathode materials during initial charge/discharge, at multiple length scales

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hwang, Sooyeon; Bak, Seong -Min; Kim, Seung Min

2015-08-11

In this work, we investigate the structural modifications occurring at the bulk, subsurface, and surface scales of Li xNi yMn zCo 1-y-zO₂ (NMC; y, z = 0.8, 0.1 and 0.4, 0.3, respectively) cathode materials during the initial charge/discharge. Various analytical tools, such as X-ray diffraction, selected-area electron diffraction, electron energy-loss spectroscopy, and high-resolution electron microscopy, are used to examine the structural properties of the NMC cathode materials at the three different scales. Cut-off voltages of 4.3 and 4.8 V are applied during the electrochemical tests as the normal and extreme conditions, respectively. The high-Ni-content NMC cathode materials exhibit unusual behaviors,more » which is deviate from the general redox reactions during the charge or discharge. The transition metal (TM) ions in the high-Ni-content NMC cathode materials, which are mostly Ni ions, are reduced at 4.8 V, even though TMs are usually oxidized to maintain charge neutrality upon the removal of Li. It was found that any changes in the crystallographic and electronic structures are mostly reversible down to the sub-surface scale, despite the unexpected reduction of Ni ions. However, after the discharge, traces of the phase transitions remain at the edges of the NMC cathode materials at the scale of a few nanometers (i.e., surface scale). This study demonstrates that the structural modifications in NMC cathode materials are induced by charge as well as discharge at multiple length scales. These changes are nearly reversible after the first cycle, except at the edges of the samples, which should be avoided because these highly localized changes can initiate battery degradation.« less

Alternative materials for subgrade modification

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2001-10-01

This study examines the laboratory and field performance of two alternative materials used for the modification of unstable (CBR<6) subgrade soils. Modification is temporarily enhancing subgrade : stability to improve the constructability of successi...

Foreword

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bergheau, Jean-Michel; Drapier, Sylvain; Feulvarch, Éric; Ponthot, Jean-Philippe

2016-04-01

In the face of increasingly fierce global competition, industrial companies must develop products more and more quickly and cheaply. In such a context, the numerical simulation of manufacturing processes is a big challenge and a key factor for success. Indeed, numerical simulation enables the control of manufacturing processes and of the consequences that they induce on the manufactured parts in terms of material modifications, geometrical changes or residual stresses, each of them playing an important role in the lifetime of the component.

Surface and structure modification induced by high energy and highly charged uranium ion irradiation in monocrystal spinel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Yitao; Zhang, Chonghong; Song, Yin; Gou, Jie; Zhang, Liqing; Meng, Yancheng; Zhang, Hengqing; Ma, Yizhun

2014-05-01

Due to its high temperature properties and relatively good behavior under irradiation, magnesium aluminate spinel (MgAl2O4) is considered as a possible material to be used as inert matrix for the minor actinides burning. In this case, irradiation damage is an unavoidable problem. In this study, high energy and highly charged uranium ions (290 MeV U32+) were used to irradiate monocrystal spinel to the fluence of 1.0 × 1013 ions/cm2 to study the modification of surface and structure. Highly charged ions carry large potential energy, when they interact with a surface, the release of potential energy results in the modification of surface. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) results showed the occurrence of etching on surface after uranium ion irradiation. The etching depth reached 540 nm. The surprising efficiency of etching is considered to be induced by the deposition of potential energy with high density. The X-ray diffraction results showed that the (4 4 0) diffraction peak obviously broadened after irradiation, which indicated that the distortion of lattice has occurred. After multi-peak Gaussian fitting, four Gaussian peaks were separated, which implied that a structure with different damage layers could be formed after irradiation.

Structural modifications induced by ion irradiation and temperature in boron carbide B4C

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Victor, G.; Pipon, Y.; Bérerd, N.; Toulhoat, N.; Moncoffre, N.; Djourelov, N.; Miro, S.; Baillet, J.; Pradeilles, N.; Rapaud, O.; Maître, A.; Gosset, D.

2015-12-01

Already used as neutron absorber in the current French nuclear reactors, boron carbide (B4C) is also considered in the future Sodium Fast Reactors of the next generation (Gen IV). Due to severe irradiation conditions occurring in these reactors, it is of primary importance that this material presents a high structural resistance under irradiation, both in the ballistic and electronic damage regimes. Previous works have shown an important structural resistance of boron carbide even at high neutron fluences. Nevertheless, the structural modification mechanisms due to irradiation are not well understood. Therefore the aim of this paper is to study structural modifications induced in B4C samples in different damage regimes. The boron carbide pellets were shaped and sintered by using spark plasma sintering method. They were then irradiated in several conditions at room temperature or 800 °C, either by favoring the creation of ballistic damage (between 1 and 3 dpa), or by favoring the electronic excitations using 100 MeV swift iodine ions (Se ≈ 15 keV/nm). Ex situ micro-Raman spectroscopy and Doppler broadening of annihilation radiation technique with variable energy slow positrons were coupled to follow the evolution of the B4C structure under irradiation.

Materials modification using ions with energies below 1 MeV/u

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karlušić, M.; Jakšić, M.; Buljan, M.; Sancho-Parramon, J.; Bogdanović-Radović, I.; Radić, N.; Bernstorff, S.

2013-12-01

Materials modifications using swift heavy ion beams provided by large scale accelerators have been used for many years in a wide variety of ways, e.g. to produce ion tracks or to modify the shape of nanoparticles. In all those applications the most relevant parameter for the materials modification is the electronic stopping power and not the ion kinetic energy. For many materials, ions with energies below 1 MeV/u delivered from medium and small size accelerators have already sufficiently high electronic stopping power to modify materials in different ways. Also, in this energy range the nuclear stopping power can be large enough to provide additional opportunities for materials modifications. In the present paper, we review recent experimental activities of the Zagreb group where ion beams with energies below 1 MeV/u, obtained from a 6 MV EN Tandem Van de Graaff accelerator have been used. Additionally, we present several novel examples of materials modifications and their analysis with such ion beams.

Optogenetic Random Mutagenesis Using Histone-miniSOG in C. elegans.

PubMed

Noma, Kentaro; Jin, Yishi

2016-11-14

Forward genetic screening in model organisms is the workhorse to discover functionally important genes and pathways in many biological processes. In most mutagenesis-based screens, researchers have relied on the use of toxic chemicals, carcinogens, or irradiation, which requires designated equipment, safety setup, and/or disposal of hazardous materials. We have developed a simple approach to induce heritable mutations in C. elegans using germline-expressed histone-miniSOG, a light-inducible potent generator of reactive oxygen species. This mutagenesis method is free of toxic chemicals and requires minimal laboratory safety and waste management. The induced DNA modifications include single-nucleotide changes and small deletions, and complement those caused by classical chemical mutagenesis. This methodology can also be used to induce integration of extrachromosomal transgenes. Here, we provide the details of the LED setup and protocols for standard mutagenesis and transgene integration.

Large refractive index variations induced by accumulating triplet excitons under photoexcitation at low power

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hori, Tomoe; Totani, Kenro; Hirata, Shuzo; Watanabe, Toshiyuki

2018-07-01

Herein, we present a method for the modification of the refractive index (n), based on employing an organic molecule with a long triplet excited-state lifetime. A host-guest material composed of a cyclic aromatic as the guest and an amorphous steroidal compound as the host was used to modulate n. The guest material exhibited a triplet lifetime longer than 1 s, and a high-density triplet excited-state population was obtained upon excitation with blue-violet light. The refractive index could be changed by 0.002, even when using a relatively low excitation power level of 100 mW cm-2.

Investigating the influence of photocatalytic cool wall adoption on meteorology and air quality in the Los Angeles basin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, J.; Tang, X.; Levinson, R.; Destaillats, H.; Mohegh, A.; Li, Y.; Tao, W.; Liu, J.; Ban-Weiss, G. A.

2017-12-01

Solar reflective "cool materials" can be used to lower urban temperatures, useful for mitigating the urban heat island effect and adapting to the local impacts of climate change. While numerous past studies have investigated the climate impacts of cool surfaces, few studies have investigated their effects on air pollution. Meteorological changes from increases in surface albedo can lead to temperature and transport induced modifications in air pollutant concentrations. In an effort to maintain high albedos in polluted environments, cool surfaces can also be made using photocatalytic "self-cleaning" materials. These photocatalytic materials can also remove NOx from ambient air, with possible consequences on ambient gas and particle phase pollutant concentrations. In this research, we investigate the impact of widespread deployment of cool walls on urban meteorology and air pollutant concentrations in the Los Angeles basin. Both photocatalytic and standard (not photocatalytic) high albedo wall materials are investigated. Simulations using a coupled meteorology-chemistry model (WRF-Chem) show that cool walls could effectively decrease urban temperatures in the Los Angeles basin. Preliminary results indicate that meteorology-induced changes from adopting standard cool walls could lead to ozone concentration reductions of up to 0.5 ppb. NOx removal induced by photocatalytic materials was modeled by modifying the WRF-Chem dry deposition scheme, with deposition rates informed by laboratory measurements of various commercially available materials. Simulation results indicate that increased deposition of NOx by photocatalytic materials could increase ozone concentrations, analogous to the ozone "weekend effect" in which reduced weekend NOx emissions can lead to increases in ozone. The impacts of cool walls on particulate matter concentrations are also discussed. Changes in particulate matter concentrations are found to be driven by albedo-induced changes in air pollutant transport in the basin, temperature induced changes in photochemistry and aerosol phase partitioning, and changes to secondary organic aerosol.

1,2,4-Butanetriol: Analysis and Synthesis

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-12-08

also sought to lower the cost of 3-butene-l-ol by modification of the catalytic dehydration method commonly used to produce it from 1,3-butanediol. CH...monoepoxide of 1-methoxybutadiene, which on hydrolysis gives 3,4-dihydroxybutanal. This material can then be converted to BT by hydrogenation over Raney nickel...induce decomposition of reactive organics at elevated temperatures. The columns were usually heated in an oven from ’OQ0 to 300’% at 15%C per minute

Ripening-induced changes in grape skin proanthocyanidins modify their interaction with cell walls.

PubMed

Bindon, Keren A; Kennedy, James A

2011-03-23

Proanthocyanidins were isolated from the skins of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes at different stages of grape development in order to study the effect of proanthocyanidin modification on the interaction with grape cell wall material. After veraison, the degree of proanthocyanidin polymerization increased, and thereafter was variable between 24 and 33 subunits as ripening progressed. Affinity of skin cell wall material for proanthocyanidin decreased with proanthocyanidin ripeness following veraison. A significant negative relationship (R2=0.93) was found for average proanthocyanidin molecular mass and the proportion of high molecular mass proanthocyanidin adsorbed by skin cell wall material. This indicated that as proanthocyanidin polymerization increased, the affinity of a component of high molecular mass proanthocyanidins for skin cell wall material declined. This phenomenon was only associated with skin proanthocyanidins from colored grapes, as high molecular mass proanthocyanidins of equivalent subunit composition from colorless mutant Cabernet Sauvignon grapes had a higher affinity for skin cell wall material.

Resistive switching and voltage induced modulation of tunneling magnetoresistance in nanosized perpendicular organic spin valves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Göckeritz, Robert; Homonnay, Nico; Müller, Alexander; Fuhrmann, Bodo; Schmidt, Georg

2016-04-01

Nanoscale multifunctional perpendicular organic spin valves have been fabricated. The devices based on an La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/Alq3/Co trilayer show resistive switching of up to 4-5 orders of magnitude and magnetoresistance as high as -70% the latter even changing sign when voltage pulses are applied. This combination of phenomena is typically observed in multiferroic tunnel junctions where it is attributed to magnetoelectric coupling between a ferromagnet and a ferroelectric material. Modeling indicates that here the switching originates from a modification of the La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 surface. This modification influences the tunneling of charge carriers and thus both the electrical resistance and the tunneling magnetoresistance which occurs at pinholes in the organic layer.

Effects of fire on the state of several elements in some soils of Sardinia.

PubMed

Senette, C; Meloni, S; Alberti, G; Melis, P

2000-01-01

In order to individuate the modifications induced in the soil by fires relatively to the mobility of metals and rare earth three soils of Sardinia which differ in their mineralogical and physico-chemical characteristics were sampled. The analytical results obtained on the samples drawn at different depths (0-5 and 10-30 cm) three months after a fire and on the tests indicate that only the surface layer underwent significant modifications. The dynamics of metals and the distribution of the rare earths were found to depend, besides the amount and quality of the burned material, on the different behaviour of elements towards leaching. The diffractometric analysis showed that the soil surface layer of all the samples did not exceed 400 degrees C.

The formation of diffuse discharge by short-front nanosecond voltage pulses and the modification of dielectrics in this discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Orlovskii, V. M.; Panarin, V. A.; Shulepov, M. A.

2014-07-01

The dynamics of diffuse discharge formation under the action of nanosecond voltage pulses with short fronts (below 1 ns) in the absence of a source of additional preionization and the influence of a dielectric film on this process have been studied. It is established that the diffuse discharge is induced by the avalanche multiplication of charge initiated by high-energy electrons and then maintained due to secondary breakdowns propagating via ionized gas channels. If a dielectric film (polyethylene, Lavsan, etc.) is placed on the anode, then multiply repeated discharge will lead to surface and bulk modification of the film material. Discharge-treated polyethylene film exhibits a change in the optical absorption spectrum in the near-IR range.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kulchin, Yu N; Mayor, A Yu; Proschenko, D Yu

Specific features of modification of a new photorecording material based on PMMA doped with 2,2-difluoro-4-(9-antracyl)-6-methyl-1,3,2-dioxaborine are studied. The recording of the filament distribution in the studied material occurs at the expense of two-photon photochemical processes. The three-dimensional modification of the material is achieved in the filamentation regime without supercontinuum generation. It is possible to order the volume structure by preliminary photo-modification of the near-surface layer of the material. (extreme light fields and their applications)

Antibacterial Drug Releasing Materials by Post-Polymerization Surface Modification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chng, Shuyun; Moloney, Mark G.; Wu, Linda Y. L.

Functional materials are available by the post-polymerization surface modification of diverse polymers in a three-step process mediated, firstly, by carbene insertion chemistry, secondly, by diazonium coupling, and thirdly by modification with a remotely tethered spiropyran unit, and these materials may be used for the reversible binding and release of Penicillin V. Surface loading densities of up to 0.19mmol/g polymer are achievable, leading to materials with higher loading densities and release behavior relative to unmodified controls, and observable antibacterial biocidal activity.

Head-group acylation of monogalactosyldiacylglycerol is a common stress response, but the acyl-galactose acyl composition varies with the plant species and applied stress

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Head group acylation of monogalactosyldiacylglycerol is a plant lipid modification occurring during bacterial infection. Little is known about the range of stresses that induce this lipid modification, the molecular species induced, and the function of the modification. Lipidomic analysis using trip...

Two-dimensional interferometric characterization of laser-induced refractive index profiles in bulk Topas polymer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hessler, Steffen; Rosenberger, Manuel; Schmauss, Bernhard; Hellmann, Ralf

2018-01-01

In this paper we precisely determine laser-induced refractive index profiles created in cyclic olefin copolymer Topas 6017 employing a sophisticated phase shifting Mach-Zehnder interferometry approach. Beyond the usual one-dimensional modification depth measurement we highlight that for straight waveguide structures also a two-dimensional refractive index distribution can be directly obtained providing full information of a waveguide's exact cross section and its gradient refractive index contrast. Deployed as direct data input in optical waveguide simulation, the evaluated 2D refractive index profiles permit a detailed calculation of the waveguides' actual mode profiles. Furthermore, conventional one-dimensional interferometric measurements for refractive index depth profiles with varying total imposed laser fluence of a 248 nm KrF excimer laser are included to investigate the effect on refractive index modification depth. Maximum surface refractive index increase turns out to attain up to 1.86 ·10-3 enabling laser-written optical waveguide channels. Additionally, a comprehensive optical material characterization in terms of dispersion, thermo-optic coefficient and absorption measurement of unmodified and UV-modified Topas 6017 is carried out.

Investigation of graphene-based nanoscale radiation sensitive materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Robinson, Joshua A.; Wetherington, Maxwell; Hughes, Zachary; LaBella, Michael, III; Bresnehan, Michael

2012-06-01

Current state-of-the-art nanotechnology offers multiple benefits for radiation sensing applications. These include the ability to incorporate nano-sized radiation indicators into widely used materials such as paint, corrosion-resistant coatings, and ceramics to create nano-composite materials that can be widely used in everyday life. Additionally, nanotechnology may lead to the development of ultra-low power, flexible detection systems that can be embedded in clothing or other systems. Graphene, a single layer of graphite, exhibits exceptional electronic and structural properties, and is being investigated for high-frequency devices and sensors. Previous work indicates that graphene-oxide (GO) - a derivative of graphene - exhibits luminescent properties that can be tailored based on chemistry; however, exploration of graphene-oxide's ability to provide a sufficient change in luminescent properties when exposed to gamma or neutron radiation has not been carried out. We investigate the mechanisms of radiation-induced chemical modifications and radiation damage induced shifts in luminescence in graphene-oxide materials to provide a fundamental foundation for further development of radiation sensitive detection architectures. Additionally, we investigate the integration of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) with graphene-based devices to evaluate radiation induced conductivity in nanoscale devices. Importantly, we demonstrate the sensitivity of graphene transport properties to the presence of alpha particles, and discuss the successful integration of hBN with large area graphene electrodes as a means to provide the foundation for large-area nanoscale radiation sensors.

Mechanism of covalent modification of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase at its active site thiol by nitric oxide, peroxynitrite and related nitrosating agents.

PubMed

Mohr, S; Stamler, J S; Brüne, B

1994-07-18

Previous studies have suggested that glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) undergoes covalent modification of an active site thiol by a NO.-induced [32P]NAD(+)-dependent mechanism. However, the efficacy of GAPDH modification induced by various NO donors was found to be independent of spontaneous rates of NO. release. To further test the validity of this mechanism, we studied the effects of nitrosonium tertrafluoroborate (BF4NO), a strong NO+ donor. BF4NO potently induces GAPDH labeling by the radioactive nucleotide. In this case, the addition of thiol significantly attenuates enzyme modification by competing for the NO moiety in the formation of RS-NO. Peroxynitrite (ONOO-) also induces GAPDH modification in the presence of thiol, consistent with the notion that this species can transfer NO+ (or NO2+) through the intermediacy of RS-NO. However, the efficiency of this reaction is limited by ONOO- -induced oxidation of protein SH groups at the active site. ONOO- generation appears to account for the modification of GAPDH by SIN-1. Thus, S-nitrosylation of the active site thiol is a prequisite for subsequent post-translational modification with NAD+, and emphasizes the role of NO+ transfer in the initial step of this pathway. Our findings thus provide a uniform mechanism by which nitric oxide and related NO donors initiate non-enzymatic ADP-ribosylation (like) reactions. In biological systems, endogenous RS-NO are likely to support the NO group transfer to thiol-containing proteins.

Wettability and surface free energy of polarised ceramic biomaterials.

PubMed

Nakamura, Miho; Hori, Naoko; Namba, Saki; Toyama, Takeshi; Nishimiya, Nobuyuki; Yamashita, Kimihiro

2015-01-13

The surface modification of ceramic biomaterials used for medical devices is expected to improve osteoconductivity through control of the interfaces between the materials and living tissues. Polarisation treatment induced surface charges on hydroxyapatite, β-tricalcium phosphate, carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite and yttria-stabilized zirconia regardless of the differences in the carrier ions participating in the polarisation. Characterization of the surfaces revealed that the wettability of the polarised ceramic biomaterials was improved through the increase in the surface free energies compared with conventional ceramic surfaces.

Innovative Contamination Certification of Multi-Mission Flight Hardware

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hansen, Patricia A.; Hughes, David W.; Montt, Kristina M.; Triolo, Jack J.

1998-01-01

Maintaining contamination certification of multi-mission flight hardware is an innovative approach to controlling mission costs. Methods for assessing ground induced degradation between missions have been employed by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Project for the multi-mission (servicing) hardware. By maintaining the cleanliness of the hardware between missions, and by controlling the materials added to the hardware during modification and refurbishment both project funding for contamination recertification and schedule have been significantly reduced. These methods will be discussed and HST hardware data will be presented.

Innovative Contamination Certification of Multi-Mission Flight Hardware

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hansen, Patricia A.; Hughes, David W.; Montt, Kristina M.; Triolo, Jack J.

1999-01-01

Maintaining contamination certification of multi-mission flight hardware is an innovative approach to controlling mission costs. Methods for assessing ground induced degradation between missions have been employed by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Project for the multi-mission (servicing) hardware. By maintaining the cleanliness of the hardware between missions, and by controlling the materials added to the hardware during modification and refurbishment both project funding for contamination recertification and schedule have been significantly reduced. These methods will be discussed and HST hardware data will be presented.

MAPLE deposition of nanomaterials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caricato, A. P.; Arima, V.; Catalano, M.; Cesaria, M.; Cozzoli, P. D.; Martino, M.; Taurino, A.; Rella, R.; Scarfiello, R.; Tunno, T.; Zacheo, A.

2014-05-01

The matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) has been recently exploited for depositing films of nanomaterials by combining the advantages of colloidal inorganic nanoparticles and laser-based techniques. MAPLE-deposition of nanomaterials meeting applicative purposes demands their peculiar properties to be taken into account while planning depositions to guarantee a congruent transfer (in terms of crystal structure and geometric features) and explain the deposition outcome. In particular, since nanofluids can enhance thermal conductivity with respect to conventional fluids, laser-induced heating can induce different ablation thermal regimes as compared to the MAPLE-treatment of soft materials. Moreover, nanoparticles exhibit lower melting temperatures and can experience pre-melting phenomena as compared to their bulk counterparts, which could easily induce shape and or crystal phase modification of the material to be deposited even at very low fluences. In this complex scenario, this review paper focuses on examples of MAPLE-depositions of size and shape controlled nanoparticles for different applications highlights advantages and challenges of the MAPLE-technique. The influence of the deposition parameters on the physical mechanisms which govern the deposition process is discussed.

Direct observation of local magnetic properties in strain engineered lanthanum cobaltate thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, S.; Wu, Weida; Freeland, J. W.; Ma, J. X.; Shi, J.

2009-03-01

Strain engineered thin film devices with emergent properties have significant impacts on both technical application and material science. We studied strain-induced modification of magnetic properties (Co spin state) in epitaxially grown lanthanum cobaltate (LaCoO3) thin films with a variable temperature magnetic force microscopy (VT-MFM). The real space observation confirms long range magnetic ordering on a tensile-strained film and non-magnetic low-spin configuration on a low-strained film at low temperature. Detailed study of local magnetic properties of these films under various external magnetic fields will be discussed. Our results also demonstrate that VT-MFM is a very sensitive tool to detect the nanoscale strain induced magnetic defects.

The Role of Electronic and Phononic Excitation in the Optical Response of Monolayer WS 2 after Ultrafast Excitation

DOE PAGES

Ruppert, Claudia; Chernikov, Alexey; Hill, Heather M.; ...

2017-01-06

We study transient changes of the optical response of WS 2 monolayers by femtosecond broadband pump–probe spectroscopy. Time-dependent absorption spectra are analyzed by tracking the line width broadening, bleaching, and energy shift of the main exciton resonance as a function of time delay after the excitation. Two main sources for the pump-induced changes of the optical response are identified. Specifically, we find an interplay between modifications induced by many-body interactions from photoexcited carriers and by the subsequent transfer of the excitation to the phonon system followed by cooling of the material through the heat transfer to the substrate.

The Role of Electronic and Phononic Excitation in the Optical Response of Monolayer WS 2 after Ultrafast Excitation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ruppert, Claudia; Chernikov, Alexey; Hill, Heather M.

We study transient changes of the optical response of WS 2 monolayers by femtosecond broadband pump–probe spectroscopy. Time-dependent absorption spectra are analyzed by tracking the line width broadening, bleaching, and energy shift of the main exciton resonance as a function of time delay after the excitation. Two main sources for the pump-induced changes of the optical response are identified. Specifically, we find an interplay between modifications induced by many-body interactions from photoexcited carriers and by the subsequent transfer of the excitation to the phonon system followed by cooling of the material through the heat transfer to the substrate.

Characterization of biodegradable polymers irradiated with swift heavy ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salguero, N. G.; del Grosso, M. F.; Durán, H.; Peruzzo, P. J.; Amalvy, J. I.; Arbeitman, C. R.; García Bermúdez, G.

2012-02-01

In view of their application as biomaterials, there is an increasing interest in developing new methods to induce controlled cell adhesion onto polymeric materials. The critical step in all these methods involves the modification of polymer surfaces, to induce cell adhesion, without changing theirs degradation and biocompatibility properties. In this work two biodegradable polymers, polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and poly- L-lactide acid (PLLA) were irradiated using carbon and sulfur beams with different energies and fluences. Pristine and irradiated samples were degradated by immersion in a phosphate buffer at pH 7.0 and then characterized. The analysis after irradiation and degradation showed a decrease in the contact angle values and changes in their crystallinity properties.

Surface Texture-Induced Enhancement of Optical and Photoelectrochemical Activity of Cu2ZnSnS4 Photocathodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarswat, Prashant K.; Deka, Nipon; Jagan Mohan Rao, S.; Free, Michael L.; Kumar, Gagan

2017-08-01

The objective of this work is to understand and improve the photocatalytic activity of Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) through postgrowth modification techniques to create surface textures. This objective can be achieved using a combination of solvents, etching agents, and anodization techniques. One of the most effective surface treatments for enhancing the surface properties of photovoltaic materials is formation of nanoscale flakes, although other surface modifications were also evaluated. The superior performance of textured films can be attributed to enhanced surface area of absorber material exposed to electrolyte, ZnS deficiency, and high catalytic activity due to reduced charge-transfer resistance. Fine-tuning of ion flux and electrolyte stoichiometry can be used to create a controlled growth algorithm for CZTS thin films. The resulting information can be utilized to optimize film properties. The utility of nanostructured or engineered surfaces was evaluated using photoelectrochemical measurements. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD)-assisted simulations were conducted for selected texturing, revealing enhanced surface area of absorbing medium that ultimately resulted in greater power loss of light in the medium.

Organic field-effect transistors: a combined study on short-channel effects and the influence of substrate pre-treatment on ambient stability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klug, A.; Meingast, A.; Wurzinger, G.; Blümel, A.; Schmoltner, K.; Scherf, U.; List, E. J. W.

2011-10-01

For high-performance low-cost applications based on organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) and corresponding sensors essential properties of the applied semiconducting materials include solution-processability, high field-effect mobility, compatibility with adjacent layers and stability with respect to ambient conditions. In this combined study regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene)- and pentacene-based bottom-gate bottom-contact OFETs with various channel lengths are thoroughly investigated with respect to short-channel effects and the implications of dielectric surface modification with hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) on device performance. In addition, the influences of oxygen, moisture and HMDStreatment on the ambient stability of the devices are evaluated in detail. While OFETs without surface modification exhibited the expected degradation behavior upon air exposure mainly due to oxygen/moisture-induced doping or charge-carrier trapping, the stability of the investigated semiconductors was found to be distinctly increased when the substrate surface was hydrophobized. The presented results thoroughly summarize important issues which have to be considered when selecting semiconducting materials for high-performance OFETs and OFET-based sensors.

Developing a Sealing Material: Effect of Epoxy Modification on Specific Physical and Mechanical Properties

PubMed Central

Schoberleitner, Christoph; Archodoulaki, Vasiliki-Maria; Koch, Thomas; Lüftl, Sigrid; Werderitsch, Markus; Kuschnig, Gerhard

2013-01-01

To develop a matched sealing material for socket rehabilitation of grey cast iron pipes, an epoxy resin is modified by the addition of different components to improve the flexibility. Three different modifications are made by adding ethylene-propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber powder, reactive liquid polymer (ATBN) and epoxidized modifier. In this paper the effect of the modification method as well as the influence of absorption of water on the mechanical and physical properties are analyzed in terms of: tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, adhesion performance, pressure resistance, glass transition temperature and water content. A comparison with neat epoxy shows for all materials that the modulus of elasticity and strength decrease. Unlike other tested modification methods, the modification with rubber powder did not enhance the flexibility. All materials absorb water and a plasticization effect arises with further changes of mechanical and physical properties. The application of the sealant on the grey cast iron leads to a reduction of the strain at break (in comparison to the common tensile test of the pure materials) and has to be evaluated. The main requirement of pressure resistance up to 1 MPa was tested on two chosen materials. Both materials fulfill this requirement. PMID:28788404

Developing a Sealing Material: Effect of Epoxy Modification on Specific Physical and Mechanical Properties.

PubMed

Schoberleitner, Christoph; Archodoulaki, Vasiliki-Maria; Koch, Thomas; Lüftl, Sigrid; Werderitsch, Markus; Kuschnig, Gerhard

2013-11-27

To develop a matched sealing material for socket rehabilitation of grey cast iron pipes, an epoxy resin is modified by the addition of different components to improve the flexibility. Three different modifications are made by adding ethylene-propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber powder, reactive liquid polymer (ATBN) and epoxidized modifier. In this paper the effect of the modification method as well as the influence of absorption of water on the mechanical and physical properties are analyzed in terms of: tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, adhesion performance, pressure resistance, glass transition temperature and water content. A comparison with neat epoxy shows for all materials that the modulus of elasticity and strength decrease. Unlike other tested modification methods, the modification with rubber powder did not enhance the flexibility. All materials absorb water and a plasticization effect arises with further changes of mechanical and physical properties. The application of the sealant on the grey cast iron leads to a reduction of the strain at break (in comparison to the common tensile test of the pure materials) and has to be evaluated. The main requirement of pressure resistance up to 1 MPa was tested on two chosen materials. Both materials fulfill this requirement.

Surface Modifications in Adhesion and Wetting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Longley, Jonathan

Advances in surface modification are changing the world. Changing surface properties of bulk materials with nanometer scale coatings enables inventions ranging from the familiar non-stick frying pan to advanced composite aircraft. Nanometer or monolayer coatings used to modify a surface affect the macro-scale properties of a system; for example, composite adhesive joints between the fuselage and internal frame of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner play a vital role in the structural stability of the aircraft. This dissertation focuses on a collection of surface modification techniques that are used in the areas of adhesion and wetting. Adhesive joints are rapidly replacing the familiar bolt and rivet assemblies used by the aerospace and automotive industries. This transition is fueled by the incorporation of composite materials into aircraft and high performance road vehicles. Adhesive joints have several advantages over the traditional rivet, including, significant weight reduction and efficient stress transfer between bonded materials. As fuel costs continue to rise, the weight reduction is accelerating this transition. Traditional surface pretreatments designed to improve the adhesion of polymeric materials to metallic surfaces are extremely toxic. Replacement adhesive technologies must be compatible with the environment without sacrificing adhesive performance. Silane-coupling agents have emerged as ideal surface modifications for improving composite joint strength. As these coatings are generally applied as very thin layers (<50 nm), it is challenging to characterize their material properties for correlation to adhesive performance. We circumvent this problem by estimating the elastic modulus of the silane-based coatings using the buckling instability formed between two materials of a large elastic mismatch. The elastic modulus is found to effectively predict the joint strength of an epoxy/aluminum joint that has been reinforced with silane coupling agents. This buckling technique is extended to investigate the effects of chemical composition on the elastic modulus. Finally, the effect of macro-scale roughness on silane-reinforced joints is investigated within the framework of the unresolved problem of how to best characterize rough surfaces. Initially, the fractal dimension is used to characterize grit-blasted and sanded surfaces. It is found that, contrary to what has been suggested in the literature, the fractal dimension is independent of the roughening mechanism. Instead, the use of an anomalous diffusion coefficient is proposed as a more effective way to characterize a rough surface. Surface modification by preparation of surface energy gradients is then investigated. Materials with gradients in surface energy are useful in the areas of microfluidics, heat transfer and protein adsorption, to name a few. Gradients are prepared by vapor deposition of a reactive silane from a filter paper source. The technique gives control over the size and shape of the gradient. This surface modification is then used to induce droplet motion through repeated stretching and compression of a water drop between two gradient surfaces. This inchworm type motion is studied in detail and offers an alternative method to surface vibration for moving drops in microfluidic devices. The final surface modification considered is the application of a thin layer of rubber to a rigid surface. While this technique has many practical uses, such as easy release coatings in marine environments, it is applied herein to enable spontaneous healing between a rubber surface and a glass cover slip. Study of the diffusion controlled healing of a blister can be made by trapping an air filled blister between a glass cover slip and a rubber film. Through this study we find evidence for an interfacial diffusion process. This mechanism of diffusion is likely to be important in many biological systems.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chen, Zonghai; Amine, Khalil; Belharouak, Ilias

An active material for an electrochemical device wherein a surface of the active material is modified by a surface modification agent, wherein the surface modification agent is an organometallic compound.

Dewetting of thin films on flexible substrates via direct-write laser exposure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferrer, Anthony Jesus

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) have enabled a wide variety of technologies both in the consumer space and in industrial/research areas. At the market level, such devices advance by the invention and innovation of production techniques. Additionally, there has been increased demand for flexible versions of such MEMS devices. Thin film patterning, represents a key technology for the realization of such flexible electronics. Patterns and methods that can be directly written into the thin film allow for design modification on the fly with the need for harsh chemicals and long etching steps. Laser-induced dewetting has the potential to create patterns in thin films at both the microscopic and nanoscopic level without wasting deposited material. This thesis presents the first demonstration of high-speed direct-write patterning of metallic thin films that uses a laser-induced dewetting phenomenon to prevent material loss. The ability to build film material with this technique is explored using various scanning geometries. Finally, demonstrations of direct-write dewetting of a variety of thin films will be presented with special consideration for high melting point metals deposited upon polymer substrates.

Unraveling atomic-level self-organization at the plasma-material interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Allain, J. P.; Shetty, A.

2017-07-01

The intrinsic dynamic interactions at the plasma-material interface and critical role of irradiation-driven mechanisms at the atomic scale during exposure to energetic particles require a priori the use of in situ surface characterization techniques. Characterization of ‘active’ surfaces during modification at atomic-scale levels is becoming more important as advances in processing modalities are limited by an understanding of the behavior of these surfaces under realistic environmental conditions. Self-organization from exposure to non-equilibrium and thermalized plasmas enable dramatic control of surface morphology, topography, composition, chemistry and structure yielding the ability to tune material properties with an unprecedented level of control. Deciphering self-organization mechanisms of nanoscale morphology (e.g. nanodots, ripples) and composition on a variety of materials including: compound semiconductors, semiconductors, ceramics, polymers and polycrystalline metals via low-energy ion-beam assisted plasma irradiation are critical to manipulate functionality in nanostructured systems. By operating at ultra-low energies near the damage threshold, irradiation-driven defect engineering can be optimized and surface-driven mechanisms controlled. Tunability of optical, electronic, magnetic and bioactive properties is realized by reaching metastable phases controlled by atomic-scale irradiation-driven mechanisms elucidated by novel in situ diagnosis coupled to atomistic-level computational tools. Emphasis will be made on tailored surface modification from plasma-enhanced environments on particle-surface interactions and their subsequent modification of hard and soft matter interfaces. In this review, we examine current trends towards in situ and in operando surface and sub-surface characterization to unravel atomic-scale mechanisms at the plasma-material interface. This work will emphasize on recent advances in the field of plasma and ion-induced nanopatterning and nanostructuring as well as ultra-thin film deposition. Future outlook will examine the critical role of complementary surface-sensitive techniques and trends towards advances in both in situ and in operando tooling.

Situation Selection and Modification for Emotion Regulation in Younger and Older Adults.

PubMed

Livingstone, Kimberly M; Isaacowitz, Derek M

2015-11-01

This research investigated age differences in use and effectiveness of situation selection and situation modification for emotion regulation. Socioemotional selectivity theory suggests stronger emotional well-being goals in older age; emotion regulation may support this goal. Younger and older adults assigned to an emotion regulation or "just view" condition first freely chose to engage with negative, neutral, or positive material (situation selection), then chose to view or skip negative and positive material (situation modification), rating affect after each experience. In both tasks, older adults in both goal conditions demonstrated pro-hedonic emotion regulation, spending less time with negative material compared to younger adults. Younger adults in the regulate condition also engaged in pro-hedonic situation selection, but not modification. Whereas situation selection was related to affect, modification of negative material was not. This research supports more frequent pro-hedonic motivation in older age, as well as age differences in use of early-stage emotion regulation.

Characterization and mechanism of He plasma pretreatment of nanoscale polymer masks for improved pattern transfer fidelity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Weilnboeck, F.; Metzler, D.; Kumar, N.

2011-12-26

Roughening of nanoscale polymer masks during plasma etching (PE) limits feature critical dimensions in current and future lithographic technologies. Roughness formation of 193 nm photoresist (PR) is mechanistically explained by plasma-induced changes in mechanical properties introduced at the PR surface ({approx}2 nm) by ions and in parallel in the material bulk ({approx}200 nm) by ultraviolet (UV) plasma radiation. Synergistic roughening of polymer masks can be prevented by pretreating PR patterns with a high dose of He plasma UV exposure to saturate bulk material modifications. During subsequent PE, PR patterns are stabilized and exhibit improved etch resistance and reduced surface/line-edge roughness.

Development of barrier coatings for cellulosic-based materials by cold plasma methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Denes, Agnes Reka

Cellulose-based materials are ideal candidates for future industries that need to be based on environmentally safe technologies and renewable resources. Wood represents an important raw material and its application as construction material is well established. Cellophane is one of the most important cellulosic material and it is widely used as packaging material in the food industry. Outdoor exposure of wood causes a combination of physical and chemical degradation processes due to the combined effects of sunlight, moisture, fungi, and bacteria. Cold-plasma-induced surface modifications are an attractive way for tailoring the characteristics of lignocellulosic substrates to prevent weathering degradation. Plasma-polymerized hexamethyldisiloxane (PPHMDSO) was deposited onto wood surfaces to create water repellent characteristics. The presence of a crosslinked macromolecular structure was detected. The plasma coated samples exhibited very high water contact angle values indicating the existence of hydrophobic surfaces. Reflective and electromagnetic radiation-absorbent substances were incorporated with a high-molecular-weight polydimethylsiloxane polymer in liquid phase and deposited as thin layers on wood surfaces. The macromolecular films, containing the dispersed materials, were then converted into a three dimensional solid state network by exposure to a oxygen-plasma. It was demonstrated that both UV-absorbent and reflectant components incorporated into the plasma-generated PDMSO matrix protected the wood from weathering degradation. Reduced oxidation and less degradation was observed after simulated weathering. High water contact angle values indicated a strong hydrophobic character of the oxygen plasma-treated PDMSO-coated samples. Plasma-enhanced surface modifications and coatings were employed to create water-vapor barrier layers on cellophane substrate surfaces. HMDSO was selected as a plasma gas and oxygen was used to ablate amorphous regions. Oxygen plasma treated cellophane and oxygen plasma treated and PPHMDSO coated cellophane surfaces were comparatively analyzed and the corresponding surface wettability characteristics were evaluated. The plasma generated surface topographies controlled the morphology of the PPHMDSO layers. Higher temperature HMDSO plasma-state environments lead to insoluble, crosslinked layers. Continuous and pulsed Csb2Fsb6 plasmas were also used for surface modification and excellent surface fluorination was achieved under the pulsed plasma conditions.

High-Resolution and Analytical TEM Investigation of Space Radiation Processing Effects in Primitive Solar System Materials and Airless Planetary Surface Environments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Christoffersen, R.; Rahman, Z.; Keller, L. P.; Dukes, C.; Baragiola, R.

2012-01-01

Energetic ions present in the diverse plasma conditions in space play a significant role in the formation and modification of solid phases found in environments ranging from the interstellar medium (ISM) to the surfaces of airless bodies such as asteroids and the Moon. These effects are often referred to as space radiation processing, a term that encompasses changes induced in natural space-exposed materials that may be only structural, such as in radiation-induced amorphization, or may involve ion-induced nanoscale to microscale chemical changes, as occurs in preferential sputtering and ion-beam mixing. Ion sputtering in general may also be responsible for partial or complete erosion of space exposed materials, in some instances possibly bringing about the complete destruction of free-floating solid grains in the ISM or in circumstellar nebular dust clouds. We report here on two examples of the application of high-resolution and analytical transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to problems in space radiation processing. The first problem concerns the role of space radiation processing in controlling the overall fate of Fe sulfides as hosts for sulfur in the ISM. The second problem concerns the known, but as yet poorly quantified, role of space radiation processing in lunar space weathering.

Structural Evolution of Li xNi yMn zCo 1-y-zO 2 Cathode Materials during High-Rate Charge and Discharge

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hwang, Sooyeon; Jo, Eunmi; Chung, Kyung Yoon

Ni-rich lithium transition metal oxides have received significant attention due to their high capacities and rate capabilities determined via theoretical calculations. Although the structural properties of these materials are strongly correlated with the electrochemical performance, their structural stability during the high-rate electrochemical reactions has not been fully evaluated yet. In this work, transmission electron microscopy is used to investigate the crystallographic and electronic structural modifications of Ni-based cathode materials at a high charge/discharge rate of 10 C. It is found that the high-rate electrochemical reactions induce structural inhomogeneity near the surface of Ni-rich cathode materials, which limits Li transport andmore » reduces their capacities. Furthermore, this study establishes a correlation between the high-rate electrochemical performance of the Ni-based materials and their structural evolution, which can provide profound insights for designing novel cathode materials having both high energy and power densities.« less

Structural Evolution of Li xNi yMn zCo 1-y-zO 2 Cathode Materials during High-Rate Charge and Discharge

DOE PAGES

Hwang, Sooyeon; Jo, Eunmi; Chung, Kyung Yoon; ...

2017-11-08

Ni-rich lithium transition metal oxides have received significant attention due to their high capacities and rate capabilities determined via theoretical calculations. Although the structural properties of these materials are strongly correlated with the electrochemical performance, their structural stability during the high-rate electrochemical reactions has not been fully evaluated yet. In this work, transmission electron microscopy is used to investigate the crystallographic and electronic structural modifications of Ni-based cathode materials at a high charge/discharge rate of 10 C. It is found that the high-rate electrochemical reactions induce structural inhomogeneity near the surface of Ni-rich cathode materials, which limits Li transport andmore » reduces their capacities. Furthermore, this study establishes a correlation between the high-rate electrochemical performance of the Ni-based materials and their structural evolution, which can provide profound insights for designing novel cathode materials having both high energy and power densities.« less

Quantitative-phase microscopy of nanosecond laser-induced micro-modifications inside silicon.

PubMed

Li, Q; Chambonneau, M; Chanal, M; Grojo, D

2016-11-20

Laser-induced permanent modification inside silicon has been recently demonstrated by using tightly focused nanosecond sources at a 1550 nm wavelength. We have developed a quantitative-phase microscope operating in the near-infrared domain to characterize the laser-induced modifications deep into silicon. By varying the number of applied laser pulses and the energy, we observe porous and densified regions in the focal region. The observed changes are associated with refractive index variations |Δn| exceeding 10^-3, enough to envision the laser writing of optical functionalities inside silicon.

Femtosecond laser patterning, synthesis, defect formation, and structural modification of atomic layered materials

DOE PAGES

Yoo, Jae-Hyuck; Kim, Eunpa; Hwang, David J.

2016-12-06

This article summarizes recent research on laser-based processing of twodimensional (2D) atomic layered materials, including graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs). Ultrafast lasers offer unique processing routes that take advantage of distinct interaction mechanisms with 2D materials to enable extremely localized energy deposition. Experiments have shown that ablative direct patterning of graphene by ultrafast lasers can achieve resolutions of tens of nanometers, as well as single-step pattern transfer. Ultrafast lasers also induce non-thermal excitation mechanisms that are useful for the thinning of TMDCs to tune the 2D material bandgap. Laser-assisted site-specific doping was recently demonstrated where ultrafast laser radiation undermore » ambient air environment could be used for the direct writing of high-quality graphene patterns on insulating substrates. This article concludes with an outlook towards developing further advanced laser processing with scalability, in situ monitoring strategies and potential applications.« less

76 FR 52053 - Notice of Applications for Modification of Special Permit

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-19

... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Notice of Applications for Modification of Special Permit AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.... Address Comments To: Record Center, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S...

Grain boundary engineering: fatigue fracture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Arpan

2017-04-01

Grain boundary engineering has revealed significant enhancement of material properties by modifying the populations and connectivity of different types of grain boundaries within the polycrystals. The character and connectivity of grain boundaries in polycrystalline microstructures control the corrosion and mechanical behaviour of materials. A comprehensive review of the previous researches has been carried out to understand this philosophy. Present research thoroughly explores the effect of total strain amplitude on phase transformation, fatigue fracture features, grain size, annealing twinning, different grain connectivity and grain boundary network after strain controlled low cycle fatigue deformation of austenitic stainless steel under ambient temperature. Electron backscatter diffraction technique has been used extensively to investigate the grain boundary characteristics and morphologies. The nominal variation of strain amplitude through cyclic plastic deformation is quantitatively demonstrated completely in connection with the grain boundary microstructure and fractographic features to reveal the mechanism of fatigue fracture of polycrystalline austenite. The extent of boundary modifications has been found to be a function of the number of applied loading cycles and strain amplitudes. It is also investigated that cyclic plasticity induced martensitic transformation strongly influences grain boundary characteristics and modifications of the material's microstructure/microtexture as a function of strain amplitudes. The experimental results presented here suggest a path to grain boundary engineering during fatigue fracture of austenite polycrystals.

Charged particle modification of ices in the Saturnian and Jovian systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, R. E.; Barton, L. A.; Boring, J. W.; Jesser, W. A.; Brown, W. L.

1985-01-01

The modification by ion bombardment of the surfaces of icy objects in the Saturnian and Jovian systems is discussed. Chemical changes in ices are induced by breaking of bonds and by implantation of incident ions. Long-term irradiation by fast ions produces physical changes such as increasing the surface reflectivity and ability to scatter light. On large satellites, molecules which are ejected by ion bombardment are redistributed across the surfaces of large satellites. For small satellites and ring particles bombarded by ions, such as those of Saturn, most or all of the sputtered material is lost to space, forming a neutral torus in the locale of the satellite orbits and rings and supplying ions to the magnetosphere. Noting the existence of such a torus, the sputter erosion and possible stabilization of the E-ring of Saturn is discussed.

Plasma-induced graft-polymerization of polyethylene glycol acrylate on polypropylene substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zanini, S.; Orlandi, M.; Colombo, C.; Grimoldi, E.; Riccardi, C.

2009-08-01

A detailed study of argon plasma-induced graft-polymerization of polyethylene glycol acrylate (PEGA) on polypropylene (PP) substrates (membranes and films) is presented. The process consists of four steps: (a) plasma pre-activation of the PP substrates; (b) immersion in a PEGA solution; (c) argon plasma-induced graft-polymerization; (d) washing and drying of the samples. Influence of the solution and plasma parameters on the process efficiency evaluated in terms of amount of grafted polymer, coverage uniformity and substrates wettability, are investigated. The plasma-induced graft-polymerization of PEGA is then followed by sample weighting, water droplet adsorption time and contact angle measurements, attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analyses. The stability of the obtained thin films was evaluated in water and in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) at 37 °C. Results clearly indicates that plasma-induced graft-polymerization of PEGA is a practical methodology for anti-fouling surface modification of materials.

Alteration of human serum albumin binding properties induced by modifications: A review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maciążek-Jurczyk, Małgorzata; Szkudlarek, Agnieszka; Chudzik, Mariola; Pożycka, Jadwiga; Sułkowska, Anna

2018-01-01

Albumin, a major transporting protein in the blood, is the main target of modification that affects the binding of drugs to Sudlow's site I and II. These modification of serum protein moderates its physiological function, and works as a biomarker of some diseases. The main goal of the paper was to explain the possible alteration of human serum albumin binding properties induced by modifications such as glycation, oxidation and ageing, their origin, methods of evaluation and positive and negative meaning described by significant researchers.

A new setup for the investigation of swift heavy ion induced particle emission and surface modifications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Meinerzhagen, F.; Breuer, L.; Bukowska, H.

2016-01-15

The irradiation with fast ions with kinetic energies of >10 MeV leads to the deposition of a high amount of energy along their trajectory (up to several ten keV/nm). The energy is mainly transferred to the electronic subsystem and induces different secondary processes of excitations, which result in significant material modifications. A new setup to study these ion induced effects on surfaces will be described in this paper. The setup combines a variable irradiation chamber with different techniques of surface characterizations like scanning probe microscopy, time-of-flight secondary ion, and neutral mass spectrometry, as well as low energy electron diffraction undermore » ultra high vacuum conditions, and is mounted at a beamline of the universal linear accelerator (UNILAC) of the GSI facility in Darmstadt, Germany. Here, samples can be irradiated with high-energy ions with a total kinetic energy up to several GeVs under different angles of incidence. Our setup enables the preparation and in situ analysis of different types of sample systems ranging from metals to insulators. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry enables us to study the chemical composition of the surface, while scanning probe microscopy allows a detailed view into the local electrical and morphological conditions of the sample surface down to atomic scales. With the new setup, particle emission during irradiation as well as persistent modifications of the surface after irradiation can thus be studied. We present first data obtained with the new setup, including a novel measuring protocol for time-of-flight mass spectrometry with the GSI UNILAC accelerator.« less

Modifications to particles as they move through landscapes: connecting soils and sediments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Owens, Philip N.

2016-04-01

In many areas of the world, soils are eroded leading to the movement of particles towards the global ocean. Along this journey, there are modifications to these particles and we tend to refer to this altered material as sediment in recognition that such material may no longer be fully reflective of its source. These modifications are brought about by physical, chemical and biological processes, and by the inclusion of additional sources of material, such as channel banks. The degree of modification is partly a function of the inherent properties of the original soil material but also reflects landscape type, and the temporal and spatial scales of investigation. This presentation will consider the changes in particles between soil profiles and sediment transported in river systems, drawing on examples from studies in Canada and beyond. It is hoped that by understanding the transformation of such material we can predict better its movement and impacts.

A facile method to prepare "green" nano-phosphors with a large Stokes-shift and solid-state enhanced photophysical properties based on surface-modified gold nanoclusters.

PubMed

Cheng, C H; Huang, H Y; Talite, M J; Chou, W C; Yeh, J M; Yuan, C T

2017-12-15

Colloidal nano-materials, such as quantum dots (QDs) have been applied to light-conversion nano-phosphors due to their unique tunable emission. However, most of the QDs involve toxic elements and are synthesized in a hazardous solvent. In addition, conventional QD nano-phosphors with a small Stokes shift suffered from reabsorption losses and aggregation-induced quenching in the solid state. Here, we demonstrate a facile, matrix-free method to prepare eco-friendly nano-phosphors with a large Stokes shift based on aqueous thiolate-stabilized gold nanoclusters (GSH-AuNCs) with simple surface modifications. Our method is just to drop GSH-AuNCs solution on the aluminum foil and then surface-modified AuNCs (Al-GSH-AuNCs) can be spontaneously precipitated out of the aqueous solution. Compared with pristine GSH-AuNCs in solution, the Al-GSH-AuNCs exhibit enhanced solid-state PL quantum yields, lengthened PL lifetime, and spectral blue shift, which can be attributed to the aggregation-induced emission enhancement facilitated by surface modifications. Such surface-treatment induced aggregation of AuNCs can restrict the surface-ligand motion, leading to the enhancement of PL properties in the solid state. In addition, the Al-GSH-AuNCs nano-phosphors with a large Stokes shift can mitigate the aggregation-induced PL quenching and reabsorption losses, which would be potential candidates for "green" nano-phosphors. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Surface Topographical Modification of Coronary Stent: A Review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tan, C. H.; Muhamad, N.; Abdullah, M. M. A. B.

2017-06-01

Driven by the urge of mediating the inflammatory response from coronary stent implant to improve patency rates of the current coronary stent, concern has been focusing on reducing the risk of in-stent restenosis and thrombosis for long-term safety. Surface modification approach has been found to carry great potential due to the surface is the vital parts that act as a buffer layer between the biomaterial and the organic material like blood and vessel tissues. Nevertheless, manipulating cell response in situ using physical patterning is very complex as the exact mechanism were yet elucidated. Thus, the aim of this review is to summarise the recent efforts on modifying the surface topography of coronary stent at the micro- and nanometer scale with the purpose of inducing rapid in situ endothelialization to regenerate a healthy endothelium layer on biomaterial surface. In particular, a discussion on the surface patterns that have been investigated on cell selective behaviour together with the methods used to generate them are presented. Furthermore, the probable future work involving the surface modification of coronary stent were indicated.

Grafting polycaprolactone diol onto cellulose nanocrystals via click chemistry: Enhancing thermal stability and hydrophobic property.

PubMed

Zhou, Ling; He, Hui; Li, Mei-Chun; Huang, Siwei; Mei, Changtong; Wu, Qinglin

2018-06-01

Hydrophobic and thermally-stable cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were synthesized by polycarpolactone diol (PCL diol) grafting via click chemistry strategy. The synthesis was designed as a three-step procedure containing azide-modification of CNCs, alkyne-modification of PCL diol and sequent copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction. The structure of azide-modified CNCs and alkyne-modified PCL diol, the structure, hydrophobic ability and thermal stability of click products CNC-PCL were characterized. FTIR, XPS and H 1 NMR results indicated a successful grafting of the N 3 groups onto the CNCs, synthesis of PCL diol-CCH, and formation of the CNC-PCL material. CNC-PCL had enhanced dispersion in the non-polar solvent chloroform owing to the well-maintained microscale size and PCL-induced hydrophobic surface. The thermal stability of CNC-PCL was largely increased due to the grafting of thermally-stable PCL. This work demonstrates that click chemistry is an attractive modification strategy to graft CNCs with polyester chains for further potential application in polymer composites. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

75 FR 7627 - Notice of Lodging of Material Modification to Consent Decree under the Clean Air Act

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-22

... proposed First Material Modification to Consent Decree (``First Decree Modification'') in United States, et al. v. Bunge North America, Inc., et al., Civil Action No. 2:06-cv-02209- MPM-DGB (C.D. Ill.) was... owned and operated by Bunge North America, Inc. and several affiliated entities (collectively referred...

Phthalocyanine-Based Organic Thin-Film Transistors: A Review of Recent Advances.

PubMed

Melville, Owen A; Lessard, Benoît H; Bender, Timothy P

2015-06-24

Metal phthalocyanines (MPcs) are versatile conjugated macrocycles that have attracted a great deal of interest as active components in modern organic electronic devices. In particular, the charge transport properties of MPcs, their chemical stability, and their synthetic versatility make them ideal candidate materials for use in organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs). This article reviews recent progress in both the material design and device engineering of MPc-based OTFTs, including the introduction of solubilizing groups on the MPcs and the surface modification of substrates to induce favorable MPc self-assembly. Finally, a discussion on emerging niche applications based on MPc OTFTs will be explored, in addition to a perspective and outlook on these promising materials in OTFTs. The scope of this review is focused primarily on the advances made in the field of MPc-based OTFTs since 2008.

From biowaste to magnet-responsive materials for water remediation from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

PubMed

Nisticò, Roberto; Cesano, Federico; Franzoso, Flavia; Magnacca, Giuliana; Scarano, Domenica; Funes, Israel G; Carlos, Luciano; Parolo, Maria E

2018-07-01

Composted urban biowaste-derived substances (BBS-GC) are used as carbon sources for the preparation of carbon-coated magnet-sensitive nanoparticles obtained via co-precipitation method and the subsequent thermal treatment at 550 °C under nitrogen atmosphere. A multitechnique approach has been applied to investigate the morphology, magnetic properties, phase composition, thermal stability of the obtained magnet-sensitive materials. In particular, pyrolysis-induced modifications affecting the BBS-GC/carbon shell were highlighted. The adsorption capacity of such bio-derivative magnetic materials for the removal of hydrophobic contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was evaluated in order to verify their potential application in wastewater remediation process. The promising results suggest their use as a new generation of magnet-responsive easily-recoverable adsorbents for water purification treatments. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Laser induced nanostructures created from Au layer on polyhydroxybutyrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Michaljaničová, I.; Slepička, P.; Juřík, P.; Švorčík, V.

2017-11-01

Nanostructures as well as composite materials expand the range of materials properties and allow use of these materials in new and highly specific applications. In this paper, we described laser modification of polyhydroxybutyrate films covered with thin gold layer, which led to the formation of various composite structures. The crucial for the composite structures creation was setting of appropriate laser parameters; 15 mJ cm-2 laser fluence and 6 000 pulses were recognized as the best. The morphology of structures was determined by the thickness of the Au layer. The most interesting formations, very porous with the biggest roughness, were observed after treatment of foils covered with 10 nm of Au. The morphology was observed by atomic force microscopy. The influence on roughness and the difference between projected area and surface area was also determined.

Radiation sterilization of enzyme hybrids with biodegradable polymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Furuta, Masakazu; Oka, Masahito; Hayashi, Toshio

2002-03-01

Ionizing radiations, which have already been utilized for the sterilization of medical supplies as well as gas fumigation, should be the final candidate to decontaminate "hybrid" biomaterials containing bio-active materials including enzymes because irradiation induces neither heat nor substances affecting the quality of the materials and our health. In order to check the feasibility of 60Co-gamma rays on these materials, we selected commercial proteases including papain and bromelain hybridized with commercial activated chitosan beads and demonstrated that these enzyme-hybrids suspended in water showed the significant radiation durability of more than twice as much as free enzyme solution at 25-kGy irradiation. Enhanced thermal and storage stability of the enzyme hybrids were not affected by the same dose level of irradiation, either, indicating that commercial irradiation sterilization method is applicable to enzyme hybrids without modification.

Situation Selection and Modification for Emotion Regulation in Younger and Older Adults

PubMed Central

Livingstone, Kimberly M.; Isaacowitz, Derek M.

2016-01-01

This research investigated age differences in use and effectiveness of situation selection and situation modification for emotion regulation. Socioemotional selectivity theory suggests stronger emotional well-being goals in older age; emotion regulation may support this goal. Younger and older adults assigned to an emotion regulation or “just view” condition first freely chose to engage with negative, neutral, or positive material (situation selection), then chose to view or skip negative and positive material (situation modification), rating affect after each experience. In both tasks, older adults in both goal conditions demonstrated pro-hedonic emotion regulation, spending less time with negative material compared to younger adults. Younger adults in the regulate condition also engaged in pro-hedonic situation selection, but not modification. Whereas situation selection was related to affect, modification of negative material was not. This research supports more frequent pro-hedonic motivation in older age, as well as age differences in use of early-stage emotion regulation. PMID:26998196

Metastable Superconductivity in Two-Dimensional IrTe2 Crystals.

PubMed

Yoshida, Masaro; Kudo, Kazutaka; Nohara, Minoru; Iwasa, Yoshihiro

2018-05-09

Two-dimensional (2D) materials exhibit unusual physical and chemical properties that are attributed to the thinning-induced modification of their electronic band structure. Recently, reduced thickness was found to dramatically impact not only the static electronic structure, but also the dynamic ordering kinetics. The ordering kinetics of first-order phase transitions becomes significantly slowed with decreasing thickness, and metastable supercooled states can be realized by thinning alone. We therefore focus on layered iridium ditelluride (IrTe 2 ), a charge-ordering system that is transformed into a superconductor by suppressing its first-order transition. Here, we discovered a persistent superconducting zero-resistance state in mechanically exfoliated IrTe 2 thin flakes. The maximum superconducting critical temperature ( T c ) was identical to that which is chemically optimized, and the emergent superconductivity was revealed to have a metastable nature. The discovered robust metastable superconductivity suggests that 2D material is a new platform to induce, control, and functionalize metastable electronic states that are inaccessible in bulk crystals.

In situ ion-beam-induced luminescence analysis for evaluating a micrometer-scale radio-photoluminescence glass dosimeter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kawabata, Shunsuke; Kada, Wataru; Parajuli, Raj Kumar; Matsubara, Yoshinori; Sakai, Makoto; Miura, Kenta; Satoh, Takahiro; Koka, Masashi; Yamada, Naoto; Kamiya, Tomihiro; Hanaizumi, Osamu

2016-06-01

Micrometer-scale responses of radio-photoluminescence (RPL) glass dosimeters to focused ionized particle radiation were evaluated by combining ion-beam-induced luminescence (IBIL) and proton beam writing (PBW) using a 3 MeV focused proton microbeam. RPL phosphate glass dosimeters doped with ionic Ag or Cu activators at concentrations of 0.2 and 0.1% were fabricated, and their scintillation intensities were evaluated by IBIL spectroscopy under a PBW micropatterning condition. Compared with the Ag-doped dosimeter, the Cu-doped dosimeter was more tolerant of the radiation, while the peak intensity of its luminescence was lower, under the precise dose control of the proton microprobe. Proton-irradiated areas were successfully recorded using these dosimeters and their RPL centers were visualized under 375 nm ultraviolet light. The reproduction of the irradiated region by post-RPL imaging suggests that precise estimation of irradiation dose using microdosimeters can be accomplished by optimizing RPL glass dosimeters for various proton microprobe applications in organic material analysis and in micrometer-scale material modifications.

Mir Contamination Observations and Implications to the International Space Station

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Soares, Carlos; Mikatarian, Ron

2000-01-01

A series of external contamination measurements were made on the Russian Mir Space Station. The Mir external contamination observations summarized in this paper were essential in assessing the system level impact of Russian Segment induced contamination on the International Space Station (ISS). Mir contamination observations include results from a series of flight experiments: CNES Comes-Aragatz, retrieved NASA camera bracket, Euro-Mir '95 ICA, retrieved NASA Trek blanket, Russian Astra-II, Mir Solar Array Return Experiment (SARE), etc. Results from these experiments were studied in detail to characterize Mir induced contamination. In conjunction with Mir contamination observations, Russian materials samples were tested for condensable outgassing rates in the U.S. These test results were essential in the characterization of Mir contamination sources. Once Mir contamination sources were identified and characterized, activities to assess the implications to ISS were implemented. As a result, modifications in Russian materials selection and/or usage were implemented to control contamination and mitigate risk to ISS.

Friction Stir Processing of Particle Reinforced Composite Materials

PubMed Central

Gan, Yong X.; Solomon, Daniel; Reinbolt, Michael

2010-01-01

The objective of this article is to provide a review of friction stir processing (FSP) technology and its application for microstructure modification of particle reinforced composite materials. The main focus of FSP was on aluminum based alloys and composites. Recently, many researchers have investigated this technology for treating other alloys and materials including stainless steels, magnesium, titanium, and copper. It is shown that FSP technology is very effective in microstructure modification of reinforced metal matrix composite materials. FSP has also been used in the processing and structure modification of polymeric composite materials. Compared with other manufacturing processes, friction stir processing has the advantage of reducing distortion and defects in materials. The layout of this paper is as follows. The friction stir processing technology will be presented first. Then, the application of this technology in manufacturing and structure modification of particle reinforced composite materials will be introduced. Future application of friction stir processing in energy field, for example, for vanadium alloy and composites will be discussed. Finally, the challenges for improving friction stir processing technology will be mentioned.

Surface modification of biomaterials based on high-molecular polylactic acid and their effect on inflammatory reactions of primary human monocyte-derived macrophages: perspective for personalized therapy.

PubMed

Stankevich, Ksenia S; Gudima, Alexandru; Filimonov, Victor D; Klüter, Harald; Mamontova, Evgeniya M; Tverdokhlebov, Sergei I; Kzhyshkowska, Julia

2015-06-01

Polylactic acid (PLA) based implants can cause inflammatory complications. Macrophages are key innate immune cells that control inflammation. To provide higher biocompatibility of PLA-based implants with local innate immune cells their surface properties have to be improved. In our study surface modification technique for high-molecular PLA (MW=1,646,600g/mol) based biomaterials was originally developed and successfully applied. Optimal modification conditions were determined. Treatment of PLA films with toluene/ethanol=3/7 mixture for 10min with subsequent exposure in 0.001M brilliant green dye (BGD) solution allows to entrap approximately 10(-9)mol/cm(2) model biomolecules. The modified PLA film surface was characterized by optical microscopy, SERS, FT-IR, UV and TG/DTA/DSC analysis. Tensile strain of modified films was determined as well. The effect of PLA films modified with BGD on the inflammatory reactions of primary human monocyte-derived macrophages was investigated. We developed in vitro test-system by differentiating primary monocyte-derived macrophages on a coating material. Type 1 and type 2 inflammatory cytokines (TNFα, CCL18) secretion and histological biomarkers (CD206, stabilin-1) expression were analyzed by ELISA and confocal microscopy respectively. BGD-modified materials have improved thermal stability and good mechanical properties. However, BGD modifications induced additional donor-specific inflammatory reactions and suppressed tolerogenic phenotype of macrophages. Therefore, our test-system successfully demonstrated specific immunomodulatory effects of original and modified PLA-based biomaterials, and can be further applied for the examination of improved coatings for implants and identification of patient-specific reactions to implants. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Mass spectrometry-based carboxyl footprinting of proteins: Method evaluation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Hao; Wen, Jianzhong; Huang, Richard Y-C.

2012-02-01

Protein structure determines function in biology, and a variety of approaches have been employed to obtain structural information about proteins. Mass spectrometry-based protein footprinting is one fast-growing approach. One labeling-based footprinting approach is the use of a water-soluble carbodiimide, 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC) and glycine ethyl ester (GEE) to modify solvent-accessible carboxyl groups on glutamate (E) and aspartate (D). This paper describes method development of carboxyl-group modification in protein footprinting. The modification protocol was evaluated by using the protein calmodulin as a model. Because carboxyl-group modification is a slow reaction relative to protein folding and unfolding, there is an issue that modificationsmore » at certain sites may induce protein unfolding and lead to additional modification at sites that are not solvent-accessible in the wild-type protein. We investigated this possibility by using hydrogen deuterium amide exchange (H/DX). The study demonstrated that application of carboxyl group modification in probing conformational changes in calmodulin induced by Ca{sup 2+} binding provides useful information that is not compromised by modification-induced protein unfolding.« less

UV excimer laser and low temperature plasma treatments of polyamide materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yip, Yiu Wan Joanne

Polyamides have found widespread application in various industrial sectors, for example, they are used in apparel, home furnishings and similar uses. However, the requirements for high quality performance products are continually increasing and these promote a variety of surface treatments for polymer modification. UV excimer laser and low temperature plasma treatments are ideally suited for polyamide modification because they can change the physical and chemical properties of the material without affecting its bulk features. This project aimed to study the modification of polyamides by UV excimer laser irradiation and low temperature plasma treatment. The morphological changes in the resulting samples were analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TM-AFM). The chemical modifications were studied by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and chemical force microscopy (CFM). Change in degree of crystallinity was examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). After high-fluence laser irradiation, topographical results showed that ripples of micrometer size form on the fibre surface. By contrast, sub-micrometer size structures form on the polyamide surface when the applied laser energy is well below its ablation threshold. After high-fluence laser irradiation, chemical studies showed that the surface oxygen content of polyamide is reduced. A reverse result is obtained with low-fluence treatment. The DSC result showed no significant change in degree of crystallinity in either high-fluence or low-fluence treated samples. The same modifications in polyamide surfaces were studied after low temperature plasma treatment with oxygen, argon or tetrafluoromethane gas. The most significant result was that the surface oxygen content of polyamide increased after oxygen and argon plasma treatments. Both treatments induced many hydroxyl (-OH) and carboxylic acid (-COOH) functional groups, which increased water absorption. However, after tetrafluoromethane plasma treatment it was found that the -CF, -CF2 and -CF3 groups were introduced to the polyamide surface and this enhanced the hydrophobicity of the fabric. Suggested explanations are given of the mechanisms that produce the structure of the polyamide after the processes of laser irradiation (both high- and low-fluence) and plasma treatment. The fundamental approach used in modelling was considered the temperature profile of the material during the treatment. The development of high-fluence induced structures was caused by elevated temperatures in the subsurface volume and preexisting stress caused by fiber extrusion. The structure formation under LF laser irradiation was determined by thermal effect accompanied by the optical phenomenon of interference. Ripple structures formed by plasma were closely related to physical or chemical etching. Possible applications of plasma and laser technologies in the textile and clothing industries are considered. Oxygen plasma seems to be the best candidate to improve the wettability of the fabric, while tetrafluoromethane plasma can be applied to produce a water repellent surface. Surface treatments including CF4 plasma, high-fluence and low-fluence laser treatments produce a deeper color in disperse dyed fabrics using the same amount of dyestuff as chemicals like leveling agents and dyestuff can be reduced during the textile manufacturing process. UV laser and low temperature plasma modification processes are promising techniques for polymer/fabric surface modification and have industrial potential as they are environmentally friendly dry processes which do not involve any solvents.

Focused electron beam induced deposition of pure SIO II

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perentes, Alexandre; Hoffmann, Patrik; Munnik, Frans

2007-02-01

Focused electron beam induced processing (FEBID) equipments are the "all in one" tools for high resolution investigation, and modification of nano-devices. Focused electron beam induced deposition from a gaseous precursor usually results in a nano-composite sub-structured material, in which the interesting material is embedded in an amorphous carbonaceous matrix. Using the Hydrogen free tetraisocyanatosilane Si(NCO) 4 molecule as Si source, we show how a controlled oxygen flux, simultaneously injected with the precursor vapors, causes contaminants to vanish from the FEB deposits obtained and leads to the deposition of pure SiO II. The chemical composition of the FEBID material could be controlled from SiC IINO 3 to SiO II, the latter containing undetectable foreign element contamination. The [O II] / [TICS] ratio needed to obtain SiO II in our FEB deposition equipment is larger than 300. The evolution of the FEBID material chemical composition is presented as function of the [O II] / [TICS] molecular flux ratios. A hypothetical decomposition pathway of this silane under these conditions is discussed based on the different species formed under electron bombardment of TICS. Transmission electron microscopy investigations demonstrated that the deposited oxide is smooth (roughness sub 2nm) and amorphous. Infrared spectroscopy confirmed the low concentration of hydroxyl groups. The Hydrogen content of the deposited oxide, measured by elastic recoil detection analysis, is as low as 1 at%. 193nm wavelength AIMS investigations of 125nm thick SiO II pads (obtained with [O II] / [TICS] = 325) showed an undetectable light absorption.

Controllable Spatial Configuration on Cathode Interface for Enhanced Photovoltaic Performance and Device Stability.

PubMed

Li, Jiangsheng; Duan, Chenghao; Wang, Ning; Zhao, Chengjie; Han, Wei; Jiang, Li; Wang, Jizheng; Zhao, Yingjie; Huang, Changshui; Jiu, Tonggang

2018-05-08

The molecular structure of cathode interface modification materials can affect the surface morphology of the active layer and key electron transfer processes occurring at the interface of polymer solar cells in inverted structures mostly due to the change of molecular configuration. To investigate the effects of spatial configuration of the cathode interfacial modification layer on polymer solar cells device performances, we introduced two novel organic ionic salts (linear NS2 and three-dimensional (3D) NS4) combined with the ZnO film to fabricate highly efficient inverted solar cells. Both organic ionic salts successfully decreased the surface traps of the ZnO film and made its work function more compatible. Especially NS4 in three-dimensional configuration increased the electron mobility and extraction efficiency of the interfacial film, leading to a significant improvement of device performance. Power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 10.09% based on NS4 was achieved. Moreover, 3D interfacial modification could retain about 92% of its initial PCE over 160 days. It is proposed that 3D interfacial modification retards the element penetration-induced degradation without impeding the electron transfer from the active layer to the ZnO film, which significantly improves device stability. This indicates that inserting three-dimensional organic ionic salt is an efficient strategy to enhance device performance.

The innate oxygen dependant immune pathway as a sensitive parameter to predict the performance of biological graft materials.

PubMed

Bryan, Nicholas; Ashwin, Helen; Smart, Neil; Bayon, Yves; Scarborough, Nelson; Hunt, John A

2012-09-01

Clinical performance of a biomaterial is decided early after implantation as leukocytes interrogate the graft throughout acute inflammation. High degrees of leukocyte activation lead to poor material/patient compliance, accelerated degeneration and graft rejection. A number reactive oxygen species (ROS) are released by leukocytes throughout their interaction with a material, which can be used as a sensitive measure of leukocyte activation. The aim of this study was to compare leukocyte activation by commercially available biologic surgical materials and define the extent manufacturing variables influence down-stream ROS response. Chemiluminescence assays were performed using modifications to a commercially available kit (Knight Scientific, UK). Whole blood was obtained from 4 healthy human adults at 7 day intervals for 4 weeks, combined with Adjuvant K, Pholasin (a highly sensitive ROS excitable photoprotein) and biomaterial, and incubated for 60 min with continuous chemiluminescent measurements. Leukocyte ROS inducers fMLP and PMA were added as controls. Xeno- and allogeneic dermal and small intestinal submucosal (SIS) derived biomaterials were produced commercially (Surgisis Biodesign™, Alloderm(®), Strattice(®)Firm & Pliable & Permacol™) or fabricated in house to induce variations in decellularisation and cross-linking. Statistics were performed using Waller-Duncan post hoc ranking. Materials demonstrated significant differences in leukocyte activation as a function of decellularisation reagent and tissue origin. The data demonstrated SIS was significantly more pro-inflammatory than dermis. Additionally it was deduced that SDS during decellularisation induced pro-inflammatory changes to dermal materials. Furthermore, it was possible to conclude inter-patient variation in leukocyte response. The in vitro findings were validated in vivo which confirmed the chemiluminescence observations, highlighting the potential for translation of this technique as a routine component of pre-surgical evaluation to maximise foreign body compliance. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of surface etching and electrodeposition of copper on nitinol

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramos-Moore, E.; Rosenkranz, A.; Matamala, L. F.; Videla, A.; Durán, A.; Ramos-Grez, J.

2017-10-01

Nitinol-based materials are very promising for medical and dental applications since those materials can combine shape memory, corrosion resistance, biocompatibility and antibacterial properties. In particular, surface modifications and coating deposition can be used to tailor and to unify those properties. We report preliminary results on the study of the effect of surface etching and electrodeposition of Copper on Nitinol using optical, chemical and thermal techniques. The results show that surface etching enhances the surface roughness of Nitinol, induces the formation of Copper-based compounds at the Nitinol-Copper interface, reduces the austenitic-martensitic transformations enthalpies and reduces the Copper coating roughness. Further studies are needed in order to highlight the influence of the electrodeposited Copper on the memory shape properties of NiTi.

Nanoscale measurements of phosphorous-induced lattice expansion in nanosecond laser annealed germanium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boninelli, S.; Milazzo, R.; Carles, R.; Houdellier, F.; Duffy, R.; Huet, K.; La Magna, A.; Napolitani, E.; Cristiano, F.

2018-05-01

Laser Thermal Annealing (LTA) at various energy densities was used to recrystallize and activate amorphized germanium doped with phosphorous by ion implantation. The structural modifications induced during the recrystallization and the related dopant diffusion were first investigated. After LTA at low energy densities, the P electrical activation was poor while the dopant distribution was mainly localized in the polycrystalline Ge resulting from the anneal. Conversely, full dopant activation (up to 1 × 1020 cm-3) in a perfectly recrystallized material was observed after annealing at higher energy densities. Measurements of lattice parameters performed on the fully activated structures show that P doping results in a lattice expansion, with a perpendicular lattice strain per atom βPs = +0.7 ± 0.1 Å3. This clearly indicates that, despite the small atomic radius of P compared to Ge, the "electronic contribution" to the lattice parameter modification (due to the increased hydrostatic deformation potential in the conduction band of P doped Ge) is larger than the "size mismatch contribution" associated with the atomic radii. Such behavior, predicted by theory, is observed experimentally for the first time, thanks to the high sensitivity of the measurement techniques used in this work.

Electric-field-induced modification in Curie temperature of Co monolayer on Pt(111)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakamura, Kohji; Oba, Mikito; Akiyama, Toru; Ito, Tomonori; Weinert, Michael

2015-03-01

Magnetism induced by an external electric field (E-field) has received much attention as a potential approach for controlling magnetism at the nano-scale with the promise of ultra-low energy power consumption. Here, the E-field-induced modification of the Curie temperature for a prototypical transition-metal thin layer of a Co monolayer on Pt(111) is investigated by first-principles calculations by using the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method that treats spin-spiral structures in an E-field. An applied E-field modifies the magnon (spin-spiral formation) energies by a few meV, which leads to a modification of the exchange pair interaction parameters within the classical Heisenberg model. With inclusion of the spin-orbit coupling (SOC), the magnetocrystalline anisotropy and the Dzyaloshinskii-Morita interaction are obtained by the second variation SOC method. An E-field-induced modification of the Curie temperature is demonstrated by Monte Carlo simulations, in which a change in the exchange interaction is found to play a key role.

Spine interbody implants: material selection and modification, functionalization and bioactivation of surfaces to improve osseointegration.

PubMed

Rao, Prashanth J; Pelletier, Matthew H; Walsh, William R; Mobbs, Ralph J

2014-05-01

The clinical outcome of lumbar spinal fusion is correlated with achievement of bony fusion. Improving interbody implant bone on-growth and in-growth may enhance fusion, limiting pseudoarthrosis, stress shielding, subsidence and implant failure. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and titanium (Ti) are commonly selected for interbody spacer construction. Although these materials have desirable biocompatibility and mechanical properties, they require further modification to support osseointegration. Reports of extensive research on this topic are available in biomaterial-centric published reports; however, there are few clinical studies concerning surface modification of interbody spinal implants. The current article focuses on surface modifications aimed at fostering osseointegration from a clinician's point of view. Surface modification of Ti by creating rougher surfaces, modifying its surface topography (macro and nano), physical and chemical treatment and creating a porous material with high interconnectivity can improve its osseointegrative potential and bioactivity. Coating the surface with osteoconductive materials like hydroxyapatite (HA) can improve osseointegration. Because PEEK spacers are relatively inert, creating a composite by adding Ti or osteoconductive materials like HA can improve osseointegration. In addition, PEEK may be coated with Ti, effectively bio-activating the coating. © 2014 Chinese Orthopaedic Association and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Vacuum-based surface modification of organic and metallic substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Torres, Jessica

Surface physico-chemical properties play an important role in the development and performance of materials in different applications. Consequently, understanding the chemical and physical processes involved during surface modification strategies is of great scientific and technological importance. This dissertation presents results from the surface modification of polymers, organic films and metallic substrates with reactive species, with the intent of simulating important modification processes and elucidating surface property changes of materials under different environments. The reactions of thermally evaporated copper and titanium with halogenated polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are used to contrast the interaction of metals with polymers. Results indicate that reactive metallization is thermodynamically favored when the metal-halogen bond strength is greater than the carbon-halogen bond strength. X-ray post-metallization treatment results in an increase in metal-halide bond formation due to the production of volatile halogen species in the polymer that react with the metallic overlayer. The reactions of atomic oxygen (AO) and atomic chlorine with polyethylene (PE) and self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) films were followed to ascertain the role of radical species during plasma-induced polymer surface modification. The reactions of AO with X-ray modified SAMs are initially the dominated by the incorporation of new oxygen containing functionality at the vacuum/film interface, leading to the production of volatile carbon containing species such as CO2 that erodes the hydrocarbon film. The reaction of atomic chlorine species with hydrocarbon SAMs, reveals that chlorination introduces C-Cl and C-Cl2 functionalities without erosion. A comparison of the reactions of AO and atomic chlorine with PE reveal a maximum incorporation of the corresponding C-O and C-Cl functionalities at the polymer surface. A novel method to prepare phosphorous-containing polymer surfaces through ion implantation of trimethyl phosphine onto PE is presented. Air exposure of the resulting P-implanted PE leads to the surface selective oxidation of phosphorous moieties. P-containing hydrocarbon films are used to model the surface chemical changes of P-containing polymers exposed to AO. Results indicate that oxidized phosphorous species protect the film from AO-induced erosion. The low temperature (<150 K) oxidation of nitrided iron surfaces exposed to oxygen reveal the formation of iron oxynitride (FexNyO z, nitrosonium ions (NO+) as well as nitrite/nitrito and nitrate type species. The production of nitrite/nitrito and nitrate species is taken as evidence for the existence of oxygen insertion chemistry into the iron nitride lattice under these low temperature oxidation conditions. Upon annealing the oxidized iron nitride surface, nitrogen desorbs exclusively as nitric oxide (NO).

Evaluation of Graphite Fiber/Polyimide PMCs from Hot Melt vs Solution Prepreg

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shin, E. Eugene; Sutter, James K.; Eakin, Howard; Inghram, Linda; McCorkle, Linda; Scheiman, Dan; Papadopoulos, Demetrios; Thesken, John; Fink, Jeffrey E.

2002-01-01

Carbon fiber reinforced high temperature polymer matrix composites (PMC) have been extensively investigated as potential weight reduction replacements of various metallic components in next generation high performance propulsion rocket engines. The initial phase involves development of comprehensive composite material-process-structure-design-property-in-service performance correlations and database, especially for a high stiffness facesheet of various sandwich structures. Overview of the program plan, technical approaches and current multi-team efforts will be presented. During composite fabrication, it was found that the two large volume commercial prepregging methods (hot-melt vs. solution) resulted in considerably different composite cure behavior. Details of the process-induced physical and chemical modifications in the prepregs, their effects on composite processing, and systematic cure cycle optimization studies will be discussed. The combined effects of prepregging method and cure cycle modification on composite properties and isothermal aging performance were also evaluated.

Multifunctional Biomaterial Coating Based on Bio-Inspired Polyphosphate and Lysozyme Supramolecular Nanofilm.

PubMed

Xu, Xinyuan; Zhang, Dongyue; Gao, Shangwei; Shiba, Toshikazu; Yuan, Quan; Cheng, Kai; Tan, Hong; Li, Jianshu

2018-06-11

Current implant materials have widespread clinical applications together with some disadvantages, the majority of which are the ease with which infections are induced and difficulty in exhibiting biocompatibility. For the efficient improvement of their properties, the development of interface multifunctional modification in a simple, universal, and environmently benign approach becomes a critical challenge and has acquired the attention of numerous scientists. In this study, a lysozyme-polyphosphate composite coating was fabricated for titanium(Ti)-based biomaterial to obtain a multifunctional surface. This coating was easily formed by sequentially soaking the substrate in reduced-lysozyme and polyphosphate solution. Such a composite coating has shown predominant antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria ( E. coli) and improved cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation, which are much better than those of the pure substrate. This facile modification endows the biomaterial with anti-infective and potential bone-regenerative performance for clinical applications of biomaterial implants.

Evaluation of Graphite Fiber/Polyimide PMCs from Hot Melt versus Solution Prepreg

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shin, Eugene E.; Sutter, James K.; Eakin, Howard; Inghram, Linda; McCorkle, Linda; Scheiman, Dan; Papadopoulos, Demetrios; Thesken, John; Fink, Jeffrey E.; Gray, Hugh R. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

Carbon fiber reinforced high temperature polymer matrix composites (PMC) have been extensively investigated as potential weight reduction replacements of various metallic components in next generation high performance propulsion rocket engines. The initial phase involves development of comprehensive composite material-process-structure-design-property in-service performance correlations and database, especially for a high stiffness facesheet of various sandwich structures. Overview of the program plan, technical approaches and current multi-team efforts will be presented. During composite fabrication, it was found that the two large volume commercial prepregging methods (hot-melt vs. solution) resulted in considerably different composite cure behavior. Details of the process-induced physical and chemical modifications in the prepregs, their effects on composite processing, and systematic cure cycle optimization studies will be discussed. The combined effects of prepregging method and cure cycle modification on composite properties and isothermal aging performance were also evaluated.

Microwave modification of surface hydroxyl density for g-C3N4 with enhanced photocatalytic activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

An, Na; Zhao, Yang; Mao, Zhiyong; Agrawal, Dinesh Kumar; Wang, Dajian

2018-03-01

Microwave modification was performed on graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) photocatalysts to tail the surface hydroxyl content for enhanced photocatalytic activity in this work. The influence of microwave heating on the surface hydroxyl density was investigated by a suite of characterization methods. The microwave treated g-C3N4 (MT-g-C3N4) delivered a higher photocatalytic activity in degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation than pristine g-C3N4 due to its improved separation efficiency of photogenerated charge carries and promoted absorption capacity of RhB reactants on surface, which resulted from the increased surface hydroxyl density induced by microwave treatment. This study provides a simple and convenient method to modify g-C3N4 materials with enhanced photocatalytic activity for the potential application in photocatalytic elimination of environmental pollutants.

XPS investigation of depth profiling induced chemistry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pratt, Quinn; Skinner, Charles; Koel, Bruce; Chen, Zhu

2017-10-01

Surface analysis is an important tool for understanding plasma-material interactions. Depth profiles are typically generated by etching with a monatomic argon ion beam, however this can induce unintended chemical changes in the sample. Tantalum pentoxide, a sputtering standard, and PEDOT:PSS, a polymer that was used to mimic the response of amorphous carbon-hydrogen co-deposits, were studied. We compare depth profiles generated with monatomic and gas cluster argon ion beams (GCIB) using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to quantify chemical changes. In both samples, monatomic ion bombardment led to beam-induced chemical changes. Tantalum pentoxide exhibited preferential sputtering of oxygen and the polymer experienced significant bond modification. Depth profiling with clusters is shown to mitigate these effects. We present sputtering rates for Ta2O5 and PEDOT:PSS as a function of incident energy and flux. Support was provided through DOE Contract Number DE-AC02-09CH11466.

Initial stages of ion beam-induced phase transformations in Gd2O3 and Lu2O3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Chien-Hung; Tracy, Cameron L.; Wang, Chenxu; Lang, Maik; Ewing, Rodney C.

2018-02-01

The atomic-scale evolution of lanthanide sesquioxides Gd2O3 and Lu2O3 irradiated with 1 MeV Kr ions at room temperature and 120 K, up to fluences of 1 × 1016 ions/cm2 (˜20 dpa), has been characterized by in situ transmission electron microscopy. At room temperature, both oxides exhibited high radiation tolerance. Irradiation did not cause any observable structural change in either material, likely due to the mobility of irradiation-induced point defects, causing efficient defect annihilation. For Gd2O3, having the larger cation ionic radius of the two materials, an irradiation-induced stacking fault structure appeared at low fluences in the low temperature irradiation. As compared with the cubic-to-monoclinic phase transformations known to result from higher energy (˜GeV) ion irradiation, Kr ions of lower energies (˜MeV) yield much lower rates of damage accumulation and thus less extensive structural modification. At a fluence of 2.5 × 1015 ions/cm2, only the initial stages of the cubic-to-monoclinic (C to B) phase transformation process, consisting of the formation and aggregation of defects, have been observed.

Modeling of plasma distortions by laser-induced ablation spectroscopy (LIAS) and implications for the interpretation of LIAS measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tokar, M. Z.; Gierse, N.; Philipps, V.; Samm, U.

2015-09-01

For the interpretation of the line radiation observed from laser induced ablation spectroscopy (LIAS) such parameters as the density and temperature of electrons within very compact clouds of atoms and singly charged ions of ablated material have to be known. Compared to the local plasma conditions prior to the laser pulse, these can be strongly changed during LIAS since new electrons are generated by the ionisation of particles ejected from the irradiated target. Because of their transience and spatial inhomogeneity it is technically difficult to measure disturbances induced in the plasma by LIAS. To overcome this uncertainty a numerical model has been elaborated, providing a self-consistent description for the spreading of ablated particles and accompanying modifications in the plasma. The results of calculations for LIAS performed on carbon-containing targets in Ohmic and additionally heated discharges in the tokamak TEXTOR are presented. Due to the increase in the electron density the ‘ionisation per photon’ ratio, S/XB factor, is significantly enhanced compared to unperturbed plasma conditions. The impact of the amount of material ablated and of the plasma conditions before LIAS on the level of the S/XB-enhancement is investigated.

Synergistic Modification Induced Specific Recognition between Histone and TRIM24 via Fluctuation Correlation Network Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Jinmai; Luo, Huajie; Liu, Hao; Ye, Wei; Luo, Ray; Chen, Hai-Feng

2016-04-01

Histone modification plays a key role in gene regulation and gene expression. TRIM24 as a histone reader can recognize histone modification. However the specific recognition mechanism between TRIM24 and histone modification is unsolved. Here, systems biology method of dynamics correlation network based on molecular dynamics simulation was used to answer the question. Our network analysis shows that the dynamics correlation network of H3K23ac is distinctly different from that of wild type and other modifications. A hypothesis of “synergistic modification induced recognition” is then proposed to link histone modification and TRIM24 binding. These observations were further confirmed from community analysis of networks with mutation and network perturbation. Finally, a possible recognition pathway is also identified based on the shortest path search for H3K23ac. Significant difference of recognition pathway was found among different systems due to methylation and acetylation modifications. The analysis presented here and other studies show that the dynamic network-based analysis might be a useful general strategy to study the biology of protein post-translational modification and associated recognition.

Post-processing of 3D-printed parts using femtosecond and picosecond laser radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mingareev, Ilya; Gehlich, Nils; Bonhoff, Tobias; Meiners, Wilhelm; Kelbassa, Ingomar; Biermann, Tim; Richardson, Martin C.

2014-03-01

Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D-printing, is a near-net shape manufacturing approach, delivering part geometry that can be considerably affected by various process conditions, heat-induced distortions, solidified melt droplets, partially fused powders, and surface modifications induced by the manufacturing tool motion and processing strategy. High-repetition rate femtosecond and picosecond laser radiation was utilized to improve surface quality of metal parts manufactured by laser additive techniques. Different laser scanning approaches were utilized to increase the ablation efficiency and to reduce the surface roughness while preserving the initial part geometry. We studied post-processing of 3D-shaped parts made of Nickel- and Titanium-base alloys by utilizing Selective Laser Melting (SLM) and Laser Metal Deposition (LMD) as additive manufacturing techniques. Process parameters such as the pulse energy, the number of layers and their spatial separation were varied. Surface processing in several layers was necessary to remove the excessive material, such as individual powder particles, and to reduce the average surface roughness from asdeposited 22-45 μm to a few microns. Due to the ultrafast laser-processing regime and the small heat-affected zone induced in materials, this novel integrated manufacturing approach can be used to post-process parts made of thermally and mechanically sensitive materials, and to attain complex designed shapes with micrometer precision.

Modified Rice Straw as Adsorbent Material to Remove Aflatoxin B1 from Aqueous Media and as a Fiber Source in Fino Bread

PubMed Central

Mohamed, Sherif R.; El-Desouky, Tarek A.; Hussein, Ahmed M. S.; Mohamed, Sherif S.; Naguib, Khayria M.

2016-01-01

The aims of the current work are in large part the benefit of rice straw to be used as adsorbent material and natural source of fiber in Fino bread. The rice straw was subjected to high temperature for modification process and the chemical composition was carried out and the native rice straw contained about 41.15% cellulose, 20.46% hemicellulose, and 3.91% lignin while modified rice straw has 42.10, 8.65, and 5.81%, respectively. The alkali number was tested and showed an increase in the alkali consumption due to the modification process. The different concentrations of modified rice straw, aflatoxin B1, and pH were tested for removal of aflatoxin B1 from aqueous media and the maximum best removal was at 5% modified rice straw, 5 ng/mL aflatoxin B1, and pH 7. The modified rice straw was added to Fino bread at a level of 5, 10, and 15% and the chemical, rheological, baking quality, staling, and sensory properties were studied. Modified rice straw induced an increase of the shelf life and the produced Fino bread has a better consistency. PMID:26989411

Gene therapy: advances, challenges and perspectives

PubMed Central

Gonçalves, Giulliana Augusta Rangel; Paiva, Raquel de Melo Alves

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT The ability to make site-specific modifications to the human genome has been an objective in medicine since the recognition of the gene as the basic unit of heredity. Thus, gene therapy is understood as the ability of genetic improvement through the correction of altered (mutated) genes or site-specific modifications that target therapeutic treatment. This therapy became possible through the advances of genetics and bioengineering that enabled manipulating vectors for delivery of extrachromosomal material to target cells. One of the main focuses of this technique is the optimization of delivery vehicles (vectors) that are mostly plasmids, nanostructured or viruses. The viruses are more often investigated due to their excellence of invading cells and inserting their genetic material. However, there is great concern regarding exacerbated immune responses and genome manipulation, especially in germ line cells. In vivo studies in in somatic cell showed satisfactory results with approved protocols in clinical trials. These trials have been conducted in the United States, Europe, Australia and China. Recent biotechnological advances, such as induced pluripotent stem cells in patients with liver diseases, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell immunotherapy, and genomic editing by CRISPR/Cas9, are addressed in this review. PMID:29091160

Optoelectronics of supported and suspended 2D semiconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bolotin, Kirill

2014-03-01

Two-dimensional semiconductors, materials such monolayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) are characterized by strong spin-orbit and electron-electron interactions. However, both electronic and optoelectronic properties of these materials are dominated by disorder-related scattering. In this talk, we investigate approaches to reduce scattering and explore physical phenomena arising in intrinsic 2D semiconductors. First, we discuss fabrication of pristine suspended monolayer MoS2 and use photocurrent spectroscopy measurements to study excitons in this material. We observe band-edge and van Hove singularity excitons and estimate their binding energies. Furthermore, we study dissociation of these excitons and uncover the mechanism of their contribution to photoresponse of MoS2. Second, we study strain-induced modification of bandstructures of 2D semiconductors. With increasing strain, we find large and controllable band gap reduction of both single- and bi-layer MoS2. We also detect experimental signatures consistent with strain-induced transition from direct to indirect band gap in monolayer MoS2. Finally, we fabricate heterostructures of dissimilar 2D semiconductors and study their photoresponse. For closely spaced 2D semiconductors we detect charge transfer, while for separation larger than 10nm we observe Forster-like energy transfer between excitations in different layers.

High pulse number thermal shock tests on tungsten with steady state particle background

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wirtz, M.; Kreter, A.; Linke, J.; Loewenhoff, Th; Pintsuk, G.; Sergienko, G.; Steudel, I.; Unterberg, B.; Wessel, E.

2017-12-01

Thermal fatigue of metallic materials, which will be exposed to severe environmental conditions e.g. plasma facing materials in future fusion reactors, is an important issue in order to predict the life time of complete wall components. Therefore experiments in the linear plasma device PSI-2 were performed to investigate the synergistic effects of high pulse number thermal shock events (L = 0.38 GW m-2, Δt = 0.5 ms) and stationary D/He (6%) plasma particle background on the thermal fatigue behavior of tungsten. Similar to experiments with pure thermal loads, the induced microstructural and surface modifications such as recrystallization and roughening as well as crack formation become more pronounced with increasing number of thermal shock events. However, the amount of damage significantly increases for synergistic loads showing severe surface roughening, plastic deformation and erosion resulting from the degradation of the mechanical properties caused by bombardment and diffusion of D/He to the surface and the bulk of the material. Additionally, D/He induced blistering and bubble formation were observed for all tested samples, which could change the thermal and mechanical properties of near surface regions.

Hypoxia-induced oxidative base modifications in the VEGF hypoxia-response element are associated with transcriptionally active nucleosomes.

PubMed

Ruchko, Mykhaylo V; Gorodnya, Olena M; Pastukh, Viktor M; Swiger, Brad M; Middleton, Natavia S; Wilson, Glenn L; Gillespie, Mark N

2009-02-01

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in hypoxic pulmonary artery endothelial cells cause transient oxidative base modifications in the hypoxia-response element (HRE) of the VEGF gene that bear a conspicuous relationship to induction of VEGF mRNA expression (K.A. Ziel et al., FASEB J. 19, 387-394, 2005). If such base modifications are indeed linked to transcriptional regulation, then they should be detected in HRE sequences associated with transcriptionally active nucleosomes. Southern blot analysis of the VEGF HRE associated with nucleosome fractions prepared by micrococcal nuclease digestion indicated that hypoxia redistributed some HRE sequences from multinucleosomes to transcriptionally active mono- and dinucleosome fractions. A simple PCR method revealed that VEGF HRE sequences harboring oxidative base modifications were found exclusively in mononucleosomes. Inhibition of hypoxia-induced ROS generation with myxathiozol prevented formation of oxidative base modifications but not the redistribution of HRE sequences into mono- and dinucleosome fractions. The histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A caused retention of HRE sequences in compacted nucleosome fractions and prevented formation of oxidative base modifications. These findings suggest that the hypoxia-induced oxidant stress directed at the VEGF HRE requires the sequence to be repositioned into mononucleosomes and support the prospect that oxidative modifications in this sequence are an important step in transcriptional activation.

Generation of induced pluripotent stem cells from the pig

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The value of stem cells has become increasingly evident in recent years with the advent of genetic engineering tools that allow site-specific modifications to the genome. The use of stem cells to induce modifications has several potential benefits for the livestock industry including improving anim...

Electric-field-induced modification of the magnon energy, exchange interaction, and curie temperature of transition-metal thin films.

PubMed

Oba, M; Nakamura, K; Akiyama, T; Ito, T; Weinert, M; Freeman, A J

2015-03-13

The electric-field-induced modification in the Curie temperature of prototypical transition-metal thin films with the perpendicular magnetic easy axis, a freestanding Fe(001) monolayer and a Co monolayer on Pt(111), is investigated by first-principles calculations of spin-spiral structures in an external electric field (E field). An applied E field is found to modify the magnon (spin-spiral formation) energy; the change arises from the E-field-induced screening charge density in the spin-spiral states due to p-d hybridizations. The Heisenberg exchange parameters obtained from the magnon energy suggest an E-field-induced modification of the Curie temperature, which is demonstrated via Monte Carlo simulations that take the magnetocrystalline anisotropy into account.

Recent progress in plasma-assisted synthesis and modification of 2D materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Zhao Jun; Murdock, Adrian T.; Seo, Dong Han; Bendavid, Avi

2018-07-01

Plasma represents an important technique for both the synthesis and modification of two-dimensional (2D) materials, owing to the unique plasma-material interactions which can enable effective energy transfer at the nanoscale. Non-equilibrium and non-thermal plasma techniques have been widely applied on various 2D materials, including graphene, silicene, germanene, phosphorene, hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), and transition metal dichalcogenides such as MoS2 and WS2. Here, we review the recent progress in plasma-assisted synthesis and modification (e.g. functionalisation, doping and etching) of 2D materials and discuss the potential applications of this unique branch of 2D materials. Challenges and future research opportunities in the relevant research field are also discussed. The primary aim of this Review is to provide a better understanding of the plasma-assisted processes and to promote the utilization of 2D materials for advanced electronic, optoelectronic, sensing and energy storage applications.

Modification of postural response caused by footwear conditions.

PubMed

Maejima, H; Kamoda, C; Takayanagi, K; Hosoda, M; Kobayashi, R; Minematsu, A; Sasaki, H; Matsuda, Y; Tanaka, Y; Matsuo, A; Kanemura, N; Ueda, T; Yoshimura, O

2000-01-01

The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of changing footwear conditions on postural response against postural perturbation. Twenty-three healthy subjects participated in this study. Postural response was induced by moving a platform forward, hereafter referred to as forward-perturbation of a platform. The center of pressure (COP) from the force plate and the electromyograms (EMG) of the tibialis anterior (TA) and quadriceps femoris (QUAD), which are both agonists of the response, were measured. The effect of plantar material and shape of footwear on postural response was examined as footwear condition. Changing plantar materials had an effect on integrated EMG of the agonists (IEMG) but not on the response pattern. On the other hand, the shape of footwear had an effect on the response pattern but not on IEMG. It was supposed from this result that changes in somatosensory input, caused by coupling of plantar material and shape of footwear, modifies postural response variously.

Slide Conveying of Granular Materials-Thinking Out of the Glovebox

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goddard, J. D.; Didwania, A. K.; Nott, P. R.

2000-01-01

The vibratory conveyor, routinely employed for normal-gravity transport of granular materials, usually consists of a continuous open trough vibrated sinusoidally to induce axial movement of a granular material. Motivated in part by a hypothetical application in zero gravity, we propose a novel modification of the vibratory conveyor based on a closed 2d trough operating in a "slide-conveying" mode, with the granular mass remaining permanently in contact with the trough walls. We present a detailed analysis of the mechanics of transport, based on a rigid-slab model for the granular mass with frictional (Coulomb) slip at the upper and lower walls. The form of the vibration cycle plays a crucial role, and the optimal conveying cycle is not the commonly assumed rectilinear sinusoidal motion. The conveying efficiency for the novel slide conveyor will be presented for several simple vibration cycles, including one believed to represent the theoretical optimum.

Room-temperature ferromagnetism in Fe-based perovskite solid solution in lead-free ferroelectric Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hung, Nguyen The; Bac, Luong Huu; Trung, Nguyen Ngoc; Hoang, Nguyen The; Van Vinh, Pham; Dung, Dang Duc

2018-04-01

The integration of ferromagnetism in lead-free ferroelectric materials is important to fabricate smart materials for electronic devices. In this work, (1 - x)Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 + xMgFeO3-δ materials (x = 0-9 mol%) were prepared through sol-gel method. X-ray diffraction characterization indicated that MgFeO3-δ materials existed as a well solid solution in lead-free ferroelectric Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 materials. The rhombohedral structure of Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 materials was distorted due to the random distribution of Mg and Fe cations into the host lattice. The reduced optical band gap and the induced room-temperature ferromagnetism were due to the spin splitting of transition metal substitution at the B-site of perovskite Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 and the modification by A-site co-substitution. This work elucidates the role of secondary phase as solid solution in Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 material for development of lead-free multiferroelectric materials.

Evaluation of surface, microstructure and phase modifications on various tungsten grades induced by pulsed plasma loading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vilémová, M.; Pala, Z.; Jäger, A.; Matějíček, J.; Chernyshova, M.; Kowalska-Strzęciwilk, E.; Tonarová, D.; Gribkov, V. A.

2016-03-01

Progress in the field of nuclear fusion requires the development of a new generation of tungsten materials that are expected to meet specific property, lifetime and safety requirements. Pursuing this goal, the new materials must be properly tested in a wide range of conditions including cases where material is brought to the molten stage, such as with large fusion plasma instabilities. In this study, two prospective candidates from the family of dispersion strengthened (DS) tungsten materials, i.e., W-1%Y2O3 and W-2.5%TiC, were subjected to extreme heat loading exerted by the deuterium plasma generator PF6. The study focuses on the interaction of the tungsten matrix with the dispersed particles during material melting. The materials underwent significant changes in microstructure and phase content. Among the most serious was the loss of TiC particles and void formation in W-2.5%TiC and phase change of polymorphic Y2O3 particles in W-1% Y2O3.

Surface Modification of Biomaterials: A Quest for Blood Compatibility

PubMed Central

de Mel, Achala; Cousins, Brian G.; Seifalian, Alexander M.

2012-01-01

Cardiovascular implants must resist thrombosis and intimal hyperplasia to maintain patency. These implants when in contact with blood face a challenge to oppose the natural coagulation process that becomes activated. Surface protein adsorption and their relevant 3D confirmation greatly determine the degree of blood compatibility. A great deal of research efforts are attributed towards realising such a surface, which comprise of a range of methods on surface modification. Surface modification methods can be broadly categorized as physicochemical modifications and biological modifications. These modifications aim to modulate platelet responses directly through modulation of thrombogenic proteins or by inducing antithrombogenic biomolecules that can be biofunctionalised onto surfaces or through inducing an active endothelium. Nanotechnology is recognising a great role in such surface modification of cardiovascular implants through biofunctionalisation of polymers and peptides in nanocomposites and through nanofabrication of polymers which will pave the way for finding a closer blood match through haemostasis when developing cardiovascular implants with a greater degree of patency. PMID:22693509

Emission turn-on and solubility turn-off in conjugated polymers: one- and two-photon-induced removal of fluorescence-quenching solubilizing groups.

PubMed

Schelkle, Korwin M; Becht, Steffy; Faraji, Shirin; Petzoldt, Martin; Müllen, Klaus; Buckup, Tiago; Dreuw, Andreas; Motzkus, Marcus; Hamburger, Manuel

2015-01-01

The synthesis of highly efficient two-photon uncaging groups and their potential use in functional conjugated polymers for post-polymerization modification are reported. Careful structural design of the employed nitrophenethyl caging groups allows to efficiently induce bond scission by a two-photon process through a combination of exceptionally high two-photon absorption cross-sections and high reaction quantum yields. Furthermore, π-conjugated polyfluorenes are functionalized with these photocleavable side groups and it is possible to alter their emission properties and solubility behavior by simple light irradiation. Cleavage of side groups leads to a turn-on of the fluorescence while solubility of the π-conjugated materials is drastically reduced. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

PHOTONICS AND NANOTECHNOLOGY Laser-induced modification of transparent crystals and glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bulgakova, N. M.; Stoian, Razvan; Rosenfeld, A.

2010-12-01

We analyse the processes taking place in transparent crystals and glasses irradiated by ultrashort laser pulses in the regimes typical of various applications in optoelectronics and photonics. We consider some phenomena, which have been previously described by the authors within the different model representations: charging of the dielectric surface due to electron photoemission resulting in a Coulomb explosion; crater shaping by using an adaptive control of the laser pulse shape; optimisation of the waveguide writing in materials strongly resistant to laser-induced compaction under ordinary irradiation conditions. The developed models and analysis of the processes relying on these models include the elements of the solid-state physics, plasma physics, thermodynamics, theory of elasticity and plasticity. Some important experimental observations which require explanations and adequate description are summarised.

Phase transformation pathways of Ln2O3 irradiated by ultrafast laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rittman, Dylan; Solomon, Jonathan; Chen, Curtis; Tracy, Cameron; Yalisove, Steven; Asta, Mark; Mao, Wendy; Ewing, Rodney

Ultrafast laser irradiation induces highly non-equilibrium conditions in materials through intense electronic excitation over very short timescales. Here, we show that ultrafast laser irradiation drives an irreversible cubic-to-monoclinic phase transformation in Ln2O3 (Ln = Er-Lu). A combination of grazing incidence X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy is used to characterize the amount and depth-dependence of the phase transformation. Results indicate that-although all materials experience the same transformation-it is achieved through different damage mechanisms (pressure vs. thermal), and the short timescales associated with damage provides non-equilibrium routes of material modification. Ab initio molecular dynamics are used to isolate the effects of electronic excitations, and results are shown to be consistent with the trend in radiation resistance observed experimentally. Overall, this study provides a path to gain insight into the relationship between a material's equilibrium phase diagram and its behavior under highly non-equilibrium conditions. DOE/BES.

Space environment effects on polymers in low earth orbit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grossman, E.; Gouzman, I.

2003-08-01

Polymers are widely used in space vehicles and systems as structural materials, thermal blankets, thermal control coatings, conformal coatings, adhesives, lubricants, etc. The low earth orbit (LEO) space environment includes hazards such as atomic oxygen, UV radiation, ionizing radiation (electrons, protons), high vacuum, plasma, micrometeoroids and debris, as well as severe temperature cycles. Exposure of polymers and composites to the space environment may result in different detrimental effects via modification of their chemical, electrical, thermal, optical and mechanical properties as well as surface erosion. The high vacuum induces material outgassing (e.g. low-molecular weight residues, plasticizers and additives) and consequent contamination of nearby surfaces. The present work reviews the LEO space environment constituents and their interactions with polymers. Examples of degradation of materials exposed in ground simulation facilities are presented. The issues discussed include the erosion mechanisms of polymers, formation of contaminants and their interaction with the space environment, and protection of materials from the harsh space environment.

Effect of cadmium telluride quantum dots on the dielectric and electro-optical properties of ferroelectric liquid crystals.

PubMed

Kumar, A; Biradar, A M

2011-04-01

We present here the dielectric and electro-optical studies of cadmium telluride quantum dots (CdTe QDs) doped ferroelectric liquid crystals (FLCs). It has been observed that the doping of CdTe QDs not only induced a pronounced memory effect but also affected the physical parameters of FLC material (LAHS19). The modifications in the physical parameters and memory effect of LAHS19 are found to depend on the concentration ratio of CdTe QDs. The lower concentration of CdTe QDs (1-3 wt%) enhanced the values of spontaneous polarization and rotational viscosity of LAHS19 material but did not favor the memory effect, whereas a higher concentration of CdTe QDs (>5 wt%) degraded the alignment of LAHS19 material. The doping of ∼5 wt% of CdTe QDs is found to be the most suitable for achieving good memory effect without significantly affecting the material parameters. ©2011 American Physical Society

Experimental study on melting and flowing behavior of thermoplastics combustion based on a new setup with a T-shape trough.

PubMed

Xie, Qiyuan; Zhang, Heping; Ye, Ruibo

2009-07-30

The objective of this work is to quantitatively study the burning characteristics of thermoplastics. A new experimental setup with a T-shape trough is designed. Based on this setup, the loop mechanism between the wall fire and pool fires induced by the melting and dripping of thermoplastic can be well simulated and studied. Additionally, the flowing characteristics of pool fires can also be quantitatively analyzed. Experiments are conducted for PP and PE sheets with different thicknesses. The maximum distances of the induced flowing pool flame in the T-shape trough are recorded and analyzed. The typical fire parameters, such as heat release rates (HRRs), CO concentrations are also monitored. The results show that the softening and clinging of the thermoplastic sheets plays a considerable role for their vertical wall burning. It is illustrated that the clinging of burning thermoplastic sheet may be mainly related with the softening temperatures and the ignition temperatures of the thermoplastics, as well as their viscosity coefficients. Through comparing the maximum distances of flowing flame of induced pool fires in the T-shape trough for thermoplastic sheets with different thicknesses, it is indicated that the pool fires induced by PE materials are easier to flow away than that of PP materials. Therefore, PE materials may be more dangerous for their faster pool fire spread on the floor. These experimental results preliminarily illustrate that this new experimental setup is helpful for quantitatively studying the special burning feature of thermoplastics although further modifications is needed for this setup in the future.

Efficiency of plasma actuator ionization in shock wave modification in a rarefied supersonic flow over a flat plate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joussot, Romain; Lago, Viviana; Parisse, Jean-Denis

2014-12-01

This paper describes experimental and numerical investigations focused on the shock wave modification, induced by a dc glow discharge, of a Mach 2 flow under rarefied regime. The model under investigation is a flat plate equipped with a plasma actuator composed of two electrodes. The glow discharge is generated by applying a negative potential to the upstream electrode, enabling the creation of a weakly ionized plasma. The natural flow (i.e. without the plasma) exhibits a thick laminar boundary layer and a shock wave with a hyperbolic shape. Images of the flow obtained with an ICCD camera revealed that the plasma discharge induces an increase in the shock wave angle. Thermal effects (volumetric, and at the surface) and plasma effects (ionization, and thermal non-equilibrium) are the most relevant processes explaining the observed modifications. The effect induced by the heating of the flat plate surface is studied experimentally by replacing the upstream electrode by a heating element, and numerically by modifying the thermal boundary condition of the model surface. The results show that for a similar temperature distribution over the plate surface, modifications induced by the heating element are lower than those produced by the plasma. This difference shows that other effects than purely thermal effects are involved with the plasma actuator. Measurements of the electron density with a Langmuir probe highlight the fact that the ionization degree plays an important role into the modification of the flow. The gas properties, especially the isentropic exponent, are indeed modified by the plasma above the actuator and upstream the flat plate. This leads to a local modification of the flow conditions, inducing an increase in the shock wave angle.

Glutathione-S-transferase pi 1(GSTP1) gene silencing in prostate cancer cells is reversed by the histone deacetylase inhibitor depsipeptide.

PubMed

Hauptstock, Vera; Kuriakose, Sapuna; Schmidt, Doris; Düster, Robert; Müller, Stefan C; von Ruecker, Alexander; Ellinger, Jörg

2011-09-09

Gene silencing by epigenetic mechanisms is frequent in prostate cancer (PCA). The link between DNA hypermethylation and histone modifications is not completely understood. We chose the GSTP1 gene which is silenced by hypermethylation to analyze the effect of the histone deacetylase inhibitor depsipeptide on DNA methylation and histone modifications at the GSTP1 promoter site. Prostate cell lines (PC-3, LNCaP, and BPH-1) were treated with depsipeptide; apoptosis (FACS analysis), GSTP1 mRNA levels (quantitative real-time PCR), DNA hypermethylation (methylation-specific PCR), and histone modifications (chromatin immunoprecipitation) were studied. Depsipeptide induced apoptosis in PCA cells, but not a cell cycle arrest. Depispeptide reversed DNA hypermethylation and repressive histone modifications (reduction of H3K9me2/3 and H3K27me2/3; increase of H3K18Ac), thereby inducing GSTP1 mRNA re-expression. Successful therapy requires both, DNA demethylation and activating histone modifications, to induce complete gene expression of epigenetically silenced genes and depsipeptide fulfils both criteria. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Electron-emission-induced cooling of boundary region in fusion devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mishra, Sanjay K.; Avinash, K.; Kaw, Predhiman; Kaw

2014-12-01

In this brief communication we have explored whether the electron emission from the boundary region surfaces (or from additional fine structured dust particles/droplets of some benign material put purposely in the area surrounding the surfaces) can act as an efficient cooling mechanism for boundary region surfaces/dust electrons and hence the lattice. In order to estimate the contribution of this cooling process a simple kinetic model based on charge flux balance and associated energetics has been established. Along with some additional sophistication like suitable choice of material and modification in the work function via surface coating, the estimates show that it is possible to keep the temperature of the plate/particles well within the critical limit, i.e. melting/sublimation point for the desired regime of incident heat flux.

Plasma-Assisted Synthesis and Surface Modification of Electrode Materials for Renewable Energy.

PubMed

Dou, Shuo; Tao, Li; Wang, Ruilun; El Hankari, Samir; Chen, Ru; Wang, Shuangyin

2018-05-01

Renewable energy technology has been considered as a "MUST" option to lower the use of fossil fuels for industry and daily life. Designing critical and sophisticated materials is of great importance in order to realize high-performance energy technology. Typically, efficient synthesis and soft surface modification of nanomaterials are important for energy technology. Therefore, there are increasing demands on the rational design of efficient electrocatalysts or electrode materials, which are the key for scalable and practical electrochemical energy devices. Nevertheless, the development of versatile and cheap strategies is one of the main challenges to achieve the aforementioned goals. Accordingly, plasma technology has recently appeared as an extremely promising alternative for the synthesis and surface modification of nanomaterials for electrochemical devices. Here, the recent progress on the development of nonthermal plasma technology is highlighted for the synthesis and surface modification of advanced electrode materials for renewable energy technology including electrocatalysts for fuel cells, water splitting, metal-air batteries, and electrode materials for batteries and supercapacitors, etc. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

GSK-3 mediates the okadaic acid-induced modification of collapsin response mediator protein-2 in human SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells.

PubMed

Ni, Mei-Hui; Wu, Chih-Ching; Chan, Wen-Hsiung; Chien, Kun-Yi; Yu, Jau-Song

2008-04-15

Collapsin response mediator protein-2 (CRMP-2), a phosphoprotein involved in axonal outgrowth and microtubule dynamics, is aberrantly phosphorylated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain. Alteration of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) activity is associated with the pathogenesis of AD. Here, we show that CRMP-2 is one of the major substrates for GSK-3 in pig brain extracts. Both GSK-3alpha and 3beta phosphorylate purified pig brain CRMP-2 and significantly alter its mobility in SDS-gels, resembling the CRMP-2 modification observed in AD brain. Interestingly, this modification can be detected in SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells treated with a phosphatase inhibitor, okadaic acid (OA), and GSK-3 inhibitors completely block this OA-induced event. Knockdown of both GSK-3alpha and 3beta, but not either kinase alone, impairs OA-induced modification of CRMP-2. Mutation of Ser-518 or Ser-522 of CRMP-2, which are highly phosphorylated in AD brain, to Ala blocks the OA-induced modification of CRMP-2 in SK-N-SH cells. Ser-522 prephosphorylated by Cdk5 is required for subsequent GSK-3alpha-mediated phosphorylation of CRMP-2 in vitro. Collectively, our results demonstrate for the first time that OA can induce phosphorylation of CRMP-2 in SK-N-SH cells at sites aberrantly phosphorylated in AD brain, and both GSK-3alpha and 3beta and Ser-522 kinase(s) are involved in this process.

Tungstate-induced color-pattern modifications of butterfly wings are independent of stress response and ecdysteroid effect.

PubMed

Otaki, Joji M; Ogasawara, Tsuyoshi; Yamamoto, Haruhiko

2005-06-01

Systemic injections of sodium tungstate, a protein-tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) inhibitor, to pupae immediately after pupation have been shown to efficiently produce characteristic color-pattern modifications on the wings of many species of butterflies. Here we demonstrated that the tungstate-induced modification pattern was entirely different from other chemically-induced ones in a species of nymphalid butterfly Junonia (Precis) orithya. In this species, the systemic injections of tungstate produced characteristic expansion of black area and shrinkage of white area together with the move of parafocal elements toward the wing base. Overall, pattern boundaries became obscure. In contrast, an entirely different modification pattern, overall darkening of wings, was observed by the injections of stress-inducing chemicals, thapsigargin, ionomycin, or geldanamycin, to pupae under the rearing conditions for the adult summer form. On the ventral wings, this darkening was due to an increase of the proportion of peppered dark scales, which was reminiscent of the natural fall form of this species. Under the same rearing conditions, the injections of ecdysteroid, which is a well-known hormone being responsible for the seasonal polyphenism of nymphalid butterflies, yielded overall expansion of orange area especially around eyespots. Taken together, we conclude that the tungstate-induced modifications are clearly distinguishable from those of stress response and ecdysteroid effect. This conclusion then suggests that the putative PTPase signaling pathway that is sensitive to tungstate uniquely contributes to the wing-wide color-pattern development in butterflies.

Excimer laser induced surface chemical modification of polytetrafluoroethylene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Révész, K.; Hopp, B.; Bor, Z.

1997-02-01

Polytetrafluoroethylene has a notoriously non adhesive and non reactive character. Its successful surface photochemical modification was performed by irradiating the polytetrafluoroethylene/liquid triethylamine interface with an ArF excimer laser (λ=193 nm). Due to the photochemical treatment the polytetrafluoroethylene surface became more hydrophilic. The water receding contact angle decreased from 94° to 43°. The reaction cross section was determined from the decrease of the contact angles. It was found to be as high as 6.4×10-18 cm2. XPS measurements evidenced the removal of fluorine from the polytetrafluoroethylene, incorporation of alkyl carbon and nitrogen. Photochemical dissociation path of the triethylamine makes probable that it bonded to the fluoropolymer backbone via the α-carbon atom of an ethyl group. A radical, or a photoinduced electron transfer mechanism was suggested to describe this reaction. A selective area electroless plating of silver was performed after pretreating the sample with patterned photomodification. The increased adhesion of the sample was proved by gluing with epoxy resin. As a result of the surface modification the tensile strength of gluing increased by 210× and reached 24% of the value characteristic for the bulk material.

Layer-by-layer modification of thin-film metal-semiconductor multilayers with ultrashort laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Romashevskiy, S. A.; Tsygankov, P. A.; Ashitkov, S. I.; Agranat, M. B.

2018-05-01

The surface modifications in a multilayer thin-film structure (50-nm alternating layers of Si and Al) induced by a single Gaussian-shaped femtosecond laser pulse (350 fs, 1028 nm) in the air are investigated by means of atomic-force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and optical microscopy (OM). Depending on the laser fluence, various modifications of nanometer-scale metal and semiconductor layers, including localized formation of silicon/aluminum nanofoams and layer-by-layer removal, are found. While the nanofoams with cell sizes in the range of tens to hundreds of nanometers are produced only in the two top layers, layer-by-layer removal is observed for the four top layers under single pulse irradiation. The 50-nm films of the multilayer structure are found to be separated at their interfaces, resulting in a selective removal of several top layers (up to 4) in the form of step-like (concentric) craters. The observed phenomenon is associated with a thermo-mechanical ablation mechanism that results in splitting off at film-film interface, where the adhesion force is less than the bulk strength of the used materials, revealing linear dependence of threshold fluences on the film thickness.

The combined use of analytical tools for exploring tetanus toxin and tetanus toxoid structures.

PubMed

Bayart, Caroline; Peronin, Sébastien; Jean, Elisa; Paladino, Joseph; Talaga, Philippe; Borgne, Marc Le

2017-06-01

Aldehyde detoxification is a process used to convert toxin into toxoid for vaccine applications. In the case of tetanus toxin (TT), formaldehyde is used to obtain the tetanus toxoid (TTd), which is used either for the tetanus vaccine or as carrier protein in conjugate vaccines. Several studies have already been conducted to better understand the exact mechanism of this detoxification. Those studies led to the identification of a number of formaldehyde-induced modifications on lab scale TTd samples. To obtain greater insights of the changes induced by formaldehyde, we used three industrial TTd batches to identify repeatable modifications in the detoxification process. Our strategy was to combine seven analytical tools to map these changes. Mass spectrometry (MS), colorimetric test and amino acid analysis (AAA) were used to study modifications on amino acids. SDS-PAGE, asymmetric flow field flow fractionation (AF4), fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism (CD) were used to study formaldehyde modifications on the whole protein structure. We identified 41 formaldehyde-induced modifications across the 1315 amino acid primary sequence of TT. Of these, five modifications on lysine residues were repeatable across TTd batches. Changes in protein conformation were also observed using SDS-PAGE, AF4 and CD techniques. Each analytical tool brought a piece of information regarding formaldehyde induced-modifications, and all together, these methods provided a comprehensive overview of the structural changes that occurred with detoxification. These results could be the first step leading to site-directed TT mutagenesis studies that may enable the production of a non-toxic equivalent protein without using formaldehyde. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Collaborative Research. Fundamental Science of Low Temperature Plasma-Biological Material Interactions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Graves, David Barry; Oehrlein, Gottlieb

2014-09-01

Low temperature plasma (LTP) treatment of biological tissue is a promising path toward sterilization of bacteria due to its versatility and ability to operate under well-controlled and relatively mild conditions. The present collaborative research of an interdisciplinary team of investigators at University of Maryland, College Park (UMD), and University of California, Berkeley (UCB) focused on establishing our knowledge based with regard to low temperature plasma-induced chemical modifications in biomolecules that result in inactivation due to various plasma species, including ions, reactive radicals, and UV/VUV photons. The overall goals of the project were to identify and quantify the mechanisms by whichmore » low and atmospheric pressure plasma deactivates endotoxic biomolecules. Additionally, we wanted to understand the mechanism by which atmospheric pressure plasmas (APP) modify surfaces and how these modifications depend on the interaction of APP with the environment. Various low pressure plasma sources, a vacuum beam system and several atmospheric pressure plasma sources were used to accomplish this. In our work we elucidated for the first time the role of ions, VUV photons and radicals in biological deactivation of representative biomolecules, both in a UHV beam system and an inductively coupled, low pressure plasma system, and established the associated atomistic biomolecule changes. While we showed that both ions and VUV photons can be very efficient in deactivation of biomolecules, significant etching and/or deep modification (~200 nm) accompanied these biological effects. One of the most important findings in this work is the significant radical-induced deactivation and surface modification can occur with minimal etching. However, if radical fluxes and corresponding etch rates are relatively high, for example at atmospheric pressure, endotoxic biomolecule film inactivation may require near-complete removal of the film. These findings motivated further work at atmospheric pressure using several types of low temperature plasma sources, for which radical induced interactions generally dominate due to short mean free paths of ions and VUV photons. For these conditions we demonstrated the importance of environmental interactions when atmospheric pressure plasma sources are used to modify biomolecules. This is evident from both gas phase characterization data and in-situ surface characterization of treated biomolecules. Environmental interactions can produce unexpected outcomes due to the complexity of reactions of reactive species with the atmosphere which determines the composition of reactive fluxes and atomistic changes of biomolecules. Overall, this work clarified a richer spectrum of scientific opportunities and challenges for the field of low temperature plasma-biomolecule surface interactions than initially anticipated, in particular for plasma sources operating at atmospheric pressure. The insights produced in this work, e.g. demonstration of the importance of environmental interactions, are generally important for applications of APP to materials modifications. Thus one major contributions of this research has been the establishment of methodologies to more systematically study the interaction of plasma with bio-molecules. In particular, our studies of atmospheric pressure plasma sources using very well-defined experimental conditions enabled to combine atomistic surface modifications of biomolecules with changes in their biological function. The clarification of the role of ions, VUV photons and radicals in deactivation of biomolecules during low pressure and atmospheric pressure plasma-biomolecule interaction has broad implications, e.g. for the emerging field of plasma medicine. The development of methods to detect the effects of plasma treatment on immune-active biomolecules will be helpful in many future studies.« less

NON-INVASIVE 3D FACIAL ANALYSIS AND SURFACE ELECTROMYOGRAPHY DURING FUNCTIONAL PRE-ORTHODONTIC THERAPY: A PRELIMINARY REPORT

PubMed Central

Tartaglia, Gianluca M.; Grandi, Gaia; Mian, Fabrizio; Sforza, Chiarella; Ferrario, Virgilio F.

2009-01-01

Objectives: Functional orthodontic devices can modify oral function thus permitting more adequate growth processes. The assessment of their effects should include both facial morphology and muscle function. This preliminary study investigated whether a preformed functional orthodontic device could induce variations in facial morphology and function along with correction of oral dysfunction in a group of orthodontic patients in the mixed and early permanent dentitions. Material and Methods: The three-dimensional coordinates of 50 facial landmarks (forehead, eyes, nose, cheeks, mouth, jaw and ears) were collected in 10 orthodontic male patients aged 8-13 years, and in 89 healthy reference boys of the same age. Soft tissue facial angles, distances, and ratios were computed. Surface electromyography of the masseter and temporalis muscles was performed, and standardized symmetry, muscular torque and activity were calculated. Soft-tissue facial modifications were analyzed non-invasively before and after a 6-month treatment with a functional device. Comparisons were made with z-scores and paired Student's t-tests. Results: The 6-month treatment stimulated mandibular growth in the anterior and inferior directions, with significant variations in three-dimensional facial divergence and facial convexity. The modifications were larger in the patients than in reference children. In several occasions, the discrepancies relative to the norm became not significant after treatment. No significant variations in standardized muscular activity were found. Conclusions: Preliminary results showed that the continuous and correct use of the functional device induced measurable intraoral (dental arches) and extraoral (face) morphological modifications. The device did not modify the functional equilibrium of the masticatory muscles. PMID:19936531

Ultrasonic modification of carbon materials for electrochemical capacitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rachiy, Bogdan I.; Nykoliuk, Marian O.; Budzulyak, Ivan M.; Kachmar, Andrii I.

2017-01-01

The paper is devoted to study the ultrasonic impact on the biomass of natural raw materials, which were used for the creation a nanoporous carbon material (NCM), which was used as electrode material for electrochemical capacitors (EC). The dry shells of apricot seeds were a feedstock, which were modified by the chemical treatment in the phosphoric acid and part of them were impacted by ultrasonic waves for 25 minutes. The NCM, which were obtained by carbonization at 550 °C, were modified by chemical treatment in the nitric acid. Thus, the different of modification NCM was obtained to compare their capacitance characteristics for EC. From experimental data we can do a conclusion, that ultrasonic modification and chemical treatment in nitric acidare improvecapacitance characteristics of NCM for EC.

Surface modification: advantages, techniques, and applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Natesan, K.

2000-03-01

Adequate performance of materials at elevated temperatures is a potential problem in many systems within the chemical, petroleum, process, and power-generating industries. Degradation of materials occurs because of interaction between the structural material and the exposure environment. These interactions are generally undesired chemical reactions that can lead to accelerated wastage and alter the functional requirements and/or structural integrity of the materials. Therefore, material selection for high-temperature applications must be based not only on a material strength properties but also on resistance to the complex environments prevalent in the anticipated exposure environment. As plants become larger, the satisfactory performance and reliabilitymore » of components play a greater role in plant availability and economics. However, system designers are becoming increasingly concerned with finding the least expensive material that will satisfactorily perform the design function for the desired service life. This present paper addresses the benefits of surface modification and identified several criteria for selection and application of modified surfaces in the power sector. A brief review is presented on potential methods for modification of surfaces, with the emphasis on coatings. In the final section of the paper, several examples address the requirements of different energy systems and surface modification avenues that have been applied to resolve the issues.« less

An attempt to apply the inelastic thermal spike model to surface modifications of CaF2 induced by highly charged ions: comparison to swift heavy ions effects and extension to some others material.

PubMed

Dufour, C; Khomrenkov, V; Wang, Y Y; Wang, Z G; Aumayr, F; Toulemonde, M

2017-03-08

Surface damage appears on materials irradiated by highly charged ions (HCI). Since a direct link has been found between surface damage created by HCI with the one created by swift heavy ions (SHI), the inelastic thermal spike model (i-TS model) developed to explain track creation resulting from the electron excitation induced by SHI can also be applied to describe the response of materials under HCI which transfers its potential energy to electrons of the target. An experimental description of the appearance of the hillock-like nanoscale protrusions induced by SHI at the surface of CaF 2 is presented in comparison with track formation in bulk which shows that the only parameter on which we can be confident is the electronic energy loss threshold. Track size and electronic energy loss threshold resulting from SHI irradiation of CaF 2 is described by the i-TS model in a 2D geometry. Based on this description the i-TS model is extended to three dimensions to describe the potential threshold of appearance of protrusions by HCI in CaF 2 and to other crystalline materials (LiF, crystalline SiO 2 , mica, LiNbO 3 , SrTiO 3 , ZnO, TiO 2 , HOPG). The strength of the electron-phonon coupling and the depth in which the potential energy is deposited near the surface combined with the energy necessary to melt the material defines the classification of the material sensitivity. As done for SHI, the band gap of the material may play an important role in the determination of the depth in which the potential energy is deposited. Moreover larger is the initial potential energy and larger is the depth in which it is deposited.

An oxidative DNA “damage” and repair mechanism localized in the VEGF promoter is important for hypoxia-induced VEGF mRNA expression

PubMed Central

Pastukh, Viktor; Roberts, Justin T.; Clark, David W.; Bardwell, Gina C.; Patel, Mita; Al-Mehdi, Abu-Bakr; Borchert, Glen M.

2015-01-01

In hypoxia, mitochondria-generated reactive oxygen species not only stimulate accumulation of the transcriptional regulator of hypoxic gene expression, hypoxia inducible factor-1 (Hif-1), but also cause oxidative base modifications in hypoxic response elements (HREs) of hypoxia-inducible genes. When the hypoxia-induced base modifications are suppressed, Hif-1 fails to associate with the HRE of the VEGF promoter, and VEGF mRNA accumulation is blunted. The mechanism linking base modifications to transcription is unknown. Here we determined whether recruitment of base excision DNA repair (BER) enzymes in response to hypoxia-induced promoter modifications was required for transcription complex assembly and VEGF mRNA expression. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses in pulmonary artery endothelial cells, we found that hypoxia-mediated formation of the base oxidation product 8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG) in VEGF HREs was temporally associated with binding of Hif-1α and the BER enzymes 8-oxoguanine glycosylase 1 (Ogg1) and redox effector factor-1 (Ref-1)/apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (Ape1) and introduction of DNA strand breaks. Hif-1α colocalized with HRE sequences harboring Ref-1/Ape1, but not Ogg1. Inhibition of BER by small interfering RNA-mediated reduction in Ogg1 augmented hypoxia-induced 8-oxoG accumulation and attenuated Hif-1α and Ref-1/Ape1 binding to VEGF HRE sequences and blunted VEGF mRNA expression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequence analysis of 8-oxoG distribution in hypoxic pulmonary artery endothelial cells showed that most of the oxidized base was localized to promoters with virtually no overlap between normoxic and hypoxic data sets. Transcription of genes whose promoters lost 8-oxoG during hypoxia was reduced, while those gaining 8-oxoG was elevated. Collectively, these findings suggest that the BER pathway links hypoxia-induced introduction of oxidative DNA modifications in promoters of hypoxia-inducible genes to transcriptional activation. PMID:26432868

Density functional calculations on structural materials for nuclear energy applications and functional materials for photovoltaic energy applications (abstract only).

PubMed

Domain, C; Olsson, P; Becquart, C S; Legris, A; Guillemoles, J F

2008-02-13

Ab initio density functional theory calculations are carried out in order to predict the evolution of structural materials under aggressive working conditions such as cases with exposure to corrosion and irradiation, as well as to predict and investigate the properties of functional materials for photovoltaic energy applications. Structural metallic materials used in nuclear facilities are subjected to irradiation which induces the creation of large amounts of point defects. These defects interact with each other as well as with the different elements constituting the alloys, which leads to modifications of the microstructure and the mechanical properties. VASP (Vienna Ab initio Simulation Package) has been used to determine the properties of point defect clusters and also those of extended defects such as dislocations. The resulting quantities, such as interaction energies and migration energies, are used in larger scale simulation methods in order to build predictive tools. For photovoltaic energy applications, ab initio calculations are used in order to search for new semiconductors and possible element substitutions for existing ones in order to improve their efficiency.

Anisotropic expansion and amorphization of Ga2O3 irradiated with 946 MeV Au ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tracy, Cameron L.; Lang, Maik; Severin, Daniel; Bender, Markus; Trautmann, Christina; Ewing, Rodney C.

2016-05-01

The structural response of β-Ga2O3 to irradiation-induced electronic excitation was investigated. A polycrystalline pellet of this material was irradiated with 946 MeV Au ions and the resulting structural modifications were characterized using in situ X-ray diffraction analysis at various ion fluences, up to 1 × 1013 cm-2. Amorphization was induced, with the accumulation of the amorphous phase following a single-impact mechanism in which each ion produces an amorphous ion track along its path. Concurrent with this phase transformation, an increase in the unit cell volume of the material was observed and quantified using Rietveld refinement. This unit cell expansion increased as a function of ion fluence before saturating at 1.8%. This effect is attributed to the generation of defects in an ion track shell region surrounding the amorphous track cores. The unit cell parameter increase was highly anisotropic, with no observed expansion in the [0 1 0] direction. This may be due to the structure of β-Ga2O3, which exhibits empty channels of connected interstitial sites oriented in this direction.

10 CFR 40.71 - Modification and revocation of licenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Modification and revocation of licenses. 40.71 Section 40.71 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION DOMESTIC LICENSING OF SOURCE MATERIAL Modification and Revocation of Licenses § 40.71 Modification and revocation of licenses. (a) The terms and conditions of each...

Advances in the surface modification techniques of bone-related implants for last 10 years

PubMed Central

Qiu, Zhi-Ye; Chen, Cen; Wang, Xiu-Mei; Lee, In-Seop

2014-01-01

At the time of implanting bone-related implants into human body, a variety of biological responses to the material surface occur with respect to surface chemistry and physical state. The commonly used biomaterials (e.g. titanium and its alloy, Co–Cr alloy, stainless steel, polyetheretherketone, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and various calcium phosphates) have many drawbacks such as lack of biocompatibility and improper mechanical properties. As surface modification is very promising technology to overcome such problems, a variety of surface modification techniques have been being investigated. This review paper covers recent advances in surface modification techniques of bone-related materials including physicochemical coating, radiation grafting, plasma surface engineering, ion beam processing and surface patterning techniques. The contents are organized with different types of techniques to applicable materials, and typical examples are also described. PMID:26816626

Preparation and controlled drug delivery applications of mesoporous silica polymer nanocomposites through the visible light induced surface-initiated ATRP

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Long; Liu, Meiying; Mao, Liucheng; Xu, Dazhuang; Wan, Qing; Zeng, Guangjian; Shi, Yingge; Wen, Yuanqing; Zhang, Xiaoyong; Wei, Yen

2017-08-01

The mesoporous materials with large pore size, high specific surface area and high thermal stability have been widely utilized in a variety of fields ranging from environmental remediation to separation and biomedicine. However, surface modification of these silica nanomaterials is required to endow novel properties and achieve better performance for most of these applications. In this work, a new method has been established for surface modification of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) that relied on the visible light induced atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). In the procedure, the copolymers composited with itaconic acid (IA) and poly(ethylene glycol)methyl acrylate (PEGMA) were grafted from MSNs using IA and PEGMA as the monomers and 10-Phenylphenothiazine(PTH) as the organic catalyst. The successful preparation of final polymer nanocomposites (named as MSNs-NH2-poly(IA-co-PEGMA)) were evidenced by a series of characterization techniques. More importantly, the anticancer agent cisplatin can be effectively loaded on MSNs-NH2-poly(IA-co-PEGMA) and controlled release it from the drug-loading composites with pH responsive behavior. As compared with conventional ATRP, the light induced surface-initiated ATRP could also be utilized for preparation of various silica polymer nanocomposites under rather benign conditions (e.g. absent of transition metal ions, low polymerization temperature and short polymerization time). Taken together, we have developed a rather promising strategy method for fabrication of multifunctional MSNs-NH2-poly(IA-co-PEGMA) with great potential for biomedical applications.

Low-temperature diffusion assisted by femtosecond laser-induced modifications at Ni/SiC interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Okada, Tatsuya; Tomita, Takuro; Ueki, Tomoyuki; Hashimoto, Takuya; Kawakami, Hiroki; Fuchikami, Yuki; Hisazawa, Hiromu; Tanaka, Yasuhiro

2018-01-01

We investigated low-temperature diffusion at the Ni/SiC interface with the assistance of femtosecond laser-induced modifications. Cross sections of the laser-irradiated lines of two different pulse energies — 0.84 and 0.60 J/cm2 in laser fluence — were compared before and after annealing at 673 K. At the laser fluence of 0.60 J/cm2, a single flat Ni-based particle was formed at the interface after annealing. The SiC crystal under the particle was defect-free. The present results suggest the potential application of femtosecond laser-induced modifications to the low-temperature fabrication of contacts at the interface without introducing crystal defects, e.g., dislocations and stacking faults, in SiC.

Transparent conducting oxide induced by liquid electrolyte gating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

ViolBarbosa, Carlos; Karel, Julie; Kiss, Janos; Gordan, Ovidiu-dorin; Altendorf, Simone G.; Utsumi, Yuki; Samant, Mahesh G.; Wu, Yu-Han; Tsuei, Ku-Ding; Felser, Claudia; Parkin, Stuart S. P.

2016-10-01

Optically transparent conducting materials are essential in modern technology. These materials are used as electrodes in displays, photovoltaic cells, and touchscreens; they are also used in energy-conserving windows to reflect the infrared spectrum. The most ubiquitous transparent conducting material is tin-doped indium oxide (ITO), a wide-gap oxide whose conductivity is ascribed to n-type chemical doping. Recently, it has been shown that ionic liquid gating can induce a reversible, nonvolatile metallic phase in initially insulating films of WO3. Here, we use hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry to show that the metallic phase produced by the electrolyte gating does not result from a significant change in the bandgap but rather originates from new in-gap states. These states produce strong absorption below ˜1 eV, outside the visible spectrum, consistent with the formation of a narrow electronic conduction band. Thus WO3 is metallic but remains colorless, unlike other methods to realize tunable electrical conductivity in this material. Core-level photoemission spectra show that the gating reversibly modifies the atomic coordination of W and O atoms without a substantial change of the stoichiometry; we propose a simple model relating these structural changes to the modifications in the electronic structure. Thus we show that ionic liquid gating can tune the conductivity over orders of magnitude while maintaining transparency in the visible range, suggesting the use of ionic liquid gating for many applications.

Disorder induced semiconductor to metal transition and modifications of grain boundaries in nanocrystalline zinc oxide thin film

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Singh, Fouran; Kumar, Vinod; Chaudhary, Babloo

2012-10-01

This paper report on the disorder induced semiconductor to metal transition (SMT) and modifications of grain boundaries in nanocrystalline zinc oxide thin film. Disorder is induced using energetic ion irradiation. It eliminates the possibility of impurities induced transition. However, it is revealed that some critical concentration of defects is needed for inducing such kind of SMT at certain critical temperature. Above room temperature, the current-voltage characteristics in reverse bias attributes some interesting phenomenon, such as electric field induced charge transfer, charge trapping, and diffusion of defects. The transition is explained by the defects induced disorder and strain in ZnO crystallitesmore » created by high density of electronic excitations.« less

Modification of structural and magnetic properties of soft magnetic multi-component metallic glass by 80 MeV 16O6+ ion irradiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kane, S. N.; Shah, M.; Satalkar, M.; Gehlot, K.; Kulriya, P. K.; Avasthi, D. K.; Sinha, A. K.; Modak, S. S.; Ghodke, N. L.; Reddy, V. R.; Varga, L. K.

2016-07-01

Effect of 80 MeV 16O6+ ion irradiation in amorphous Fe77P8Si3C5Al2Ga1B4 alloy is reported. Electronic energy loss induced modifications in the structural and, magnetic properties were monitored by synchrotron X-ray diffraction (SXRD), Mössbauer and, magnetic measurements. Broad amorphous hump seen in SXRD patterns reveals the amorphous nature of the studied specimens. Mössbauer measurements suggest that: (a) alignment of atomic spins within ribbon plane, (b) changes in average hyperfine field suggests radiation-induced decrease in the inter atomic distance around Mössbauer (Fe) atom, (c) hyperfine field distribution confirms the presence of non-magnetic elements (e.g. - B, P, C) in the first near-neighbor shell of the Fe atom, thus reducing its magnetic moment, and (d) changes in isomer shift suggests variation in average number of the metalloid near neighbors and their distances. Minor changes in soft magnetic behavior - watt loss and, coercivity after an irradiation dose of 2 × 1013 ions/cm2 suggests prospective application of Fe77P8Si3C5Al2Ga1B4 alloy as core material in accelerators (radio frequency cavities).

High-T c superconductivity in undoped ThFeAsN.

PubMed

Shiroka, T; Shang, T; Wang, C; Cao, G-H; Eremin, I; Ott, H-R; Mesot, J

2017-07-31

Unlike the widely studied ReFeAsO series, the newly discovered iron-based superconductor ThFeAsN exhibits a remarkably high critical temperature of 30 K, without chemical doping or external pressure. Here we investigate in detail its magnetic and superconducting properties via muon-spin rotation/relaxation and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques and show that ThFeAsN exhibits strong magnetic fluctuations, suppressed below ~35 K, but no magnetic order. This contrasts strongly with the ReFeAsO series, where stoichiometric parent materials order antiferromagnetically and superconductivity appears only upon doping. The ThFeAsN case indicates that Fermi-surface modifications due to structural distortions and correlation effects are as important as doping in inducing superconductivity. The direct competition between antiferromagnetism and superconductivity, which in ThFeAsN (as in LiFeAs) occurs at already zero doping, may indicate a significant deviation of the s-wave superconducting gap in this compound from the standard s ± scenario.Exploring the interplay between the superconducting gap and the antiferromagnetic phase in Fe-based superconductors remains an open issue. Here, the authors show that Fermi-surface modifications by means of structural distortions and correlation effects are as important as doping in inducing superconductivity in undoped ThFeAsN.

Femtosecond laser processing of NiPd single and 5x(Ni/Pd) multilayer thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petrović, S.; Gaković, B.; Zamfirescu, M.; Radu, C.; Peruško, D.; Radak, B.; Ristoscu, C.; Zdravković, S.; Luculescu, C. L.; Mihailescu, I. N.

2017-09-01

Modification of single and complex nickel-palladium samples by laser processing in the femtosecond time domain was studied. The samples were processed by focused Ti:Sapphire laser beam (Clark CPA-2101) with 775 nm laser wavelength, 2 kHz repetition rate, 200 fs pulse duration. The laser-induced morphological modifications have shown dependence on the applied fluences and number of laser pulses. The formed surface nanostructures on the single NiPd/Si and multilayer 5x(Ni/Pd)/Si systems are compared with individual Ni and Pd thin films. The results show an increase in surface roughness, formation of parallel periodic surface structures, appearance of hydrodynamic features and ablation of surface material. At low number of pulses (less than 10 pulses) and low pulse energies range (not over 1.7 μJ), the two types of laser-induced periodic surface structure (LIPSS) can be observed: low and high spatial frequency LIPSS (HSFL and LSFL). For all samples, the measured LSFL periods were 720 nm for the ripples created solely on thin film surfaces during the single pulse action. In the case of the multi-pulse irradiation, the periodicities of created LSFLs on the all investigated thin films have shown tendency to reduction with increasing of pulse energies.

Biodegradable polyester films from renewable aleuritic acid: surface modifications induced by melt-polycondensation in air

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jesús Benítez, José; Alejandro Heredia-Guerrero, José; Inmaculada de Vargas-Parody, María; Cruz-Carrillo, Miguel Antonio; Morales-Flórez, Victor; de la Rosa-Fox, Nicolás; Heredia, Antonio

2016-05-01

Good water barrier properties and biocompatibility of long-chain biopolyesters like cutin and suberin have inspired the design of synthetic mimetic materials. Most of these biopolymers are made from esterified mid-chain functionalized ω-long chain hydroxyacids. Aleuritic (9,10,16-trihydroxypalmitic) acid is such a polyhydroxylated fatty acid and is also the major constituent of natural lac resin, a relatively abundant and renewable resource. Insoluble and thermostable films have been prepared from aleuritic acid by melt-condensation polymerization in air without catalysts, an easy and attractive procedure for large scale production. Intended to be used as a protective coating, the barrier's performance is expected to be conditioned by physical and chemical modifications induced by oxygen on the air-exposed side. Hence, the chemical composition, texture, mechanical behavior, hydrophobicity, chemical resistance and biodegradation of the film surface have been studied by attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), atomic force microscopy (AFM), nanoindentation and water contact angle (WCA). It has been demonstrated that the occurrence of side oxidation reactions conditions the surface physical and chemical properties of these polyhydroxyester films. Additionally, the addition of palmitic acid to reduce the presence of hydrophilic free hydroxyl groups was found to have a strong influence on these parameters.

RADIATION CHEMISTRY 2010 GORDON RESEARCH CONFERENCE JULY 18-23

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Thomas Orlando

The 2010 Gordon Conference on Radiation Chemistry will present cutting edge research regarding the study of radiation-induced chemical transformations. Radiation Chemistry or 'high energy' chemistry is primarily initiated by ionizing radiation: i.e. photons or particles with energy sufficient to create conduction band electrons and 'holes', excitons, ionic and neutral free radicals, highly excited states, and solvated electrons. These transients often interact or 'react' to form products vastly different than those produced under thermal equilibrium conditions. The non-equilibrium, non-thermal conditions driving radiation chemistry exist in plasmas, star-forming regions, the outer solar system, nuclear reactors, nuclear waste repositories, radiation-based medical/clinical treatment centersmore » and in radiation/materials processing facilities. The 2010 conference has a strong interdisciplinary flavor with focus areas spanning (1) the fundamental physics and chemistry involved in ultrafast (atto/femtosecond) energy deposition events, (2) radiation-induced processes in biology (particularly spatially resolved studies), (3) radiation-induced modification of materials at the nanoscale and cosmic ray/x-ray mediated processes in planetary science/astrochemistry. While the conference concentrates on fundamental science, topical applied areas covered will also include nuclear power, materials/polymer processing, and clinical/radiation treatment in medicine. The Conference will bring together investigators at the forefront of their field, and will provide opportunities for junior scientists and graduate students to present work in poster format or as contributors to the Young Investigator session. The program and format provides excellent avenues to promote cross-disciplinary collaborations.« less

Digital-holographic analysis of femtosecond laser-induced photodisruption in ocular tissue

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saerchen, Emanuel; Biessy, Kevin; Kemper, Björn; Lubatschowski, Holger

2014-02-01

High repetition rated femtosecond laser oscillator systems with low pulse energy are more often applied for precise and safer eye surgery. Especially, the cutting procedure in the crystalline lens is of high important for presbyopia treatment. Nevertheless, the fundamental laser tissue interaction process is not completely understood, because apparently a self-induced process takes place, were one modified region changes the focusing behavior of following laser pulses. We used a MHz repetition rate femtosecond laser system with nJ-pulse energy which were focused inside an ocular-tissue-phantom (Hydroxy-ethylmethacrylat - HEMA) to induce photodisruption. The material change, caused by the fs-pulses was measured simultaneously with a compact digital-holographic microscope. To investigate the material manipulation at different time scales, we used a continuously illuminating light source. The holographic images provide quantitative values for optical path length difference (OPL), which is equivalent to a refractive index change. This change of the optical properties may cause following pulses to obtain different focusing conditions. Time lapse measurements during the laser application were performed, which show the temporal evolution of OPL. An increase of OPL during the laser application was measured, which was followed by a decrease in OPL after laser processing. Furthermore, similar experiments were performed in distilled water and in native porcine crystalline lenses. The fs-laser cutting effects in HEMA and crystalline lens were transferable. Simultaneous measurements of the material modification during the cutting process give rise to better knowledge of treatment modalities during ocular tissue processing.

The use of radiation-induced graft polymerization for modification of polymer track membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shtanko, N. I.; Kabanov, V. Ya.; Apel, P. Yu.; Yoshida, M.

1999-05-01

Track membranes (TM) made of poly(ethylene terephtalate) (PET) and polypropylene (PP) films have a number of peculiarities as compared with other ones. They have high mechanical strength at a low thickness, narrow pore size distribution, low content of extractables. However, TM have some disadvantages such as low chemical resistance in alkaline media (PET TM), the low water flow rate due to the hydrophobic nature of their surface. The use of radiation-induced graft polymerization makes it possible to improve the basic characteristics of TM. In this communication our results on the modification of PET and PP TM are presented. The modified membranes were prepared by radiation-induced graft polymerization from the liquid phase. Three methods of grafting were used: (a) the direct method in argon atmosphere; (b) the pre-irradiation of TM in air followed by grafting in argon atmosphere; (c) pre-irradiation in vacuum followed by grafting in vacuum without contacting oxygen. The aim of the work was to investigate some properties of TM modified by grafted poly(methylvinyl pyridine) (PMVP) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAM). It was shown that the modification of TM with hydrophilic polymer results in the growth of the water flow rate. In the past few years many works have been devoted to the synthesis of new polymers - the so-called "intelligent" materials - such as PNIPAAM. However, it is very difficult to make thin membranes of this polymer. Recently, it has been proposed to manufacture composite membranes by grafting stimulus-responsive polymers onto TM. Following this principle, we prepared thermosensitive membranes by the radiation-induced graft polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAM) onto PET TM. PET TM with the pore size of about 1 μm and pore density of 10 6 cm -2 were first inserted into a solution of NIPAAM containing inhibitor of homopolymerization (CuCl 2) and then exposed to the γ-rays from a 60Co source. The transport properties of the grafted TM were investigated. The permeation of water through the TM was controlled by temperature. The grafted TM exhibited almost the same transition temperature (about 33°C) as that of PNIPAAM.

The advances and characteristics of high-power diode laser materials processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Lin

2000-10-01

This paper presents a review of the direct applications of high-power diode lasers for materials processing including soldering, surface modification (hardening, cladding, glazing and wetting modifications), welding, scribing, sheet metal bending, marking, engraving, paint stripping, powder sintering, synthesis, brazing and machining. The specific advantages and disadvantages of diode laser materials processing are compared with CO 2, Nd:YAG and excimer lasers. An effort is made to identify the fundamental differences in their beam/material interaction characteristics and materials behaviour. Also an appraisal of the future prospects of the high-power diode lasers for materials processing is given.

Process for derivatizing carbon nanotubes with diazonium species

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tour, James M. (Inventor); Bahr, Jeffrey L. (Inventor); Yang, Jiping (Inventor)

2007-01-01

The invention incorporates new processes for the chemical modification of carbon nanotubes. Such processes involve the derivatization of multi- and single-wall carbon nanotubes, including small diameter (ca. 0.7 nm) single-wall carbon nanotubes, with diazonium species. The method allows the chemical attachment of a variety of organic compounds to the side and ends of carbon nanotubes. These chemically modified nanotubes have applications in polymer composite materials, molecular electronic applications and sensor devices. The methods of derivatization include electrochemical induced reactions thermally induced reactions (via in-situ generation of diazonium compounds or pre-formed diazonium compounds), and photochemically induced reactions. The derivatization causes significant changes in the spectroscopic properties of the nanotubes. The estimated degree of functionality is ca. 1 out of every 20 to 30 carbons in a nanotube bearing a functionality moiety. Such electrochemical reduction processes can be adapted to apply site-selective chemical functionalization of nanotubes. Moreover, when modified with suitable chemical groups, the derivatized nanotubes are chemically compatible with a polymer matrix, allowing transfer of the properties of the nanotubes (such as, mechanical strength or electrical conductivity) to the properties of the composite material as a whole. Furthermore, when modified with suitable chemical groups, the groups can be polymerized to form a polymer that includes carbon nanotubes ##STR00001##.

Chitosan-edible oil based materials as upgraded adsorbents for textile dyes.

PubMed

Dos Santos, Clayane Carvalho; Mouta, Rodolpho; Junior, Manoel Carvalho Castro; Santana, Sirlane Aparecida Abreu; Silva, Hildo Antonio Dos Santos; Bezerra, Cícero Wellington Brito

2018-01-15

Biopolymer chitosan is a low cost, abundant, environmentally friendly, very selective and efficient anionic dyes adsorbent, being a promising material for large-scale removal of dyes from wastewater. However, raw chitosan (CS) is an ineffective cationic dyes adsorbent and its performance is pH sensitive, thus, CS modifications that address these issues need to be developed. Here, we report the preparation and characterization of two new CS modifications using edible oils (soybean oil or babassu oil), and their adsorption performance for two dyes, one anionic (remazol red, RR) and one cationic (methylene blue, MB). Both modifications extended the pH range of RR adsorption. The babassu oil modification increased adsorption capacity of the cationic dye MB, whereas the soybean oil modification increased that of RR. Such improvements demonstrate the potential of these two new CS modifications as adsorbent candidates for controlling dyes pollution in effluents. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Methyleneation of peptides by N,N,N,N-tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED) under conditions used for free radical polymerization: a mechanistic study.

PubMed

Shirangi, Mehrnoosh; Sastre Toraño, Javier; Sellergren, Börje; Hennink, Wim E; Somsen, Govert W; van Nostrum, Cornelus F

2015-01-21

Free radical polymerization is often used to prepare protein and peptide-loaded hydrogels for the design of controlled release systems and molecular imprinting materials. Peroxodisulfates (ammonium peroxodisulfates (APS) or potassium peroxodisulfates (KPS)) with N,N,N,N-tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED) are frequently used as initiator and catalyst. However, exposure to these free radical polymerization reagents may lead to modification of the protein and peptide. In this work, we show the modification of lysine residues by ammonium peroxodisulfate (APS)/TEMED of the immunostimulant thymopentin (TP5). Parallel studies on a decapeptide and a library of 15 dipeptides were performed to reveal the mechanism of modification. LC-MS of APS/TEMED-exposed TP5 revealed a major reaction product with an increased mass (+12 Da) with respect to TP5. LC-MS(2) and LC-MS(3) were performed to obtain structural information on the modified peptide and localize the actual modification site. Interpretation of the obtained data demonstrates the formation of a methylene bridge between the lysine and arginine residue in the presence of TEMED, while replacing TEMED with a sodium bisulfite catalyst did not show this modification. Studies with the other peptides showed that the TEMED radical can induce methyleneation on peptides when lysine is next to arginine, proline, cysteine, aspargine, glutamine, histidine, tyrosine, tryptophan, and aspartic acid residues. Stability of peptides and protein needs to be considered when using APS/TEMED in in situ polymerization systems. The use of an alternative catalyst such as sodium bisulfite may preserve the chemical integrity of peptides during in situ polymerization.

Source term evaluation for combustion modeling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sussman, Myles A.

1993-01-01

A modification is developed for application to the source terms used in combustion modeling. The modification accounts for the error of the finite difference scheme in regions where chain-branching chemical reactions produce exponential growth of species densities. The modification is first applied to a one-dimensional scalar model problem. It is then generalized to multiple chemical species, and used in quasi-one-dimensional computations of shock-induced combustion in a channel. Grid refinement studies demonstrate the improved accuracy of the method using this modification. The algorithm is applied in two spatial dimensions and used in simulations of steady and unsteady shock-induced combustion. Comparisons with ballistic range experiments give confidence in the numerical technique and the 9-species hydrogen-air chemistry model.

Ultrasonic modification of carbon materials for electrochemical capacitors.

PubMed

Rachiy, Bogdan I; Nykoliuk, Marian O; Budzulyak, Ivan M; Kachmar, Andrii I

2017-12-01

The paper is devoted to study the ultrasonic impact on the biomass of natural raw materials, which were used for the creation a nanoporous carbon material (NCM), which was used as electrode material for electrochemical capacitors (EC). The dry shells of apricot seeds were a feedstock, which were modified by the chemical treatment in the phosphoric acid and part of them were impacted by ultrasonic waves for 25 minutes. The NCM, which were obtained by carbonization at 550 °C, were modified by chemical treatment in the nitric acid. Thus, the different of modification NCM was obtained to compare their capacitance characteristics for EC. From experimental data we can do a conclusion, that ultrasonic modification and chemical treatment in nitric acidare improvecapacitance characteristics of NCM for EC.

Plasma technologies application for building materials surface modification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Volokitin, G. G.; Skripnikova, N. K.; Volokitin, O. G.; Shehovtzov, V. V.; Luchkin, A. G.; Kashapov, N. F.

2016-01-01

Low temperature arc plasma was used to process building surface materials, such as silicate brick, sand lime brick, concrete and wood. It was shown that building surface materials modification with low temperature plasma positively affects frost resistance, water permeability and chemical resistance with high adhesion strength. Short time plasma processing is rather economical than traditional processing thermic methods. Plasma processing makes wood surface uniquely waterproof and gives high operational properties, dimensional and geometrical stability. It also increases compression resistance and decreases inner tensions level in material.

Activity-induced histone modifications govern Neurexin-1 mRNA splicing and memory preservation.

PubMed

Ding, Xinlu; Liu, Sanxiong; Tian, Miaomiao; Zhang, Wenhao; Zhu, Tao; Li, Dongdong; Wu, Jiawei; Deng, HaiTeng; Jia, Yichang; Xie, Wei; Xie, Hong; Guan, Ji-Song

2017-05-01

Epigenetic mechanisms regulate the formation, consolidation and reconsolidation of memories. However, the signaling path from neuronal activation to epigenetic modifications within the memory-related brain circuit remains unknown. We report that learning induces long-lasting histone modifications in hippocampal memory-activated neurons to regulate memory stability. Neuronal activity triggers a late-onset shift in Nrxn1 splice isoform choice at splicing site 4 by accumulating a repressive histone marker, H3K9me3, to modulate the splicing process. Activity-dependent phosphorylation of p66α via AMP-activated protein kinase recruits HDAC2 and Suv39h1 to establish repressive histone markers and changes the connectivity of the activated neurons. Removal of Suv39h1 abolished the activity-dependent shift in Nrxn1 splice isoform choice and reduced the stability of established memories. We uncover a cell-autonomous process for memory preservation in which memory-related neurons initiate a late-onset reduction of their rewiring capacities through activity-induced histone modifications.

Changes in the Mg profile and in dislocations induced by high temperature annealing of blue LEDs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meneghini, M.; Trivellin, N.; Berti, M.; Cesca, T.; Gasparotto, A.; Vinattieri, A.; Bogani, F.; Zhu, D.; Humphreys, C. J.; Meneghesso, G.; Zanoni, E.

2013-03-01

The efficiency of the injection and recombination processes in InGaN/GaN LEDs is governed by the properties of the active region of the devices, which strongly depend on the conditions used for the growth of the epitaxial material. To improve device quality, it is very important to understand how the high temperatures used during the growth process can modify the quality of the epitaxial material. With this paper we present a study of the modifications in the properties of InGaN/GaN LED structures induced by high temperature annealing: thermal stress tests were carried out at 900 °C, in nitrogen atmosphere, on selected samples. The efficiency and the recombination dynamics were evaluated by photoluminescence measurements (both integrated and time-resolved), while the properties of the epitaxial material were studied by Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (SIMS) and Rutherford Backscattering (RBS) channeling measurements. Results indicate that exposure to high temperatures may lead to: (i) a significant increase in the photoluminescence efficiency of the devices; (ii) a decrease in the parasitic emission bands located between 380 nm and 400 nm; (iii) an increase in carrier lifetime, as detected by time-resolved photoluminescence measurements. The increase in device efficiency is tentatively ascribed to an improvement in the crystallographic quality of the samples.

Voltage- and current-activated metal-insulator transition in VO2-based electrical switches: a lifetime operation analysis.

PubMed

Crunteanu, Aurelian; Givernaud, Julien; Leroy, Jonathan; Mardivirin, David; Champeaux, Corinne; Orlianges, Jean-Christophe; Catherinot, Alain; Blondy, Pierre

2010-12-01

Vanadium dioxide is an intensively studied material that undergoes a temperature-induced metal-insulator phase transition accompanied by a large change in electrical resistivity. Electrical switches based on this material show promising properties in terms of speed and broadband operation. The exploration of the failure behavior and reliability of such devices is very important in view of their integration in practical electronic circuits. We performed systematic lifetime investigations of two-terminal switches based on the electrical activation of the metal-insulator transition in VO 2 thin films. The devices were integrated in coplanar microwave waveguides (CPWs) in series configuration. We detected the evolution of a 10 GHz microwave signal transmitted through the CPW, modulated by the activation of the VO 2 switches in both voltage- and current-controlled modes. We demonstrated enhanced lifetime operation of current-controlled VO 2 -based switching (more than 260 million cycles without failure) compared with the voltage-activated mode (breakdown at around 16 million activation cycles). The evolution of the electrical self-oscillations of a VO 2 -based switch induced in the current-operated mode is a subtle indicator of the material properties modification and can be used to monitor its behavior under various external stresses in sensor applications.

Magnetically-induced forces on a ferromagnetic HT-9 first wall/blanket module

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lechtenberg, T. A.; Dahms, C. F.; Attaya, H.

1984-05-01

A model of the Starfire commercial tokamak reactor was used as the basis for calculating magnetic loads induced on typical fusion reactor first wall components fabricated of ferromagnetic material. The component analyzed was the first wall/blanket module because this structure experiences the greatest neutron fluence level and is the component for which the low swelling ferromagnetic Sandvik alloy, HT-9, may have the greatest benefit. The magnitudes of the magnetic body forces calculated were consistent with analyses performed on structures within other types of reactors. The loads generated within the module structure by the magnetic forces were found to be of the same order of magnitude as those arising from other sources such as pressure differential, dead weight, temperature distribution. Only small structural design modifications would be required if the magnetic alloy, Sandvik HT-9 were utilized.

Liquid-Assisted Femtosecond Laser Precision-Machining of Silica.

PubMed

Cao, Xiao-Wen; Chen, Qi-Dai; Fan, Hua; Zhang, Lei; Juodkazis, Saulius; Sun, Hong-Bo

2018-04-28

We report a systematical study on the liquid assisted femtosecond laser machining of quartz plate in water and under different etching solutions. The ablation features in liquid showed a better structuring quality and improved resolution with 1/3~1/2 smaller features as compared with those made in air. It has been demonstrated that laser induced periodic structures are present to a lesser extent when laser processed in water solutions. The redistribution of oxygen revealed a strong surface modification, which is related to the etching selectivity of laser irradiated regions. Laser ablation in KOH and HF solution showed very different morphology, which relates to the evolution of laser induced plasma on the formation of micro/nano-features in liquid. This work extends laser precision fabrication of hard materials. The mechanism of strong absorption in the regions with permittivity (epsilon) near zero is discussed.

Trends in biomedical engineering: focus on Smart Bio-Materials and Drug Delivery.

PubMed

Tanzi, Maria Cristina; Bozzini, Sabrina; Candiani, Gabriele; Cigada, Alberto; De Nardo, Luigi; Farè, Silvia; Ganazzoli, Fabio; Gastaldi, Dario; Levi, Marinella; Metrangolo, Pierangelo; Migliavacca, Francesco; Osellame, Roberto; Petrini, Paola; Raffaini, Giuseppina; Resnati, Giuseppe; Vena, Pasquale; Vesentini, Simone; Zunino, Paolo

2011-01-01

The present article reviews on different research lines, namely: drug and gene delivery, surface modification/modeling, design of advanced materials (shape memory polymers and biodegradable stents), presently developed at Politecnico di Milano, Italy. For gene delivery, non-viral polycationic-branched polyethylenimine (b-PEI) polyplexes are coated with pectin, an anionic polysaccharide, to enhance the polyplex stability and decrease b-PEI cytotoxicity. Perfluorinated materials, specifically perfluoroether, and perfluoro-polyether fluids are proposed as ultrasound contrast agents and smart agents for drug delivery. Non-fouling, self-assembled PEG-based monolayers are developed on titanium surfaces with the aim of drastically reducing cariogenic bacteria adhesion on dental implants. Femtosecond laser microfabrication is used for selectively and spatially tuning the wettability of polymeric biomaterials and the effects of femtosecond laser ablation on the surface properties of polymethylmethacrylate are studied. Innovative functionally graded Alumina-Ti coatings for wear resistant articulating surfaces are deposited with PLD and characterized by means of a combined experimental and computational approach. Protein adsorption on biomaterials surfaces with an unlike wettability and surface-modification induced by pre-adsorbed proteins are studied by atomistic computer simulations. A study was performed on the fabrication of porous Shape Memory Polymeric structures and on the assessment of their potential application in minimally invasive surgical procedures. A model of magnesium (alloys) degradation, in a finite element framework analysis, and a bottom-up multiscale analysis for modeling the degradation mechanism of PLA matrices was developed, with the aim of providing valuable tools for the design of bioresorbable stents.

Physico-chemical behaviour of β irradiated plastic materials currently used as packagings and medical products

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yagoubi, N.; Baillet, A.; Pellerin, F.; Ferrier, D.

1995-11-01

The combined chromatographic technics and thermal analysis constitute an informative methodology for studying the modifications which could occur following a radiotreatment of plastic material at different doses (25 to 100 kGy). Several plastic materials used as packagings (PVC, PE, PS) were investigated. SEC method coupled with UV and DDL detections was applied to document any changes in molecular weight distribution. Reticulation and scission were the main observed degradation phenomena. These structural modifications were supported by TGA data, while the DSC provided information on modifications in crystallinity. In addition, RP-HPLC was carried out for the evaluation of the radiochemical behaviour of the additives and monomers. Firstly we demonstrated the degradation of high molecular weight phenolic antioxidants in BHT within the PEVA. Secondly, the modifications of amino 6 caproic acid and ɛ caprolactam, present in polyamid 6, depend on the irradiation doses.

Structure and Modification of Electrode Materials for Protein Electrochemistry.

PubMed

Jeuken, Lars J C

The interactions between proteins and electrode surfaces are of fundamental importance in bioelectrochemistry, including photobioelectrochemistry. In order to optimise the interaction between electrode and redox protein, either the electrode or the protein can be engineered, with the former being the most adopted approach. This tutorial review provides a basic description of the most commonly used electrode materials in bioelectrochemistry and discusses approaches to modify these surfaces. Carbon, gold and transparent electrodes (e.g. indium tin oxide) are covered, while approaches to form meso- and macroporous structured electrodes are also described. Electrode modifications include the chemical modification with (self-assembled) monolayers and the use of conducting polymers in which the protein is imbedded. The proteins themselves can either be in solution, electrostatically adsorbed on the surface or covalently bound to the electrode. Drawbacks and benefits of each material and its modifications are discussed. Where examples exist of applications in photobioelectrochemistry, these are highlighted.

Chemical Modification of Boron-Doped Diamond Electrodes for Applications to Biosensors and Biosensing.

PubMed

Svítková, Jana; Ignat, Teodora; Švorc, Ľubomír; Labuda, Ján; Barek, Jiří

2016-05-03

Boron-doped diamond (BDD) is a prospective electrode material that possesses many exceptional properties including wide potential window, low noise, low and stable background current, chemical and mechanical stability, good biocompatibility, and last but not least exceptional resistance to passivation. These characteristics extend its usability in various areas of electrochemistry as evidenced by increasing number of published articles over the past two decades. The idea of chemically modifying BDD electrodes with molecular species attached to the surface for the purpose of creating a rational design has found promising applications in the past few years. BDD electrodes have appeared to be excellent substrate materials for various chemical modifications and subsequent application to biosensors and biosensing. Hence, this article presents modification strategies that have extended applications of BDD electrodes in electroanalytical chemistry. Different methods and steps of surface modification of this electrode material for biosensing and construction of biosensors are discussed.

Alternative materials for the modification and stabilization of unstable subgrade soils

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1997-05-01

This study examines two lime by-products and two fly ashes for treatment of unstable (CBR<6) subgrade soils. The treatment methods include both modification and stabilization. Modification is temporily enhancing subgrade stability to improve construc...

Femtosecond-laser surface modification and micropatterning of diamond-like nanocomposite films to control friction on the micro and macroscale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pimenov, S. M.; Zavedeev, E. V.; Arutyunyan, N. R.; Zilova, O. S.; Shupegin, M. L.; Jaeggi, B.; Neuenschwander, B.

2017-10-01

Laser surface micropatterning (texturing) of hard materials and coatings is an effective technique to improve tribological systems. In the paper, we have investigated the laser-induced surface modifications and micropatterning of diamond-like nanocomposite (DLN) films (a-C:H,Si:O) using IR and visible femtosecond (fs) lasers, focusing on the improvement of frictional properties of laser-patterned films on the micro and macroscale. The IR and visible fs-lasers, operating at λ = 1030 nm and λ = 515 nm wavelengths (pulse duration 320 fs and pulse repetition rate 101 kHz), are used to fabricate different patterns for subsequent friction tests. The IR fs-laser is applied to produce hill-like micropatterns under conditions of surface graphitization and incipient ablation, and the visible fs-laser is used for making microgroove patterns in DLN films under ablation conditions. Regimes of irradiation with low-energy IR laser pulses are chosen to produce graphitized micropatterns. For these regimes, results of numerical calculations of the temperature and graphitized layer growth are presented to show good correlation with surface relief modifications, and the features of fs-laser graphitization are discussed based on Raman spectroscopy analysis. Using lateral force microscopy, the role of surface modifications (graphitization, nanostructuring) in the improved microfriction properties is investigated. New data of the influence of capillary forces on friction forces, which strongly changes the microscale friction behaviour, are presented for a wide range of loads (from nN to μN) applied to Si tips. In macroscopic ball-on-disk tests, a pair-dependent friction behaviour of laser-patterned films is observed. The first experimental data of the improved friction properties of laser-micropatterned DLN films under boundary lubricated sliding conditions are presented. The obtained results show the DLN films as an interesting coating material suitable for laser patterning applications in tribology.

Laser Micro and Nano Processing of Metals , Ceramics , and Polymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pfleging, Wilhelm; Kohler, Robert; Südmeyer, Isabelle; Rohde, Magnus

Laser -based material processing is well investigated for structuring , modification , and bonding of metals , ceramics , glasses, and polymers . Especially for material processing on micrometer, and nanometer scale laser-assisted processes will very likely become more prevalent as lasers offer more cost-effective solutions for advanced material research, and application. Laser ablation , and surface modification are suitable for direct patterning of materials and their surface properties. Lasers allow rapid prototyping and small-batch manufacturing . They can also be used to pattern moving substrates, permitting fly-processing of large areas at reasonable speed. Different types of laser processes such as ablation, modification, and welding can be successfully combined in order to enable a high grade of bulk and surface functionality. Ultraviolet lasers favored for precise and debris-free patterns can be generated without the need for masks, resist materials, or chemicals. Machining of materials, for faster operation, thermally driven laser processes using NIR and IR laser radiation, could be increasingly attractive for a real rapid manufacturing.

Surface changes of biopolymers PHB and PLLA induced by Ar+ plasma treatment and wet etching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Slepičková Kasálková, N.; Slepička, P.; Sajdl, P.; Švorčík, V.

2014-08-01

Polymers, especially group of biopolymers find potential application in a wide range of disciplines due to their biodegradability. In biomedical applications these materials can be used as a scaffold or matrix. In this work, the influence of the Ar+ plasma treatment and subsequent wet etching (acetone/water) on the surface properties of polymers were studied. Two biopolymers - polyhydroxybutyrate with 8% polyhydroxyvalerate (PHB) and poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) were used in these experiments. Modified surface layers were analyzed by different methods. Surface wettability was characterized by determination of water contact angle. Changes in elemental composition of modified surfaces were performed by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). Surface morphology and roughness was examined using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Gravimetry method was used to study the mass loss. It was found that the modification from both with plasma and wet etching leads to dramatic changes of surface properties (surface chemistry, morphology and roughness). Rate of changes of these features strongly depends on the modification parameters.

Easy on-demand single-pass self-assembly and modification to fabricate gold@graphene-based anti-inflammatory nanoplatforms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Byeon, Jeong Hoon; Park, Jae Hong

2016-10-01

Zwitterionic chitosan (ZC) was modified by fully (both for lateral dimension and thickness) nanodimensional gold-graphene oxide (Au@GO) flakes under visible light and the potential of the resulting materials as biomedical nanoplatforms was investigated. Fully nanodimensional GO flakes floating in nitrogen gas were incorporated with Au nanoparticles to form Au@GO nanoflakes, and the Au@GO was then incorporated with ZC droplets to form the Au@GO-ZC hybrid nanoparticles. The collected particles were exposed to visible light to induce the photocatalytic activity of the Au@GO nanoflakes towards the ZC derivatives. The visible-light-exposed particles show different chemical and surface properties from the unexposed particles, while there were no significant differences in cytotoxicity and macrophage inflammatory protein production. This work suggests that incorporating fully nanodimensional Au@GO flakes with ZC is a suitable technique for ambient photo-modification of the chitosans’ surface property without significant changes in size and shape and increases in cytotoxicity and inflammatory response.

Fabrication of Planar Heterojunction Perovskite Solar Cells by Controlled Low-Pressure Vapor Annealing.

PubMed

Li, Yanbo; Cooper, Jason K; Buonsanti, Raffaella; Giannini, Cinzia; Liu, Yi; Toma, Francesca M; Sharp, Ian D

2015-02-05

A new method for achieving high efficiency planar CH3NH3I3-xClx perovskite photovoltaics, based on a low pressure, reduced temperature vapor annealing is demonstrated. Heterojunction devices based on this hybrid halide perovskite exhibit a top PCE of 16.8%, reduced J-V hysteresis, and highly repeatable performance without need for a mesoporous or nanocrystalline metal oxide layer. Our findings demonstrate that large hysteresis is not an inherent feature of planar heterojunctions, and that efficient charge extraction can be achieved with uniform halide perovskite materials with desired composition. X-ray diffraction, valence band spectroscopy, and transient absorption measurements of these thin films reveal that structural modifications induced by chlorine clearly dominate over chemical and electronic doping effects, without affecting the Fermi level or photocarrier lifetime in the material.

Development of a Portable Muon Witness System

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Aguayo Navarrete, Estanislao; Kouzes, Richard T.; Orrell, John L.

2011-01-01

Since understanding and quantifying cosmic ray induced radioactive backgrounds in copper and germanium are important to the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR, methods are needed for monitoring the levels of such backgrounds produced in materials being transported and processed for the experiment. This report focuses on work conducted at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to develop a muon witness system as a one way of monitoring induced activities. The operational goal of this apparatus is to characterize cosmic ray exposure of materials. The cosmic ray flux at the Earth’s surface is composed of several types of particles, including neutrons, muons, gamma rays and protons.more » These particles induce nuclear reactions, generating isotopes that contribute to the radiological background. Underground, the main mechanism of activation is by muon produced spallation neutrons since the hadron component of cosmic rays is removed at depths greater than a few tens of meters. This is a sub-dominant contributor above ground, but muons become predominant in underground experiments. For low-background experiments cosmogenic production of certain isotopes, such as 68Ge and 60Co, must be accounted for in the background budgets. Muons act as minimum ionizing particles, depositing a fixed amount of energy per unit length in a material, and have a very high penetrating power. Using muon flux measurements as a “witness” for the hadron flux, the cosmogenic induced activity can be quantified by correlating the measured muon flux and known hadronic production rates. A publicly available coincident muon cosmic ray detector design, the Berkeley Lab Cosmic Ray Detector (BLCRD), assembled by Juniata College, is evaluated in this work. The performance of the prototype is characterized by assessing its muon flux measurements. This evaluation is done by comparing data taken in identical scenarios with other cosmic ray telescopes. The prototype is made of two plastic scintillator paddles with associated electronics to measure energy depositions in coincidence in the two paddles. For this particular application of the prototype, the measurements performed concentrated on a broad investigation of the dependence of the muon flux on depth underground. These tests were conducted inside at Building 3420/1307 and underground at Building 3425 at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The second half of this report analyzes modifications to the electronics of the BLCRD to make this detector portable. Among other modifications, a battery powered version of these electronics is proposed for the final Muon Witness design.« less

Epigenetics of Peripheral B-Cell Differentiation and the Antibody Response

PubMed Central

Zan, Hong; Casali, Paolo

2015-01-01

Epigenetic modifications, such as histone post-translational modifications, DNA methylation, and alteration of gene expression by non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), are heritable changes that are independent from the genomic DNA sequence. These regulate gene activities and, therefore, cellular functions. Epigenetic modifications act in concert with transcription factors and play critical roles in B cell development and differentiation, thereby modulating antibody responses to foreign- and self-antigens. Upon antigen encounter by mature B cells in the periphery, alterations of these lymphocytes epigenetic landscape are induced by the same stimuli that drive the antibody response. Such alterations instruct B cells to undergo immunoglobulin (Ig) class switch DNA recombination (CSR) and somatic hypermutation (SHM), as well as differentiation to memory B cells or long-lived plasma cells for the immune memory. Inducible histone modifications, together with DNA methylation and miRNAs modulate the transcriptome, particularly the expression of activation-induced cytidine deaminase, which is essential for CSR and SHM, and factors central to plasma cell differentiation, such as B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1. These inducible B cell-intrinsic epigenetic marks guide the maturation of antibody responses. Combinatorial histone modifications also function as histone codes to target CSR and, possibly, SHM machinery to the Ig loci by recruiting specific adaptors that can stabilize CSR/SHM factors. In addition, lncRNAs, such as recently reported lncRNA-CSR and an lncRNA generated through transcription of the S region that form G-quadruplex structures, are also important for CSR targeting. Epigenetic dysregulation in B cells, including the aberrant expression of non-coding RNAs and alterations of histone modifications and DNA methylation, can result in aberrant antibody responses to foreign antigens, such as those on microbial pathogens, and generation of pathogenic autoantibodies, IgE in allergic reactions, as well as B cell neoplasia. Epigenetic marks would be attractive targets for new therapeutics for autoimmune and allergic diseases, and B cell malignancies. PMID:26697022

Modification of planetary atmospheres by material from the rings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Atreya, S. K.

1984-01-01

The modification of the atmospheres and ionospheres of ringed planets by the injection of ionized and neutral material from the rings is discussed, on the basis of Pioneer and Voyager observations. It is shown that although no direct evidence exists for the injection of material from the rings into the atmosphere, such an interaction could account for the observed thermal structure and ionospheric properties of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and the Jovian satellite Io.

Effect of Hyaluronic Acid Incorporation Method on the Stability and Biological Properties of Polyurethane-Hyaluronic Acid Biomaterials

PubMed Central

Ruiz, Amaliris; Rathnam, Kashmila R.; Masters, Kristyn S.

2014-01-01

The high failure rate of small diameter vascular grafts continues to drive the development of new materials and modification strategies that address this clinical problem, with biomolecule incorporation typically achieved via surface-based modification of various biomaterials. In this work, we examined whether the method of biomolecule incorporation (i.e., bulk vs. surface modification) into a polyurethane (PU) polymer impacted biomaterial performance in the context of vascular applications. Specifically, hyaluronic acid (HA) was incorporated into a poly(ether urethane) via bulk copolymerization or covalent surface tethering, and the resulting PU-HA materials characterized with respect to both physical and biological properties. Modification of PU with HA by either surface or bulk methods yielded materials that, when tested under static conditions, possessed no significant differences in their ability to resist protein adsorption, platelet adhesion, and bacterial adhesion, while supporting endothelial cell culture. However, only bulk-modified PU-HA materials were able to fully retain these characteristics following material exposure to flow, demonstrating a superior ability to retain the incorporated HA and minimize enzymatic degradation, protein adsorption, platelet adhesion, and bacterial adhesion. Thus, despite bulk methods rarely being implemented in the context of biomolecule attachment, these results demonstrate improved performance of PU-HA upon bulk, rather than surface, incorporation of HA. Although explored only in the context of PU-HA, the findings revealed by these experiments have broader implications for the design and evaluation of vascular graft modification strategies. PMID:24276670

Edge Stabilized Ribbon (ESR); Stress, Dislocation Density and Electronic Performance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sachs, E. M.

1984-01-01

The edge stabilized ribbon (ESR) silicon ribbon was grown in widths of 1, 2.2 and 4.0 inches at speeds ranging from .6 to 7 in/min, which result in ribbon thicknesses of 5 to 400 microns. One of the primary problems remaining in ESR growth is that of thermally induced mechanical stresses. This problem is manifested as ribbon with a high degree of residual stress or as ribbon with buckled ribbon. Thermal stresses result in a high dislocation density in the grown material, resulting in compromised electronic performance. Improvements in ribbon flatness were accomplished by modification of the ribbon cooling profile. Ribbon flatness and other experimental observations of ESR ribbon are discussed. Laser scanner measurements show a good correlation between diffusion length and dislocation density which indicates that the high dislocation densities are the primary cause of the poor current performance of ESR materials. Dislocation densities were reduced and improved electronic performance resulted. Laser scanner data on new and old material are presented.

Selected applications for current polymers in prosthetic dentistry - state of the art.

PubMed

Kawala, Maciej; Smardz, Joanna; Adamczyk, Lukasz; Grychowska, Natalia; Wieckiewicz, Mieszko

2018-05-10

Polymers are widely applied in medicine, including dentistry, i.e. in prosthodontics. The following paper is aimed at demonstrating the applications of selected modern polymers in prosthetic dentistry based on the reported literature. The study was conducted using the PubMed, SCOPUS and CINAHL databases in relation to documents published during 1999-2017. The following keywords were used: polymers with: prosthetic dentistry, impression materials, denture base materials, bite registration materials, denture soft liners, occlusal splint materials and 3D printing. Original papers and reviews which were significant from the modern clinical viewpoint and practical validity in relation to the possibility of using polymeric materials in prosthetic dentistry, were presented. Denture base materials were most commonly modified polymers. Modifications mainly concerned antimicrobial properties and reinforcement of the material structure by introducing additional fibers. Antimicrobial modifications were also common in case of relining materials. Polymeric materials have widely been used in prosthetic dentistry. Modifications of their composition allow achieving new, beneficial properties that affect quality of patients' life. Progress in science allows for a more methodologically-advanced research on the synthesis of new polymeric materials and incorporation of new substances into already known polymeric materials, that will require systematization and appropriate classification. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Influence of the Surface Functional Group Density on the Carbon-Nanotube-Induced α-Chymotrypsin Structure and Activity Alterations.

PubMed

Zhao, Xingchen; Hao, Fang; Lu, Dawei; Liu, Wei; Zhou, Qunfang; Jiang, Guibin

2015-08-26

Because of the special properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), their applications have been introduced to many fields. The biosafety of these emerging materials is of high concern concomitantly. Because CNTs may initially bind with proteins in biofluids before they exert biological effects, it is of great importance to understand how the target proteins interact with these exogenous nanomaterials. Here we investigated the interaction between α-chymotrypsin (α-ChT) and carboxylized multiwalled CNTs in a simulated biophysical environment utilizing the techniques of fluorescence, UV-vis, circular dichroism spectroscopy, ζ potential, atomic force microscopy, and bicinchoninic acid analysis. It was demonstrated that CNTs interacted with α-ChT through electrostatic forces, causing a decrement in the α-helix and an increment in the β-sheet content of the protein. The protein fluorescence was quenched in a static mode. The increase in the surface modification density of CNTs enhanced the protein absorption and decreased the enzymatic activity correspondingly. α-ChT activity inhibition induced by CNTs with low surface modification density exhibited noncompetitive characteristics; however, a competitive feature was observed when CNTs with high surface modification density interacted with the protein. An increase of the ionic strength in the reaction buffer may help to reduce the interaction between CNTs and α-ChT because the high ionic strength may favor the release of the protein from binding on a CNT surface modified with functional groups. Accordingly, the functionalization density on the CNT surface plays an important role in the regulation of their biological effects and is worthy of concern when new modified CNTs are developed.

Polarization induced optical and electrical control of 2D materials by ferroelectrics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zafar, Zainab; You, Yumeng

Integration of 2D semiconductors with ferroelectrics can provide a route towards control of polarization-switching by piezoelectric effect, allowing the realization of exciting features of next-generation optoelectronic devices. However, a fundamental understanding of spectroscopic investigation based on ferroelectric switching in ferroelectric/2D heterostructures remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate mechanical writing of nanoscale domains in ferroelectric thin film coupled with 2D materials, facilitated by piezoresponse force microscope (PFM). We propose the use of typical Raman/PL imaging to predict the effect of phase change of ferroelectric on 2D materials. Mechanical writing not only controls the local doping region, but also tunes the transport properties of the channel, as confirmed by its electrical characterization. By Raman/PL spectroscopy, we have identified the domain pattern of different polarizations in terms of amplitude modification of thin ferroelectric and possible shifts in wavenumber/energy of the emission peaks of 2D materials. Therefore, the sensitivity of spectroscopic imaging well corroborates the efficacy of mechanical writing for synthesizing ferroelectric gated 2D devices. Southeast University.

Ultrafast laser-induced modifications of energy bands of non-metal crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gruzdev, Vitaly

2009-10-01

Ultrafast laser-induced variations of electron energy bands of transparent solids significantly influence ionization and conduction-band electron absorption driving the initial stage of laser-induced damage (LID). The mechanisms of the variations are attributed to changing electron functions from bonding to anti-bonding configuration via laser-induced ionization; laser-driven electron oscillations in quasi-momentum space; and direct distortion of the inter-atomic potential by electric field of laser radiation. The ionization results in the band-structure modification via accumulation of broken chemical bonds between atoms and provides significant contribution to the overall modification only when enough excited electrons are accumulated in the conduction band. The oscillations are associated with modification of electron energy by pondermotive potential of the oscillations. The direct action of radiation's electric field leads to specific high-frequency Franz-Keldysh effect (FKE) spreading the allowed electron states into the bands of forbidden energy. Those processes determine the effective band gap that is a laser-driven energy gap between the modified electron energy bands. Among those mechanisms, the latter two provide reversible band-structure modification that takes place from the beginning of the ionization and are, therefore, of special interest due to their strong influence on the initial stage of the ionization. The pondermotive potential results either in monotonous increase or oscillatory variations of the effective band gap that has been taken into account in some ionization models. The classical FKE provides decrease of the band gap. We analyzing the competition between those two opposite trends of the effective-band-gap variations and discuss applications of those effects for considerations of the laser-induced damage and its threshold in transparent solids.

Optical and Chemical Characterization of Polyimide in a GEO-like Environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Engelhart, D.; Plis, E.; Ferguson, D.; Cooper, R.; Hoffmann, R.

2016-09-01

Ground- and space-based optical observations of space objects rely on knowledge about how spacecraft materials interact with light. However, this is not a static property. Each material's optical fingerprint changes continuously throughout a spacecraft's orbital lifetime. These changes in optical signature occur because energetic particles break bonds within a material and new bonds subsequently form. The newly formed bonds can be identical to the original bonds or different, resulting in a new material. The chemical bonds comprising the material dictate which wavelengths of light are absorbed. Understanding the processes of material damage and recovery individually will allow development of a predictive model for materials' optical properties as a function of exposure to the space environment. In order to characterize the properties, we have exposed samples of polyimide to high energy electrons comparable to those found in a geostationary earth orbit in order to simulate damage on orbit. The resultant changes in the material's optical fingerprint were then characterized in the wavelength range of 0.2 to 25 microns. The chemical modifications to the material that result in these optical changes have also been identified. After initial electron-induced damage, the rate and mechanism of material recovery have been monitored and found to be extremely sensitive to the exposure of the damaged material to air. The implications of that fact and experimental progress toward complete in vacuo characterization will be discussed.

On a hierarchy of nonlinearly dispersive generalized Korteweg - de Vries evolution equations

DOE PAGES

Christov, Ivan C.

2015-08-20

We propose a hierarchy of nonlinearly dispersive generalized Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) evolution equations based on a modification of the Lagrangian density whose induced action functional the KdV equation extremizes. Two recent nonlinear evolution equations describing wave propagation in certain generalized continua with an inherent material length scale are members of the proposed hierarchy. Like KdV, the equations from the proposed hierarchy possess Hamiltonian structure. Unlike KdV, the solutions to these equations can be compact (i.e., they vanish outside of some open interval) and, in addition, peaked. Implicit solutions for these peaked, compact traveling waves (“peakompactons”) are presented.

Risk evaluation of possible human hazards by chemicals, particles, and infectious units

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weber, Lothar W.; Spleiss, Martin

1996-12-01

Formation of laser plume by laser-tissue interaction means an inhomogeneous, pluriphasic and dynamic multicomponent system of biological material and induced modifications. While IR_laser applications often simulate processes of thermal food preservation, UV-lasers favor formation of aromatic organic compounds as VOC. Along with traces of PAH, nitriles and O-/N-containing heterocyclic compounds two classes of dialkyldiketopyrroli(di)nes are special formed VOC as laser solvents. Inhalable particles or partially dried and modified biomass contain - along with infectious particles - a lot of temperature degradation products. Ames tests and Comet-assays gave hint to some mutagenic activities present in laser smoke.

78 FR 51818 - Notice of Applications for Modification of Special Permits

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-21

... Applications for Modification of Special Permits AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), DOT. ACTION: List of applications for modification of special permits SUMMARY: In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits from the...

Silver nanoparticle-enriched diamond-like carbon implant modification as a mammalian cell compatible surface with antimicrobial properties

PubMed Central

Gorzelanny, Christian; Kmeth, Ralf; Obermeier, Andreas; Bauer, Alexander T.; Halter, Natalia; Kümpel, Katharina; Schneider, Matthias F.; Wixforth, Achim; Gollwitzer, Hans; Burgkart, Rainer; Stritzker, Bernd; Schneider, Stefan W.

2016-01-01

The implant-bone interface is the scene of competition between microorganisms and distinct types of tissue cells. In the past, various strategies have been followed to support bony integration and to prevent bacterial implant-associated infections. In the present study we investigated the biological properties of diamond-like carbon (DLC) surfaces containing silver nanoparticles. DLC is a promising material for the modification of medical implants providing high mechanical and chemical stability and a high degree of biocompatibility. DLC surface modifications with varying silver concentrations were generated on medical-grade titanium discs, using plasma immersion ion implantation-induced densification of silver nanoparticle-containing polyvinylpyrrolidone polymer solutions. Immersion of implants in aqueous liquids resulted in a rapid silver release reducing the growth of surface-bound and planktonic Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Due to the fast and transient release of silver ions from the modified implants, the surfaces became biocompatible, ensuring growth of mammalian cells. Human endothelial cells retained their cellular differentiation as indicated by the intracellular formation of Weibel-Palade bodies and a high responsiveness towards histamine. Our findings indicate that the integration of silver nanoparticles into DLC prevents bacterial colonization due to a fast initial release of silver ions, facilitating the growth of silver susceptible mammalian cells subsequently. PMID:26955791

Silver nanoparticle-enriched diamond-like carbon implant modification as a mammalian cell compatible surface with antimicrobial properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gorzelanny, Christian; Kmeth, Ralf; Obermeier, Andreas; Bauer, Alexander T.; Halter, Natalia; Kümpel, Katharina; Schneider, Matthias F.; Wixforth, Achim; Gollwitzer, Hans; Burgkart, Rainer; Stritzker, Bernd; Schneider, Stefan W.

2016-03-01

The implant-bone interface is the scene of competition between microorganisms and distinct types of tissue cells. In the past, various strategies have been followed to support bony integration and to prevent bacterial implant-associated infections. In the present study we investigated the biological properties of diamond-like carbon (DLC) surfaces containing silver nanoparticles. DLC is a promising material for the modification of medical implants providing high mechanical and chemical stability and a high degree of biocompatibility. DLC surface modifications with varying silver concentrations were generated on medical-grade titanium discs, using plasma immersion ion implantation-induced densification of silver nanoparticle-containing polyvinylpyrrolidone polymer solutions. Immersion of implants in aqueous liquids resulted in a rapid silver release reducing the growth of surface-bound and planktonic Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Due to the fast and transient release of silver ions from the modified implants, the surfaces became biocompatible, ensuring growth of mammalian cells. Human endothelial cells retained their cellular differentiation as indicated by the intracellular formation of Weibel-Palade bodies and a high responsiveness towards histamine. Our findings indicate that the integration of silver nanoparticles into DLC prevents bacterial colonization due to a fast initial release of silver ions, facilitating the growth of silver susceptible mammalian cells subsequently.

Silver nanoparticle-enriched diamond-like carbon implant modification as a mammalian cell compatible surface with antimicrobial properties.

PubMed

Gorzelanny, Christian; Kmeth, Ralf; Obermeier, Andreas; Bauer, Alexander T; Halter, Natalia; Kümpel, Katharina; Schneider, Matthias F; Wixforth, Achim; Gollwitzer, Hans; Burgkart, Rainer; Stritzker, Bernd; Schneider, Stefan W

2016-03-09

The implant-bone interface is the scene of competition between microorganisms and distinct types of tissue cells. In the past, various strategies have been followed to support bony integration and to prevent bacterial implant-associated infections. In the present study we investigated the biological properties of diamond-like carbon (DLC) surfaces containing silver nanoparticles. DLC is a promising material for the modification of medical implants providing high mechanical and chemical stability and a high degree of biocompatibility. DLC surface modifications with varying silver concentrations were generated on medical-grade titanium discs, using plasma immersion ion implantation-induced densification of silver nanoparticle-containing polyvinylpyrrolidone polymer solutions. Immersion of implants in aqueous liquids resulted in a rapid silver release reducing the growth of surface-bound and planktonic Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Due to the fast and transient release of silver ions from the modified implants, the surfaces became biocompatible, ensuring growth of mammalian cells. Human endothelial cells retained their cellular differentiation as indicated by the intracellular formation of Weibel-Palade bodies and a high responsiveness towards histamine. Our findings indicate that the integration of silver nanoparticles into DLC prevents bacterial colonization due to a fast initial release of silver ions, facilitating the growth of silver susceptible mammalian cells subsequently.

Compositional and structural analysis of nitrogen incorporated and ion implanted diamond thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garratt, Elias James

Significant progress in area of nano-structured thin film systems has taken place in recent decades. In particular, diamond thin film systems are being widely studied for their wear resistant, optical and electronic properties. Of the various methods researchers use to modify the structure of such films, three techniques in particular are of interest due to their versatility: modification of the growth atmosphere, growth on metalized substrates, providing an interfacial layer, and modification through post-growth ion implantation. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects each has to the structure and composition of elements. Different techniques are applied in each section; nitrogen gas dilution in a microwave plasma CVD system, diamond deposition on a metal interfacial layer and ion implantation in thin nanocrystalline diamond film. The forms of nanocrystalline diamond film resulting from such modifications are investigated using advanced spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques, as well as mechanical testing and surface mapping. The impact of these characterizations will provide valuable perspective to researchers in materials science. Understanding the changes to the structure and properties of this class of thin films, which can be induced through various mechanisms, will allow future researchers to refine these films towards technological applications in areas of hard coatings, electronics and photonics.

Relationship between Surface Modifications of Nanoparticle and Invasion into Suspension Cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsui, Y.; Sakai, N.; Tsuda, A.; Yoneda, M.

2011-07-01

Nanomaterials have a variety of properties for each material. There is little information available on which kinds of material properties have effects on toxicity and kinetics. This paper presents that a relationship between material properties and hazard data by undertaking a bibliographical survey at first. With respect to cytotoxicity, it probably depends mainly on the particle volume dose and to a certain degree on particle solubility. It can be concluded from these results that there is a relationship between material properties and hazard data. Many activities involving nano risk are occurring all over the world. Secondly, we assayed actually for cellular uptake of three kinds of Quantum dots (15 nm, 5.5×1012 particles/ml) to demonstrate our result of bibliographical survey. Three different surface modification quantum dots (non-modification, -COOH, -NH3) were mixed with floating Jurkat cells in each. After thirty minute, we washed these cells three times and detected fluorescence by flow cytometer. Almost all the carboxylate particles invaded a cell, about 60% aminated them also invaded and few non-modification particles were taken up. Nanomaterials are often very broadly categorized and named based upon their basic material composition or product shape. Our results confirm that we have to examine which physical-chemical properties affect some adverse effects for each nanomaterial.

Investigation of the Effect of Oil Modification on Critical Characteristics of Asphalt Binders

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Golalipour, Amir

Thermally induced cracking of asphalt pavement continues to be a serious issue in cold climate regions as well as in areas which experience extreme daily temperature differentials. Low temperature cracking of asphalt pavements is attributed to thermal stresses and strains developed during cooling cycles. Improving asphalt binder low temperature fracture and stiffness properties continues to be a subject of particular concern. Therefore, significant amount of research has been focused on improving asphalt binder properties through modification. In recent years, wide ranges of oil based modifications have been introduced to improve asphalt binder performance, especially at the low service temperatures. Although, significant use of these oils is seen in practice, knowledge of the fundamental mechanisms of oil modification and their properties for achieving optimum characteristics is limited. Hence, this study focuses on better understanding of the effect of oil modifiers which would help better material selection and achieve optimum performance in terms of increasing the life span of pavements. In this study, the effect of oil modification on the rheological properties of the asphalt binder is investigated. To examine the effect of oil modification on binder characteristics, low temperature properties as well as high temperature performance of oil modified binders were evaluated. It is found that oils vary in their effects on asphalt binder performance. However, for all oils used in the study, adding an oil to binder can improve binder low temperature performance, and this result mainly attributed to the softening effect. In addition to that, a simple linear model is proposed to predict the performance grade of oil modified binder based on the properties of its constituents at high and low temperatures. Another part of this study focuses on the oil modification effect on asphalt binder thermal strain and stresses. A viscoelastic analytical procedure is combined with experimentally derived failure stress and strain envelopes to determine the controlling failure mechanism, strain tolerance or critical stress, in thermal cracking of oil modified binders. The low temperature failure results depict that oil modification has a good potential of improving the cracking resistance of asphalt binders during thermal cycles.

Heritability of targeted gene modifications induced by plant-optimized CRISPR systems.

PubMed

Mao, Yanfei; Botella, Jose Ramon; Zhu, Jian-Kang

2017-03-01

The Streptococcus-derived CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats)/Cas9 (CRISPR-associated protein 9) system has emerged as a very powerful tool for targeted gene modifications in many living organisms including plants. Since the first application of this system for plant gene modification in 2013, this RNA-guided DNA endonuclease system has been extensively engineered to meet the requirements of functional genomics and crop trait improvement in a number of plant species. Given its short history, the emphasis of many studies has been the optimization of the technology to improve its reliability and efficiency to generate heritable gene modifications in plants. Here we review and analyze the features of customized CRISPR/Cas9 systems developed for plant genetic studies and crop breeding. We focus on two essential aspects: the heritability of gene modifications induced by CRISPR/Cas9 and the factors affecting its efficiency, and we provide strategies for future design of systems with improved activity and heritability in plants.

Visualization of nanocrystal breathing modes at extreme strains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szilagyi, Erzsi; Wittenberg, Joshua S.; Miller, Timothy A.; Lutker, Katie; Quirin, Florian; Lemke, Henrik; Zhu, Diling; Chollet, Matthieu; Robinson, Joseph; Wen, Haidan; Sokolowski-Tinten, Klaus; Lindenberg, Aaron M.

2015-03-01

Nanoscale dimensions in materials lead to unique electronic and structural properties with applications ranging from site-specific drug delivery to anodes for lithium-ion batteries. These functional properties often involve large-amplitude strains and structural modifications, and thus require an understanding of the dynamics of these processes. Here we use femtosecond X-ray scattering techniques to visualize, in real time and with atomic-scale resolution, light-induced anisotropic strains in nanocrystal spheres and rods. Strains at the percent level are observed in CdS and CdSe samples, associated with a rapid expansion followed by contraction along the nanosphere or nanorod radial direction driven by a transient carrier-induced stress. These morphological changes occur simultaneously with the first steps in the melting transition on hundreds of femtosecond timescales. This work represents the first direct real-time probe of the dynamics of these large-amplitude strains and shape changes in few-nanometre-scale particles.

Exercise reverses metabolic syndrome in high-fat diet-induced obese rats.

PubMed

Touati, Sabeur; Meziri, Fayçal; Devaux, Sylvie; Berthelot, Alain; Touyz, Rhian M; Laurant, Pascal

2011-03-01

Chronic consumption of a high-fat diet induces obesity. We investigated whether exercise would reverse the cardiometabolic disorders associated with obesity without it being necessary to change from a high- to normal-fat diet. Sprague-Dawley rats were placed on a high-fat (HFD) or control diet (CD) for 12 wk. HFD rats were then divided into four groups: sedentary HFD (HFD-S), exercise trained (motor treadmill for 12 wk) HFD (HFD-Ex), modified diet (HFD to CD; HF/CD-S), and exercise trained with modified diet (HF/CD-Ex). Cardiovascular risk parameters associated with metabolic syndrome were measured, and contents of aortic Akt, phospho-Akt at Ser (473), total endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and phospho-eNOS at Ser (1177) were determined by Western blotting. Chronic consumption of HFD induced a metabolic syndrome. Exercise and dietary modifications reduced adiposity, improved glucose and insulin levels and plasma lipid profile, and exerted an antihypertensive effect. Exercise was more effective than dietary modification in improving plasma levels of thiobarbituric acid-reacting substance and in correcting the endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine and insulin. Furthermore, independent of the diet used, exercise increased Akt and eNOS phosphorylation. Metabolic syndrome induced by HFD is reversed by exercise and diet modification. It is demonstrated that exercise training induces these beneficial effects without the requirement for dietary modification, and these beneficial effects may be mediated by shear stress-induced Akt/eNOS pathway activation. Thus, exercise may be an effective strategy to reverse almost all the atherosclerotic risk factors linked to obesity, particularly in the vasculature.

[Study on preparation and physicochemical properties of surface modified sintered bone].

PubMed

Li, Jingfeng; Zheng, Qixin; Guo, Xiaodong

2012-06-01

The aim of this study is to investigate a new method for preparing a biomimetic bone material-surface modified sintered bovine cancellous bone, and to improve its bioactivity as a tissue engineering bone. The prepared sintered bovine cancellous bones with the same size were randomly divided into two groups, immersing in 1 and 1. 5 times simulated body fluid (SBF), respectively. The three time periods of soak time were 7, 14, and 21 days. After sintered bone was dried, the surface morphology of sintered bone and surface mineralization composition were observed under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). By comparing the effect of surface modification of sintered bone materials, we chose the most ideal material and studied its pore size, the rate of the porosity, the compress and bend intensity. And then the material and the sintered bone material without surface modification were compared. The study indicated that sintered bone material immersed in SBF (1.5 times) for 14 days showed the best effect of surface modification, retaining the original physico-chemical properties of sintered bone.

Multifunctional optical security features based on bacteriorhodopsin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hampp, Norbert A.; Neebe, Martin; Juchem, Thorsten; Wolperdinger, Markus; Geiger, Markus; Schmuck, Arno

2004-06-01

Bacteriorhodopsin (BR), a photochromic retinal protein, has been developed into a new materials platform for applications in anti-counterfeiting. The combination of three different properties of the material on its molecular level, a light-inducible color change, photochemical data storage and traceability of the protein due to molecular marker sequences make this protein a promising material for security applications. The crystalline structure of the biopigment combines these properties with high stability. As BR is a biological material specialized knowledge for modification, cost- effective production and suitable processing of the material is required. Photochromic BR-based inks have been developed for screen printing, pad printing and ink jet printing. These prints show a high photochromic sensitivity towards variation of illumination. For this reason it is not possible to reproduce the dynamic color by photocopying. In addition to such visual inspection the printed symbols offer the possibility for digital write-once-read-many (WORM) data storage. Photochemical recording is accomplished by a two-photon process. Recording densities in a range from 106 bit/cm2 to 108 bit/cm2 have been achieved. Data structures are stored in a polarization sensitive mode which allows an easy and efficient data encryption.

Fabrication and long-wavelength characterization of neat and chemically modified graphene

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kalugin, Nikolai G.

2014-03-31

Graphene, a single- or several layer-thick carbon, attracts significant research activity because of its exceptional material properties. Graphene is a promising material for optoelectronic applications. Neat graphene demonstrates potential as a material for long wavelength photodetectors working at elevated temperatures. Chemical modification of graphene opens up many new applications of this material in electronics, in new composite materials, and in new catalysts for different chemical processes. Chemical vapor deposition-grown large-area graphene can be successfully modified with the creation of benzyne attachments. The investigation of microwave properties is an important part of graphene research. Two variants of near-field long wavelength microscopymore » were found efficient with graphene. Measurements with a probe formed by an electrically open end of a 4 GHz half-lambda parallel-strip transmission line resonator allow the implementation of an electrodynamic model of graphene microwave impedance. The results of near-field scanning superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) RF microscopy of graphite and graphene at 200 MHz shed light on mechanisms of AC graphene response: screening currents induced in graphene by an external RF magnetic field tend to localize near structural defects.« less

Analysis of RF emissions from laser induced breakdown of atmospheric air and metals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paturi, Prem Kiran; Lakshmi, Vinoth Kumar; Elle, Manikanta; Chelikani, Leela

2013-10-01

The low frequency (RF, microwave) emissions from laser produced plasma (LPP) are of great interest because of their variety of applications. The RF waves emitted by the nanosecond LPP of atmospheric air and metal (Al, Cu) targets were detected using antennas over frequency ranges (30 MHz-18 GHz) and were monitored using a spectrum analyzer (3 Hz-50 GHz). With different target materials, the dominant emission lines were observed to fall in different specific frequency ranges within the detection limit. The emissions from Cu were in the higher frequency range (100-200 MHz) than that of Al (30-100 MHz) may be due to the higher electron density of Cu, which contributes to the LPP conductivity. From the LPP of atmospheric air, the RF output was found to be increasing with the input laser energy up to certain value, beyond which almost no emission was observed. This effect is attributed to the modification in the net induced dipole moment due to the multiple plasma sources in the LPP at higher input laser energies. The detected radiation was observed to be dependent on laser and antenna polarization. Further studies may lead to an efficient technique for material identification from the RF characteristic peaks.

Pulse-analysis-pulse investigation of femtosecond laser-induced periodic surface structures on silicon in air.

PubMed

Oboňa, J Vincenc; Skolski, J Z P; Römer, G R B E; in t Veld, A J Huis

2014-04-21

A new approach to experimentally investigate laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSSs) is introduced. Silicon was iteratively exposed to femtosecond laser pulses at λ = 800 nm and normal incidence in ambient air and at a fluence slightly over the single-pulse modification threshold. After each laser pulse, the topography of the surface was inspected by confocal microscopy. Subsequently, the sample was reproducibly repositioned in the laser setup, to be exposed to the next laser pulse. By this approach, the initiation and spatial evolution ("growth") of the LIPSSs were analyzed as function of the number of pulses applied. It was found that, after the first laser pulses, the ridges of the LIPSSs elevate, and valleys between the ridges deepen, by a few tens of nanometers relative to the initial surface. An electromagnetic model, discussed in earlier works, predicted that the spatial periodicity of LIPSSs decreases with the number of laser pulses applied. This implies material transport and reorganization of the irradiated material on the surface, due to each laser pulse. However, our experiments show a negligible shift of the lateral positions of the LIPSSs on the surface.

Frost induced damages within porous materials - from concrete technology to fuel cells technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Palecki, Susanne; Gorelkov, Stanislav; Wartmann, Jens; Heinzel, Angelika

2017-12-01

Porous media like concrete or layers of membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) within fuel cells are affected by a cyclic frost exposure due to different damage mechanisms which could lead to essential degradation of the material. In general, frost damages can only occur in case of a specific material moisture content. In fuel cells, residual water is generally available after shut down inside the membrane i.e. the gas diffusion layer (GDL). During subsequent freezing, this could cause various damage phenomena such as frost heaves and delamination effects of the membrane electrode assembly, which depends on the location of pore water and on the pore structure itself. Porous materials possess a pore structure that could range over several orders of magnitudes with different properties and freezing behaviour of the pore water. Latter can be divided into macroscopic, structured and pre-structured water, influenced by surface interactions. Therefore below 0 °C different water modifications can coexist in a wide temperature range, so that during frost exposure a high amount of unfrozen and moveable water inside the pore system is still available. This induces transport mechanisms and shrinkage effects. The physical basics are similar for porous media. While the freezing behaviour of concrete has been studied over decades of years, in order to enhance the durability, the know-how about the influence of a frost attack on fuel cell systems is not fully understood to date. On the basis of frost damage models for concrete structures, an approach to describe the impact of cyclic freezing and thawing on membrane electrode assemblies has been developed within this research work. Major aim is beyond a better understanding of the frost induced mechanisms, the standardization of a suitable test procedure for the assessment of different MEA materials under such kind of attack. Within this contribution first results will be introduced.

The dietary fiber profile of fruit peels and functionality modifications induced by high hydrostatic pressure treatments.

PubMed

Tejada-Ortigoza, Viridiana; García-Amezquita, Luis Eduardo; Serna-Saldívar, Sergio O; Welti-Chanes, Jorge

2017-07-01

The effect of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) and temperature on composition of non-conventional dietary fiber (DF) sources and functional properties were evaluated. Mango, orange, or prickly pear peels were processed at 600 MPa during 10 min at 22 ℃ and 55 ℃. Total (TDF), soluble (SDF), and insoluble (IDF) dietary fiber, water/oil holding, and retention capacity, solubility, swelling capacity, and bulk density were assayed. An increment in the SDF content was observed due to the effect of pressure with the greatest changes noticed in mango peel, increasing from 37.4% (control) to 45.7% (SDF/TDF) in the HHP-treated (55 ℃) sample. Constant values of TDF after the treatments suggest a conversion of IDF to SDF in mango (38.9%-40.5% dw) and orange (49.0%-50.8% dw) peels. The highest fiber solubility values were observed for mango peel ranging between 80.3% and 83.9%, but the highest increase, from 55.1% to 62.3%, due to treatment was displayed in orange peel processed at 22 ℃. A relationship between DF modifications induced by HHP treatment and changes in the functional properties of the materials was established. Application of HHP opens up the opportunity to modify non-conventional sources of DF and to obtain novel functional properties for different food applications.

SEM-induced shrinkage and site-selective modification of single-crystal silicon nanopores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Qi; Wang, Yifan; Deng, Tao; Liu, Zewen

2017-07-01

Solid-state nanopores with feature sizes around 5 nm play a critical role in bio-sensing fields, especially in single molecule detection and sequencing of DNA, RNA and proteins. In this paper we present a systematic study on shrinkage and site-selective modification of single-crystal silicon nanopores with a conventional scanning electron microscope (SEM). Square nanopores with measurable sizes as small as 8 nm × 8 nm and rectangle nanopores with feature sizes (the smaller one between length and width) down to 5 nm have been obtained, using the SEM-induced shrinkage technique. The analysis of energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and the recovery of the pore size and morphology reveal that the grown material along with the edge of the nanopore is the result of deposition of hydrocarbon compounds, without structural damage during the shrinking process. A simplified model for pore shrinkage has been developed based on observation of the cross-sectional morphology of the shrunk nanopore. The main factors impacting on the task of controllably shrinking the nanopores, such as the accelerating voltage, spot size, scanned area of e-beam, and the initial pore size have been discussed. It is found that single-crystal silicon nanopores shrink linearly with time under localized irradiation by SEM e-beam in all cases, and the pore shrinkage rate is inversely proportional to the initial equivalent diameter of the pore under the same e-beam conditions.

Stormwater filtration of toxic heavy metal ions using lignocellulosic materials selection process, fiberization, chemical modification, and mat formation

Treesearch

James S. Han

1999-01-01

Lignocellulosic materials were evaluated for their effectiveness in filtering toxic heavy metals from stormwater. Kenaf, alfalfa, juniper, and aspen fibers were used as models to evaluate the effectiveness and limitations of chemical modification and the extent of fiber degradation. Individual and mixed aqueous solutions of nickel, copper, zinc, and cadmium in various...

A review on the application of inorganic nano-structured materials in the modification of textiles: focus on anti-microbial properties.

PubMed

Dastjerdi, Roya; Montazer, Majid

2010-08-01

Textiles can provide a suitable substrate to grow micro-organisms especially at appropriate humidity and temperature in contact to human body. Recently, increasing public concern about hygiene has been driving many investigations for anti-microbial modification of textiles. However, using many anti-microbial agents has been avoided because of their possible harmful or toxic effects. Application of inorganic nano-particles and their nano-composites would be a good alternative. This review paper has focused on the properties and applications of inorganic nano-structured materials with good anti-microbial activity potential for textile modification. The discussed nano-structured anti-microbial agents include TiO(2) nano-particles, metallic and non-metallic TiO(2) nano-composites, titania nanotubes (TNTs), silver nano-particles, silver-based nano-structured materials, gold nano-particles, zinc oxide nano-particles and nano-rods, copper nano-particles, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), nano-clay and its modified forms, gallium, liposomes loaded nano-particles, metallic and inorganic dendrimers nano-composite, nano-capsules and cyclodextrins containing nano-particles. This review is also concerned with the application methods for the modification of textiles using nano-structured materials. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Lattice strain effects on the optical properties of MoS2 nanosheets

PubMed Central

Yang, Lei; Cui, Xudong; Zhang, Jingyu; Wang, Kan; Shen, Meng; Zeng, Shuangshuang; Dayeh, Shadi A.; Feng, Liang; Xiang, Bin

2014-01-01

“Strain engineering” in functional materials has been widely explored to tailor the physical properties of electronic materials and improve their electrical and/or optical properties. Here, we exploit both in plane and out of plane uniaxial tensile strains in MoS2 to modulate its band gap and engineer its optical properties. We utilize X-ray diffraction and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy to quantify the strains in the as-synthesized MoS2 nanosheets and apply measured shifts of Raman-active modes to confirm lattice strain modification of both the out-of-plane and in-plane phonon vibrations of the MoS2 nanosheets. The induced band gap evolution due to in-plane and out-of-plane tensile stresses is validated by photoluminescence (PL) measurements, promising a potential route for unprecedented manipulation of the physical, electrical and optical properties of MoS2. PMID:25008782

Sequential and simultaneous thermal and particle exposure of tungsten

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steudel, I.; Huber, A.; Kreter, A.; Linke, J.; Sergienko, G.; Unterberg, B.; Wirtz, M.

2016-02-01

The broad array of expected loading conditions in a fusion reactor such as ITER necessitates high requirements on the plasma facing materials (PFMs). Tungsten, the PFM for the divertor region, the most affected part of the in-vessel components, must thus sustain severe, distinct exposure conditions. Accordingly, comprehensive experiments investigating sequential and simultaneous thermal and particle loads were performed on double forged pure tungsten, not only to investigate whether the thermal and particle loads cause damage but also if the sequence of exposure maintains an influence. The exposed specimens showed various kinds of damage such as roughening, blistering, and cracking at a base temperature where tungsten could be ductile enough to compensate the induced stresses exclusively by plastic deformation (Pintsuk et al 2011 J. Nucl. Mater. 417 481-6). It was found out that hydrogen has an adverse effect on the material performance and the loading sequence on the surface modification.

Shrink-induced superhydrophobic and antibacterial surfaces in consumer plastics.

PubMed

Freschauf, Lauren R; McLane, Jolie; Sharma, Himanshu; Khine, Michelle

2012-01-01

Structurally modified superhydrophobic surfaces have become particularly desirable as stable antibacterial surfaces. Because their self-cleaning and water resistant properties prohibit bacteria growth, structurally modified superhydrophobic surfaces obviate bacterial resistance common with chemical agents, and therefore a robust and stable means to prevent bacteria growth is possible. In this study, we present a rapid fabrication method for creating such superhydrophobic surfaces in consumer hard plastic materials with resulting antibacterial effects. To replace complex fabrication materials and techniques, the initial mold is made with commodity shrink-wrap film and is compatible with large plastic roll-to-roll manufacturing and scale-up techniques. This method involves a purely structural modification free of chemical additives leading to its inherent consistency over time and successive recasting from the same molds. Finally, antibacterial properties are demonstrated in polystyrene (PS), polycarbonate (PC), and polyethylene (PE) by demonstrating the prevention of gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria growth on our structured plastic surfaces.

In-flight investigations of the unsteady behaviour of the boundary layer with infrared thermography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szewczyk, Mariusz; Smusz, Robert; de Groot, Klaus; Meyer, Joerg; Kucaba-Pietal, Anna; Rzucidlo, Pawel

2017-04-01

Infrared thermography (IRT) has been well established in wind tunnel and flight tests for the last decade. Former applications of IRT were focused, in nearly all cases, on steady measurements. In the last years, requirements of unsteady IRT measurements (up to 10 Hz) have been formulated, but the problem of a very slow thermal response of common materials of wind tunnel models or airplane components has to be overcome by finding a surface modification with a fast thermal response (low heat capacity, low thermal conductivity and high thermal diffusivity). Therefore, lab investigations of potential material combinations and flight tests with a ‘low cost’ aircraft, i.e. a glider with a modified wing surface, were conducted. In order to induce unsteady conditions (rapid change of laminar-turbulent boundary layer transition), special maneuvers of a glider during IRT measurements were performed.

'Gate effect' in templated polyacrylamide membranes influences the electrotransport of proteins and finds applications in proteome analysis.

PubMed

Bossi, Alessandra; Andreoli, Matteo; Bonini, Francesca; Piletsky, Sergey

2007-09-01

Templating is an effective way for the structural modifications of a material and hence for altering its functional properties. Here protein imprinting was exploited to alter polymeric polyacrylamide (PAA) membranes. The sieving properties and selection abilities of the material formed were evaluated by studying the electrically driven transport of various proteins across templated PAA membranes. The sieving properties correlated with the templating process and depended on the quantity of template used during the polymerisation. For 1 mg/mL protein-templated membranes a 'gate effect' was shown, which induced a preferential migration of the template and of similar-size proteins. Such template preferential electrotransport was exploited for the selective removal of certain proteins in biological fluids prior to proteome analysis (depletion of albumin from human serum); the efficiency of the removal was demonstrated by analysing the serum proteome by two-dimensional electrophoresis experiments.

Is Graphene a Promising Nano-Material for Promoting Surface Modification of Implants or Scaffold Materials in Bone Tissue Engineering?

PubMed Central

Gu, Ming; Liu, Yunsong; Chen, Tong; Du, Feng; Zhao, Xianghui; Xiong, Chunyang

2014-01-01

Bone tissue engineering promises to restore bone defects that are caused by severe trauma, congenital malformations, tumors, and nonunion fractures. How to effectively promote the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) or seed cells has become a hot topic in this field. Many researchers are studying the ways of conferring a pro-osteodifferentiation or osteoinductive capability on implants or scaffold materials, where osteogenesis of seed cells is promoted. Graphene (G) provides a new kind of coating material that may confer the pro-osteodifferentiation capability on implants and scaffold materials by surface modification. Here, we review recent studies on the effects of graphene on surface modifications of implants or scaffold materials. The ability of graphene to improve the mechanical and biological properties of implants or scaffold materials, such as nitinol and carbon nanotubes, and its ability to promote the adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of MSCs or osteoblasts have been demonstrated in several studies. Most previous studies were performed in vitro, but further studies will explore the mechanisms of graphene's effects on bone regeneration, its in vivo biocompatibility, its ability to promote osteodifferentiation, and its potential applications in bone tissue engineering. PMID:24447041

Is graphene a promising nano-material for promoting surface modification of implants or scaffold materials in bone tissue engineering?

PubMed

Gu, Ming; Liu, Yunsong; Chen, Tong; Du, Feng; Zhao, Xianghui; Xiong, Chunyang; Zhou, Yongsheng

2014-10-01

Bone tissue engineering promises to restore bone defects that are caused by severe trauma, congenital malformations, tumors, and nonunion fractures. How to effectively promote the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) or seed cells has become a hot topic in this field. Many researchers are studying the ways of conferring a pro-osteodifferentiation or osteoinductive capability on implants or scaffold materials, where osteogenesis of seed cells is promoted. Graphene (G) provides a new kind of coating material that may confer the pro-osteodifferentiation capability on implants and scaffold materials by surface modification. Here, we review recent studies on the effects of graphene on surface modifications of implants or scaffold materials. The ability of graphene to improve the mechanical and biological properties of implants or scaffold materials, such as nitinol and carbon nanotubes, and its ability to promote the adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of MSCs or osteoblasts have been demonstrated in several studies. Most previous studies were performed in vitro, but further studies will explore the mechanisms of graphene's effects on bone regeneration, its in vivo biocompatibility, its ability to promote osteodifferentiation, and its potential applications in bone tissue engineering.

A smart multifunctional nanocomposite for intracellular targeted drug delivery and self-release

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Chan; Lv, Piping; Wei, Wei; Tao, Shengyang; Hu, Tao; Yang, Jingbang; Meng, Changgong

2011-10-01

A multifunctional 'all-in-one' nanocomposite is fabricated using a colloid, template and surface-modification method. This material encompasses magnetic induced target delivery, cell uptake promotion and controlled drug release in one system. The nanocomposite is characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption and vibrating sample magnetometry. The prepared material has a diameter of 350-400 nm, a high surface area of 420.29 m2 g - 1, a pore size of 1.91 nm and a saturation magnetization of 32 emu g - 1. Doxorubicin (DOX) is loaded in mesopores and acid-sensitive blockers are introduced onto the orifices of the mesopores by a Schiff base linker to implement pH-dependent self-release. Folate was also introduced to improve DOX targeted delivery and endocytosis. The linkers remained intact to block pores with ferrocene valves and inhibit the diffusion of DOX at neutral pH. However, in lysosomes of cancer cells, which have a weak acidic pH, hydrolysis of the Schiff base group removes the nanovalves and allows the trapped DOX to be released. These processes are demonstrated by UV-visible absorption spectra, confocal fluorescence microscopy images and methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assays in vitro, which suggest that the smart nanocomposite successfully integrates targeted drug delivery with internal stimulus induced self-release and is a potentially useful material for nanobiomedicine.

Surface modification of bioactive glass nanoparticles and the mechanical and biological properties of poly(L-lactide) composites.

PubMed

Liu, Aixue; Hong, Zhongkui; Zhuang, Xiuli; Chen, Xuesi; Cui, Yang; Liu, Yi; Jing, Xiabin

2008-07-01

Novel bioactive glass (BG) nanoparticles/poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) composites were prepared as promising bone-repairing materials. The BG nanoparticles (Si:P:Ca=29:13:58 weight ratio) of about 40nm diameter were prepared via the sol-gel method. In order to improve the phase compatibility between the polymer and the inorganic phase, PLLA (M(n)=9700Da) was linked to the surface of the BG particles by diisocyanate. The grafting ratio of PLLA was in the vicinity of 20 wt.%. The grafting modification could improve the tensile strength, tensile modulus and impact energy of the composites by increasing the phase compatibility. When the filler loading reached around 4 wt.%, the tensile strength of the composite increased from 56.7 to 69.2MPa for the pure PLLA, and the impact strength energy increased from 15.8 to 18.0 kJ m(-2). The morphology of the tensile fracture surface of the composite showed surface-grafted bioactive glass particles (g-BG) to be dispersed homogeneously in the PLLA matrix. An in vitro bioactivity test showed that, compared to pure PLLA scaffold, the BG/PLLA nanocomposite demonstrated a greater capability to induce the formation of an apatite layer on the scaffold surface. The results of marrow stromal cell culture revealed that the composites containing either BG or g-BG particles have much better biocompatibility compared to pure PLLA material.

Covalent Bonding of Chlorogenic Acid Induces Structural Modifications on Sunflower Proteins.

PubMed

Karefyllakis, Dimitris; Salakou, Stavroula; Bitter, J Harry; van der Goot, Atze J; Nikiforidis, Constantinos V

2018-02-19

Proteins and phenols coexist in the confined space of plant cells leading to reactions between them, which result in new covalently bonded complex molecules. This kind of reactions has been widely observed during storage and processing of plant materials. However, the nature of the new complex molecules and their physicochemical properties are largely unknown. Therefore, we investigated the structural characteristics of covalently bonded complexes between sunflower protein isolate (SFPI, protein content 85 wt %) and the dominant phenol in the confined space of a sunflower seed cell (chlorogenic acid, CGA). It was shown that the efficiency of bond formation goes through a maximum as a function of the SFPI:CGA ratio. Moreover, the bonding of CGA with proteins resulted in changes in the secondary and tertiary structure of the protein. It was also shown that the phenol bound strongly to the protein, which resulted in new crosslinks between the polypeptide chains. As a result, secondary structures like α-helices and β-sheets diminished, which in turn resulted in more disordered domains and a subsequent modification of the tertiary structure of the proteins. These findings are relevant for establishing future protocols for extraction of high-quality proteins and phenols when utilizing plant material and offer insight into the impact of processing that these ingredients endure. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

The influence of social comparison on cognitive bias modification and emotional vulnerability.

PubMed

Standage, Helen; Harris, Jemma; Fox, Elaine

2014-02-01

The Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM) paradigm was devised to test predictions that cognitive biases have a causal influence on emotional status. Increasingly, however, researchers are testing the potential clinical applications of CBM. Although generally successful in reducing emotional vulnerability in clinical populations, the impact of CBM interventions has been somewhat variable. The aim of the current experiment was to investigate whether social comparison processing might be an important moderator of CBM. Healthy participants were presented with 80 valenced scenarios devised to induce a positive or negative interpretative bias. Critically, participants answered a series of questions designed to establish whether they assimilated or contrasted themselves with the valenced descriptions. The induction of an interpretation bias that was congruent with the valence of the training scenarios was successful only for participants who tended to assimilate the valenced scenarios, and not for those participants who tended to evaluate themselves against the scenarios. Furthermore, the predicted influence of CBM on emotional outcomes occurred only for those who had an assimilative rather than evaluative orientation toward CBM training material. Of key importance, results indicated that "evaluators" showed increased emotional vulnerability following positive CBM training. This result has both theoretical and clinical implications in suggesting that the success of CBM is dependent upon the way in which participants socially compare themselves with CBM training material. PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved.

Surface modification of biodegradable porous Mg bone scaffold using polycaprolactone/bioactive glass composite.

PubMed

Yazdimamaghani, Mostafa; Razavi, Mehdi; Vashaee, Daryoosh; Tayebi, Lobat

2015-04-01

A reduction in the degradation rate of magnesium (Mg) and its alloys is in high demand to enable these materials to be used in orthopedic applications. For this purpose, in this paper, a biocompatible polymeric layer reinforced with a bioactive ceramic made of polycaprolactone (PCL) and bioactive glass (BG) was applied on the surface of Mg scaffolds using dip-coating technique under low vacuum. The results indicated that the PCL-BG coated Mg scaffolds exhibited noticeably enhanced bioactivity compared to the uncoated scaffold. Moreover, the mechanical integrity of the Mg scaffolds was improved using the PCL-BG coating on the surface. The stable barrier property of the coatings effectively delayed the degradation activity of Mg scaffold substrates. Moreover, the coatings induced the formation of apatite layer on their surface after immersion in the SBF, which can enhance the biological bone in-growth and block the microcracks and pore channels in the coatings, thus prolonging their protective effect. Furthermore, it was shown that a three times increase in the concentration of PCL-BG noticeably improved the characteristics of scaffolds including their degradation resistance and mechanical stability. Since bioactivity, degradation resistance and mechanical integrity of a bone substitute are the key factors for repairing and healing fractured bones, we suggest that PCL-BG is a suitable coating material for surface modification of Mg scaffolds. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Glyoxal and Methylglyoxal-Induced Modifications in Human Hemoglobin from Poorly Controlled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients.

PubMed

Chen, Hauh-Jyun Candy; Chen, Yu-Chin; Hsiao, Chiung-Fong; Chen, Pin-Fan

2015-12-21

Glyoxal and methylglyoxal are oxoaldehydes derived from the degradation of glucose-protein conjugates and from lipid peroxidation, and they are also present in the environment. This study investigated the site-specific reaction of glyoxal and methylglyoxal with the amino acid residues on human hemoglobin using a shot-gun proteomic approach with nanoflow liquid chromatography/nanospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC-NSI/MS/MS). In human hemoglobin incubated with glyoxal, modification on 8 different sites, including lysine residues at α-Lys-11, α-Lys-16, α-Lys-56, β-Lys-17, β-Lys-66, β-Lys-144, and arginine residues at α-Arg-92 and β-Arg-30, was observed using a data-dependent scan. In methylglyoxal-treated hemoglobin, there were specific residues, namely, α-Arg-92, β-Lys-66, β-Arg-30, and β-Lys-144, forming carboxyethylation as well as the dehydrated product hydroimidazolone at α-Arg-92 and β-Arg-30. These lysine and arginine modifications were confirmed by accurate mass measurement and the MS(2) and MS(3) spectra. The most intensive signal of each modified peptide was used as the precursor ion to perform the product ion scan. The relative extent of modifications was semiquantified simultaneously relative to the native reference peptide by nanoLC-NSI/MS/MS under the selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. The extent of these modifications increased dose-dependently with increasing concentrations of glyoxal or methylglyoxal. Six out of the eight modifications induced by glyoxal and three out of the six modifications induced by methylglyoxal were detected in hemoglobin freshly isolated from human blood samples. The relative extent of modification of these post-translational modifications was quantified in poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus patients (n = 20) and in nondiabetic control subjects (n = 21). The results show that the carboxymethylated peptides at α-Lys-16, α-Arg-92, β-Lys-17, β-Lys-66, and the peptide at α-Arg-92 with methylglyoxal-derived hydroimidazolone are significantly higher in diabetic patients than in normal individuals (p value <0.05). This report identified and quantified glyoxal- and methylglyoxal-modified hemoglobin peptides in humans and revealed the association of the extent of modifications at specific sites with T2DM. Only one drop (10 μL) of fresh blood is needed for this assay, and only an equivalent of 1 μg of hemoglobin was analyzed by the nanoLC-NSI/MS/MS-SRM system. These results suggest the potential use of these specific post-translational modifications in hemoglobin as feasible biomarker candidates to assess protein damage induced by glyoxal and methylglyoxal.

Recent developments of post-modification of biochar for electrochemical energy storage.

PubMed

Cheng, Bin-Hai; Zeng, Raymond J; Jiang, Hong

2017-12-01

Biochar is a common byproduct from thermochemical conversion of biomass to produce bioenergy. However, the biochar features, such as morphology, porosity and surface chemistry, cannot be well controlled in conventional conversion approaches, limiting the wide application of raw biochar. Aiming to meet the specific requirements, post-modification of raw biochar was frequently conducted to improve the quality. In this review, recent developments regarding post-modification methods of biochar are presented and discussed. Progresses on the applications of post modified biochar as electrode materials for supercapacitors are intensively summarized. This review aims to reveal the key factors that affecting the performance of biochar-based supercapacitors, and provide guidance for rationalizing the modification methods to expand the applications of biochar-based functional materials in supercapacitors. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Characterization of Tyrosine Nitration and Cysteine Nitrosylation Modifications by Metastable Atom-Activation Dissociation Mass Spectrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cook, Shannon L.; Jackson, Glen P.

2011-02-01

The fragmentation behavior of nitrated and S-nitrosylated peptides were studied using collision induced dissociation (CID) and metastable atom-activated dissociation mass spectrometry (MAD-MS). Various charge states, such as 1+, 2+, 3+, 2-, of modified and unmodified peptides were exposed to a beam of high kinetic energy helium (He) metastable atoms resulting in extensive backbone fragmentation with significant retention of the post-translation modifications (PTMs). Whereas the high electron affinity of the nitrotyrosine moiety quenches radical chemistry and fragmentation in electron capture dissociation (ECD) and electron transfer dissociation (ETD), MAD does produce numerous backbone cleavages in the vicinity of the modification. Fragment ions of nitrosylated cysteine modifications typically exhibit more abundant neutral losses than nitrated tyrosine modifications because of the extremely labile nature of the nitrosylated cysteine residues. However, compared with CID, MAD produced between 66% and 86% more fragment ions, which preserved the labile -NO modification. MAD was also able to differentiate I/L residues in the modified peptides. MAD is able to induce radical ion chemistry even in the presence of strong radical traps and therefore offers unique advantages to ECD, ETD, and CID for determination of PTMs such as nitrated and S-nitrosylated peptides.

From Feline Idiopathic Ulcerative Dermatitis to Feline Behavioral Ulcerative Dermatitis: Grooming Repetitive Behaviors Indicators of Poor Welfare in Cats

PubMed Central

Titeux, Emmanuelle; Gilbert, Caroline; Briand, Amaury; Cochet-Faivre, Noëlle

2018-01-01

Feline idiopathic head-and-neck dermatitis—also named feline idiopathic ulcerative dermatitis (IUD)—is considered as a rare skin disease of unknown origin. It is usually associated with a crusted, non-healing, self-induced ulcer occurring most commonly on the dorsal or lateral neck or between the scapula where self-grooming by scratching occurs. Usually, IUD is diagnosed after exclusion of other causes of pruritus. In feline medicine, self-induced alopecia is recognized as a behavioral disorder (abnormal repetitive behavior) due to excessive licking, which is an amplification of a normal maintenance behavior. Such repetitive behaviors, like self-induced alopecia or self-induced wounds, are named stereotypies and considered as indicators of poor welfare. The objectives of our study were to determine, first, if the repetitive behavior associated with self-induced wounds was related to a poor welfare, and, second, if improving the welfare in the cat’s environment would lead to healing, thanks to environmental enrichment. We recruited 13 cats diagnosed with IUD by a dermatologist. These cats were referred to a behaviorist for welfare evaluation. A welfare score was attributed using a new 21-point welfare scale. The median score of the 13 IUD cats was 16, while the median score of 35 healthy cats was 7 (significant difference, p < 0.001). Major modifications of the cat’s environment and the human–cat relationship were then recommended for IUD cats. Within 15 days after environment modifications, ulcerative lesions were healed and welfare scores improved significantly (median score of 6, significantly different from the score before environmental modifications), being similar to healthy cats (no significant differences). Only one cat was treated with a psychotropic drug, owners being reluctant to improve environmental modifications. These results suggest that feline IUD is a behavioral disorder indicative of poor welfare and that it requires management by behavior specialists, proposing environmental modifications. We hence propose to rename this affection to “behavioral ulcerative dermatitis,” given that welfare scores were significantly different from healthy cats, and that environmental modifications modified welfare scores and lead to successful healing in all cases. PMID:29713639

Assessment of protein modifications in liver of rats under chronic treatment with paracetamol (acetaminophen) using two complementary mass spectrometry-based metabolomic approaches.

PubMed

Mast, Carole; Lyan, Bernard; Joly, Charlotte; Centeno, Delphine; Giacomoni, Franck; Martin, Jean-François; Mosoni, Laurent; Dardevet, Dominique; Pujos-Guillot, Estelle; Papet, Isabelle

2015-04-29

Liver protein can be altered under paracetamol (APAP) treatment. APAP-protein adducts and other protein modifications (oxidation/nitration, expression) play a role in hepatotoxicity induced by acute overdoses, but it is unknown whether liver protein modifications occur during long-term treatment with non-toxic doses of APAP. We quantified APAP-protein adducts and assessed other protein modifications in the liver from rats under chronic (17 days) treatment with two APAP doses (0.5% or 1% of APAP in the diet w/w). A targeted metabolomic method was validated and used to quantify APAP-protein adducts as APAP-cysteine adducts following proteolytic hydrolysis. The limit of detection was found to be 7ng APAP-cysteine/mL hydrolysate i.e. an APAP-Cys to tyrosine ratio of 0.016‰. Other protein modifications were assessed on the same protein hydrolysate by untargeted metabolomics including a new strategy to process the data and identify discriminant molecules. These two complementary mass spectrometry (MS)-based metabolic approaches enabled the assessment of a wide range of protein modifications induced by chronic treatment with APAP. APAP-protein adducts were detected even in the absence of glutathione depletion and hepatotoxicity, i.e. in the 0.5% APAP group, and increased by 218% in the 1% APAP group compared to the 0.5% APAP group. At the same time, the untargeted metabolomic method revealed a decrease in the binding of cysteine, cysteinyl-glycine and GSH to thiol groups of protein cysteine residues, an increase in the oxidation of tryptophan and proline residues and a modification in protein expression. This wide range of modifications in liver proteins occurred in rats under chronic treatment with APAP that did not induce hepatotoxicity. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Modification of splenic stiffness on acoustic radiation force impulse parallels the variation of portal pressure induced by transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.

PubMed

De Santis, Adriano; Nardelli, Silvia; Bassanelli, Chiara; Lupo, Marinella; Iegri, Claudia; Di Ciesco, Carmela Anna; Forlino, Mariana; Farcomeni, Alessio; Riggio, Oliviero

2018-03-01

Spleen and liver stiffness (LS) measured by acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging has been shown to be useful in identifying patients with portal hypertension. The study aims to establish if the modification of portal pressure induced by a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) parallels the modification of spleen or LS measured by ARFI in order to understand if ARFI may be used to monitor the modification of portal pressure in patients with cirrhosis. Thirty-eight patients with severe portal hypertension underwent LS and spleen stiffness (SS) before TIPS and 1 week after TIPS. Portal atrial gradient (PAG) was measured before and after the shunt opening. Portal atrial gradient decreased significantly from 19.5 to 6 mmHg (P < 0.001). SS decreased significantly after TIPS (pre-TIPS 3.7 m/s vs post-TIPS 3. 1 m/s; P < 0.001), and LS was also significantly modified by TIPS (pre-TIPS 2.8 m/s vs post-TIPS 2.4 m/s; P = 0.003). PAG and SS values measured before and after TIPS were significantly correlated (r = 0.56; P < 0.001); on the other hand, PAG and LS were not (r = 0.19; P = 0.27). Two patients developed a persistent hepatic encephalopathy refractory to medical treatment and were submitted to the reduction of the stent diameter. The modification of SS was parallel to the modification of PAG. Spleen stiffness is superior to LS in detecting the modification of portal pressure induced by TIPS. This makes SS a potential non-invasive method to monitor the modification of portal hypertension. Further investigations are needed to establish applicability and clinical utility of this promising tool in the treatment of portal hypertension. © 2017 Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

Excimer-laser-induced surface treatments on metal and ceramic materials: applications to automotive, aerospace, and microelectronic industries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Autric, Michel L.

1999-09-01

Surface treatments by laser irradiation can improve materials properties in terms of mechanical and physico- chemical behaviors, these improvements being related to the topography, the hardness, the microstructure, the chemical composition. Up to now, the use of excimer lasers for industrial applications remained marginal in spite of the interest related to the short wavelength (high photon energy and better energetic coupling with materials and reduced thermal effects in the bulk material). Up to now, the main limitations concerned the beam quality, the beam delivery, the gas handling and the relatively high investment cost. At this time, the cost of laser devices is going down and the ultraviolet radiation can be conducted through optical fibers. These two elements give new interest in using excimer laser for industrial applications. The main objective of this research program which we are involved in, is to underline some materials processing applications for automotive, aerospace or microelectronic industries for which it could be more interesting to use excimer lasers (minimized thermal effects). This paper concerns the modifications of the roughness, porosity, hardness, structure, phase, residual stresses, chemical composition of the surface of materials such as metallic alloys (aluminum, steel, cast iron, titanium, and ceramics (oxide, nitride, carbide,...) irradiated by KrF and XeCl excimer lasers.

Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Ion Beam Modification of Materials (IBMM 2016)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kennedy, John; Elliman, Robert; Mccallum, Jeffrey; Ionescu, Mihail; Markwitz, Andreas

2017-10-01

The papers in this issue of NIMB were presented at the 20th international conference on Ion Beam Modification of Materials (IBMM) held at Te Papa Museum, Wellington, New Zealand from October 30th until November 4th, 2016. This conference continued the proud legacy of New Zealand-born Lord Rutherford and his pioneering research in ion beam physics.

Influence of plasma modification on hygienic properties of textile fabrics with nonporous membrane coating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Voznesensky, E. F.; Ibragimov, R. G.; Vishnevskaya, O. V.; Sisoev, V. A.; Lutfullina, G. G.; Tihonova, N. V.

2017-11-01

The work investigated the possibility of using plasma modification to improve the hygienic properties of textile materials with nonporous membrane coating to improve vapor-, air-permeability and water-resistant. Determined that, after plasma modification changes degree of supramolecular orderliness of the polymers nonporous membrane coating and the base fabric.

Modifications of a Composite-Material Combustion Chamber

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Williams, Brian E.; McNeal, Shawn R.

2005-01-01

Two short reports discuss modifications of a small, lightweight combustion chamber that comprises a carbon/carbon composite outer shell and an iridium/ rhenium inner liner. The first report discusses chamber design modifications made as results of hot-fire tests and post-test characterization. The Books & Reports 32 NASA Tech Briefs, June 2005 modifications were intended to serve a variety of purposes, including improving fabrication, reducing thermal-expansion mismatch stresses, increasing strength-to-weight ratios of some components, and improving cooling of some components. The second report discusses (1) the origin of stress in the mismatch between the thermal expansions of the Ir/Re liner and a niobium sleeve and flange attached to the carbon/ carbon shell and (2) a modification intended to relieve the stress. The modification involves the redesign of an inlet connection to incorporate a compressible seal between the Ir/Re liner and the Nb flange. A nickel alloy was selected as the seal material on the basis of its thermal-expansion properties and its ability to withstand the anticipated stresses, including the greatest stresses caused by the high temperatures to be used in brazing during fabrication.

Modification of natural matrix lac-bagasse for matrix composite films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nurhayati, Nanik Dwi; Widjaya, Karna; Triyono

2016-02-01

Material technology continues to be developed in order to a material that is more efficient with composite technology is a combination of two or more materials to obtain the desired material properties. The objective of this research was to modification and characterize the natural matrix lac-bagasse as composite films. The first step, natural matrix lac was changed from solid to liquid using an ethanol as a solvent so the matrix homogenly. Natural matrix lac was modified by adding citric acid with concentration variation. Secondly, the bagasse delignification using acid hydrolysis method. The composite films natural matrix lac-bagasse were prepared with optimum modified the addition citric acid 5% (v/v) and delignification bagasse optimum at 1,5% (v/v) in hot press at 80°C 6 Kg/cm-1. Thirdly, composite films without and with modification were characterized functional group analysis using FTIR spectrophotometer and mechanical properties using Universal Testing Machine. The result of research showed natural matrix lac can be modified by reaction with citric acid. FTIR spectra showed without and with modification had functional groups wide absorption 3448 cm-1 group -OH, C=O ester strong on 1712 cm-1 and the methylene group -CH2 on absorption 1465 cm-1. The mechanical properties showed tensile strength 0,55 MPa and elongation at break of 0,95 %. So that composite films natural matrix lac can be made with reinforcement bagasse for material application.

Poly(dimethyl siloxane) surface modification with biosurfactants isolated from probiotic strains.

PubMed

Pinto, S; Alves, P; Santos, A C; Matos, C M; Oliveiros, B; Gonçalves, S; Gudiña, E; Rodrigues, L R; Teixeira, J A; Gil, M H

2011-09-15

Depending on the final application envisaged for a given biomaterial, many surfaces must be modified before use. The material performance in a biological environment is mainly mediated by its surface properties that can be improved using suitable modification methods. The aim of this work was to coat poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) surfaces with biosurfactants (BSs) and to evaluate how these compounds affect the PDMS surface properties. BSs isolated from four probiotic strains (Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus paracasei, Streptococcus thermophilus A, and Streptococcus thermophilus B) were used. Bare PDMS and PDMS coated with BSs were characterized by contact angle measurements, infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The influence of the surface modifications on the materials blood compatibility was studied through thrombosis and hemolysis assays. The cytotoxicity of these materials was tested against rat peritoneal macrophages. AFM results demonstrated the successful coating of the surfaces. Also, by contact angle measurements, an increase of the coated surfaces hydrophilicity was seen. Furthermore, XPS analysis indicated a decrease of the silicon content at the surface, and ATR-FTIR results showed the presence of BS characteristic groups as a consequence of the modification. All the studied materials revealed no toxicity and were found to be nonhemolytic. The proposed approach for the modification of PDMS surfaces was found to be effective and opens new possibilities for the application of these surfaces in the biomedical field. Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Structural and optical properties improvements of PVP/gelatin blends induced by neutron irradiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Basha, Mohammad Ahmad-Fouad; Hassan, Mohamed Ahmed

2018-05-01

Blends of polyvinylpyrrolidone and gelatin were prepared in three different concentrations to study the modifications in their structural and optical properties induced by neutron irradiations with different neutron fluence values from 108 up to 1011 neutron/cm2. X-ray spectroscopy revealed that the irradiation has induced a recrystallization phenomenon in the studied blends and the crystallinity index increased by increasing the neutron fluence due to the breaking of the crystallites. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy came to confirm the existence of interactions between interchain groups and a higher compatibility for the irradiated blends. The irradiation induced defects inside the material were responsible for the change in their optical and structural properties. The creation of free radicals or ions inside the conduction bands has led to the increase in the number of carriers on localized states; this has caused the increase in optical conductivity of the irradiated blends as a result of decreasing the energy gaps by increasing the neutron fluence. Results may widen the applications of the gelatin based blends to include optoelectronic devices, organic light emitting devices, solar selective and anti-reflectance bio-coatings, optical organic glass and lenses.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Varga, Tamas

Despite the fact that all chemical bonds expand on heating, a small class of materials shrinks when heated. These, so called negative thermal expansion (NTE) materials, are a unique class of materials with some exotic properties. The present chapter offers insight into the structural aspects of pressure- (or temperature-) induced phase transformations, and the energetics of those changes in these fascinating materials, in particular NTE compound cubic ZrW2O8, orthorhombic Sc2W3O12 and Sc2Mo3O12, as well as other members of the 'scandium tungstate family'. In subsequent sections, (i) combined in situ high-pressure synchrotron XRD and XAS studies of NTE material ZrW2O8; (ii)more » an in situ high-pressure synchrotron XRD study of Sc2W3O12, Sc2Mo3O12, and Al2W3O12; and (iii) thermochemical studies of the above materials are presented and discussed. In all of these studies, chemical bonds change, sometimes break and new ones form. Correlations between structure, chemistry, and energetics are revealed. It is also shown that (iv) NTE materials are good candidates as precursors to make novel solid state materials, such as the conducting Sc0.67WO4, using high-pressure, high-temperature synthesis, through modification of bonding and electronic structure, and thus provide vast opportunities for scientific exploration.« less

Silicon tetrachloride plasma induced grafting for starch-based composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Yonghui C.

Non-modified virgin starch is seldom used directly in industrial applications. Instead, it is often physically and/or chemically modified to achieve certain enhanced properties. For many of the non-food applications, these modifications involve changing its hydrophilicity to create hydrophobic starch. In this study, the hydrophobic starch was produced through silicon tetrachloride (SiCl4) plasma induced graft polymerization, so that it could be used as a renewable and biodegradable component of, or substitute for, the petrochemical-based plastics. It was suggested that this starch graft-copolymer might be used as reinforcing components in silicone-rubber materials for starch-based composites. To make this starch graft-copolymer, the ethyl ether-extracted starch powders were surface functionalized by SiCl4 plasma using a 13.56 MHz radio frequency rotating plasma reactor and subsequently stabilized by either ethylene diamine or dichlorodimethylsilane (DCDMS). The functionalized starch was then graft-polymerized with DCDMS to form polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layers around the starch granules. The presence of this PDMS layer was demonstrated by electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA/XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), thermo gravimetry/differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), and other analyses. It was shown that the surface morphology, thermal properties, swelling characteristic, and hydrophilicity of starch were all changed due to the existence of this protective hydrophobic PDMS layer. Several different procedures to carry out the functionalization and graft polymerization steps were evaluated to improve the effectiveness of the reactions and to prevent the samples from being hydrolyzed by the grafting byproduct HCl. Actinometry, GC-MS, and residual gas analyzer (RGA) were used to investigate the mechanisms of the SiCl4 discharge and to optimize the plasma modification. These plasma diagnostic results showed that, to achieve better plasma modification, higher plasma power and lower SiCl4 vapor pressure would be needed; however, it was found that the efficiency of the modification peaked at a certain point of plasma treatment time (˜10 minutes) and there was not much subsequent improvement with prolonged plasma treatment.

Comparative Analysis of Structural Responses of Rat Subcutaneous Fat on the Implantation of Samples of Polymethyl Methacrylate with Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Surface.

PubMed

Kudasova, E O; Vlasova, L F; Semenov, D E; Lushnikova, E L

2017-03-01

Morphological analysis of the subcutaneous fat was performed in rats after subcutaneous implantation of basic dental plastic materials with different hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties. It was shown that subcutaneous implantation of dental plastics with mostly hydrophobic surface and low biocompatibility induced destructive and inflammatory processes of various intensities, sometimes with allergic component; morphological signs of processes persisted for 6 weeks. Modification of basic plastics using glow-discharge plasma and enhancement of their hydrophilicity and biocompatibility significantly reduced the intensity of destructive and inflammatory processes and ensured more rapid (in 2 weeks) repair of the destroyed tissues with the formation of fibrous capsule around the implant.

Delivering sustainable crop protection systems via the seed: exploiting natural constitutive and inducible defence pathways

PubMed Central

Pickett, John A.; Aradottír, Gudbjorg I.; Birkett, Michael A.; Bruce, Toby J. A.; Hooper, Antony M.; Midega, Charles A. O.; Jones, Huw D.; Matthes, Michaela C.; Napier, Johnathan A.; Pittchar, Jimmy O.; Smart, Lesley E.; Woodcock, Christine M.; Khan, Zeyaur R.

2014-01-01

To reduce the need for seasonal inputs, crop protection will have to be delivered via the seed and other planting material. Plant secondary metabolism can be harnessed for this purpose by new breeding technologies, genetic modification and companion cropping, the latter already on-farm in sub-Saharan Africa. Secondary metabolites offer the prospect of pest management as robust as that provided by current pesticides, for which many lead compounds were, or are currently deployed as, natural products. Evidence of success and promise is given for pest management in industrial and developing agriculture. Additionally, opportunities for solving wider problems of sustainable crop protection, and also production, are discussed. PMID:24535389

Thiol-ene mediated neoglycosylation of collagen patches: a preliminary study.

PubMed

Russo, Laura; Battocchio, Chiara; Secchi, Valeria; Magnano, Elena; Nappini, Silvia; Taraballi, Francesca; Gabrielli, Luca; Comelli, Francesca; Papagni, Antonio; Costa, Barbara; Polzonetti, Giovanni; Nicotra, Francesco; Natalello, Antonino; Doglia, Silvia M; Cipolla, Laura

2014-02-11

Despite the relevance of carbohydrates as cues in eliciting specific biological responses, the covalent surface modification of collagen-based matrices with small carbohydrate epitopes has been scarcely investigated. We report thereby the development of an efficient procedure for the chemoselective neoglycosylation of collagen matrices (patches) via a thiol-ene approach, between alkene-derived monosaccharides and the thiol-functionalized material surface. Synchrotron radiation-induced X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (SR-XPS), Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR), and enzyme-linked lectin assay (ELLA) confirmed the effectiveness of the collagen neoglycosylation. Preliminary biological evaluation in osteoarthritic models is reported. The proposed methodology can be extended to any thiolated surface for the development of smart biomaterials for innovative approaches in regenerative medicine.

An in-situ synthesis of Ag/AgCl/TiO2/hierarchical porous magnesian material and its photocatalytic performance

PubMed Central

Yang, Lu; Wang, Fazhou; Shu, Chang; Liu, Peng; Zhang, Wenqin; Hu, Shuguang

2016-01-01

The absorption ability and photocatalytic activity of photocatalytic materials play important roles in improving the pollutants removal effects. Herein, we reported a new kind of photocatalytic material, which was synthesized by simultaneously designing hierarchical porous magnesian (PM) substrate and TiO2 catalyst modification. Particularly, PM substrate could be facilely prepared by controlling its crystal phase (Phase 5, Mg3Cl(OH)5·4H2O), while Ag/AgCl particles modification of TiO2 could be achieved by in situ ion exchange between Ag+ and above crystal Phase. Physiochemical analysis shows that Ag/AgCl/TiO2/PM material has higher visible and ultraviolet light absorption response, and excellent gas absorption performance compared to other controls. These suggested that Ag/AgCl/TiO2/PM material could produce more efficient photocatalytic effects. Its photocatalytic reaction rate was 5.21 and 30.57 times higher than that of TiO2/PM and TiO2/imporous magnesian substrate, respectively. Thus, this material and its intergration synthesis method could provide a novel strategy for high-efficiency application and modification of TiO2 photocatalyst in engineering filed. PMID:26883972

PEEK with Reinforced Materials and Modifications for Dental Implant Applications

PubMed Central

Rahmitasari, Fitria; Ishida, Yuichi; Kurahashi, Kosuke; Matsuda, Takashi; Watanabe, Megumi

2017-01-01

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a semi-crystalline linear polycyclic thermoplastic that has been proposed as a substitute for metals in biomaterials. PEEK can also be applied to dental implant materials as a superstructure, implant abutment, or implant body. This article summarizes the current research on PEEK applications in dental implants, especially for the improvement of PEEK surface and body modifications. Although various benchmark reports on the reinforcement and surface modifications of PEEK are available, few clinical trials using PEEK for dental implant bodies have been published. Controlled clinical trials, especially for the use of PEEK in implant abutment and implant bodies, are necessary. PMID:29563441

PEEK with Reinforced Materials and Modifications for Dental Implant Applications.

PubMed

Rahmitasari, Fitria; Ishida, Yuichi; Kurahashi, Kosuke; Matsuda, Takashi; Watanabe, Megumi; Ichikawa, Tetsuo

2017-12-15

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a semi-crystalline linear polycyclic thermoplastic that has been proposed as a substitute for metals in biomaterials. PEEK can also be applied to dental implant materials as a superstructure, implant abutment, or implant body. This article summarizes the current research on PEEK applications in dental implants, especially for the improvement of PEEK surface and body modifications. Although various benchmark reports on the reinforcement and surface modifications of PEEK are available, few clinical trials using PEEK for dental implant bodies have been published. Controlled clinical trials, especially for the use of PEEK in implant abutment and implant bodies, are necessary.

Aflatoxin B1-induced epigenetic alterations: An overview.

PubMed

Dai, Yaqi; Huang, Kunlun; Zhang, Boyang; Zhu, Liye; Xu, Wentao

2017-11-01

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is widely distributed in nature, especially in a variety of food commodities. It is confirmed to be the most toxic of all the aflatoxins. The toxicity of AFB1 has been well investigated, and it may result in severe health problems including carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, growth retardation, and immune suppression. Epigenetic modifications including DNA methylation, histone modifications and regulation of non-coding RNA play an important role in AFB1-induced disease and carcinogenesis. To better understand the evidence for AFB1-induced epigenetic alterations and the potential mechanisms of the toxicity of AFB1, we conducted a review of published studies of AFB1-induced epigenetic alterations. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Enhancing Reactivity in Structural Energetic Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Glumac, Nick

2017-06-01

In many structural energetic materials, only a small fraction of the metal oxidizes, and yet this provides a significant boost in the overall energy release of the system. Different methodologies to enhance this reactivity include alloying and geometric modifications of microstructure of the reactive material (RM). In this presentation, we present the results of several years of systematic study of both chemical (alloy) and mechanical (geometry) effects on reactivity for systems with typical charge to case mass ratios. Alloys of aluminum with magnesium and lithium are considered, as these are common alloys in aerospace applications. In terms of geometric modifications, we consider surface texturing, inclusion of dense additives, and inclusion of voids. In all modifications, a measurable influence on output is observed, and this influence is related to the fragment size distribution measured from the observed residue. Support from DTRA is gratefully acknowledged.

Chemical modification of the cocoa shell surface using diazonium salts.

PubMed

Fioresi, Flavia; Vieillard, Julien; Bargougui, Radhouane; Bouazizi, Nabil; Fotsing, Patrick Nkuigue; Woumfo, Emmanuel Djoufac; Brun, Nicolas; Mofaddel, Nadine; Le Derf, Franck

2017-05-15

The outer portion of the cocoa bean, also known as cocoa husk or cocoa shell (CS), is an agrowaste material from the cocoa industry. Even though raw CS is used as food additive, garden mulch, and soil conditioner or even burnt for fuel, this biomass material has hardly ever been investigated for further modification. This article proposes a strategy of chemical modification of cocoa shell to add value to this natural material. The study investigates the grafting of aryl diazonium salt on cocoa shell. Different diazonium salts were grafted on the shell surface and characterized by infrared spectroscopy and scanning electronic microscopy imaging. Strategies were developed to demonstrate the spontaneous grafting of aryl diazonium salt on cocoa shell and to elucidate that lignin is mainly involved in immobilizing the phenyl layer. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of the Methods of portective Treatment against microbiological damages and prolonged antimicrobic protection of the interior and the equipment of space objects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deshevaya, E.; Novikova, N.; Polycarpov, N.; Poddubko, S.; Shumilina, G.; Bragina, M.; Zarubina, K.; Tverskoy, V.; Akova, M. D.

The researches which have been carried out onboard the orbital complex (? C) MIR, testify that environment of the manned space object may be considered as peculiar ecological niche for development of the microbial community generated by microorganisms of various physiological and taxonomic groups. As a result of vital activity of fungi during OC MIR operation zones of fungi growth on various elements of interior and equipment, cases of destruction of the materials and attributes of corrosion of metals were noted. Existing methods of development of microorganisms on a surface of constructional materials using sanitary treatment of the accessible surfaces with disinfectants, represent the big labour input for the crew. More radical solution of the problem is the development and use of methods of superficial modification of constructional materials and use of methods of superficial modification of constructional materials and treatment of their surface of varnish or paint, resistant to biocontamination and growth of the microorganisms. As a result of the conducted research, the following methods of protection of constructional materials against development of microorganisms were chosen: - fluorination, sylilition, radiating graft polymerization etc., resulting in formation of the functional groups having biocide action; For varnish and paint coverings - coverings on a basis stoichiometrical interpolymeric polyelectrolytic complexes, organosilicone coverings, etc. For testing of the biological effects of samples of the materials subjected to the different methods of surface modification, researches were carried out and experimental models of typical biodestructive processes of the constructional materials are developed considering microclimatic parameters of local zones (the increased temperature and humidity), resistance of the materials to the influence of fungi and increased radiating background influence. Biological testing testifying the efficiency of developed methods and ways of protection of materials on experimental samples of the materials subjected superficial modification is conducted and optimum concentration of reagents and biocides in varnish coverings are determined.

Effects of viscoelasticity on drop impact and spreading on a solid surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Izbassarov, Daulet; Muradoglu, Metin

2016-06-01

The effects of viscoelasticity on drop impact and spreading on a flat solid surface are studied computationally using a finite-difference-front-tracking method. The finitely extensible nonlinear elastic-Chilcott-Rallison model is used to account for the fluid viscoelasticity. It is found that viscoelasticity favors advancement of contact line during the spreading phase, leading to a slight increase in the maximum spreading, in agreement with experimental observations [Huh, Jung, Seo, and Lee, Microfluid. Nanofluid. 18, 1221 (2015), 10.1007/s10404-014-1518-4]. However, in contrast with the well-known antirebound effects of polymeric additives, the viscoelasticity is found to enhance the tendency of the drop rebound in the receding phase. These results suggest that the antirebound effects are mainly due to the polymer-induced modification of wetting properties of the substrate rather than the change in the material properties of the drop fluid. A model is proposed to test this hypothesis. It is found that the model results in good qualitative agreement with the experimental observations and the antirebound behavior can be captured by the modification of surface wetting properties in the receding phase.

Evidence of ion intercalation mediated band structure modification and opto-ionic coupling in lithium niobite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shank, Joshua C.; Tellekamp, M. Brooks; Doolittle, W. Alan

2015-01-01

The theoretically suggested band structure of the novel p-type semiconductor lithium niobite (LiNbO2), the direct coupling of photons to ion motion, and optically induced band structure modifications are investigated by temperature dependent photoluminescence. LiNbO2 has previously been used as a memristor material but is shown here to be useful as a sensor owing to the electrical, optical, and chemical ease of lithium removal and insertion. Despite the high concentration of vacancies present in lithium niobite due to the intentional removal of lithium atoms, strong photoluminescence spectra are observed even at room temperature that experimentally confirm the suggested band structure implying transitions from a flat conduction band to a degenerate valence band. Removal of small amounts of lithium significantly modifies the photoluminescence spectra including additional larger than stoichiometric-band gap features. Sufficient removal of lithium results in the elimination of the photoluminescence response supporting the predicted transition from a direct to indirect band gap semiconductor. In addition, non-thermal coupling between the incident laser and lithium ions is observed and results in modulation of the electrical impedance.

Evaluation of the Bronchorelaxant, Genotoxic, and Antigenotoxic Effects of Cassia alata L.

PubMed Central

Ouédraogo, M.; Da, F. L.; Fabré, A.; Konaté, K.; Dibala, C. I.; Carreyre, H.; Thibaudeau, S.; Coustard, J.-M.; Vandebrouck, C.; Bescond, J.; Belemtougri, R. G.

2013-01-01

Aqueous-ethanolic extract of Cassia alata (AECal) and its derived fractions obtained through liquid-liquid fractionation were evaluated for their bronchorelaxant, genotoxic, and antigenotoxic effects. Contractile activity of rats' tracheas in the presence of tested materials, as well as its modifications with different inhibitors and blockers, was isometrically recorded. The antigenotoxic potential of AECal was evaluated on cyclophosphamide- (CP-) induced genotoxicity in the rat. Animals were pretreated with the extract, then liver comet assay was performed. AECal and its chloroformic fractions (CF-AECal) relaxed the contraction induced by Ach, but both were significantly less potent in inhibiting contraction induced by KCl (30 mM; 80 mM). Propranolol, indomethacin, L-NAME, methylene blue, and glibenclamide did not modify the relaxant effect of CF-AECal. TEA altered the response of trachea to CF-AECal. CF-AECal caused a rightward shift without affecting the E max in cumulative concentration-response curves of Ach only at low concentrations. In animals pretreated with the extract, the percentage of CP-induced DNA damage decreased. Our results suggest that (1) muscarinic receptors contribute at least in part to the relaxant effects of CF-AECal; (2) CF-AECal interferes with membrane polarization; and (3) AECal is not genotoxic in vivo and contains chemopreventive phytoconstituents offering protection against CP-induced genotoxicity. PMID:23710211

Functional Modification of Thioether Groups in Peptides, Polypeptides, and Proteins.

PubMed

Deming, Timothy J

2017-03-15

Recent developments in the modification of methionine and other thioether-containing residues in peptides, polypeptides, and proteins are reviewed. Properties and potential applications of the resulting functionalized products are also discussed. While much of this work is focused on natural Met residues, modifications at other side-chain residues have also emerged as new thioether-containing amino acids have been incorporated into peptidic materials. Functional modification of thioether-containing amino acids has many advantages and is a complementary methodology to the widely utilized methods for modification at cysteine residues.

Surface Modifications of Materials by Electrochemical Methods to Improve the Properties for Industrial and Medical Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benea, Lidia

2018-06-01

There are two applied electrochemical methods in our group in order to obtain advanced functional surfaces on materials: (i) direct electrochemical synthesis by electro-codeposition process and (ii) anodization of materials to form nanoporous oxide layers followed by electrodeposition of hydroxyapatite or other bioactive molecules and compounds into porous film. Electrodeposition is a process of low energy consumption, and therefore very convenient for the surface modification of various types of materials. Electrodeposition is a powerful method compared with other methods, which led her to be adopted and spread rapidly in nanotechnology to obtain nanostructured layers and films. Nanoporous thin oxide layers on titanum alloys as support for hydroxyapatite or other biomolecules electrodeposition in view of biomedical applications could be obtained by electrochemical methods. For surface modification of titanium or titanium alloys to improve the biocompatibility or osseointegration, the two steps must be fulfilled; the first is controlled growth of oxide layer followed by second being biomolecule electrodeposition into nanoporous formed titanium oxide layer.

Graphene-Based Functional Architectures: Sheets Regulation and Macrostructure Construction toward Actuators and Power Generators.

PubMed

Cheng, Huhu; Huang, Yaxin; Shi, Gaoquan; Jiang, Lan; Qu, Liangti

2017-07-18

Graphene, with large delocalized π electron cloud on a two-dimensional (2D) atom-thin plane, possesses excellent carrier mobility, large surface area, high light transparency, high mechanical strength, and superior flexibility. However, the lack of intrinsic band gap, poor dispersibility, and weak reactivity of graphene hinder its application scope. Heteroatom-doping regulation and surface modification of graphene can effectively reconstruct the sp 2 bonded carbon atoms and tailor the surface chemistry and interfacial interaction, while microstructure mediation on graphene can induce the special chemical and physical properties because of the quantum confinement, edge effect, and unusual mass transport process. Based on these regulations on graphene, series of methods and techniques are developed to couple the promising characters of graphene into the macroscopic architectures for potential and practical applications. In this Account, we present our effort on graphene regulation from chemical modification to microstructure control, from the morphology-designed macroassemblies to their applications in functional systems excluding the energy-storage devices. We first introduce the chemically regulative graphene with incorporated heteroatoms into the honeycomb lattice, which could open the intrinsic band gap and provide many active sites. Then the surface modification of graphene with functional components will improve dispersibility, prevent aggregation, and introduce new functions. On the other hand, microstructure mediation on graphene sheets (e.g., 0D quantum dots, 1D nanoribbons, and 2D nanomeshes) is demonstrated to induce special chemical and physical properties. Benefiting from the effective regulation on graphene sheets, diverse methods including dimension-confined strategy, filtration assembly, and hydrothermal treatment have been developed to assemble individual graphene sheets to macroscopic graphene fibers, films, and frameworks. These rationally regulated graphene sheets and well-constructed assemblies present promising applications in energy-conversion materials and device systems focusing on actuators that can convert different energy forms (e.g., electric, chemical, photonic, thermal, etc.) to mechanical actuation and electrical generators that can directly transform environmental energy to electric power. These results reveal that graphene sheets with surface chemistry and microstructure regulations as well as their rationally designed assemblies provide a promising and abundant platform for development of diverse functional devices. We hope that this Account will promote further efforts toward fundamental research on graphene regulation and the wide applications of advanced designed assemblies in new types of energy-conversion materials/devices and beyond.

Interleukin 1 β-induced SMAD2/3 linker modifications are TAK1 dependent and delay TGFβ signaling in primary human mesenchymal stem cells.

PubMed

van den Akker, Guus G; van Beuningen, Henk M; Vitters, Elly L; Koenders, Marije I; van de Loo, Fons A; van Lent, Peter L; Blaney Davidson, Esmeralda N; van der Kraan, Peter M

2017-12-01

Chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) requires transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) signaling. TGFβ binds to the type I receptor activin-like kinase (ALK)5 and results in C-terminal SMAD2/3 phosphorylation (pSMAD2/3C). In turn pSMAD2/3C translocates to the nucleus and regulates target gene expression. Inflammatory mediators are known to exert an inhibitory effect on MSC differentiation. In this study we investigated the effect of interleukin 1 β (IL1β) on SMAD2/3 signaling dynamics and post-translational modifications. Co-stimulation of MSC with TGFβ and IL1β did not affect peak pSMAD2C levels at 1h post-stimulation. Surprisingly, SMAD3 transcriptional activity, as determined by the CAGA 12 -luciferase reporter construct, was enhanced by co-stimulation of TGFβ and IL1β compared to TGFβ alone. Furthermore, IL1β stimulation induced CAGA 12 -luciferase activity in a SMAD dependent way. As SMAD function can be modulated independent of canonical TGFβ signaling through the SMAD linker domain, we studied SMAD2 linker phosphorylation at specific threonine and serine residues. SMAD2 linker threonine and serine modifications were observed within 1h following TGFβ, IL1β or TGFβ and IL1β stimulation. Upon co-stimulation linker modified SMAD2 accumulated in the cytoplasm and SMAD2/3 target gene transcription (ID1, JUNB) at 2-4h was inhibited. A detailed time course analysis of IL1β-induced SMAD2 linker modifications revealed a distinct temperospatial pattern compared to TGFβ. Co-stimulation with both factors resulted in a similar kinetic profile as TGFβ alone. Nevertheless, IL1β did subtly alter TGFβ-induced pSMAD2C levels between 8 and 24h post-stimulation, which was reflected by TGFβ target gene expression (PAI1, JUNB). Direct evidence for the importance of SMAD3 linker modifications for the effect of IL1β on TGFβ signaling was obtained by over-expression of SMAD3 or a SMAD3 linker phospho-mutant. Finally, an inhibitor screening was performed to identify kinases involved in SMAD2/3 linker modifications. We identified TAK1 kinase activity as crucial for IL1β-induced SMAD2 linker modifications and CAGA 12 -luciferase activity. TGFβ and IL1β signaling interact at the SMAD2/3 level in human primary MSC. Down-stream TGFβ target genes were repressed by IL1β independent of C-terminal SMAD2 phosphorylation. We demonstrate that SMAD2/3 linker modifications are required for this interplay and identified TAK1 as a crucial mediator of IL1β-induced TGFβ signal modulation. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Electronic modification of Cu-based chalcopyrite semiconductors induced by lattice deformation and composition alchemy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, F. D.; Feng, J. Y.

2008-02-01

Using first principles calculation, we systematically investigate the electronic modification of Cu-based chalcopyrite semiconductors induced by lattice deformation and composition alchemy. It is shown that the optical band gap Eg is remarkably sensitive to the anion displacement μ, resulting from the opposite shifts of conduction band minimum and valence band maximum. Meanwhile, the dependence of structural parameters of alloyed compounds on alloy composition x is demonstrated for both cation and anion alloying. The d orbitals of group-III cations are found to be of great importance in the calculation. Abnormal changes in the optical band gap Eg induced by anion alloying are addressed.

Laser-induced transient grating setup with continuously tunable period

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vega-Flick, A.; Applied Physics Department, CINVESTAV-Unidad Mérida, Carretera Antigua a Progreso Km 6, Cordemex, Mérida, Yucatán 97310 Mexico; Eliason, J. K.

2015-12-15

We present a modification of the laser-induced transient grating setup enabling continuous tuning of the transient grating period. The fine control of the period is accomplished by varying the angle of the diffraction grating used to split excitation and probe beams. The setup has been tested by measuring dispersion of bulk and surface acoustic waves in both transmission and reflection geometries. The presented modification is fully compatible with optical heterodyne detection and can be easily implemented in any transient grating setup.

Interaction of ultrashort laser pulses with epsilon-near-zero materials (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boyd, Robert W.

2017-05-01

Abstract: The nonlinear optical response of a material is conventionally assumed to be very much smaller than its linear response. Here we report that the nonlinear contribution to the refractive index of a sample of indium-tin oxide can be much larger than the linear contribution when the optical wavelength is close to the material's bulk plasma wavelength, where the material exhibits epsilon-near-zero behavior. In particular, we demonstrate that a change in refractive index as large as 0.7 can be obtained in an ultra-thin indium-tin oxide film using an optical intensity of 140 GW/cm2. Nonlinear optical phenomena result from the light-induced modification of the optical properties of a material lead to a broad range of applications, including microscopy, all-optical data processing, and quantum information. However, nonlinear (NL) effects are typically extremely weak. The size of nonlinear effects is typically limited by the largest intensity that can be used without permanently damaging of the material. Consequently, the resulting change in refractive index is typically of the order of 0.001 or smaller. A long-standing goal of nonlinear optics (NLO) has been the development of materials that can display a light-induced change in the refractive index of the order of unity. Such materials would lead to exciting new applications of NLO. Indeed, much effort in the fields of plasmonics and metamaterials is devoted to the development of such materials. Furthermore, it has been suggested that materials with vanishing permittivity, commonly known as epsilon-nearzero (ENZ) materials, can be used to induce highly nonlinear phenomena and unusual phase-matching behavior. In this work, we describe our studies of indium-tin oxide (ITO) at its ENZ wavelength, and we demonstrate a refractive index change of 0.7. Materials possessing free charges, such as metals and doped semiconductors, exhibit a vanishing permittivity at the bulk plasmon wavelength. The zero-permittivity wavelength in doped semiconductors typically lies at infrared wavelengths and can be fine tuned by controlling the level of doping. Here we study the case of an ultra-thin layer of ITO exhibiting ENZ behavior at wavelengths around 1.24 µm. We show that in this spectral region the nonlinear response (intensity-dependent change in refractive index, Δn) is enhanced approximately 2000-fold with respect to that observed at shorter wavelengths and that a Δn of the order of unity can be observed.

Surface modifications on InAs decrease indium and arsenic leaching under physiological conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jewett, Scott A.; Yoder, Jeffrey A.; Ivanisevic, Albena

2012-11-01

Devices containing III-V semiconductors such as InAs are increasingly being used in the electronic industry for a variety of optoelectronic applications. Furthermore, the attractive chemical, material, electronic properties make such materials appealing for use in devices designed for biological applications, such as biosensors. However, in biological applications the leaching of toxic materials from these devices could cause harm to cells or tissue. Additionally, after disposal, toxic inorganic materials can leach from devices and buildup in the environment, causing long-term ecological harm. Therefore, the toxicity of these materials along with their stability in physiological conditions are important factors to consider. Surface modifications are one common method of stabilizing semiconductor materials in order to chemically and electronically passivate them. Such surface modifications could also prevent the leaching of toxic materials by preventing the regrowth of the unstable surface oxide layer and by creating an effective barrier between the semiconductor surface and the surrounding environment. In this study, various surface modifications on InAs are developed with the goal of decreasing the leaching of indium and arsenic. The leaching of indium and arsenic from modified substrates was assessed in physiological conditions using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Substrates modified with 11-mercapto-1-undecanol (MU) and graft polymerized with poly(ethylene) glycol (PEG) were most effective at preventing indium and arsenic leaching. These surfaces were characterized using contact angle analysis, ellipsometry, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Substrates modified with collagen and synthetic polyelectrolytes were least effective, due to the destructive nature of acidic environments on InAs. The toxicity of modified and unmodified InAs, along with raw indium, arsenic, and PEG components was assessed using zebrafish embryos.

Surface modification of steels and magnesium alloy by high current pulsed electron beam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hao, Shengzhi; Gao, Bo; Wu, Aimin; Zou, Jianxin; Qin, Ying; Dong, Chuang; An, Jian; Guan, Qingfeng

2005-11-01

High current pulsed electron beam (HCPEB) is now developing as a useful tool for surface modification of materials. When concentrated electron flux transferring its energy into a very thin surface layer within a short pulse time, superfast processes such as heating, melting, evaporation and consequent solidification, as well as dynamic stress induced may impart the surface layer with improved physico-chemical and mechanical properties. This paper presents our research work on surface modification of steels and magnesium alloy with HCPEB of working parameters as electron energy 27 keV, pulse duration ∼1 μs and energy density ∼2.2 J/cm2 per pulse. Investigations performed on carbon steel T8, mold steel D2 and magnesium alloy AZ91HP have shown that the most pronounced changes of phase-structure state and properties occurring in the near-surface layers, while the thickness of the modified layer with improved microhardness (several hundreds of micrometers) is significantly greater than that of the heat-affected zone. The formation mechanisms of surface cratering and non-stationary hardening effect in depth are discussed based on the elucidation of non-equilibrium temperature filed and different kinds of stresses formed during pulsed electron beam melting treatment. After the pulsed electron beam treatments, samples show significant improvements in measurements of wear and corrosion resistance.

Living Additive Manufacturing: Transformation of Parent Gels into Diversely Functionalized Daughter Gels Made Possible by Visible Light Photoredox Catalysis

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Light-initiated additive manufacturing techniques typically rely on layer-by-layer addition or continuous extraction of polymers formed via nonliving, free radical polymerization methods that render the final materials “dead” toward further monomer insertion; the polymer chains within the materials cannot be reactivated to induce chain extension. An alternative “living additive manufacturing” strategy would involve the use of photocontrolled living radical polymerization to spatiotemporally insert monomers into dormant “parent” materials to generate more complex and diversely functionalized “daughter” materials. Here, we demonstrate a proof-of-concept study of living additive manufacturing using end-linked polymer gels embedded with trithiocarbonate iniferters that can be activated by photoinduced single-electron transfer from an organic photoredox catalyst in solution. This system enables the synthesis of a wide range of chemically and mechanically differentiated daughter gels from a single type of parent gel via light-controlled modification of the parent’s average composition, strand length, and/or cross-linking density. Daughter gels that are softer than their parent, stiffer than their parent, larger but with the same modulus as their parent, thermally responsive, polarity responsive, healable, and weldable are all realized. PMID:28280779

Living Additive Manufacturing: Transformation of Parent Gels into Diversely Functionalized Daughter Gels Made Possible by Visible Light Photoredox Catalysis.

PubMed

Chen, Mao; Gu, Yuwei; Singh, Awaneesh; Zhong, Mingjiang; Jordan, Alex M; Biswas, Santidan; Korley, LaShanda T J; Balazs, Anna C; Johnson, Jeremiah A

2017-02-22

Light-initiated additive manufacturing techniques typically rely on layer-by-layer addition or continuous extraction of polymers formed via nonliving, free radical polymerization methods that render the final materials "dead" toward further monomer insertion; the polymer chains within the materials cannot be reactivated to induce chain extension. An alternative "living additive manufacturing" strategy would involve the use of photocontrolled living radical polymerization to spatiotemporally insert monomers into dormant "parent" materials to generate more complex and diversely functionalized "daughter" materials. Here, we demonstrate a proof-of-concept study of living additive manufacturing using end-linked polymer gels embedded with trithiocarbonate iniferters that can be activated by photoinduced single-electron transfer from an organic photoredox catalyst in solution. This system enables the synthesis of a wide range of chemically and mechanically differentiated daughter gels from a single type of parent gel via light-controlled modification of the parent's average composition, strand length, and/or cross-linking density. Daughter gels that are softer than their parent, stiffer than their parent, larger but with the same modulus as their parent, thermally responsive, polarity responsive, healable, and weldable are all realized.

Ionic Modification Turns Commercial Rubber into a Self-Healing Material.

PubMed

Das, Amit; Sallat, Aladdin; Böhme, Frank; Suckow, Marcus; Basu, Debdipta; Wiessner, Sven; Stöckelhuber, Klaus Werner; Voit, Brigitte; Heinrich, Gert

2015-09-23

Invented by Charles Goodyear, chemical cross-linking of rubbers by sulfur vulcanization is the only method by which modern automobile tires are manufactured. The formation of these cross-linked network structures leads to highly elastic properties, which substantially reduces the viscous properties of these materials. Here, we describe a simple approach to converting commercially available and widely used bromobutyl rubber (BIIR) into a highly elastic material with extraordinary self-healing properties without using conventional cross-linking or vulcanising agents. Transformation of the bromine functionalities of BIIR into ionic imidazolium bromide groups results in the formation of reversible ionic associates that exhibit physical cross-linking ability. The reversibility of the ionic association facilitates the healing processes by temperature- or stress-induced rearrangements, thereby enabling a fully cut sample to retain its original properties after application of the self-healing process. Other mechanical properties, such as the elastic modulus, tensile strength, ductility, and hysteresis loss, were found to be superior to those of conventionally sulfur-cured BIIR. This simple and easy approach to preparing a commercial rubber with self-healing properties offers unique development opportunities in the field of highly engineered materials, such as tires, for which safety, performance, and longer fatigue life are crucial factors.

Research trends in biomimetic medical materials for tissue engineering: 3D bioprinting, surface modification, nano/micro-technology and clinical aspects in tissue engineering of cartilage and bone.

PubMed

Chen, Cen; Bang, Sumi; Cho, Younghak; Lee, Sahnghoon; Lee, Inseop; Zhang, ShengMin; Noh, Insup

2016-01-01

This review discusses about biomimetic medical materials for tissue engineering of bone and cartilage, after previous scientific commentary of the invitation-based, Korea-China joint symposium on biomimetic medical materials, which was held in Seoul, Korea, from October 22 to 26, 2015. The contents of this review were evolved from the presentations of that symposium. Four topics of biomimetic medical materials were discussed from different research groups here: 1) 3D bioprinting medical materials, 2) nano/micro-technology, 3) surface modification of biomaterials for their interactions with cells and 4) clinical aspects of biomaterials for cartilage focusing on cells, scaffolds and cytokines.

Antifungal Activity of Denture Soft Lining Material Modified by Silver Nanoparticles—A Pilot Study

PubMed Central

Chladek, Grzegorz; Mertas, Anna; Barszczewska-Rybarek, Izabela; Nalewajek, Teresa; Żmudzki, Jarosław; Król, Wojciech; Łukaszczyk, Jan

2011-01-01

Soft liner materials in oral cavity environments are easily colonized both by fungi and dental plaque. These factors are the cause of mucosal infections. The microorganism that most frequently colonizes soft liner materials is Candida albicans. Colonization occurs on the surface of materials and within materials. A solution to this problem might involve modification of soft liner materials with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). In this article, we present results showing the antifungal efficacy of silicone soft lining materials modified with AgNPs. The modification process was conducted by dissolving both material components (base and catalyst) in a colloidal solution of AgNPs and evaporating the solvent. Composites with various AgNP concentrations (10, 20, 40, 80, 120 and 200 ppm) were examined. The in vitro antifungal efficacy (AFE) of composite samples was 16.3% to 52.5%. PMID:21845108

The generation of piezoelectricity and flexoelectricity in graphene by breaking the materials symmetries.

PubMed

Javvaji, Brahmanandam; He, Bo; Zhuang, Xiaoying

2018-06-01

Graphene is a non-piezoelectric material. Engineering the piezoelectricity in graphene is possible with the help of impurities, defects and structural modifications. This study reports the mechanism of strain induced polarization and the estimation of piezoelectric and flexoelectric coefficients for graphene system. The combination of charge-dipole potential and the strong many-body potential is employed for describing the inter-atomic interactions. The breaking of symmetry in graphene material is utilized to generate the polarization. Pristine graphene, graphene with circular defect, graphene with triangular defect and trapezium-shaped graphene are considered. Molecular dynamics simulations are performed for straining the graphene atomic systems. The optimization of charge-dipole potential functions measure the polarization for these systems. Pristine and circular defect graphene systems show a constant polarization with strain. The polarization is varying with strain for a triangular defected and trapezium-shaped graphene system. The local atomic deformation produces a change in polarization with respect to the strain gradient. Estimated piezo and flexo coefficients motivate the usage of graphene in electro-mechanical devices.

Fatigue Analyses Under Constant- and Variable-Amplitude Loading Using Small-Crack Theory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Newman, J. C., Jr.; Phillips, E. P.; Everett, R. A., Jr.

1999-01-01

Studies on the growth of small cracks have led to the observation that fatigue life of many engineering materials is primarily "crack growth" from micro-structural features, such as inclusion particles, voids, slip-bands or from manufacturing defects. This paper reviews the capabilities of a plasticity-induced crack-closure model to predict fatigue lives of metallic materials using "small-crack theory" under various loading conditions. Constraint factors, to account for three-dimensional effects, were selected to correlate large-crack growth rate data as a function of the effective stress-intensity factor range (delta-Keff) under constant-amplitude loading. Modifications to the delta-Keff-rate relations in the near-threshold regime were needed to fit measured small-crack growth rate behavior. The model was then used to calculate small-and large-crack growth rates, and to predict total fatigue lives, for notched and un-notched specimens under constant-amplitude and spectrum loading. Fatigue lives were predicted using crack-growth relations and micro-structural features like those that initiated cracks in the fatigue specimens for most of the materials analyzed. Results from the tests and analyses agreed well.

The generation of piezoelectricity and flexoelectricity in graphene by breaking the materials symmetries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Javvaji, Brahmanandam; He, Bo; Zhuang, Xiaoying

2018-06-01

Graphene is a non-piezoelectric material. Engineering the piezoelectricity in graphene is possible with the help of impurities, defects and structural modifications. This study reports the mechanism of strain induced polarization and the estimation of piezoelectric and flexoelectric coefficients for graphene system. The combination of charge-dipole potential and the strong many-body potential is employed for describing the inter-atomic interactions. The breaking of symmetry in graphene material is utilized to generate the polarization. Pristine graphene, graphene with circular defect, graphene with triangular defect and trapezium-shaped graphene are considered. Molecular dynamics simulations are performed for straining the graphene atomic systems. The optimization of charge-dipole potential functions measure the polarization for these systems. Pristine and circular defect graphene systems show a constant polarization with strain. The polarization is varying with strain for a triangular defected and trapezium-shaped graphene system. The local atomic deformation produces a change in polarization with respect to the strain gradient. Estimated piezo and flexo coefficients motivate the usage of graphene in electro-mechanical devices.

Aryl Diazonium Chemistry for the Surface Functionalization of Glassy Biosensors.

PubMed

Zheng, Wei; van den Hurk, Remko; Cao, Yong; Du, Rongbing; Sun, Xuejun; Wang, Yiyu; McDermott, Mark T; Evoy, Stephane

2016-03-14

Nanostring resonator and fiber-optics-based biosensors are of interest as they offer high sensitivity, real-time measurements and the ability to integrate with electronics. However, these devices are somewhat impaired by issues related to surface modification. Both nanostring resonators and photonic sensors employ glassy materials, which are incompatible with electrochemistry. A surface chemistry approach providing strong and stable adhesion to glassy surfaces is thus required. In this work, a diazonium salt induced aryl film grafting process is employed to modify a novel SiCN glassy material. Sandwich rabbit IgG binding assays are performed on the diazonium treated SiCN surfaces. Fluorescently labelled anti-rabbit IgG and anti-rabbit IgG conjugated gold nanoparticles were used as markers to demonstrate the absorption of anti-rabbit IgG and therefore verify the successful grafting of the aryl film. The results of the experiments support the effectiveness of diazonium chemistry for the surface functionalization of SiCN surfaces. This method is applicable to other types of glassy materials and potentially can be expanded to various nanomechanical and optical biosensors.

Aryl Diazonium Chemistry for the Surface Functionalization of Glassy Biosensors

PubMed Central

Zheng, Wei; van den Hurk, Remko; Cao, Yong; Du, Rongbing; Sun, Xuejun; Wang, Yiyu; McDermott, Mark T.; Evoy, Stephane

2016-01-01

Nanostring resonator and fiber-optics-based biosensors are of interest as they offer high sensitivity, real-time measurements and the ability to integrate with electronics. However, these devices are somewhat impaired by issues related to surface modification. Both nanostring resonators and photonic sensors employ glassy materials, which are incompatible with electrochemistry. A surface chemistry approach providing strong and stable adhesion to glassy surfaces is thus required. In this work, a diazonium salt induced aryl film grafting process is employed to modify a novel SiCN glassy material. Sandwich rabbit IgG binding assays are performed on the diazonium treated SiCN surfaces. Fluorescently labelled anti-rabbit IgG and anti-rabbit IgG conjugated gold nanoparticles were used as markers to demonstrate the absorption of anti-rabbit IgG and therefore verify the successful grafting of the aryl film. The results of the experiments support the effectiveness of diazonium chemistry for the surface functionalization of SiCN surfaces. This method is applicable to other types of glassy materials and potentially can be expanded to various nanomechanical and optical biosensors. PMID:26985910

Dissolution Mechanisms of LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 Positive Electrode Material from Lithium-Ion Batteries in Acid Solution.

PubMed

Billy, Emmanuel; Joulié, Marion; Laucournet, Richard; Boulineau, Adrien; De Vito, Eric; Meyer, Daniel

2018-05-04

The sustainability through the energy and environmental costs involve the development of new cathode materials, considering the material abundance, the toxicity, and the end of life. Currently, some synthesis methods of new cathode materials and a large majority of recycling processes are based on the use of acidic solutions. This study addresses the mechanistic and limiting aspects on the dissolution of the layered LiNi 1/3 Mn 1/3 Co 1/3 O 2 oxide in acidic solution. The results show a dissolution of the active cathode material in two steps, which leads to the formation of a well-defined core-shell structure inducing an enrichment in manganese on the particle surface. The crucial role of lithium extraction is discussed and considered as the source of a "self-regulating" dissolution process. The delithiation involves a cumulative charge compensation by the cationic and anionic redox reactions. The electrons generated from the compensation of charge conduct to the dissolution by the protons. The delithiation and its implications on the side reactions, by the modification of the potential, explain the structural and compositional evolutions observed toward a composite material MnO 2 ·Li x MO 2 (M = Ni, Mn, and Co). The study shows a clear way to produce new cathode materials and recover transition metals from Li-ion batteries by hydrometallurgical processes.

Femtosecond laser-induced refractive index modification in multicomponent glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhardwaj, V. R.; Simova, E.; Corkum, P. B.; Rayner, D. M.; Hnatovsky, C.; Taylor, R. S.; Schreder, B.; Kluge, M.; Zimmer, J.

2005-04-01

We present a comprehensive study on femtosecond laser-induced refractive index modification in a wide variety of multicomponent glasses grouped as borosilicate, aluminum-silicate, and heavy-metal oxide glasses along with lanthanum-borate and sodium-phosphate glasses. By using high-spatial resolution refractive index profiling techniques, we demonstrate that under a wide range of writing conditions the refractive index modification in multicomponent glasses can be positive, negative, or nonuniform, and exhibits a strong dependence on the glass composition. With the exception of some aluminum-silicate glasses all other glasses exhibited a negative/nonuniform index change. We also demonstrate direct writing of waveguides in photosensitive Foturan® glass with a femtosecond laser without initiating crystallization by thermal treatment. Upon ceramization of lithium-aluminum-silicate glasses such as Foturan®, Zerodur®, and Robax® we observe switching of laser-induced refractive index change from being positive to negative. The measured transmission losses in the waveguides at 1550nm agree with the index profile measurements in alkali-free aluminum-silicate glasses.

Investigations on pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of polymeric and solid lipid nanoparticulate systems of atypical antipsychotic drug: effect of material used and surface modification.

PubMed

Joseph, Emil; Saha, Ranendra N

2017-04-01

The present study focuses on the effect of material used for the preparation of nanoparticulate (NP) systems and surface modification on the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of atypical antipsychotic, olanzapine (OLN). NP carriers of OLN were prepared from two different materials such as polymer (polycaprolactone) and solid lipid (Glyceryl monostearate). These systems were further surface modified with surfactant, Polysorbate 80 and studied for pharmacokinetics-biodistribution in Wistar rats using in-house developed bioanalytical methods. The pharmacokinetics and biodistribution studies resulted in a modified and varied distribution of NP systems with higher area under curve (AUC) values along with prolonged residence time of OLN in the rat blood circulation. The distribution of OLN to the brain was significantly enhanced with surfactant surface-modified NP systems, followed by nonsurface-modified NP formulations as compared with pure OLN solution. Biodistribution study demonstrated a low uptake of obtained NP systems by kidney and heart, thereby decreasing the nephrotoxicity and adverse cardiovascular effects. By coating the NP with surfactant, uptake of macrophage was found to be reduced. Thus, our studies confirmed that the biodistribution OLN could be modified effectively by incorporating in NP drug delivery systems prepared from different materials and surface modifications. A judicious selection of materials used for the preparation of delivery carriers and surface modifications would help to design a most efficient drug delivery system with better therapeutic efficacy.

Hydrothermal modification and recycling of nonmetallic particles from waste print circuit boards.

PubMed

Gao, Xuehua; Li, Qisheng; Qiu, Jun

2018-04-01

Nonmetallic particles recycled from waste print circuit boards (NPRPs) were modified by a hydrothermal treatment method and the catalysts, solvents, temperature and time were investigated, which affected the modification effect of NPRPs. The mild hydrothermal treatment method does not need high temperature, and would not cause secondary pollution. Further, the modified NPRPs were used as the raw materials for the epoxy resin and glass fibers/epoxy resin composites, which were prepared by pouring and hot-pressing method. The mechanical properties and morphology of the composites were discussed. The results showed that relative intensity of the hydroxyl bonds on the surface of NPRPs increased 58.9% after modification. The mechanical tests revealed that both flexural and impact properties of the composites can be significantly improved by adding the modified NPRPs. Particularly, the maximum increment of flexural strength, flexural modulus and impact strength of the epoxy matrix composites with 30% modified NPRPs is 40.1%, 80.0% and 79.0%, respectively. Hydrothermal treatment can modify surface of NPRPs successfully and modified NPRPs can not only improve the properties of the composites, but also reduce the production cost of the composites and environmental pollution. Thus, we develop a new way to recycle nonmetallic materials of waste print circuit boards and the highest level of waste material recycling with the raw materials-products-raw materials closed cycle can be realized through the hydrothermal modification and reuse of NPRPs. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Modified diadenosine tetraphosphates with dual specificity for P2Y1 and P2Y12 are potent antagonists of ADP-induced platelet activation

PubMed Central

CHANG, H.; YANACHKOV, I. B.; DIX, E. J.; LI, Y. F.; BARNARD, M. R.; WRIGHT, G. E.; MICHELSON, A. D.; FRELINGER, A. L.

2017-01-01

Summary Background Diadenosine 5′,5‴-P1,P4-tetraphosphate (Ap4A), a natural compound stored in platelet dense granules, inhibits ADP-induced platelet aggregation. Ap4A inhibits the platelet ADP receptors P2Y1 and P2Y12, is a partial agonist of P2Y12, and is a full agonist of the platelet ATP-gated ion channel P2X1. Modification of the Ap4A tetraphosphate backbone enhances inhibition of ADP-induced platelet aggregation. However, the effects of these Ap4A analogs on human platelet P2Y1, P2Y12 and P2X1 are unclear. Objective To determine the agonist and antagonist activities of diadenosine tetraphosphate analogs towards P2Y1, P2Y12, and P2X1. Methods We synthesized the following Ap4A analogs: P1,P4-dithiotetraphosphate; P2,P3-chloromethylenetetraphosphate; P1-thio-P2,P3-chloromethylenetetraphosphate; and P1,P4-dithio-P2,P3-chloromethylenetetraphosphate. We then measured the effects of these analogs on: (i) ADP-induced platelet aggregation; (ii) P2Y1-mediated changes in cytosolic Ca2+; (iii) P2Y12-mediated changes in vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein phosphorylation; and (iv) P2X1-mediated entry of extracellular Ca2+. Results Ap4A analogs with modifications in the phosphate backbone inhibited both P2Y1 and P2Y12, and showed no agonist activity towards these receptors. The dithio modification increased inhibition of P2Y1, P2Y12, and platelet aggregation, whereas the chloromethylene modification increased inhibition of P2Y12 and platelet aggregation, but decreased P2Y1 inhibition. Combining the dithio and chloromethylene modifications increased P2Y1 and P2Y12 inhibition. As compared with Ap4A, each modification decreased agonist activity towards P2X1, and the dual modification completely eliminated P2X1 agonist activity. Conclusions As compared with Ap4A, tetraphosphate backbone analogs of Ap4A have diminished activity towards P2X1 but inhibit both P2Y1 and P2Y12 and, with greater potency, inhibit ADP-induced platelet aggregation. Thus, diadenosine tetraphosphate analogs with dual receptor selectivity may have potential as antiplatelet drugs. PMID:23083103

Structure, chaperone-like activity and allergenicity profile of bovine caseins upon peroxynitrite modification: New evidences underlying mastitis pathomechanisms.

PubMed

Sadeghian, Tanaz; Tavaf, Zohreh; Oryan, Ahmad; Shokouhi, Raheleh; Pourpak, Zahra; Moosavi-Movahedi, Ali Akbar; Yousefi, Reza

2018-01-01

Mastitis, an inflammatory reaction frequently develops in response to intra-mammary bacterial infection‌‌, may induce the generation of peroxynitrite (PON)‌ which is a highly potent reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Caseins as the intrinsically unfolded proteins seem feasible substrates to react with PON. Therefore, in the current study, structural and functional aspects of both β-casein (β-CN) and whole casein fraction (WCF) were evaluated after PON modification, using a variety of techniques. Modification of the bovine caseins with PON results in an important enhancement in the carbonyl, nitrotryptophan, nitrotyrosine and dityrosine content of these proteins‌. The results of fluorescence and far UV-CD assessments suggested significant structural alteration of caseins upon PON-modification. The chaperone-like activity of β-casein was significantly altered after PON modification. The results of scanning electron microscopy suggest that bovine caseins display unique morphological features after treatment with PON. Also, the PON-modified caseins preserved their allergenicity profile and displayed partial resistance against digestion by the pancreatic proteases. Ascorbic acid, an important antioxidant component of milk, was also capable to significantly prevent the PON-induced structural damages in bovine milk caseins. In conclusion, our results suggest that PON may have significant role in the structural and functional alteration of milk caseins. Also, the PON-induced structural damaging effects of caseins might be effectively prevented by a sufficient level of milk antioxidant components particularly by ascorbic acid. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A Novel Post-translational Modification of Nucleolin, SUMOylation at Lys-294, Mediates Arsenite-induced Cell Death by Regulating gadd45α mRNA Stability*

PubMed Central

Zhang, Dongyun; Liang, Yuguang; Xie, Qipeng; Gao, Guangxun; Wei, Jinlong; Huang, Haishan; Li, Jingxia; Gao, Jimin; Huang, Chuanshu

2015-01-01

Nucleolin is a ubiquitously expressed protein and participates in many important biological processes, such as cell cycle regulation and ribosomal biogenesis. The activity of nucleolin is regulated by intracellular localization and post-translational modifications, including phosphorylation, methylation, and ADP-ribosylation. Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) is a category of recently verified forms of post-translational modifications and exerts various effects on the target proteins. In the studies reported here, we discovered SUMOylational modification of human nucleolin protein at Lys-294, which facilitated the mRNA binding property of nucleolin by maintaining its nuclear localization. In response to arsenic exposure, nucleolin-SUMO was induced and promoted its binding with gadd45α mRNA, which increased gadd45α mRNA stability and protein expression, subsequently causing GADD45α-mediated cell death. On the other hand, ectopic expression of Mn-SOD attenuated the arsenite-generated superoxide radical level, abrogated nucleolin-SUMO, and in turn inhibited arsenite-induced apoptosis by reducing GADD45α expression. Collectively, our results for the first time demonstrate that nucleolin-SUMO at K294R plays a critical role in its nucleus sequestration and gadd45α mRNA binding activity. This novel biological function of nucleolin is distinct from its conventional role as a proto-oncogene. Therefore, our findings here not only reveal a new modification of nucleolin protein and its novel functional paradigm in mRNA metabolism but also expand our understanding of the dichotomous roles of nucleolin in terms of cancer development, which are dependent on multiple intracellular conditions and consequently the appropriate regulations of its modifications, including SUMOylation. PMID:25561743

Femtosecond laser writing of new type of waveguides in silver containing glasses (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abou Khalil, Alain; Bérubé, Jean-Philippe; Danto, Sylvain; Desmoulin, Jean-Charles; Cardinal, Thierry; Petit, Yannick G.; Canioni, Lionel; Vallée, Réal

2017-03-01

Femtosecond laser writing in glasses is a growing field of research and development in photonics, since it provides a versatile, robust and efficient approach to directly address 3D material structuring. Laser-glass interaction process has been studied for many years, especially the local changes of the refractive index that have been classified by three distinct types (types I, II and III, respectively). These refractive index modifications are widely used for the creation of photonics devices such as waveguides [1], couplers, photonic crystals to fabricate integrated optical functions in glasses for photonic applications as optical circuits or integrated sensors. Femtosecond laser writing in a home-developed silver containing zinc phosphate glasses induces the creation of fluorescent silver clusters distributed around the laser-glass interaction voxel [2]. In this paper, we introduce a new type of refractive index modification in glasses. It is based on the creation of these photo-induced silver clusters allowing a local change in the refractive index Δn = 5×10-3, which is sufficient for the creation of waveguides and photonics devices. The wave guiding process in our glasses along these structures with original geometry is demonstrated for wavelengths from visible to NIR [3], giving a promising access to integrated optical circuits in these silver containing glasses. Moreover, the characterization of the waveguides is presented, including their original geometry, the refractive index change, the mode profile, the estimation of propagation losses and a comparison with simulation results. 1. K. M. Davis, K. Miura, N. Sugimoto, and K. Hirao, Opt. Lett. 21, 1729-1731 (1996). 2. M. Bellec, A. Royon, K. Bourhis, J. Choi, B. Bousquet, M. Treguer, T. Cardinal, J.-J. Videau, M. Richardson, and L. Canioni, The Journal of Physical Chemistry C 114, 15584-15588 (2010). 3. S. Danto, F. Désévédavy, Y. Petit, J.-C. Desmoulin, A. Abou Khalil, C. Strutynski, M. Dussauze, F. Smektala, T. Cardinal, and L. Canioni, Advanced Optical Materials 4, 162-168 (2016).

76 FR 45332 - Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-28

... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Office of... Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), DOT. ACTION: List of Applications for Modification of..., 2011. ADDRESSES: Record Center, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department...

Thermal conductivity measurements via time-domain thermoreflectance for the characterization of radiation induced damage

DOE PAGES

Cheaito, Ramez; Gorham, Caroline S.; Carnegie Mellon Univ., Pittsburgh, PA; ...

2015-05-01

The progressive build up of displacement damage and fission products inside different systems and components of a nuclear reactor can lead to significant defect formation, degradation, and damage of the constituent materials. This structural modification can highly influence the thermal transport mechanisms and various mechanical properties of solids. In this paper we demonstrate the use of time-domain thermoreflectance (TDTR), a non-destructive method capable of measuring the thermal transport in material systems from nano to bulk scales, to study the effect of radiation damage and the subsequent changes in the thermal properties of materials. We use TDTR to show that displacementmore » damage from ion irradiation can significantly reduce the thermal conductivity of Optimized ZIRLO, a material used as fuel cladding in several current nuclear reactors. We find that the thermal conductivity of copper-niobium nanostructured multilayers does not change with helium ion irradiation doses of up to 10 15 cm -2 and ion energy of 200 keV suggesting that these structures can be used and radiation tolerant materials in nuclear reactors. We compare the effect of ion doses and ion beam energies on the measured thermal conductivity of bulk silicon. Results demonstrate that TDTR thermal measurements can be used to quantify depth dependent damage.« less

Final Report of “Collaborative research: Fundamental science of low temperature plasma-biological material interactions” (Award# DE-SC0005105)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Oehrlein, Gottlieb S.; Seog, Joonil; Graves, David

2014-09-24

Low temperature plasma (LTP) treatment of biological tissue is a promising path toward sterilization of bacteria due to its versatility and ability to operate under well-controlled and relatively mild conditions. The present collaborative research of an interdisciplinary team of investigators at University of Maryland, College Park (UMD), and University of California, Berkeley (UCB) focused on establishing our knowledge on low temperature plasma-induced chemical modifications in biomolecules that result in inactivation due to various plasma species, including ions, reactive radicals, and UV/VUV photons. The overall goals of the project were to identify the mechanisms by which low and atmospheric pressure plasmamore » (APP) deactivates endotoxic biomolecules. Additionally, we wanted to understand how deactivation processes depend on the interaction of APP with the environment. Various low pressure plasma sources, a vacuum beam system and several atmospheric pressure plasma sources were used to accomplish these objectives. In our work we elucidated for the first time the role of ions, VUV photons and radicals in biological deactivation of model endotoxic biomolecules, both in a UHV beam system and an inductively coupled, low pressure plasma system, and established the associated atomistic modifications in biomolecules. While we showed that both ions and VUV photons can be very efficient in deactivation of biomolecules, significant etching and/or deep modification (~200 nm) were accompanied by these biological effects. One of the most important findings in this work is that the significant deactivation and surface modification can occur with minimal etching using radical species. However, if radical fluxes and corresponding etch rates are relatively high, for example, at atmospheric pressure, inactivation of endotoxic biomolecule film may require near-complete removal of the film. These findings motivated further work at atmospheric pressure using several types of low temperature plasma sources with modified geometry where radical induced interactions generally dominate due to short mean free paths of ions and VUV photons. In these conditions we demonstrated the importance of environmental interactions of plasma species when APP sources are used to modify biomolecules. This is evident from both gas phase characterization data and in-situ surface characterization of treated biomolecules. Environmental interactions can produce unexpected outcomes due to the complex reactions of reactive species with the atmosphere which determine the composition of reactive fluxes and atomistic changes in biomolecules. Overall, this work elucidated a richer spectrum of scientific opportunities and challenges for the field of low temperature plasma-biomolecule surface interactions than initially anticipated, in particular, for plasma sources operating at atmospheric pressure. The insights produced in this work, e.g. demonstration of the importance of environmental interactions, are generally important for applications of APP to materials modifications. Thus one major contributions of this research has been the establishment of methodologies to study the interaction of plasma with bio-molecules in a systemic and rigorous manner. In particular, our studies of atmospheric pressure plasma sources using very well-defined experimental conditions enabled us to correlate atomistic surface modifications of biomolecules with changes in their biological function. The clarification of the role of ions, VUV photons and radicals in deactivation of biomolecules during low pressure and atmospheric pressure plasma-biomolecule interaction has broad implications, e.g. for the emerging field of plasma medicine. The development of methods to detect the effects of plasma treatment on immune-active biomolecules will lay a fundamental foundation to enhance our understanding of the effect of plasma on biological systems. be helpful in many future studies.« less

Mobile application to induce lifestyle modifications in type 2 diabetic patients: prototype based on international guidelines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

García-Jaramillo, M.; Delgado, J. S.; León-Vargas, F.

2015-12-01

This paper describes a prototype app to induce lifestyle modifications in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients. The app design is based on International Diabetes Federation guidelines and recommendations from clinical studies related to diabetes health-care. Two main approaches, lifestyle modification and self-management education are used owing to significant benefits reported. The method used is based on setting goals under medical support related to physical activity, nutritional habits and weight loss, in addition to educational messages. This is specially implemented to address the main challenges that have limited the success of similar mobile applications already validated on diabetic patients. A traffic light is used to show the overall state of the goals compliance. This state could be understood as excellent (green), there are aspects to improve (yellow), or some individual goals are not carrying out (red). An example of how works this method is presented in results. Furthermore, the app provides recommendations to the user in case the overall state was in yellow or red. The recommendations pretend to induce the user to make changes in their eating habits and physical activity. According to international guidelines and clinical studies, a prototype of mobile application to induce a lifestyle modification in order to prevent adverse risk factors related to diabetes was presented. The resulting application is apparently consistent with clinical judgments, but a formal clinical validation is required. The effectiveness of this app is currently under consideration for the Colombian population with type 2 diabetes.

In Situ Growth of Mesoporous Silica with Drugs on Titanium Surface and Its Biomedical Applications.

PubMed

Wan, Mimi; Zhang, Jin; Wang, Qi; Zhan, Shuyue; Chen, Xudong; Mao, Chun; Liu, Yuhong; Shen, Jian

2017-06-07

Mesoporous silica has been developed for the modification of titanium surfaces that are used as implant materials. Yet, the traditional modification methods failed to effectively construct mesoporous silica on the titanium surface evenly and firmly, in which the interaction between mesoporous silica and titanium was mainly physical. Here, in situ growth of mesoporous silica on a titanium surface was performed using a simple evaporation-induced self-assembly strategy. Meantime, in situ introduction of drugs (heparin and vancomycin) to mesoporous silica was also adopted to improve the drug-loading amount. Both the above-mentioned processes were completed at the same time. Transmission electron microscopy, N 2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and water contact angle measurements were used to characterize the structure of the mesoporous silica film. Results indicated that the mesoporous silica film that in situ grew on the titanium surface was smooth, thin, transparent, and stable. Cytotoxicity, proliferation performance of osteoblast cells, and in vitro and in vivo studies of the antibacterial activity of the coating were tested. This is the first study to modify the titanium surface by the in situ growth of a mesoporous silica coating with two kinds of drugs. The stability of the mesoporous silica coating can be attributed to the chemical bonding between dopamine and silicon hydroxyl of the mesoporous silica coating, and the smooth surface of mesoporous silica is a result of the method of in situ growth. The large amount of drug-loading also could be ascribed to the in situ introduction of drugs during the synthetic process. The strategy proposed in this work will bring more possibilities for the preparation of advanced functional materials based on the combination of mesoporous structure and metallic materials.

An investigation on the biotribocorrosion behaviour of CoCrMo alloy grafted with polyelectrolyte brush.

PubMed

Zhang, Hong-Yu; Zhu, Yu-Jiao; Hu, Xiang-Yu; Sun, Yan-Fang; Sun, Yu-Long; Han, Jian-Min; Yan, Yu; Zhou, Ming

2014-01-01

Surface grafting of polyelectrolyte brush, such as 3-sulfopropyl methacrylate potassium salt (SPMK), on hip implant materials has been reported to reduce the wear of the orthopaedic bearing surface. However, the biotribocorrosion behaviour of the SPMK brush has not been taken into consideration in previous research. In the present study, SPMK was grafted on Co28Cr6Mo alloy through photo-induced polymerization, and the biotribocorrosion behaviour was investigated by a series of frictional-electrochemical tests using a universal materials tester combined with an electrochemical measurement (three-electrode) system. Co28Cr6Mo disk and polyethylene (PE) pin were used as the contact pair, and the lubricants were 0.9% saline solution (NaCl) and 0.9% saline solution coupled with 25% bovine serum albumin (BSA). The results showed that SPMK was successfully grafted on Co28Cr6Mo alloy, which was confirmed by the comparison of Raman spectroscopy and static contact angle of the samples before and after surface modification. The greatly reduced electrochemical parameters such as corrosion current and pitting potential indicated that the corrosion rate of Co28Cr6Mo alloy was significantly reduced following SPMK grafting. Additionally, the frictional-electrochemical coupled measurement performed under reciprocating sliding demonstrated that the lowest corrosion current was obtained for the SPMK-grafted Co28Cr6Mo disk, with 0.9% NaCl coupled with 25% BSA as the electrolyte. It is indicated from the present study that SPMK polyelectrolyte brush can greatly improve the anti-biotribocorrosion properties of Co28Cr6Mo alloy, and thus has potential application on surface modification of hip implant materials.

Surface modification using low energy ground state ion beams

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chutjian, Ara (Inventor); Hecht, Michael H. (Inventor); Orient, Otto J. (Inventor)

1990-01-01

A method of effecting modifications at the surfaces of materials using low energy ion beams of known quantum state, purity, flux, and energy is presented. The ion beam is obtained by bombarding ion-generating molecules with electrons which are also at low energy. The electrons used to bombard the ion generating molecules are separated from the ions thus obtained and the ion beam is directed at the material surface to be modified. Depending on the type of ion generating molecules used, different ions can be obtained for different types of surface modifications such as oxidation and diamond film formation. One area of application is in the manufacture of semiconductor devices from semiconductor wafers.

Boltzmann Transport Code Update: Parallelization and Integrated Design Updates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heinbockel, J. H.; Nealy, J. E.; DeAngelis, G.; Feldman, G. A.; Chokshi, S.

2003-01-01

The on going efforts at developing a web site for radiation analysis is expected to result in an increased usage of the High Charge and Energy Transport Code HZETRN. It would be nice to be able to do the requested calculations quickly and efficiently. Therefore the question arose, "Could the implementation of parallel processing speed up the calculations required?" To answer this question two modifications of the HZETRN computer code were created. The first modification selected the shield material of Al(2219) , then polyethylene and then Al(2219). The modified Fortran code was labeled 1SSTRN.F. The second modification considered the shield material of CO2 and Martian regolith. This modified Fortran code was labeled MARSTRN.F.

New facility for ion beam materials characterization and modification at Los Alamos

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tesmer, J.R.; Maggiore, C.J.; Parkin, D.M.

1988-01-01

The Ion Beam Materials Laboratory (IBML) is a new Los Alamos laboratory devoted to the characterization and modification of the near surfaces of materials. The primary instruments of the IBML are a tandem electrostatic accelerator, a National Electrostatics Corp. Model 9SDH, coupled with a Varian CF-3000 ion implanter. The unique organizational structure of the IBML as well as the operational characteristics of the 9SDH (after approximately 3000 h of operation) and the laboratories' research capabilities will be discussed. Examples of current research results will also be presented. 5 refs., 2 figs.

Laser induced local modification of magnetic domain in Co/Pt multilayer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Talapatra, A.; Mohanty, J.

2016-11-01

Manipulation of magnetic system by the use of laser has drawn the attention of contemporary research. We demonstrate here the modification of magnetic domain in perpendicularly magnetized Co/Pt multilayer by using ultrashort laser pulse. The as-prepared sample shows an out-of-plane saturation magnetic field of 803.4 mT and almost zero remanence with a labyrinth-like domain pattern at room temperature. Atomistic simulation showed that interaction with femto-second laser results in demagnetization of the material in 200 fs followed by a slower recovery. As it indicates a net loss in magnetization, so magnetic force microscopy is carried out to investigate the equilibrium state after the system is relaxed. Demagnetized random domains appeared at the centre of the laser spot with having a rim at the boundary which signifies a deterministic switching with respect to the neighbouring area. Rotation of domains at the central area with the application of small transverse field (100 mT) proves the region to be magnetically weaker. Systematic 3D micromagnetic simulation has been performed to model the laser induced change by selective reduction of anisotropy which is discussed in detail. This shows shrinking of domains to a near circular pattern to minimize the magnetostatic energy. 50% reduction in anisotropy energy is observed with increasing the total energy of the system and a sharp increase in demagnetization energy also takes place simultaneously. This also satisfies the anisotropy in domain rotation with the application of transverse field.

High-energy ball milling technique for ZnO nanoparticles as antibacterial material

PubMed Central

Salah, Numan; Habib, Sami S; Khan, Zishan H; Memic, Adnan; Azam, Ameer; Alarfaj, Esam; Zahed, Nabeel; Al-Hamedi, Salim

2011-01-01

Nanoparticles of zinc oxide (ZnO) are increasingly recognized for their utility in biological applications. In this study, the high-energy ball milling (HEBM) technique was used to produce nanoparticles of ZnO from its microcrystalline powder. Four samples were ball milled for 2, 10, 20, and 50 hours, respectively. The structural and optical modifications induced in the ‘as synthesized’ nanomaterials were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and photoluminescence emission spectra (PL). SEM and TEM results show a gradual decrease in particle size from around 600 to ∼30 nm, with increased milling time. The initial microstructures had random shapes, while the final shape became quite spherical. XRD analysis showed ZnO in a hexagonal structure, broadening in the diffracted peaks and going from larger to smaller particles along with a relaxation in the lattice constant c. The value of c was found to increase from 5.204 to 5.217 Å with a decrease in particle size (600 to ∼30 nm). PL result showed a new band at around 365 nm, whose intensity is found to increase as the particles size decreases. These remarkable structural and optical modifications induced in ZnO nanoparticles might prove useful for various applications. The increase in c value is an important factor for increasing the antibacterial effects of ZnO, suggesting that the HEBM technique is quite suitable for producing these nanoparticles for this purpose. PMID:21720499

Activity-induced dental modification in holocene siberian hunter-fisher-gatherers.

PubMed

Waters-Rist, Andrea; Bazaliiskii, Vladimir I; Weber, Andrzej; Goriunova, Olga I; Katzenberg, M Anne

2010-10-01

The use of teeth as tools provides clues to past subsistence patterns and cultural practices. Five Holocene period hunter-fisher-gatherer mortuary sites from the south-western region of Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russian Federation, are observed for activity-induced dental modification (AIDM) to further characterize their adaptive regimes. Grooves on the occlusal surfaces of teeth are observed in 25 out of 123 individuals (20.3%) and were most likely produced during the processing of fibers from plants and animals, for making items such as nets and cordage. Regional variation in the frequency of individuals with occlusal grooves is found in riverine versus lakeshore sites. This variation suggests that production of material culture items differed, perhaps in relation to different fishing practices. There is also variation in the distribution of grooves by sex: grooves are found predominately in females, except at the Late Neolithic-Bronze Age river site of Ust'-Ida I where grooves are found exclusively in males. Occlusal grooves were cast using polyvinylsiloxane and maxillary canine impressions were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine striation patterns. Variation in striae orientation suggests that a variety of activities, and/or different manufacturing techniques, were involved in groove production. Overall, the variability in occlusal groove frequency, sex and regional distribution, and microscopic striae patterns, points to the multiplicity of activities and ways in which people used their mouths and teeth in cultural activities. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Reversible piezomagnetoelectric switching in bulk polycrystalline ceramics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stevenson, T., E-mail: t.j.stevenson@leeds.ac.uk; Bennett, J.; Brown, A. P.

2014-08-01

Magnetoelectric (ME) coupling in materials offer tremendous advantages in device functionality enabling technologies including advanced electronic memory, combining electronic speed, and efficiency with magnetic robustness. However, low cost polycrystalline ME materials are excluded from most commercial applications, operating only at cryogenic temperatures, impractically large electric/magnetic fields, or with low ME coefficients (1-100 mV/cm Oe). Despite this, the technological potential of single compound ME coupling has continued to drive research into multiferroics over the last two decades. Here we show that by manipulating the large induced atomic strain within the polycrystalline, room temperature multiferroic compound 0.7BiFeO{sub 3}–0.3PbTiO{sub 3}, we can induce amore » reversible, piezoelectric strain controlled ME effect. Employing an in situ neutron diffraction experiment, we have demonstrated that this piezomagnetoelectric effect manifests with an applied electric field >8 kV/mm at the onset of piezoelectric strain, engineered in to the compound by crystallographic phase mixing. This produces a remarkable intrinsic ME coefficient of 1276 mV/cm Oe, due to a strain driven modification to the oxygen sub-lattice, inducing an increase in magnetic moment per Fe{sup 3+} ion of +0.142 μ{sub B}. This work provides a framework for investigations into strain engineered nanostructures to realize low-cost ME devices designed from the atoms up, as well as contributing to the deeper understanding of single phase ME coupling mechanisms.« less

The Altered Hepatic Tubulin Code in Alcoholic Liver Disease

PubMed Central

Groebner, Jennifer L.; Tuma, Pamela L.

2015-01-01

The molecular mechanisms that lead to the progression of alcoholic liver disease have been actively examined for decades. Because the hepatic microtubule cytoskeleton supports innumerable cellular processes, it has been the focus of many such mechanistic studies. It has long been appreciated that α-tubulin is a major target for modification by highly reactive ethanol metabolites and reactive oxygen species. It is also now apparent that alcohol exposure induces post-translational modifications that are part of the natural repertoire, mainly acetylation. In this review, the modifications of the “tubulin code” are described as well as those adducts by ethanol metabolites. The potential cellular consequences of microtubule modification are described with a focus on alcohol-induced defects in protein trafficking and enhanced steatosis. Possible mechanisms that can explain hepatic dysfunction are described and how this relates to the onset of liver injury is discussed. Finally, we propose that agents that alter the cellular acetylation state may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for treating liver disease. PMID:26393662

The Altered Hepatic Tubulin Code in Alcoholic Liver Disease.

PubMed

Groebner, Jennifer L; Tuma, Pamela L

2015-09-18

The molecular mechanisms that lead to the progression of alcoholic liver disease have been actively examined for decades. Because the hepatic microtubule cytoskeleton supports innumerable cellular processes, it has been the focus of many such mechanistic studies. It has long been appreciated that α-tubulin is a major target for modification by highly reactive ethanol metabolites and reactive oxygen species. It is also now apparent that alcohol exposure induces post-translational modifications that are part of the natural repertoire, mainly acetylation. In this review, the modifications of the "tubulin code" are described as well as those adducts by ethanol metabolites. The potential cellular consequences of microtubule modification are described with a focus on alcohol-induced defects in protein trafficking and enhanced steatosis. Possible mechanisms that can explain hepatic dysfunction are described and how this relates to the onset of liver injury is discussed. Finally, we propose that agents that alter the cellular acetylation state may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for treating liver disease.

Heat-induced Irreversible Denaturation of the Camelid Single Domain VHH Antibody Is Governed by Chemical Modifications

PubMed Central

Akazawa-Ogawa, Yoko; Takashima, Mizuki; Lee, Young-Ho; Ikegami, Takahisa; Goto, Yuji; Uegaki, Koichi; Hagihara, Yoshihisa

2014-01-01

The variable domain of camelid heavy chain antibody (VHH) is highly heat-resistant and is therefore ideal for many applications. Although understanding the process of heat-induced irreversible denaturation is essential to improve the efficacy of VHH, its inactivation mechanism remains unclear. Here, we showed that chemical modifications predominantly governed the irreversible denaturation of VHH at high temperatures. After heat treatment, the activity of VHH was dependent only on the incubation time at 90 °C and was insensitive to the number of heating (90 °C)-cooling (20 °C) cycles, indicating a negligible role for folding/unfolding intermediates on permanent denaturation. The residual activity was independent of concentration; therefore, VHH lost its activity in a unimolecular manner, not by aggregation. A VHH mutant lacking Asn, which is susceptible to chemical modifications, had significantly higher heat resistance than did the wild-type protein, indicating the importance of chemical modifications to VHH denaturation. PMID:24739391

Post-Synthetic Defucosylation of AGP by Aspergillus nidulans α-1,2-Fucosidase Expressed in Arabidopsis Apoplast Induces Compensatory Upregulation of α-1,2-Fucosyltransferases.

PubMed

Pogorelko, Gennady V; Reem, Nathan T; Young, Zachary T; Chambers, Lauran; Zabotina, Olga A

2016-01-01

Cell walls are essential components of plant cells which perform a variety of important functions for the different cell types, tissues and organs of a plant. Besides mechanical function providing cell shape, cell walls participate in intercellular communication, defense during plant-microbe interactions, and plant growth. The plant cell wall consists predominantly of polysaccharides with the addition of structural glycoproteins, phenolic esters, minerals, lignin, and associated enzymes. Alterations in the cell wall composition created through either changes in biosynthesis of specific constituents or their post-synthetic modifications in the apoplast compromise cell wall integrity and frequently induce plant compensatory responses as a result of these alterations. Here we report that post-synthetic removal of fucose residues specifically from arabinogalactan proteins in the Arabidopsis plant cell wall induces differential expression of fucosyltransferases and leads to the root and hypocotyl elongation changes. These results demonstrate that the post-synthetic modification of cell wall components presents a valuable approach to investigate the potential signaling pathways induced during plant responses to such modifications that usually occur during plant development and stress responses.

Cyclosporin A inhibits UV-radiation-induced membrane damage but is unable to inhibit carboxyatractyloside-induced permeability transition.

PubMed

García, Noemí; Zazueta, Cecilia; El-Hafidi, Mohammed; Pavón, Natalia; Martínez-Abundis, Eduardo; Hernández-Esquivel, Luz; Chávez, Edmundo

2009-11-01

This work was undertaken to gain further information on the chemical characteristics of the membrane entity involved in the formation of the nonspecific pore. Mitochondria were subjected to oxidative stress by exposure to UV radiation. The results indicate that ultraviolet C radiation induces structural modifications in the adenine nucleotide translocase that lead to membrane permeability transition. Membrane leakage was assessed by measuring mitochondrial Ca2+ transport, the transmembrane electric gradient, and mitochondrial swelling. UV-irradiated mitochondria were unable to retain matrix Ca2+ or to maintain a high level of membrane potential when Ca2+ was added; furthermore, UV-irradiated mitochondria underwent large amplitude swelling. Release of cytochrome c and formation of malondialdehyde, owing to lipid peroxidation, were also seen. Structural modifications of the translocase were revealed by an increase in the binding of the fluorescent probe eosin-5-maleimide to thiol residues of the ADP/ATP carrier. These modifications, taken together with findings indicating that cyclosporin resulted unable to inhibit carboxyatractyloside-induced permeability transition, prompted us to conclude that the translocase could constitute the nonspecific pore or at least be an important modulator of it.

[Strategies to choose scaffold materials for tissue engineering].

PubMed

Gao, Qingdong; Zhu, Xulong; Xiang, Junxi; Lü, Yi; Li, Jianhui

2016-02-01

Current therapies of organ failure or a wide range of tissue defect are often not ideal. Transplantation is the only effective way for long time survival. But it is hard to meet huge patients demands because of donor shortage, immune rejection and other problems. Tissue engineering could be a potential option. Choosing a suitable scaffold material is an essential part of it. According to different sources, tissue engineering scaffold materials could be divided into three types which are natural and its modified materials, artificial and composite ones. The purpose of tissue engineering scaffold is to repair the tissues or organs damage, so could reach the ideal recovery in its function and structure aspect. Therefore, tissue engineering scaffold should even be as close as much to the original tissue or organs in function and structure. We call it "organic scaffold" and this strategy might be the drastic perfect substitute for the tissues or organs in concern. Optimized organization with each kind scaffold materials could make up for biomimetic structure and function of the tissue or organs. Scaffold material surface modification, optimized preparation procedure and cytosine sustained-release microsphere addition should be considered together. This strategy is expected to open new perspectives for tissue engineering. Multidisciplinary approach including material science, molecular biology, and engineering might find the most ideal tissue engineering scaffold. Using the strategy of drawing on each other strength and optimized organization with each kind scaffold material to prepare a multifunctional biomimetic tissue engineering scaffold might be a good method for choosing tissue engineering scaffold materials. Our research group had differentiated bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into bile canaliculi like cells. We prepared poly(L-lactic acid)/poly(ε-caprolactone) biliary stent. The scaffold's internal played a part in the long-term release of cytokines which mixed with sustained-release nano-microsphere containing growth factors. What's more, the stent internal surface coated with glue/collagen matrix mixing layer containing bFGF and EGF so could supplying the early release of the two cytokines. Finally, combining the poly(L-lactic acid)/poly(ε-caprolactone) biliary stent with the induced cells was the last step for preparing tissue-engineered bile duct. This literature reviewed a variety of the existing tissue engineering scaffold materials and briefly introduced the impact factors on the characteristics of tissue engineering scaffold materials such as preparation procedure, surface modification of scaffold, and so on. We explored the choosing strategy of desired tissue engineering scaffold materials.

Chemical modifications of renewable cellulosic materials

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

In agriculture, there is a fair amount of byproducts and waste materials. These materials typically contain significant portions of cellulose and hemicellulose. A good opportunity is to take advantage of these relatively cheap renewable materials, carry out chemical reactions, and increase their v...

Modification of Montmorillonite with Cetyl Trimethylammonium Bromide and Tetra Ethyl Ortho Silicate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Widjonarko, D. M.; Mayasari, O. D.; Wahyuningsih, S.; Nugrahaningtyas, K. D.

2018-03-01

Modification of montmorillonite (MMt) with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and tetraethyl ortosilicate (TEOS) has been done. The aim of the research is to study the effect of TEOS and CTAB into MMt. This research is a preliminary step to invent material that can be modified with other functional materials. The study was conducted by recting TEOS with MMt and varying CTAB concentration on MMt previously modified with TEOS. The TEOS concentration was 4.72 M while CTAB concentration was 0.25; 0.5; 2; 3.5; and 5 mmol/g in MMt which has been reacted with TEOS. Material characterization was done by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourrier Transform Infra-Red Spectrophotometer (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Cation exchange capacity (CEC) of materials was analyzed by titration method. The results show that TEOS and CTAB successfully modified. TEOS adsorbed onto MMt. It was identified from increased basal spacing, specific group and also by its elemental composition, originally having basal spacing 16 Å. After modification with CTAB, basal spacing increased to 28.45 Å or 77.64%. This indicates that CTAB is intercalated within the MMt layers. The CEC of new material is 0.93 meq/g, increase from 0.83 meq/g.

Giant Phonon Anharmonicity and Anomalous Pressure Dependence of Lattice Thermal Conductivity in Y2Si2O7 silicate

PubMed Central

Luo, Yixiu; Wang, Jiemin; Li, Yiran; Wang, Jingyang

2016-01-01

Modification of lattice thermal conductivity (κL) of a solid by means of hydrostatic pressure (P) has been a crucially interesting approach that targets a broad range of advanced materials from thermoelectrics and thermal insulators to minerals in mantle. Although it is well documented knowledge that thermal conductivity of bulk materials normally increase upon hydrostatic pressure, such positive relationship is seriously challenged when it comes to ceramics with complex crystal structure and heterogeneous chemical bonds. In this paper, we predict an abnormally negative trend dκL/dP < 0 in Y2Si2O7 silicate using density functional theoretical calculations. The mechanism is disclosed as combined effects of slightly decreased group velocity and significantly augmented scattering of heat-carrying acoustic phonons in pressured lattice, which is originated from pressure-induced downward shift of low-lying optic and acoustic phonons. The structural origin of low-lying optic phonons as well as the induced phonon anharmonicity is also qualitatively elucidated with respect to intrinsic bonding heterogeneity of Y2Si2O7. The present results are expected to bring deeper insights for phonon engineering and modulation of thermal conductivity in complex solids with diverging structural flexibility, enormous bonding heterogeneity, and giant phonon anharmonicity. PMID:27430670

Biocompatibility of nanoporous alumina membranes for immunoisolation

PubMed Central

La Flamme, Kristen E.; Popat, Ketul C.; Leoni, Lara; Markiewicz, Erica; LaTempa, Thomas J.; Roman, Brian B.; Grimes, Craig A.; Desai, Tejal A.

2011-01-01

Cellular immunoisolation using semi-permeable barriers has been investigated over the past several decades as a promising treatment approach for diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Type 1 diabetes. Typically, polymeric membranes are used for immunoisolation applications; however, recent advances in technology have led to the development of more robust membranes that are able to more completely meet the requirements for a successful immunoisolation device, including well controlled pore size, chemical and mechanical stability, non-biodegradability, and biocompatibility with both the graft tissue as well as the host. It has been shown previously that nanoporous alumina biocapsules can act effectively as immunoisolation devices, and support the viability and functionality of encapsulated β cells. The aim of this investigation was to assess the biocompatibility of the material with host tissue. The cytotoxicity of the capsule, as well as its ability to activate complement and inflammation was studied. Further, the effects of PEG-modification on the tissue response to implanted capsules were studied. Our results have shown that the device is non-toxic and does not induce significant complement activation. Further, in vivo work has demonstrated that implantation of these capsules into the peritoneal cavity of rats induces a transient inflammatory response, and that PEG is useful in minimizing the host response to the material. PMID:17335895

Zirconia/Hydroxyapatite Composites Synthesized Via Sol-Gel: Influence of Hydroxyapatite Content and Heating on Their Biological Properties

PubMed Central

Bollino, Flavia; Armenia, Emilia; Tranquillo, Elisabetta

2017-01-01

Zirconia (ZrO2) and zirconia-based glasses and ceramics are materials proposed for use in the dental and orthopedic fields. In this work, ZrO2 glass was modified by adding different amounts of bioactive and biocompatible hydroxyapatite (HAp). ZrO2/HAp composites were synthesized via the sol-gel method and heated to different temperatures to induce modifications of their chemical structure, as ascertained by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The aim was to investigate the effect of both HAp content and heating on the biological performances of ZrO2. The materials’ bioactivity was studied by soaking samples in a simulated body fluid (SBF). FTIR and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)) analyses carried out after exposure to SBF showed that all materials are bioactive, i.e., they are able to form a hydroxyapatite layer on their surface. Moreover, the samples were soaked in a solution containing bovine serum albumin (BSA). FTIR analysis proved that the synthesized materials are able to adsorb the blood protein, the first step of cell adhesion. WST-8 ([2-(2-methoxy-4-nitrophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(2,4-disulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium, monosodium salt]) assay showed that no cytotoxicity effects were induced by the materials’ extract. However, the results proved that bioactivity increases with both the HAp content and the temperature used for the thermal treatment, whereas biocompatibility increases with heating but is not affected by the HAp content. PMID:28773116

78 FR 3966 - Notice of Applications for Modification of Special Permit

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-01-17

... (PHMSA), DOT. ACTION: List of Applications for Modification of Special Permits. SUMMARY: In accordance... 173.13(d). and III materials. 15389-M AMETEK Ameron LLC d/ 49 CFR To modify the special b/a MASS...

Surface modification of strontium-doped porous bioactive ceramic scaffolds via poly(DOPA) coating and immobilizing silk fibroin for excellent angiogenic and osteogenic properties.

PubMed

Wang, Xu; Gu, Zhipeng; Jiang, Bo; Li, Li; Yu, Xixun

2016-04-01

For bioceramic scaffolds employed in clinical applications, excellent bioactivity and tenacity were of great importance. Modifying inorganic SCPP scaffolds with biological macromolecules could obviously improve its bioactivity and eliminate its palpable brittleness. However, it was hard to execute directly due to extremely bad interfacial compatibility between them. In this research, dopamine (DOPA) was introduced onto strontium-doped calcium polyphosphate (SCPP) scaffolds, subsequently the preliminary material was successfully further modified by silk fibroin (SF). SCPP/D/SF possessed suitable biomechanical properties, ability to stimulate angiogenic factor secretion and excellent biocompatibility. Biomechanical examination demonstrated that SCPP/D/SF scaffolds yielded better compressive strength because of improved interfacial compatibility. MTT assay and CLSM observation showed that SCPP/D/SF scaffolds had good cytocompatibility and presented better inducing-cell-migration potential than pure SCPP scaffolds. Meanwhile, its ability to stimulate angiogenic factor secretion was measured through the ELISA assay and immunohistological analysis in vitro and in vivo respectively. The results revealed, superior to SCPP, SCPP/D/SF could effectively promote VEGF and bFGF expression, possibly leading to enhancing angiogenesis and osteogenesis. In a word, SCPP/D/SF could serve as a potential bone tissue engineering scaffold for comparable biomechanical properties and excellent bioactivity. It provided a novel idea for modification of inorganic materials to prepare promising bone tissue engineering scaffolds with the ability to accelerate bone regeneration and vascularization.

Effect of a pre-treatment of milk with high pressure homogenization on yield as well as on microbiological, lipolytic and proteolytic patterns of "Pecorino" cheese.

PubMed

Vannini, Lucia; Patrignani, Francesca; Iucci, Luciana; Ndagijimana, Maurice; Vallicelli, Melania; Lanciotti, Rosalba; Guerzoni, Maria Elisabetta

2008-12-10

The principal aim of this work was to compare Pecorino cheeses obtained from ewes' milk previously subjected to high pressure homogenization (HPH) at 100 MPa with those produced from raw and heat treated ewes' milk. The HPH milk treatment induced a significant increase of the cheese yield and caused a reduction of enterococci, lactococci and yeasts in the curds. Enterococci cell loads remained at lower levels in cheeses obtained from HPH milk over the ripening period. Analyses of free fatty acids, Sodium Dodecil Sulphate (SDS)-PAGE profiles, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry-Solid Phase Microextraction (GC-MS-SPME) measurements of volatile compounds and sensory traits evidenced that the pressure treatment can be regarded also as a useful tool to differentiate products obtained from the same raw material. In fact such a milk treatment induced a marked lipolysis, an early proteolysis, a relevant modification of the volatile molecule profiles and sensory properties of Pecorino cheese.

Heterogeneous nanofluids: natural convection heat transfer enhancement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oueslati, Fakhreddine Segni; Bennacer, Rachid

2011-12-01

Convective heat transfer using different nanofluid types is investigated. The domain is differentially heated and nanofluids are treated as heterogeneous mixtures with weak solutal diffusivity and possible Soret separation. Owing to the pronounced Soret effect of these materials in combination with a considerable solutal expansion, the resulting solutal buoyancy forces could be significant and interact with the initial thermal convection. A modified formulation taking into account the thermal conductivity, viscosity versus nanofluids type and concentration and the spatial heterogeneous concentration induced by the Soret effect is presented. The obtained results, by solving numerically the full governing equations, are found to be in good agreement with the developed solution based on the scale analysis approach. The resulting convective flows are found to be dependent on the local particle concentration φ and the corresponding solutal to thermal buoyancy ratio N. The induced nanofluid heterogeneity showed a significant heat transfer modification. The heat transfer in natural convection increases with nanoparticle concentration but remains less than the enhancement previously underlined in forced convection case.

Modeling of gun barrel surface erosion: Historic perspective

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Buckingham, A.C.

1996-08-01

Results and interpretations of numerical simulations of some dominant processes influencing gun barrel propellant combustion and flow-induced erosion are presented. Results include modeled influences of erosion reduction techniques such as solid additives, vapor phase chemical modifications, and alteration of surface solid composition through use of thin coatings. Precedents and historical perspective are provided with predictions from traditional interior ballistics compared to computer simulations. Accelerating reactive combustion flow, multiphase and multicomponent transport, flow-to-surface thermal/momentum/phase change/gas-surface chemical exchanges, surface and micro-depth subsurface heating/stress/composition evolution and their roles in inducing surface cracking, spall, ablation, melting, and vaporization are considered. Recognition is given tomore » cyclic effects of previous firing history on material preconditioning. Current perspective and outlook for future are based on results of a US Army-LLNL erosion research program covering 7 y in late 1970s. This is supplemented by more recent research on hypervelocity electromagnetic projectile launchers.« less

Heterogeneous nanofluids: natural convection heat transfer enhancement

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Convective heat transfer using different nanofluid types is investigated. The domain is differentially heated and nanofluids are treated as heterogeneous mixtures with weak solutal diffusivity and possible Soret separation. Owing to the pronounced Soret effect of these materials in combination with a considerable solutal expansion, the resulting solutal buoyancy forces could be significant and interact with the initial thermal convection. A modified formulation taking into account the thermal conductivity, viscosity versus nanofluids type and concentration and the spatial heterogeneous concentration induced by the Soret effect is presented. The obtained results, by solving numerically the full governing equations, are found to be in good agreement with the developed solution based on the scale analysis approach. The resulting convective flows are found to be dependent on the local particle concentration φ and the corresponding solutal to thermal buoyancy ratio N. The induced nanofluid heterogeneity showed a significant heat transfer modification. The heat transfer in natural convection increases with nanoparticle concentration but remains less than the enhancement previously underlined in forced convection case. PMID:21711755

Laser induced periodic surface structures formation by nanosecond laser irradiation of poly (ethylene terephthalate) reinforced with Expanded Graphite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rodríguez-Beltrán, René I.; Hernandez, Margarita; Paszkiewicz, Sandra; Szymczyk, Anna; Rosłaniec, Zbigniew; Ezquerra, Tiberio A.; Castillejo, Marta; Moreno, Pablo; Rebollar, Esther

2018-04-01

We report on the formation of Laser Induced Periodic Surface Structures in poly (ethylene terephthalate) and poly (ethylene terephthalate)/Expanded Graphite films by laser irradiation with nanosecond pulses at 266 nm. The characterization studies show that the quality of the ripples depends strongly on the irradiation time and fluence and the optimal conditions for obtaining LIPSS are affected by the amount of the expanded graphite present in the film due to the differences in crystallinity, thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of the nanocomposites. Physicochemical modifications in the materials were inspected by Raman spectroscopy, the colloidal probe technique and contact angle measurements using different liquids. Results show that there is an increase of the hydrophilicity of the surfaces after laser irradiation together with an increase of the surface free energy and in particular of its polar component. Additionally, the adhesion force estimated by the colloidal probe technique increases after laser nanostructuring.

Identification of Maillard reaction induced chemical modifications on Ara h 1

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The Maillard reaction is a non-enzymatic glycation reaction between proteins and reducing sugars that can modify nut allergens during thermal processing. These modifications can alter the structural and immunological properties of these allergens, and may result in increased IgE binding. Here, we ...

Specific histone modification responds to arsenic-induced oxidative stress

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ma, Lu

To explore whether specific histone modifications are associated with arsenic-induced oxidative damage, we recruited 138 arsenic-exposed and arsenicosis subjects from Jiaole Village, Xinren County of Guizhou province, China where the residents were exposed to arsenic from indoor coal burning. 77 villagers from Shang Batian Village that were not exposed to high arsenic coal served as the control group. The concentrations of urine and hair arsenic in the arsenic-exposure group were 2.4-fold and 2.1-fold (all P < 0.001) higher, respectively, than those of the control group. Global histone modifications in human peripheral lymphocytes (PBLCs) were examined by ELISA. The results showedmore » that altered global levels of H3K18ac, H3K9me2, and H3K36me3 correlated with both urinary and hair-arsenic levels of the subjects. Notably, H3K36me3 and H3K18ac modifications were associated with urinary 8-OHdG (H3K36me3: β = 0.16; P = 0.042, H3K18ac: β = − 0.24; P = 0.001). We also found that the modifications of H3K18ac and H3K36me3 were enriched in the promoters of oxidative stress response (OSR) genes in human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells and HaCaT cells, providing evidence that H3K18ac and H3K36me3 modifications mediate transcriptional regulation of OSR genes in response to NaAsO{sub 2} treatment. Particularly, we found that reduced H3K18ac modification correlated with suppressed expression of OSR genes in HEK cells with long term arsenic treatment and in PBLCs of all the subjects. Taken together, we reveal a critical role for specific histone modification in response to arsenic-induced oxidative damage. - Highlights: • H3K18ac, H3K9me2 and H3K36me3 were associated with arsenic exposed levels. • H3K18ac and H3K36me3 were correlated with oxidative damage induced by arsenic. • H3K18ac and H3K36me3 might involve in transcriptional regulation of OSR genes. • Dysregulation of H3K18ac and H3K36me3 might be biomarkers of arsenic toxicity.« less

Design and Validation of CRISPR/Cas9 Systems for Targeted Gene Modification in Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.

PubMed

Lee, Ciaran M; Zhu, Haibao; Davis, Timothy H; Deshmukh, Harshahardhan; Bao, Gang

2017-01-01

The CRISPR/Cas9 system is a powerful tool for precision genome editing. The ability to accurately modify genomic DNA in situ with single nucleotide precision opens up new possibilities for not only basic research but also biotechnology applications and clinical translation. In this chapter, we outline the procedures for design, screening, and validation of CRISPR/Cas9 systems for targeted modification of coding sequences in the human genome and how to perform genome editing in induced pluripotent stem cells with high efficiency and specificity.

Modifications in the AA5083 Johnson-Cook Material Model for Use in Friction Stir Welding Computational Analyses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grujicic, M.; Pandurangan, B.; Yen, C.-F.; Cheeseman, B. A.

2012-11-01

Johnson-Cook strength material model is frequently used in finite-element analyses of various manufacturing processes involving plastic deformation of metallic materials. The main attraction to this model arises from its mathematical simplicity and its ability to capture the first-order metal-working effects (e.g., those associated with the influence of plastic deformation, rate of deformation, and the attendant temperature). However, this model displays serious shortcomings when used in the engineering analyses of various hot-working processes (i.e., those utilizing temperatures higher than the material recrystallization temperature). These shortcomings are related to the fact that microstructural changes involving: (i) irreversible decrease in the dislocation density due to the operation of annealing/recrystallization processes; (ii) increase in grain-size due to high-temperature exposure; and (iii) dynamic-recrystallization-induced grain refinement are not accounted for by the model. In this study, an attempt is made to combine the basic physical-metallurgy principles with the associated kinetics relations to properly modify the Johnson-Cook material model, so that the model can be used in the analyses of metal hot-working and joining processes. The model is next used to help establish relationships between process parameters, material microstructure and properties in friction stir welding welds of AA5083 (a non-age-hardenable, solid-solution strengthened, strain-hardened/stabilized Al-Mg-Mn alloy).

Plasma treatment induces internal surface modifications of electrospun poly(L-lactic) acid scaffold to enhance protein coating

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jin Seo, Hyok; Hee Lee, Mi; Kwon, Byeong-Ju

2013-08-21

Advanced biomaterials should also be bioactive with regard to desirable cellular responses, such as selective protein adsorption and cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation. To enhance cell-material interactions, surface modifications have commonly been performed. Among the various surface modification approaches, atmospheric pressure glow discharge plasma has been used to change a hydrophobic polymer surface to a hydrophilic surface. Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA)-derived scaffolds lack cell recognition signals and the hydrophobic nature of PLLA hinders cell seeding. To make PLLA surfaces more conducive to cell attachment and spreading, surface modifications may be used to create cell-biomaterial interfaces that elicit controlled cell adhesion andmore » maintain differentiated phenotypes. In this study, (He) gaseous atmospheric plasma glow discharge was used to change the characteristics of a 3D-type polymeric scaffold from hydrophobic to hydrophilic on both the outer and inner surfaces of the scaffold and the penetration efficiency with fibronectin was investigated. Field-emission scanning electron microscope images showed that some grooves were formed on the PLLA fibers after plasma treatment. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data also showed chemical changes in the PLLA structure. After plasma treatment, -CN (285.76 eV) was increased in C1s and -NH{sub 2} (399.70 eV) was increased significantly and –N=CH (400.80 eV) and –NH{sub 3}{sup +} (402.05 eV) were newly appeared in N1s. These changes allowed fibronectin to penetrate into the PLLA scaffold; this could be observed by confocal microscopy. In conclusion, helium atmospheric pressure plasma treatment was effective in modifying the polymeric scaffold, making it hydrophilic, and this treatment can also be used in tissue engineering research as needed to make polymers hydrophilic.« less

Augmenting endogenous repair of soft tissues with nanofibre scaffolds

PubMed Central

Snelling, Sarah; Dakin, Stephanie; Carr, Andrew

2018-01-01

As our ability to engineer nanoscale materials has developed we can now influence endogenous cellular processes with increasing precision. Consequently, the use of biomaterials to induce and guide the repair and regeneration of tissues is a rapidly developing area. This review focuses on soft tissue engineering, it will discuss the types of biomaterial scaffolds available before exploring physical, chemical and biological modifications to synthetic scaffolds. We will consider how these properties, in combination, can provide a precise design process, with the potential to meet the requirements of the injured and diseased soft tissue niche. Finally, we frame our discussions within clinical trial design and the regulatory framework, the consideration of which is fundamental to the successful translation of new biomaterials. PMID:29695606

Residual thermal stress control in composite reinforced metal structures. [by mechanical loading of metal component prior to bonding

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kelly, J. B.; June, R. R.

1972-01-01

Advanced composite materials, composed of boron or graphite fibers and a supporting matrix, make significant structural efficiency improvements available to aircraft and aerospace designers. Residual stress induced during bonding of composite reinforcement to metal structural elements can be reduced or eliminated through suitable modification to the manufacturing processes. The most successful method employed during this program used a steel tool capable of mechanically loading the metal component in compression prior to the adhesive bonding cycle. Compression loading combined with heating to 350 F during the bond cycle can result in creep deformation in aluminum components. The magnitude of the deformation increases with increasing stress level during exposure to 350 F.

Optical reflectivity study of silicon ion implanted poly(methyl methacrylate)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hadjichristov, Georgi B.; Stefanov, Ivan L.; Florian, Bojana I.; Blaskova, Gergana D.; Ivanov, Victor G.; Faulques, Eric

2009-11-01

The optical reflectivity (both specular and off-specular) of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) implanted with silicon ions (Si +) at energy of 50 keV, is studied in the spectral range 0.25-25 μm. The effect from the Si + implantation on the reflectivity of two PMMA materials is examined in the dose range from 10 14 to 10 17 ions/cm 2 and is linked to the structure formed in this ion implanted plastic. As compared to the pristine PMMA, an enhancement of the reflectivity of Si + implanted PMMA is observed, that is attributed to the modification of the subsurface region of PMMA upon the ion implantation. The ion-produced subsurface organic interface is also probed by laser-induced thermo-lens.

Mitogen- and Stress-Activated Kinase 1 (MSK1) Regulates Cigarette Smoke-Induced Histone Modifications on NF-κB-dependent Genes

PubMed Central

Sundar, Isaac K.; Chung, Sangwoon; Hwang, Jae-woong; Lapek, John D.; Bulger, Michael; Friedman, Alan E.; Yao, Hongwei; Davie, James R.; Rahman, Irfan

2012-01-01

Cigarette smoke (CS) causes sustained lung inflammation, which is an important event in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We have previously reported that IKKα (I kappaB kinase alpha) plays a key role in CS-induced pro-inflammatory gene transcription by chromatin modifications; however, the underlying role of downstream signaling kinase is not known. Mitogen- and stress-activated kinase 1 (MSK1) serves as a specific downstream NF-κB RelA/p65 kinase, mediating transcriptional activation of NF-κB-dependent pro-inflammatory genes. The role of MSK1 in nuclear signaling and chromatin modifications is not known, particularly in response to environmental stimuli. We hypothesized that MSK1 regulates chromatin modifications of pro-inflammatory gene promoters in response to CS. Here, we report that CS extract activates MSK1 in human lung epithelial (H292 and BEAS-2B) cell lines, human primary small airway epithelial cells (SAEC), and in mouse lung, resulting in phosphorylation of nuclear MSK1 (Thr581), phospho-acetylation of RelA/p65 at Ser276 and Lys310 respectively. This event was associated with phospho-acetylation of histone H3 (Ser10/Lys9) and acetylation of histone H4 (Lys12). MSK1 N- and C-terminal kinase-dead mutants, MSK1 siRNA-mediated knock-down in transiently transfected H292 cells, and MSK1 stable knock-down mouse embryonic fibroblasts significantly reduced CS extract-induced MSK1, NF-κB RelA/p65 activation, and posttranslational modifications of histones. CS extract/CS promotes the direct interaction of MSK1 with RelA/p65 and p300 in epithelial cells and in mouse lung. Furthermore, CS-mediated recruitment of MSK1 and its substrates to the promoters of NF-κB-dependent pro-inflammatory genes leads to transcriptional activation, as determined by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Thus, MSK1 is an important downstream kinase involved in CS-induced NF-κB activation and chromatin modifications, which have implications in pathogenesis of COPD. PMID:22312446

Melanoma differentiation associated gene-7/interleukin-24 induces caspase-3 denitrosylation to facilitate the activation of cancer cell apoptosis.

PubMed

Tian, Hui; Zhang, De-Fang; Zhang, Bao-Fu; Li, Hui-Zhong; Zhang, Qing; Li, Lian-Tao; Pei, Dong-Sheng; Zheng, Jun-Nian

2015-03-01

Melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7 (mda-7)/interleukin-24 (IL-24) induces caspase-3 cleavage and subsequent activation via the intrinsic or extrinsic pathway to result in cancer cell-selective apoptosis, but whether mda-7/IL-24 may directly regulate caspase-3 through the post-translational modification remains unknown. Here, we reported that tumor-selective replicating adenovirus ZD55-IL-24 led to caspase-3 denitrosylation and subsequent activation, indicating that caspase-3 denitrosylation played a crucial role in ZD55-IL-24-induced cancer cell apoptosis. To confirm the relationship between caspase-3 denitrosylation and its activation in response to ZD55-IL-24, we treated carcinoma cells with the different nitric oxide (NO) regulators to modulate caspase-3 denitrosylation level, then observed the corresponding caspase-3 cleavage. We found that NO inhibitor 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxy-3-oxide (PTIO) promoted caspase-3 denitrosylation and caspase-3 cleavage, thereby exacerbating ZD55-IL-24-induced cancer cell apoptosis, whereas NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) showed the opposite effect. Moreover, caspase-3 denitrosylation facilitated its downstream target poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) degradation that further increased the apoptotic susceptibility. Although caspase-3 activation controlled by denitrosylation modification has emerged as an important regulator of programmed cell death, the detailed molecular mechanism by which caspase-3 exerts its denitrosylation modification in response to ZD55-IL-24 still needs to be elucidated. Thus, our results demonstrated that ZD55-IL-24 increased Fas expression to enhance thioredoxin reductase 2 (TrxR2), which was responsible for caspase-3 denitrosylation. Collectively, these findings elucidate that ZD55-IL-24 induces caspase-3 denitrosylation through Fas-mediated TrxR2 enhancement, thereby facilitating caspase-3 cleavage and the downstream caspase signaling pathway activation, which provides a novel insight into ZD55-IL-24-induced cancer-specific apoptosis by post-translational modification of the apoptotic executor caspase-3.

Material processing: AI-MSG modification

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Woolsey, C.C.; Carnazzola, A.

1973-12-18

This specification establishes fabrication processing requirements such as cleaning, welding, brazing, and post-weld heat treating for the modification of the Atomics International (AI) Modular Steam Generator (MSG) for use in the Large Leak Test Rig (LLTR) for the study of sodium-water reactions.

Anisotropic Metal Deposition on TiO2 Particles by Electric-Field-Induced Charge Separation.

PubMed

Tiewcharoen, Supakit; Warakulwit, Chompunuch; Lapeyre, Veronique; Garrigue, Patrick; Fourier, Lucas; Elissalde, Catherine; Buffière, Sonia; Legros, Philippe; Gayot, Marion; Limtrakul, Jumras; Kuhn, Alexander

2017-09-11

Deposition of metals on TiO 2 semiconductor particles (M-TiO 2 ) results in hybrid Janus objects combining the properties of both materials. One of the techniques proposed to generate Janus particles is bipolar electrochemistry (BPE). The concept can be applied in a straightforward way for the site-selective modification of conducting particles, but is much less obvious to use for semiconductors. Herein we report the bulk synthesis of anisotropic M-TiO 2 particles based on the synergy of BPE and photochemistry, allowing the intrinsic limitations, when they are used separately, to be overcome. When applying electric fields during irradiation, electrons and holes can be efficiently separated, thus breaking the symmetry of particles by modifying them selectively and in a wireless way on one side with either gold or platinum. Such hybrid materials are an important first step towards high-performance designer catalyst particles, for example for photosplitting of water. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

New materials based on polylactide modified with silver and carbon ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurzina, I. A.; Pukhova, I. V.; Botvin, V. V.; Davydova, D. V.; Filimoshkin, A. G.; Savkin, K. P.; Oskomov, K. V.; Oks, E. M.

2015-11-01

An integrated study of poly-L-lactide (PL) synthesis and the physicochemical properties of film surfaces, both modified by silver and carbon ion implantation and also unmodified PL surfaces, has been carried out. Surface modification was done using aMevva-5.Ru metal ion source with ion implantation doses of 1.1014, 1.1015 and 1.1016 ion/cm2. Material characterization was done using NMR, IRS, XPS and AFM. The molecular weight (MW), micro-hardness, surface resistivity, and limiting wetting angle of both un-implanted and implanted samples were measured. The results reveal that degradation of PL macromolecules occurs during ion implantation, followed by CO or CO2 removal and MW decrease. With increasing implantation dose, the glycerol wettability of the PL surface increases but the water affinity decreases (hydrophobic behavior). After silver and carbon ion implantation into the PL samples, the surface resistivity is reduced by several orders of magnitude and a tendency to micro-hardness reductionis induced.

Enhanced kinetics of Al{sub 0.97}Ga{sub 0.03}As wet oxidation through the use of hydrogenation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Le Du, M.; Sagnes, I.; Beaudoin, G.

2006-09-11

This letter reports on a different kinetic behavior of the wet thermal oxidation process resulting in Al{sub x}O{sub y} material depending on the AlAs material growth method, molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) or metal organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE). A higher oxidation rate for MOVPE-grown materia is systemically found. Considering the major role of hydrogen in the wet oxidation reaction, it is believed this observation could be linked with the higher hydrogen residual concentration in MOVPE layers. Using a hydrogen plasma, MBE-grown Al{sub 0.97}Ga{sub 0.03}As layers were hydrogened prior to oxidation. This hydrogenated sample showed a ten times enhanced oxidation ratemore » as compared to the nonhydrogenated Al{sub 0.97}Ga{sub 0.03}As sample. This behavior is mainly attributed to a hydrogen induced modification of the diffusion limited regime, enhancing the diffusion length of oxidizing species and reaction products in the oxidized layers.« less

Sub-nanometre resolution of atomic motion during electronic excitation in phase-change materials.

PubMed

Mitrofanov, Kirill V; Fons, Paul; Makino, Kotaro; Terashima, Ryo; Shimada, Toru; Kolobov, Alexander V; Tominaga, Junji; Bragaglia, Valeria; Giussani, Alessandro; Calarco, Raffaella; Riechert, Henning; Sato, Takahiro; Katayama, Tetsuo; Ogawa, Kanade; Togashi, Tadashi; Yabashi, Makina; Wall, Simon; Brewe, Dale; Hase, Muneaki

2016-02-12

Phase-change materials based on Ge-Sb-Te alloys are widely used in industrial applications such as nonvolatile memories, but reaction pathways for crystalline-to-amorphous phase-change on picosecond timescales remain unknown. Femtosecond laser excitation and an ultrashort x-ray probe is used to show the temporal separation of electronic and thermal effects in a long-lived (>100 ps) transient metastable state of Ge2Sb2Te5 with muted interatomic interaction induced by a weakening of resonant bonding. Due to a specific electronic state, the lattice undergoes a reversible nondestructive modification over a nanoscale region, remaining cold for 4 ps. An independent time-resolved x-ray absorption fine structure experiment confirms the existence of an intermediate state with disordered bonds. This newly unveiled effect allows the utilization of non-thermal ultra-fast pathways enabling artificial manipulation of the switching process, ultimately leading to a redefined speed limit, and improved energy efficiency and reliability of phase-change memory technologies.

Sub-nanometre resolution of atomic motion during electronic excitation in phase-change materials

DOE PAGES

Mitrofanov, Kirill V.; Fons, Paul; Makino, Kotaro; ...

2016-02-12

Phase-change materials based on Ge-Sb-Te alloys are widely used in industrial applications such as nonvolatile memories, but reaction pathways for crystalline-to-amorphous phase-change on picosecond timescales remain unknown. Femtosecond laser excitation and an ultrashort x-ray probe is used to show the temporal separation of electronic and thermal effects in a long-lived (>100 ps) transient metastable state of Ge 2Sb 2Te 5 with muted interatomic interaction induced by a weakening of resonant bonding. Due to a specific electronic state, the lattice undergoes a reversible nondestructive modification over a nanoscale region, remaining cold for 4 ps. An independent time-resolved x-ray absorption fine structuremore » experiment confirms the existence of an intermediate state with disordered bonds. Furthermore, this newly unveiled effect allows the utilization of non-thermal ultra-fast pathways enabling artificial manipulation of the switching process, ultimately leading to a redefined speed limit, and improved energy efficiency and reliability of phase-change memory technologies.« less

In situ electron microscopy of Braille microsystems: photo-actuation of ethylene vinyl acetate/carbon nanotube composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Czaniková, Klaudia; Krupa, Igor; Račko, Dušan; Šmatko, Vasilij; Campo, Eva M.; Pavlova, Ewa; Omastová, Mária

2015-02-01

The development of new types of tactile displays based on the actuation of composite materials can aid the visually impaired. Micro/nano systems based on ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) polymeric matrices enriched with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) can produce ensembles capable of light-induced actuation. In this report, we investigate two types of commercial EVA copolymers matrices containing 28 and 50 wt% vinyl-acetate (VA). Non-covalent modification of carbon nanotubes was achieved through a compatibilization technique that appends the pyrenenyl and cholesteryl groups on the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) surface. EVA/MWCNT nanocomposites were prepared by casting from a solution. These composites were shaped into Braille elements using molds. The deformation of the Braille element (BE) under light-emitting diode (LED) illumination was observed for the first time by in situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The superior actuation performance promoted by the EVA/MWCNT nanocomposites indicates that these materials will be useful in the future as light-driven micro/nano system actuators.

Bioactivity evolution of the surface functionalized bioactive glasses.

PubMed

Magyari, Klára; Baia, Lucian; Vulpoi, Adriana; Simon, Simion; Popescu, Octavian; Simon, Viorica

2015-02-01

The formation of a calcium phosphate layer on the surface of the SiO2 -CaO-P2 O5 glasses after immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) generally demonstrates the bioactivity of these materials. Grafting of the surface by chemical bonding can minimize the structural changes in protein adsorbed on the surface. Therefore, in this study our interest was to evaluate the bioactivity and blood biocompatibility of the SiO2 -CaO-P2 O5 glasses after their surface modification by functionalization with aminopropyl-triethoxysilane and/or by fibrinogen. It is shown that the fibrinogen adsorbed on the glass surfaces induces a growing of the apatite-like layer. It is also evidenced that the protein content from SBF influences the growth of the apatite-like layer. Furthermore, the good blood compatibility of the materials after fibrinogen and bovine serum albumin adsorption is proved from the assessment of the β-sheet-β-turn ratio. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Self-action of propagating and standing Lamb waves in the plates exhibiting hysteretic nonlinearity: Nonlinear zero-group velocity modes.

PubMed

Gusev, Vitalyi E; Lomonosov, Alexey M; Ni, Chenyin; Shen, Zhonghua

2017-09-01

An analytical theory accounting for the influence of hysteretic nonlinearity of micro-inhomogeneous plate material on the Lamb waves near the S 1 zero group velocity point is developed. The theory predicts that the main effect of the hysteretic quadratic nonlinearity consists in the modification of the frequency and the induced absorption of the Lamb modes. The effects of the nonlinear self-action in the propagating and standing Lamb waves are expected to be, respectively, nearly twice and three times stronger than those in the plane propagating acoustic waves. The theory is restricted to the simplest hysteretic nonlinearity, which is influencing only one of the Lamé moduli of the materials. However, possible extensions of the theory to the cases of more general hysteretic nonlinearities are discussed as well as the perspectives of its experimental testing. Applications include nondestructive evaluation of micro-inhomogeneous and cracked plates. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Shrink-Induced Superhydrophobic and Antibacterial Surfaces in Consumer Plastics

PubMed Central

Freschauf, Lauren R.; McLane, Jolie; Sharma, Himanshu; Khine, Michelle

2012-01-01

Structurally modified superhydrophobic surfaces have become particularly desirable as stable antibacterial surfaces. Because their self-cleaning and water resistant properties prohibit bacteria growth, structurally modified superhydrophobic surfaces obviate bacterial resistance common with chemical agents, and therefore a robust and stable means to prevent bacteria growth is possible. In this study, we present a rapid fabrication method for creating such superhydrophobic surfaces in consumer hard plastic materials with resulting antibacterial effects. To replace complex fabrication materials and techniques, the initial mold is made with commodity shrink-wrap film and is compatible with large plastic roll-to-roll manufacturing and scale-up techniques. This method involves a purely structural modification free of chemical additives leading to its inherent consistency over time and successive recasting from the same molds. Finally, antibacterial properties are demonstrated in polystyrene (PS), polycarbonate (PC), and polyethylene (PE) by demonstrating the prevention of gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria growth on our structured plastic surfaces. PMID:22916100

Self-energy effect and Coulomb potential modulation of the exciton in monolayer MoS2 on polar substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zi-Wu; Xiao, Yao; Li, Run-Ze; Li, Wei-Ping; Li, Zhi-Qing

2017-11-01

We theoretically investigate the correction of exciton binding energy in monolayer MoS2 resulting from the exciton couples with surface optical (SO) phonons induced by polar substrate. The total correction of binding energy can be divided into the self-energy effect and modification of Coulomb potential using the unitary transformation method. We find that both the self-energy and Coulomb potential vary from tens of meV to several hundreds of meV depending on the cut-off wave vector of SO phonon modes, polarizability of substrate materials and internal distance between the monolayer MoS2 and polar substrate. An effective Coulomb potential is obtained by combining the modified term into the Coulomb potential. This potentially could be widely used in various two-dimensional materials. Our theoretical results not only propose the ways to externally control the exciton binding energy in experiment, but also enrich the understanding of the exciton properties in the dielectric environment.

Neuroplastic Changes Induced by Cognitive Rehabilitation in Traumatic Brain Injury: A Review.

PubMed

Galetto, Valentina; Sacco, Katiuscia

2017-09-01

Cognitive deficits are among the most disabling consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI), leading to long-term outcomes and interfering with the individual's recovery. One of the most effective ways to reduce the impact of cognitive disturbance in everyday life is cognitive rehabilitation, which is based on the principles of brain neuroplasticity and restoration. Although there are many studies in the literature focusing on the effectiveness of cognitive interventions in reducing cognitive deficits following TBI, only a few of them focus on neural modifications induced by cognitive treatment. The use of neuroimaging or neurophysiological measures to evaluate brain changes induced by cognitive rehabilitation may have relevant clinical implications, since they could add individualized elements to cognitive assessment. Nevertheless, there are no review studies in the literature investigating neuroplastic changes induced by cognitive training in TBI individuals. Due to lack of data, the goal of this article is to review what is currently known on the cerebral modifications following rehabilitation programs in chronic TBI. Studies investigating both the functional and structural neural modifications induced by cognitive training in TBI subjects were identified from the results of database searches. Forty-five published articles were initially selected. Of these, 34 were excluded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria. Eleven studies were found that focused solely on the functional and neurophysiological changes induced by cognitive rehabilitation. Outcomes showed that cerebral activation may be significantly modified by cognitive rehabilitation, in spite of the severity of the injury.

Improving osteoblasts cells proliferation via femtosecond laser surface modification of 3D-printed poly-ɛ-caprolactone scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Daskalova, A.; Ostrowska, B.; Zhelyazkova, A.; Święszkowski, W.; Trifonov, A.; Declercq, H.; Nathala, C.; Szlazak, K.; Lojkowski, M.; Husinsky, W.; Buchvarov, I.

2018-06-01

Synthetic polymer biomaterials incorporating cells are a promising technique for treatment of orthopedic injuries. To enhance the integration of biomaterials into the human body, additional functionalization of the scaffold surface should be carried out that would assist one in mimicking the natural cellular environment. In this study, we examined poly-ɛ-caprolactone (PCL) fiber matrices in view of optimizing the porous properties of the constructs. Altering the porosity of a PCL scaffold is expected to improve the material's biocompatibility, thus influencing its osteoconductivity and osteointegration. We produced 3D poly-ɛ-caprolactone (PCL) matrices by a fused deposition modeling method for bone and cartilage tissue engineering and performed femtosecond (fs) laser modification experiments to improve the surface properties of the PCL construct. Femtosecond laser processing is one of the useful tools for creating a vast diversity of surface patterns with reproducibility and precision. The processed surface of the PCL matrix was examined to follow the effect of the laser parameters, namely the laser pulse energy and repetition rate and the number ( N) of applied pulses. The modified zones were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confocal microscopy, X-ray computed tomography and contact angle measurements. The results obtained demonstrated changes in the morphology of the processed surface. A decrease in the water contact angle was also seen after fs laser processing of fiber meshes. Our work demonstrated that a precise control of material surface properties could be achieved by applying a different number of laser pulses at various laser fluence values. We concluded that the structural features of the matrix remain unaffected and can be successfully modified through laser postmodification. The cells tests indicated that the micro-modifications created induced MG63 and MC3T3 osteoblast cellular orientation. The analysis of the MG63 and MC3T3 osteoblast attachment suggested regulation of cells volume migration.

Time dependent viscoelastic rheological response of pure, modified and synthetic bituminous binders

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Airey, G. D.; Grenfell, J. R. A.; Apeagyei, A.; Subhy, A.; Lo Presti, D.

2016-08-01

Bitumen is a viscoelastic material that exhibits both elastic and viscous components of response and displays both a temperature and time dependent relationship between applied stresses and resultant strains. In addition, as bitumen is responsible for the viscoelastic behaviour of all bituminous materials, it plays a dominant role in defining many of the aspects of asphalt road performance, such as strength and stiffness, permanent deformation and cracking. Although conventional bituminous materials perform satisfactorily in most highway pavement applications, there are situations that require the modification of the binder to enhance the properties of existing asphalt material. The best known form of modification is by means of polymer modification, traditionally used to improve the temperature and time susceptibility of bitumen. Tyre rubber modification is another form using recycled crumb tyre rubber to alter the properties of conventional bitumen. In addition, alternative binders (synthetic polymeric binders as well as renewable, environmental-friendly bio-binders) have entered the bitumen market over the last few years due to concerns over the continued availability of bitumen from current crudes and refinery processes. This paper provides a detailed rheological assessment, under both temperature and time regimes, of a range of conventional, modified and alternative binders in terms of the materials dynamic (oscillatory) viscoelastic response. The rheological results show the improved viscoelastic properties of polymer- and rubber-modified binders in terms of increased complex shear modulus and elastic response, particularly at high temperatures and low frequencies. The synthetic binders were found to demonstrate complex rheological behaviour relative to that seen for conventional bituminous binders.

Butyrate induced IGF2 activation correlated with distinct chromatin landscapes due to histone modification

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Histone modification has emerged as a very important mechanism regulating the transcriptional status of the genome. Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) is a peptide hormone controlling various cellular processes such as proliferation and apoptosis. IGF2 and H19 are reciprocally regulated imprinted ...

Persistent ERK Activation Maintains Learning-Induced Long-Lasting Modulation of Synaptic Connectivity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cohen-Matsliah, Sivan Ida; Seroussi, Yaron; Rosenblum, Kobi; Barkai, Edi

2008-01-01

Pyramidal neurons in the piriform cortex from olfactory-discrimination (OD) trained rats undergo synaptic modifications that last for days after learning. A particularly intriguing modification is reduced paired-pulse facilitation (PPF) in the synapses interconnecting these cells; a phenomenon thought to reflect enhanced synaptic release. The…

Passive Solar still: Recent advancement in design and related Performance.

PubMed

Awasthi, Anuradha; Kumari, Kanchan; Panchal, Hitesh; Sathyamurthy, Ravishankar

2018-05-31

Present review paper mainly focuses on different varieties of solar stills and highlights mostly the passive solar still with advanced modifications in the design and development of material, single and multi-effect solar still with augmentation of different materials, energy absorbing, insulators, mechanisms of heat and mass transfer to improve the loss of heat and enhance the productivity of solar still. The cost-benefit analysis along with the progressive advancement for solar stills is the major highlights of this review. To increase the output of solar still nowadays, applications of advance modifications is one of the promising tools, and it is anticipated that shortly more vigor will be added in this area with the modifications in designs of solar stills.

COX-2 expression induced by diesel particles involves chromatin modification and degradation of HDAC1

EPA Science Inventory

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) plays an important role in the inflammatory response induced by physiologic and stress stimuli. Exposure to diesel exhaust particulate matter (DEP) has been shown to induce pulmonary inflammation and exacerbate asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary dis...

Ionic liquid-modified materials for solid-phase extraction and separation: a review.

PubMed

Vidal, Lorena; Riekkola, Marja-Liisa; Canals, Antonio

2012-02-17

In recent years, materials science has propelled to the research forefront. Ionic liquids with unique and fascinating properties have also left their footprints to the developments of materials science during the last years. In this review we highlight some of their recent advances and provide an overview at the current status of ionic liquid-modified materials applied in solid-phase extraction, liquid and gas chromatography and capillary electrochromatography with reference to recent applications. In addition, the potential of ionic liquids in the modification of capillary inner wall in capillary electrophoresis is demonstrated. The main target material modified with ionic liquids is silica, but polymers and monoliths have recently joined the studies. Although imidazolium is still clearly the most commonly used ionic liquid for the covalently modification of materials, the exploitation of pyridinium and phosphonium will most probably increase in the future. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Experimental modification of interpretation bias about animal fear in young children: effects on cognition, avoidance behavior, anxiety vulnerability, and physiological responding.

PubMed

Lester, Kathryn J; Field, Andy P; Muris, Peter

2011-01-01

This study investigated the effects of experimentally modifying interpretation biases for children's cognitions, avoidance behavior, anxiety vulnerability, and physiological responding. Sixty-seven children (6-11 years) were randomly assigned to receive a positive or negative interpretation bias modification procedure to induce interpretation biases toward or away from threat about ambiguous situations involving Australian marsupials. Children rapidly learned to select outcomes of ambiguous situations, which were congruent with their assigned condition. Furthermore, following positive modification, children's threat biases about novel ambiguous situations significantly decreased, whereas threat biases significantly increased after negative modification. In response to a stress-evoking behavioral avoidance test, positive modification attenuated behavioral avoidance compared to negative modification. However, no significant effects of bias modification on anxiety vulnerability or physiological responses to this stress-evoking Behavioral Avoidance Task were observed.

Thermally conductive tough flexible elastomers as composite of slide-ring materials and surface modified boron nitride particles via plasma in solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goto, Taku; Iida, Masaki; Tan, Helen; Liu, Chang; Mayumi, Koichi; Maeda, Rina; Kitahara, Koichi; Hatakeyama, Kazuto; Ito, Tsuyohito; Shimizu, Yoshiki; Yokoyama, Hideaki; Kimura, Kaoru; Ito, Kohzo; Hakuta, Yukiya; Terashima, Kazuo

2018-03-01

We have developed a thermally conductive flexible elastomer as a composite material with slide-ring (SR) materials and boron nitride (BN) particles surface-modified via plasma in solution. This composite shows excellent properties as a flexible insulator for thermal management. Surface modification of BN particles using plasma in solution increases the tensile strength, extension ratio at break, toughness, and rubber characteristics of the composites, compared to SR and non-modified BN, while the Young's modulus values are identical. Furthermore, the thermal conductivity also improved as a result of plasma surface modification.

DNA repair factor XPC is modified by SUMO-1 and ubiquitin following UV irradiation

PubMed Central

Wang, Qi-En; Zhu, Qianzheng; Wani, Gulzar; El-Mahdy, Mohamed A.; Li, Jinyou; Wani, Altaf A.

2005-01-01

Nucleotide excision repair (NER) is the major DNA repair process that removes diverse DNA lesions including UV-induced photoproducts. There are more than 20 proteins involved in NER. Among them, XPC is thought to be one of the first proteins to recognize DNA damage during global genomic repair (GGR), a sub-pathway of NER. In order to study the mechanism through which XPC participates in GGR, we investigated the possible modifications of XPC protein upon UV irradiation in mammalian cells. Western blot analysis of cell lysates from UV-irradiated normal human fibroblast, prepared by direct boiling in an SDS lysis buffer, showed several anti-XPC antibody-reactive bands with molecular weight higher than the original XPC protein. The reciprocal immunoprecipitation and siRNA transfection analysis demonstrated that XPC protein is modified by SUMO-1 and ubiquitin. By using several NER-deficient cell lines, we found that DDB2 and XPA are required for UV-induced XPC modifications. Interestingly, both the inactivation of ubiquitylation and the treatment of proteasome inhibitors quantitatively inhibited the UV-induced XPC modifications. Furthermore, XPC protein is degraded significantly following UV irradiation in XP-A cells in which sumoylation of XPC does not occur. Taken together, we conclude that XPC protein is modified by SUMO-1 and ubiquitin following UV irradiation and these modifications require the functions of DDB2 and XPA, as well as the ubiquitin–proteasome system. Our results also suggest that at least one function of UV-induced XPC sumoylation is related to the stabilization of XPC protein. PMID:16030353

Inducible SUMO modification of TANK alleviates its repression of TLR7 signalling.

PubMed

Renner, Florian; Saul, Vera V; Pagenstecher, Axel; Wittwer, Tobias; Schmitz, Michael Lienhard

2011-02-01

Adaptor proteins allow temporal and spatial coordination of signalling. In this study, we show SUMOylation of the adaptor protein TANK and its interacting kinase TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1). Modification of TANK by the small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) at the evolutionarily conserved Lys 282 is triggered by the kinase activities of IκB kinase ɛ (IKKɛ) and TBK1. Stimulation of TLR7 leads to inducible SUMOylation of TANK, which in turn weakens the interaction with IKKɛ and thus relieves the negative function of TANK on signal propagation. Reconstitution experiments show that an absence of TANK SUMOylation impairs inducible expression of distinct TLR7-dependent target genes, providing a molecular mechanism that allows the control of TANK function.

Femtosecond laser three-dimensional micro- and nanofabrication

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sugioka, Koji; Cheng, Ya

2014-12-01

The rapid development of the femtosecond laser has revolutionized materials processing due to its unique characteristics of ultrashort pulse width and extremely high peak intensity. The short pulse width suppresses the formation of a heat-affected zone, which is vital for ultrahigh precision fabrication, whereas the high peak intensity allows nonlinear interactions such as multiphoton absorption and tunneling ionization to be induced in transparent materials, which provides versatility in terms of the materials that can be processed. More interestingly, irradiation with tightly focused femtosecond laser pulses inside transparent materials makes three-dimensional (3D) micro- and nanofabrication available due to efficient confinement of the nonlinear interactions within the focal volume. Additive manufacturing (stereolithography) based on multiphoton absorption (two-photon polymerization) enables the fabrication of 3D polymer micro- and nanostructures for photonic devices, micro- and nanomachines, and microfluidic devices, and has applications for biomedical and tissue engineering. Subtractive manufacturing based on internal modification and fabrication can realize the direct fabrication of 3D microfluidics, micromechanics, microelectronics, and photonic microcomponents in glass. These microcomponents can be easily integrated in a single glass microchip by a simple procedure using a femtosecond laser to realize more functional microdevices, such as optofluidics and integrated photonic microdevices. The highly localized multiphoton absorption of a tightly focused femtosecond laser in glass can also induce strong absorption only at the interface of two closely stacked glass substrates. Consequently, glass bonding can be performed based on fusion welding with femtosecond laser irradiation, which provides the potential for applications in electronics, optics, microelectromechanical systems, medical devices, microfluidic devices, and small satellites. This review paper describes the concepts and principles of femtosecond laser 3D micro- and nanofabrication and presents a comprehensive review on the state-of-the-art, applications, and the future prospects of this technology.

Femtosecond laser three-dimensional micro- and nanofabrication

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sugioka, Koji, E-mail: ksugioka@riken.jp; Cheng, Ya, E-mail: ya.cheng@siom.ac.cn

2014-12-15

The rapid development of the femtosecond laser has revolutionized materials processing due to its unique characteristics of ultrashort pulse width and extremely high peak intensity. The short pulse width suppresses the formation of a heat-affected zone, which is vital for ultrahigh precision fabrication, whereas the high peak intensity allows nonlinear interactions such as multiphoton absorption and tunneling ionization to be induced in transparent materials, which provides versatility in terms of the materials that can be processed. More interestingly, irradiation with tightly focused femtosecond laser pulses inside transparent materials makes three-dimensional (3D) micro- and nanofabrication available due to efficient confinement ofmore » the nonlinear interactions within the focal volume. Additive manufacturing (stereolithography) based on multiphoton absorption (two-photon polymerization) enables the fabrication of 3D polymer micro- and nanostructures for photonic devices, micro- and nanomachines, and microfluidic devices, and has applications for biomedical and tissue engineering. Subtractive manufacturing based on internal modification and fabrication can realize the direct fabrication of 3D microfluidics, micromechanics, microelectronics, and photonic microcomponents in glass. These microcomponents can be easily integrated in a single glass microchip by a simple procedure using a femtosecond laser to realize more functional microdevices, such as optofluidics and integrated photonic microdevices. The highly localized multiphoton absorption of a tightly focused femtosecond laser in glass can also induce strong absorption only at the interface of two closely stacked glass substrates. Consequently, glass bonding can be performed based on fusion welding with femtosecond laser irradiation, which provides the potential for applications in electronics, optics, microelectromechanical systems, medical devices, microfluidic devices, and small satellites. This review paper describes the concepts and principles of femtosecond laser 3D micro- and nanofabrication and presents a comprehensive review on the state-of-the-art, applications, and the future prospects of this technology.« less

Development of Self-Assembled Nanoscale Templates via Microphase Separation Induced by Polymer Brushes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chu, Elza

Phase separation in soft matter has been the crucial element in generating hybrid materials, such as polymer blends and mixed polymer brushes. This dissertation discusses two methods of developing self-assembled nanoscale templates via microphase separation induced by polymer brush synthesis. This work introduces a novel soft substrate approach with renewable grafting sites where polyacrylamide is "grafted through" chitosan soft substrates. The mechanism of grafting leads to ordered arrays of filament-like nanostructures spanning the chitosan-air interface. Additionally, the chemical composition of the filaments allows for post-chemical modification to change the physical properties of the filaments, and subsequently tailor surfaces for specific application. Unlike traditional materials, multi-functional or "smart" materials, such as binary polymer brushes (BPB) are capable of spontaneously changing the spatial distribution of functional groups and morphology at the surface upon external stimuli. Although promising in principle, the limited range of available complementary polymers with common non-selective solvents confines the diversity of usable materials and restricts any further advancement in the field. This dissertation also covers the fabrication and characterization of responsive nanoscale polystyrene templates or "mosaic" brushes that are capable of changing interfacial composition upon exposure to varying solvent qualities. Using a "mosaic" brush template is a unique approach that allows the fabrication of strongly immiscible polymer BPB without the need for a common solvent. The synthesis of such BPB is exemplified by two strongly immiscible polymers, i.e. polystyrene (polar) and polyacrylamide (non-polar), where polyacrylamide brush is "graft through" a Si-substrate modified with the polystyrene collapsed "mosaic" brush. The surface exhibits solvent-triggered responses, as well as application potential for anti-biofouling.

Transgenerational Inheritance of Modified DNA Methylation Patterns and Enhanced Tolerance Induced by Heavy Metal Stress in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

PubMed Central

Xu, Chunming; Lin, Xiuyun; Zang, Qi; Zhuang, Tingting; Jiang, Lili; von Wettstein, Diter; Liu, Bao

2012-01-01

Background DNA methylation is sensitive and responsive to stressful environmental conditions. Nonetheless, the extent to which condition-induced somatic methylation modifications can impose transgenerational effects remains to be fully understood. Even less is known about the biological relevance of the induced epigenetic changes for potentially altered well-being of the organismal progenies regarding adaptation to the specific condition their progenitors experienced. Methodology/Principal Findings We analyzed DNA methylation pattern by gel-blotting at genomic loci representing transposable elements and protein-coding genes in leaf-tissue of heavy metal-treated rice (Oryza sativa) plants (S0), and its three successive organismal generations. We assessed expression of putative genes involved in establishing and/or maintaining DNA methylation patterns by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR. We measured growth of the stressed plants and their unstressed progenies vs. the control plants. We found (1) relative to control, DNA methylation patterns were modified in leaf-tissue of the immediately treated plants, and the modifications were exclusively confined to CHG hypomethylation; (2) the CHG-demethylated states were heritable via both maternal and paternal germline, albeit often accompanying further hypomethylation; (3) altered expression of genes encoding for DNA methyltransferases, DNA glycosylase and SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling factor (DDM1) were induced by the stress; (4) progenies of the stressed plants exhibited enhanced tolerance to the same stress their progenitor experienced, and this transgenerational inheritance of the effect of condition accompanying heritability of modified methylation patterns. Conclusions/Significance Our findings suggest that stressful environmental condition can produce transgenerational epigenetic modifications. Progenies of stressed plants may develop enhanced adaptability to the condition, and this acquired trait is inheritable and accord with transmission of the epigenetic modifications. We suggest that environmental induction of heritable modifications in DNA methylation provides a plausible molecular underpinning for the still contentious paradigm of inheritance of acquired traits originally put forward by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck more than 200 years ago. PMID:22984395

Transgenerational inheritance of modified DNA methylation patterns and enhanced tolerance induced by heavy metal stress in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

PubMed

Ou, Xiufang; Zhang, Yunhong; Xu, Chunming; Lin, Xiuyun; Zang, Qi; Zhuang, Tingting; Jiang, Lili; von Wettstein, Diter; Liu, Bao

2012-01-01

DNA methylation is sensitive and responsive to stressful environmental conditions. Nonetheless, the extent to which condition-induced somatic methylation modifications can impose transgenerational effects remains to be fully understood. Even less is known about the biological relevance of the induced epigenetic changes for potentially altered well-being of the organismal progenies regarding adaptation to the specific condition their progenitors experienced. We analyzed DNA methylation pattern by gel-blotting at genomic loci representing transposable elements and protein-coding genes in leaf-tissue of heavy metal-treated rice (Oryza sativa) plants (S0), and its three successive organismal generations. We assessed expression of putative genes involved in establishing and/or maintaining DNA methylation patterns by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR. We measured growth of the stressed plants and their unstressed progenies vs. the control plants. We found (1) relative to control, DNA methylation patterns were modified in leaf-tissue of the immediately treated plants, and the modifications were exclusively confined to CHG hypomethylation; (2) the CHG-demethylated states were heritable via both maternal and paternal germline, albeit often accompanying further hypomethylation; (3) altered expression of genes encoding for DNA methyltransferases, DNA glycosylase and SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling factor (DDM1) were induced by the stress; (4) progenies of the stressed plants exhibited enhanced tolerance to the same stress their progenitor experienced, and this transgenerational inheritance of the effect of condition accompanying heritability of modified methylation patterns. Our findings suggest that stressful environmental condition can produce transgenerational epigenetic modifications. Progenies of stressed plants may develop enhanced adaptability to the condition, and this acquired trait is inheritable and accord with transmission of the epigenetic modifications. We suggest that environmental induction of heritable modifications in DNA methylation provides a plausible molecular underpinning for the still contentious paradigm of inheritance of acquired traits originally put forward by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck more than 200 years ago.

The role of intra-domain disulfide bonds in heat-induced irreversible denaturation of camelid single domain VHH antibodies

PubMed Central

Akazawa-Ogawa, Yoko; Uegaki, Koichi; Hagihara, Yoshihisa

2016-01-01

Camelid-derived single domain VHH antibodies are highly heat resistant, and the mechanism of heat-induced VHH denaturation predominantly relies on the chemical modification of amino acids. Although chemical modification of disulfide bonds has been recognized as a cause for heat-induced denaturation of many proteins, there have been no mutagenesis studies, in which the number of disulfide bonds was controlled. In this article, we examined a series of mutants of two different VHHs with single, double or no disulfide bonds, and scrutinized the effects of these disulfide bond modifications on VHH denaturation. With the exception of one mutant, the heat resistance of VHHs decreased when the number of disulfide bonds increased. The effect of disulfide bonds on heat denaturation was more striking if the VHH had a second disulfide bond, suggesting that the contribution of disulfide shuffling is significant in proteins with multiple disulfide bonds. Furthermore, our results directly indicate that removal of a disulfide bond can indeed increase the heat resistance of a protein, irrespective of the negative impact on equilibrium thermodynamic stability. PMID:26289739

Ion beam induced optical and surface modification in plasmonic nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Udai B.; Gautam, Subodh K.; Kumar, Sunil; Hooda, Sonu; Ojha, Sunil; Singh, Fouran

2016-07-01

In present work, ion irradiation induced nanostructuring has been exploited as an efficient and effective tool for synthesis of coupled plasmonics nanostructures by using 1.2 MeV Xe ions on Au/ZnO/Au system deposited on glass substrate. The results are correlated on the basis of their optical absorption, surface morphologies and enhanced sensitivity of evolved phonon modes by using UV Visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Raman spectroscopy (RS), respectively. Optical absorbance spectra of plasmonic nanostructures (NSs) show a decrease in band gap, which may be ascribed to the formation of defects with ion irradiation. The surface morphology reveals the formation of percolated NSs upon ion irradiation and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) study clearly shows the formation of multilayer system. Furthermore, RS measurements on samples are studied to understand the enhanced sensitivity of ion irradiation induced phonon mode at 573 cm-1 along with other modes. As compared to pristine sample, a stronger and pronounced evolution of these phonon modes is observed with further ion irradiation, which indicates localized surface plasmon results with enhanced intensity of phonon modes of Zinc oxide (ZnO) material. Thus, such plasmonic NSs can be used as surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates.

Modifications in Glass Ionomer Cements: Nano-Sized Fillers and Bioactive Nanoceramics

PubMed Central

Najeeb, Shariq; Khurshid, Zohaib; Zafar, Muhammad Sohail; Khan, Abdul Samad; Zohaib, Sana; Martí, Juan Manuel Nuñez; Sauro, Salvatore; Matinlinna, Jukka Pekka; Rehman, Ihtesham Ur

2016-01-01

Glass ionomer cements (GICs) are being used for a wide range of applications in dentistry. In order to overcome the poor mechanical properties of glass ionomers, several modifications have been introduced to the conventional GICs. Nanotechnology involves the use of systems, modifications or materials the size of which is in the range of 1–100 nm. Nano-modification of conventional GICs and resin modified GICs (RMGICs) can be achieved by incorporation of nano-sized fillers to RMGICs, reducing the size of the glass particles, and introducing nano-sized bioceramics to the glass powder. Studies suggest that the commercially available nano-filled RMGIC does not hold any significant advantage over conventional RMGICs as far as the mechanical and bonding properties are concerned. Conversely, incorporation of nano-sized apatite crystals not only increases the mechanical properties of conventional GICs, but also can enhance fluoride release and bioactivity. By increasing the crystallinity of the set matrix, apatites can make the set cement chemically more stable, insoluble, and improve the bond strength with tooth structure. Increased fluoride release can also reduce and arrest secondary caries. However, due to a lack of long-term clinical studies, the use of nano-modified glass ionomers is still limited in daily clinical dentistry. In addition to the in vitro and in vivo studies, more randomized clinical trials are required to justify the use of these promising materials. The aim of this paper is to review the modification performed in GIC-based materials to improve their physicochemical properties. PMID:27428956

Mechanisms involved in HBr and Ar cure plasma treatments applied to 193 nm photoresists

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pargon, E.; Menguelti, K.; Martin, M.

2009-05-01

In this article, we have performed detailed investigations of the 193 nm photoresist transformations after exposure to the so-called HBr and Ar plasma cure treatments using various characterization techniques (x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transformed infrared, Raman analyses, and ellipsometry). By using windows with different cutoff wavelengths patched on the photoresist film, the role of the plasma vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) light on the resist modifications is clearly outlined and distinguished from the role of radicals and ions from the plasma. The analyses reveal that both plasma cure treatments induce severe surface and bulk chemical modifications of the resist films. The synergisticmore » effects of low energetic ion bombardment and VUV plasma light lead to surface graphitization or cross-linking (on the order of 10 nm), while the plasma VUV light (110-210 nm) is clearly identified as being responsible for ester and lactone group removal from the resist bulk. As the resist modification depth depends strongly on the wavelength penetration into the material, it is found that HBr plasma cure that emits near 160-170 nm can chemically modify the photoresist through its entire thickness (240 nm), while the impact of Ar plasmas emitting near 100 nm is more limited. In the case of HBr cure treatment, Raman and ellipsometry analyses reveal the formation of sp{sup 2} carbon atoms in the resist bulk, certainly thanks to hydrogen diffusion through the resist film assisted by the VUV plasma light.« less

Surface modified MXene Ti3C2 multilayers by aryl diazonium salts leading to large-scale delamination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Hongbing; Zhang, Jianfeng; Wu, Yuping; Huang, Huajie; Li, Gaiye; Zhang, Xin; Wang, Zhuyin

2016-10-01

Herein we report a simple and facile method to delaminate MXene Ti3C2 multilayers by the assistance of surface modification using aryl diazonium salts. The basic strategy involved the preparation of layered MAX Ti3AlC2 and the exfoliation of Ti3AlC2 into Ti3C2 multilayers, followed by Na+ intercalation and surface modification using sulfanilic acid diazonium salts. The resulting chemically grafted Ti3C2 flakes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to confirm the presence of the surface organic species. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy revealed that surface-modified MXene Ti3C2 sheets disperse well in water and the solutions obey Lambert-Beer's law. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to demonstrate the morphology and structure of delaminating MXene Ti3C2 flakes. The results indicated that chemical modification for MXene multilayers by aryl diazonium salts induced swelling that conversely weakened the bonds between MX layers, hence leading to large-scale delamination of multilayered MXene Ti3C2via mild sonication. Advantages of the present approach rely not only on the simplicity and efficiency of the delamination procedure but also on the grafting of aryl groups to MXene surfaces, highly suitable for further applications of the newly discovered two-dimensional materials.

Engineering on-chip nanoporous gold material libraries via precision photothermal treatment [Precision Photothermal Annealing of Nanoporous Gold Thin Films for the Microfabrication of a Single-ship Material Libraries

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chapman, Christopher A. R.; Wang, Ling; Biener, Juergen

Single-chip material libraries of thin films of nanostructured materials are a promising approach for high throughput studies of structure-property relationship in the fields of physics and biology. Nanoporous gold (np-Au), produced by an alloy corrosion process, is a nanostructured material of specific interest in both these fields. One attractive property of np-Au is its self-similar coarsening behavior by thermally induced surface diffusion. However, traditional heat application techniques for the modification of np-Au are bulk processes that cannot be used to generate a library of different pore sizes on a single chip. Laser micromachining offers an attractive solution to this problemmore » by providing a means to apply energy with high spatial and temporal resolution. In our present study we use finite element multiphysics simulations to predict the effects of laser mode (continuous-wave vs. pulsed) and supporting substrate thermal conductivity on the local np-Au film temperatures during photothermal annealing and subsequently investigate the mechanisms by which the np-Au network is coarsening. Our simulations predict that continuous-wave mode laser irradiation on a silicon supporting substrate supports the widest range of morphologies that can be created through the photothermal annealing of thin film np-Au. Using this result we successfully fabricate a single-chip material library consisting of 81 np-Au samples of 9 different morphologies for use in increased throughput material interaction studies.« less

Engineering on-chip nanoporous gold material libraries via precision photothermal treatment [Precision Photothermal Annealing of Nanoporous Gold Thin Films for the Microfabrication of a Single-ship Material Libraries

DOE PAGES

Chapman, Christopher A. R.; Wang, Ling; Biener, Juergen; ...

2016-01-01

Single-chip material libraries of thin films of nanostructured materials are a promising approach for high throughput studies of structure-property relationship in the fields of physics and biology. Nanoporous gold (np-Au), produced by an alloy corrosion process, is a nanostructured material of specific interest in both these fields. One attractive property of np-Au is its self-similar coarsening behavior by thermally induced surface diffusion. However, traditional heat application techniques for the modification of np-Au are bulk processes that cannot be used to generate a library of different pore sizes on a single chip. Laser micromachining offers an attractive solution to this problemmore » by providing a means to apply energy with high spatial and temporal resolution. In our present study we use finite element multiphysics simulations to predict the effects of laser mode (continuous-wave vs. pulsed) and supporting substrate thermal conductivity on the local np-Au film temperatures during photothermal annealing and subsequently investigate the mechanisms by which the np-Au network is coarsening. Our simulations predict that continuous-wave mode laser irradiation on a silicon supporting substrate supports the widest range of morphologies that can be created through the photothermal annealing of thin film np-Au. Using this result we successfully fabricate a single-chip material library consisting of 81 np-Au samples of 9 different morphologies for use in increased throughput material interaction studies.« less

Optical properties of paint-on resins for shade modification of crown and bridge resins--light transmittance characteristics--.

PubMed

Arikawa, Hiroyuki; Kanie, Takahito; Fujii, Koichi; Homma, Tetsuya; Takahashi, Hideo; Ban, Seiji

2003-09-01

The purpose of this study was to examine the light transmittance characteristics of the paint-on resins for shade modification. Three shades of paint-on resin, one crown and bridge resin, and human enamel were used. Specimens with four different thicknesses (75-150 microm) were prepared. The light transmittances including its wavelength distribution and diffusion characteristics were measured. The color values and the color differences among thicknesses of specimens were also determined. The light transmittance values of the paint-on resins ranged from 60.3% to 88.3% at 100 microm thickness, which were lower or nearly equal in comparison with the crown and bridge resin and enamel. Although differences in the wavelength distribution of transmittance among materials were found at lower wavelengths, all materials showed similar diffusion characteristics. The thin layer of paint-on resin effectively changed the color of restorative resin. The paint-on resin may be an effective material for the modification of the color appearance matching required.

Induction heating to trigger the nickel surface modification by in situ generated 4-carboxybenzene diazonium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arrotin, Bastien; Jacques, Amory; Devillers, Sébastien; Delhalle, Joseph; Mekhalif, Zineb

2016-05-01

Nickel is commonly used in numerous applications and is one of the few materials that present strong ferromagnetic properties. These make it a suitable material for induction heating which can be used to activate the grafting of organic species such as diazonium salts onto the material. Diazonium compounds are often used for the modification of metals and alloys thanks to their easy chemical reduction onto the substrates and the possibility to apply a one-step in situ generation process of the diazonium species. This work focuses on the grafting of 4-aminocarboxybenzene on nickel substrates in the context of a spontaneous grafting conducted either at room temperature or by thermal assistance through conventional heating and induction heating. These modifications are also carried out with the goal of maintaining the oxides layer as much as possible unaffected. The benefits of using induction heating with respect to conventional heating are an increase of the grafting rate, a better control of the reaction and a slighter impact on the oxides layer.

Development of Advanced Coatings for Laser Modifications Through Process and Materials Simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martukanitz, R. P.; Babu, S. S.

2004-06-01

A simulation-based system is currently being constructed to aid in the development of advanced coating systems for laser cladding and surface alloying. The system employs loosely coupled material and process models that allow rapid determination of material compatibility over a wide range of processing conditions. The primary emphasis is on the development and identification of composite coatings for improved wear and corrosion resistance. The material model utilizes computational thermodynamics and kinetic analysis to establish phase stability and extent of diffusional reactions that may result from the thermal response of the material during virtual processing. The process model is used to develop accurate thermal histories associated with the laser surface modification process and provides critical input for the non-isothermal materials simulations. These techniques were utilized to design a laser surface modification experiment that utilized the addition of stainless steel alloy 431 and TiC produced using argon and argon and nitrogen shielding. The deposits representing alloy 431 and TiC powder produced in argon resulted in microstructures retaining some TiC particles and an increase in hardness when compared to deposits produced using only the 431 powder. Laser deposits representing alloy 431 and TiC powder produced with a mixture of argon and nitrogen shielding gas resulted in microstructures retaining some TiC particles, as well as fine precipitates of Ti(CN) formed during cooling and a further increase in hardness of the deposit.

What makes protein indigestible from tissue-related, cellular, and molecular aspects?

PubMed

Becker, Petra M; Yu, Peiqiang

2013-10-01

This paper gives an insight into key factors, which impair enzymatic protein digestion. By nature, some proteins in raw products are already poorly digestible because of structural peculiarities, or due to their occurrence in plant cytoplasmic organelles or in cell membranes. In plant-based protein, molecular and structural changes can be induced by genetic engineering, even if protein is not a target compound class of the genetic modification. Other proteins only become difficult to digest due to changes that occur during the processing of proteinaceous products, such as extruding, boiling, or acidic or alkaline treatment. The utilization of proteinaceous raw materials in industrial fermentations can also have negative impacts on protein digestibility, when reused as fermentation by-products for animal nutrition, such as brewers' grains. After consumption, protein digestion can be impeded in the intestine by the presence of antinutritional factors, which are ingested together with the food or feedstuff. It is concluded that the encircling matrix, but also molecular, chemical, and structural peculiarities or modifications to amino acids and proteins obstruct protein digestion by common proteolytic enzymes in humans and animals. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Bioconjugate functionalization of thermally carbonized porous silicon using a radical coupling reaction†

PubMed Central

Sciacca, Beniamino; Alvarez, Sara D.; Geobaldo, Francesco; Sailor, Michael J.

2011-01-01

The high stability of Salonen’s thermally carbonized porous silicon (TCPSi) has attracted attention for environmental and biochemical sensing applications, where corrosion-induced zero point drift of porous silicon-based sensor elements has historically been a significant problem. Prepared by the high temperature reaction of porous silicon with acetylene gas, the stability of this silicon carbide-like material also poses a challenge—many sensor applications require a functionalized surface, and the low reactivity of TCPSi has limited the ability to chemically modify its surface. This work presents a simple reaction to modify the surface of TCPSi with an alkyl carboxylate. The method involves radical coupling of a dicarboxylic acid (sebacic acid) to the TCPSi surface using a benzoyl peroxide initiator. The grafted carboxylic acid species provides a route for bioconjugate chemical modification, demonstrated in this work by coupling propylamine to the surface carboxylic acid group through the intermediacy of pentafluorophenol and 1-ethyl-3-[3-dimethylaminopropyl]carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC). The stability of the carbonized porous Si surface, both before and after chemical modification, is tested in phosphate buffered saline solution and found to be superior to either hydrosilylated (with undecylenic acid) or thermally oxidized porous Si surfaces. PMID:20967329

Ultra short laser pulse modification of wave guides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosenfeld, Arkadi; Ashkenasi, David

2003-11-01

The high peak powers of ultra short (ps and sub-ps) pulsed lasers available at relatively low single pulse energies potentially allow for a precise localization of photon energy, either on the surface or inside (transparent) materials. Three dimensional micro structuring of bulk transparent media without any sign of mechanical cracking has shown the potential of ultra short laser processing. In this study, the micro structuring of bulk transparent media was used to modify fused silica and especially the cladding-core interface in normal fused silica wave guides. The idea behind this technique is to enforce a local mismatch for total reflection at the interface at minimal mechanic stress to overcome the barrier for enhanced optical out-coupling. The laser-induced modifications were studied in dependence of pulse width, focal alignment, single pulse energy and pulse overlap. Micro traces with a thickness between 3 and 8 μm were generated with a spacing of 10 μm in the subsurface region using sub-ps and ps laser pulses at a wavelength of 800 nm. The optical leakage enforced by a micro spiral pattern is significant and can be utilized for medical applications or potentially also for telecommunications and fiber laser technology.

High fluence swift heavy ion structure modification of the SiO2/Si interface and gate insulator in 65 nm MOSFETs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Yao; Gao, Bo; Gong, Min; Willis, Maureen; Yang, Zhimei; Guan, Mingyue; Li, Yun

2017-04-01

In this work, a study of the structure modification, induced by high fluence swift heavy ion radiation, of the SiO2/Si structures and gate oxide interface in commercial 65 nm MOSFETs is performed. A key and novel point in this study is the specific use of the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) technique instead of the conventional atomic force microscope (AFM) or scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques which are typically performed following the chemical etching of the sample to observe the changes in the structure. Using this method we show that after radiation, the appearance of a clearly visible thin layer between the SiO2 and Si is observed presenting as a variation in the TEM intensity at the interface of the two materials. Through measuring the EDX line scans we reveal that the Si:O ratio changed and that this change can be attributed to the migration of the Si towards interface after the Si-O bond is destroyed by the swift heavy ions. For the 65 nm MOSFET sample, the silicon substrate, the SiON insulator and the poly-silicon gate interfaces become blurred under the same irradiation conditions.

A “Spike-Based” Grammar Underlies Directional Modification in Network Connectivity: Effect on Bursting Activity and Implications for Bio-Hybrids Systems

PubMed Central

Zullo, Letizia; Chiappalone, Michela; Martinoia, Sergio; Benfenati, Fabio

2012-01-01

Developed biological systems are endowed with the ability of interacting with the environment; they sense the external state and react to it by changing their own internal state. Many attempts have been made to build ‘hybrids’ with the ability of perceiving, modifying and reacting to external modifications. Investigation of the rules that govern network changes in a hybrid system may lead to finding effective methods for ‘programming’ the neural tissue toward a desired task. Here we show a new perspective in the use of cortical neuronal cultures from embryonic mouse as a working platform to study targeted synaptic modifications. Differently from the common timing-based methods applied in bio-hybrids robotics, here we evaluated the importance of endogenous spike timing in the information processing. We characterized the influence of a spike-patterned stimulus in determining changes in neuronal synchronization (connectivity strength and precision) of the evoked spiking and bursting activity in the network. We show that tailoring the stimulation pattern upon a neuronal spike timing induces the network to respond stronger and more precisely to the stimulation. Interestingly, the induced modifications are conveyed more consistently in the burst timing. This increase in strength and precision may be a key in the interaction of the network with the external world and may be used to induce directional changes in bio-hybrid systems. PMID:23145147

Mixed ion/electron-conductive protective soft nanomatter-based conformal surface modification of lithium-ion battery cathode materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Jang-Hoon; Kim, Ju-Myung; Lee, Chang Kee; Lee, Sang-Young

2014-10-01

Understanding and control of interfacial phenomena between electrode material and liquid electrolytes are of major scientific importance for boosting development of high-performance lithium ion batteries with reliable electrochemical/safety attributes. Here, as an innovative surface engineering approach to address the interfacial issues, a new concept of mixed ion/electron-conductive soft nanomatter-based conformal surface modification of the cathode material is presented. The soft nanomatter is comprised of an electron conductive carbonaceous (C) substance embedded in an ion conductive polyimide (PI) nanothin compliant film. In addition to its structural uniqueness, the newly proposed surface modification benefits from a simple fabrication process. The PI/carbon soft nanomatter is directly synthesized on LiCoO2 surface via one-pot thermal treatment of polyamic acid (=PI precursor) and sucrose (=carbon source) mixture, where the LiCoO2 powders are chosen as a model system to explore the feasibility of this surface engineering strategy. The resulting PI/carbon coating layer facilitates electronic conduction and also suppresses unwanted side reactions arising from the cathode material-liquid electrolyte interface. These synergistic coating effects of the multifunctional PI/carbon soft nanomatter significantly improve high-voltage cell performance and also mitigate interfacial exothermic reaction between cathode material and liquid electrolyte.

Favorable 2'-substitution in the loop region of a thrombin-binding DNA aptamer.

PubMed

Awachat, Ragini; Wagh, Atish A; Aher, Manisha; Fernandes, Moneesha; Kumar, Vaijayanti A

2018-06-01

Simple 2'-OMe-chemical modification in the loop region of the 15mer G-rich DNA sequence GGTTGGTGTGGTTGG is reported. The G-quadruplex structure of this thrombin-binding aptamer (TBA), is stabilized by single modifications (T → 2'-OMe-U), depending on the position of the modification. The structural stability also renders significantly increased inhibition of thrombin-induced fibrin polymerization, a process closely associated with blood-clotting. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Biochar modification to enhance sorption of inorganics from water.

PubMed

Sizmur, Tom; Fresno, Teresa; Akgül, Gökçen; Frost, Harrison; Moreno-Jiménez, Eduardo

2017-12-01

Biochar can be used as a sorbent to remove inorganic pollutants from water but the efficiency of sorption can be improved by activation or modification. This review evaluates various methods to increase the sorption efficiency of biochar including activation with steam, acids and bases and the production of biochar-based composites with metal oxides, carbonaceous materials, clays, organic compounds, and biofilms. We describe the approaches, and explain how each modification alters the sorption capacity. Physical and chemical activation enhances the surface area or functionality of biochar, whereas modification to produce biochar-based composites uses the biochar as a scaffold to embed new materials to create surfaces with novel surface properties upon which inorganic pollutants can sorb. Many of these approaches enhance the retention of a wide range of inorganic pollutants in waters, but here we provide a comparative assessment for Cd 2+ , Cu 2+ , Hg 2+ , Pb 2+ , Zn 2+ , NH 4 + , NO 3 - , PO 4 3- , CrO 4 2- and AsO 4 3- . Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Laser modification of macroscopic properties of metal surface layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kostrubiec, Franciszek

1995-03-01

Surface laser treatment of metals comprises a number of diversified technological operations out of which the following can be considered the most common: oxidation and rendering surfaces amorphous, surface hardening of steel, modification of selected physical properties of metal surface layers. In the paper basic results of laser treatment of a group of metals used as base materials for electric contacts have been presented. The aim of the study was to test the usability of laser treatment from the viewpoint of requirements imposed on materials for electric contacts. The results presented in the paper refer to two different surface treatment technologies: (1) modification of infusible metal surface layer: tungsten and molybdenum through laser fusing of their surface layer and its crystallization, and (2) modification of surface layer properties of other metals through laser doping of their surface layer with foreign elements. In the paper a number of results of experimental investigations obtained by the team under the author's supervision are presented.

Do pH and flavonoids influence hypochlorous acid-induced catalase inhibition and heme modification?

PubMed

Krych-Madej, Justyna; Gebicka, Lidia

2015-09-01

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), highly reactive oxidizing and chlorinating species, is formed in the immune response to invading pathogens by the reaction of hydrogen peroxide with chloride catalyzed by the enzyme myeloperoxidase. Catalase, an important antioxidant enzyme, catalyzing decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to water and molecular oxygen, hampers in vitro HOCl formation, but is also one of the main targets for HOCl. In this work we have investigated HOCl-induced catalase inhibition at different pH, and the influence of flavonoids (catechin, epigallocatechin gallate and quercetin) on this process. It has been shown that HOCl-induced catalase inhibition is independent on pH in the range 6.0-7.4. Preincubation of catalase with epigallocatechin gallate and quercetin before HOCl treatment enhances the degree of catalase inhibition, whereas catechin does not affect this process. Our rapid kinetic measurements of absorption changes around the heme group have revealed that heme modification by HOCl is mainly due to secondary, intramolecular processes. The presence of flavonoids, which reduce active catalase intermediate, Compound I to inactive Compound II have not influenced the kinetics of HOCl-induced heme modification. Possible mechanisms of the reaction of hypochlorous acid with catalase are proposed and the biological consequences are discussed. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Electronic excitation induced modifications in elongated iron nanoparticle encapsulated multiwalled carbon nanotubes under ion irradiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saikiran, V.; Bazylewski, P.; Sameera, I.; Bhatia, Ravi; Pathak, A. P.; Prasad, V.; Chang, G. S.

2018-05-01

Multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) filled with Fe nanorods were shown to have contracted and deformed under heavy ion irradiation. In this study, 120 MeV Ag and 80 MeV Ni ion irradiation was performed to study the deformation and defects induced in iron filled MWCNT under heavy ion irradiation. The structural modifications induced due to electronic excitation by ion irradiation were investigated employing high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, micro-Raman scattering experiments, and synchrotron-based X-ray absorption and emission spectroscopy. We understand that the ion irradiation causes modifications in the Fe nanorods which result in compressions and expansions of the nanotubes, and in turn leads to the buckling of MWCNT. The G band of the Raman spectra shifts slightly towards higher wavenumber and the shoulder G‧ band enhances with the increase of ion irradiation fluence, where the buckling wavelength depends on the radius 'r' of the nanotubes as exp[(r)0.5]. The intensity ratio of the D to G Raman modes initially decreases at the lowest fluence, and then it increases with the increase in ion fluence. The electron diffraction pattern and the high resolution images clearly show the presence of ion induced defects on the walls of the tube and encapsulated iron nanorods.

Living additive manufacturing: Transformation of parent gels into diversely functionalized daughter gels made possible by visible light photoredox catalysis

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chen, Mao; Gu, Yuwei; Singh, Awaneesh

Light-initiated additive manufacturing techniques typically rely on layer-by-layer addition or continuous extraction of polymers formed via nonliving, free radical polymerization methods that render the final materials “dead” toward further monomer insertion; the polymer chains within the materials cannot be reactivated to induce chain extension. An alternative “living additive manufacturing” strategy would involve the use of photocontrolled living radical polymerization to spatiotemporally insert monomers into dormant “parent” materials to generate more complex and diversely functionalized “daughter” materials. Here, we demonstrate a proof-of-concept study of living additive manufacturing using end-linked polymer gels embedded with trithiocarbonate iniferters that can be activated by photoinducedmore » single-electron transfer from an organic photoredox catalyst in solution. This system enables the synthesis of a wide range of chemically and mechanically differentiated daughter gels from a single type of parent gel via light-controlled modification of the parent’s average composition, strand length, and/or cross-linking density. Furthermore, daughter gels that are softer than their parent, stiffer than their parent, larger but with the same modulus as their parent, thermally responsive, polarity responsive, healable, and weldable are all realized.« less

Living additive manufacturing: Transformation of parent gels into diversely functionalized daughter gels made possible by visible light photoredox catalysis

DOE PAGES

Chen, Mao; Gu, Yuwei; Singh, Awaneesh; ...

2017-01-13

Light-initiated additive manufacturing techniques typically rely on layer-by-layer addition or continuous extraction of polymers formed via nonliving, free radical polymerization methods that render the final materials “dead” toward further monomer insertion; the polymer chains within the materials cannot be reactivated to induce chain extension. An alternative “living additive manufacturing” strategy would involve the use of photocontrolled living radical polymerization to spatiotemporally insert monomers into dormant “parent” materials to generate more complex and diversely functionalized “daughter” materials. Here, we demonstrate a proof-of-concept study of living additive manufacturing using end-linked polymer gels embedded with trithiocarbonate iniferters that can be activated by photoinducedmore » single-electron transfer from an organic photoredox catalyst in solution. This system enables the synthesis of a wide range of chemically and mechanically differentiated daughter gels from a single type of parent gel via light-controlled modification of the parent’s average composition, strand length, and/or cross-linking density. Furthermore, daughter gels that are softer than their parent, stiffer than their parent, larger but with the same modulus as their parent, thermally responsive, polarity responsive, healable, and weldable are all realized.« less

Femtosecond laser ablation of enamel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Le, Quang-Tri; Bertrand, Caroline; Vilar, Rui

2016-06-01

The surface topographical, compositional, and structural modifications induced in human enamel by femtosecond laser ablation is studied. The laser treatments were performed using a Yb:KYW chirped-pulse-regenerative amplification laser system (560 fs and 1030 nm) and fluences up to 14 J/cm2. The ablation surfaces were studied by scanning electron microscopy, grazing incidence x-ray diffraction, and micro-Raman spectroscopy. Regardless of the fluence, the ablation surfaces were covered by a layer of resolidified material, indicating that ablation is accompanied by melting of hydroxyapatite. This layer presented pores and exploded gas bubbles, created by the release of gaseous decomposition products of hydroxyapatite (CO2 and H2O) within the liquid phase. In the specimen treated with 1-kHz repetition frequency and 14 J/cm2, thickness of the resolidified material is in the range of 300 to 900 nm. The micro-Raman analysis revealed that the resolidified material contains amorphous calcium phosphate, while grazing incidence x-ray diffraction analysis allowed detecting traces of a calcium phosphate other than hydroxyapatite, probably β-tricalcium phosphate Ca3), at the surface of this specimen. The present results show that the ablation of enamel involves melting of enamel's hydroxyapatite, but the thickness of the altered layer is very small and thermal damage of the remaining material is negligible.

Tribo-functionalizing Si and SU8 materials by surface modification for application in MEMS/NEMS actuator-based devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, R. A.; Satyanarayana, N.; Kustandi, T. S.; Sinha, S. K.

2011-01-01

Micro/nano-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS/NEMS) are miniaturized devices built at micro/nanoscales. At these scales, the surface/interfacial forces are extremely strong and they adversely affect the smooth operation and the useful operating lifetimes of such devices. When these forces manifest in severe forms, they lead to material removal and thereby reduce the wear durability of the devices. In this paper, we present a simple, yet robust, two-step surface modification method to significantly enhance the tribological performance of MEMS/NEMS materials. The two-step method involves oxygen plasma treatment of polymeric films and the application of a nanolubricant, namely perfluoropolyether. We apply the two-step method to the two most important MEMS/NEMS structural materials, namely silicon and SU8 polymer. On applying surface modification to these materials, their initial coefficient of friction reduces by ~4-7 times and the steady-state coefficient of friction reduces by ~2.5-3.5 times. Simultaneously, the wear durability of both the materials increases by >1000 times. The two-step method is time effective as each of the steps takes the time duration of approximately 1 min. It is also cost effective as the oxygen plasma treatment is a part of the MEMS/NEMS fabrication process. The two-step method can be readily and easily integrated into MEMS/NEMS fabrication processes. It is anticipated that this method will work for any kind of structural material from which MEMS/NEMS are or can be made.

Enhancement of Oscillatory Flap Propulsors for Low Speed Flows in Water

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-07-13

in efficiency results from a reduction in the induced drag created by the lifting surface. Many of these modifications such as winglets , tip bulbs...one of the many terms that account for the total power loss. Thus, winglet -type tip modifications for the OFD are expected to lead to an

76 FR 65779 - Office of Hazardous Materials Safety; Notice of Applications for Modification of Special Permit

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-24

... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Office of... processing of, special permits from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations (49 CFR... special permit is published in accordance with Part 107 of the Federal hazardous materials transportation...

Supramolecular engineering through temperature-induced chemical modification of 2H-tetraphenylporphyrin on Ag(111): flat phenyl conformation and possible dehydrogenation reactions.

PubMed

Di Santo, Giovanni; Blankenburg, Stephan; Castellarin-Cudia, Carla; Fanetti, Mattia; Borghetti, Patrizia; Sangaletti, Luigi; Floreano, Luca; Verdini, Alberto; Magnano, Elena; Bondino, Federica; Pignedoli, Carlo A; Nguyen, Manh-Thuong; Gaspari, Roberto; Passerone, Daniele; Goldoni, Andrea

2011-12-16

Scratching the surface: Formation of a monolayer of 2H-tetraphenylporphyrins (2H-TPP) on Ag(111), either by sublimation of a multilayer in the range 525-600 K or by annealing (at the same temperature) a monolayer deposited at room temperature, induces a chemical modification of the molecules. Rotation of the phenyl rings into a flat conformation is observed and tentatively explained, by using DFT calculations, as a peculiar reaction due to molecular dehydrogenation. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Characterization of thiol-based redox modifications of Brassica napusSNF1-related protein kinase 2.6-2C.

PubMed

Ma, Tianyi; Yoo, Mi-Jeong; Zhang, Tong; Liu, Lihong; Koh, Jin; Song, Wen-Yuan; Harmon, Alice C; Sha, Wei; Chen, Sixue

2018-04-01

Sucrose nonfermenting 1-related protein kinase 2.6 (SnRK2.6), also known as Open Stomata 1 (OST1) in Arabidopsis thaliana , plays a pivotal role in abscisic acid (ABA)-mediated stomatal closure. Four SnRK2.6 paralogs were identified in the Brassica napus genome in our previous work. Here we studied one of the paralogs, BnSnRK2.6-2C , which was transcriptionally induced by ABA in guard cells. Recombinant BnSnRK2.6-2C exhibited autophosphorylation activity and its phosphorylation sites were mapped. The autophosphorylation activity was inhibited by S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) and by oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and the inhibition was reversed by reductants. Using monobromobimane (mBBr) labeling, we demonstrated a dose-dependent modification of BnSnRK2.6-2C by GSNO. Furthermore, mass spectrometry analysis revealed previously uncharacterized thiol-based modifications including glutathionylation and sulfonic acid formation. Of the six cysteine residues in BnSnRK2.6-2C, C159 was found to have different types of thiol modifications, suggesting its high redox sensitivity and versatility. In addition, mBBr labeling on tyrosine residues was identified. Collectively, these data provide detailed biochemical characterization of redox-induced modifications and changes of the BnSnRK2.6-2C activity.

Modified Composite Materials Workshop

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dicus, D. L. (Compiler)

1978-01-01

The reduction or elimination of the hazard which results from accidental release of graphite fibers from composite materials was studied at a workshop. At the workshop, groups were organized to consider six topics: epoxy modifications, epoxy replacement, fiber modifications, fiber coatings and new fibers, hybrids, and fiber release testing. Because of the time required to develop a new material and acquire a design data base, most of the workers concluded that a modified composite material would require about four to five years of development and testing before it could be applied to aircraft structures. The hybrid working group considered that some hybrid composites which reduce the risk of accidental fiber release might be put into service over the near term. The fiber release testing working group recommended a coordinated effort to define a suitable laboratory test.

Vapor-Phase Deposition and Modification of Metal-Organic Frameworks: State-of-the-Art and Future Directions.

PubMed

Stassen, Ivo; De Vos, Dirk; Ameloot, Rob

2016-10-04

Materials processing, and thin-film deposition in particular, is decisive in the implementation of functional materials in industry and real-world applications. Vapor processing of materials plays a central role in manufacturing, especially in electronics. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of nanoporous crystalline materials on the brink of breakthrough in many application areas. Vapor deposition of MOF thin films will facilitate their implementation in micro- and nanofabrication research and industries. In addition, vapor-solid modification can be used for postsynthetic tailoring of MOF properties. In this context, we review the recent progress in vapor processing of MOFs, summarize the underpinning chemistry and principles, and highlight promising directions for future research. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Ultraviolet-ozone surface modification for non-wetting hole transport materials based inverted planar perovskite solar cells with efficiency exceeding 18%

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Xiuwen; Ma, Chunqing; Cheng, Yuanhang; Xie, Yue-Min; Yi, Xueping; Gautam, Bhoj; Chen, Shengmei; Li, Ho-Wa; Lee, Chun-Sing; So, Franky; Tsang, Sai-Wing

2017-08-01

Non-wetting hole transport materials (HTMs) have great potential in facilitating large-sized perovskite crystal growth and enhancing device stability by opposing moisture ingress, However, the severe non-wetting issue limits the wide application of these materials in low-temperature solution-processed inverted planar perovskite solar cells (PVSCs), and corresponding devices are rarely reported. Here, a facile ultraviolet-ozone (UVO) modification method is demonstrated to overcome this issue. By carefully controlling the UVO modification time, the surface wettability of poly-TPD can be tuned without affecting the bulk properties of the film, hence perovskite films with desired grain size and excellent coverage can be deposited via a one-step spin-coating method. Benefiting from the high-quality perovskite, well-matched energy level alignment and hydrophobic property of poly-TPD, the resulting PVSCs show a champion power conversion efficiency of 18.19% with significantly enhanced stability as compared to the PEDOT:PSS counterparts. Moreover, the UVO modification approach also demonstrates its validity when being extended to other hydrophobic HTMs. This work not only provides a general strategy to broaden the selection pool of HTMs for solution-processed inverted planar PVSCs, but also may triggers the exploration of more advanced strategies to make non-wetting HTMs applicable in solution-processed inverted planar PVSCs.

Surface modification of polymers for biocompatibility via exposure to extreme ultraviolet radiation.

PubMed

Inam Ul Ahad; Bartnik, Andrzej; Fiedorowicz, Henryk; Kostecki, Jerzy; Korczyc, Barbara; Ciach, Tomasz; Brabazon, Dermot

2014-09-01

Polymeric biomaterials are being widely used for the treatment of various traumata, diseases and defects in human beings due to ease in their synthesis. As biomaterials have direct interaction with the extracellular environment in the biological world, biocompatibility is a topic of great significance. The introduction or enhancement of biocompatibility in certain polymers is still a challenge to overcome. Polymer biocompatibility can be controlled by surface modification. Various physical and chemical methods (e.g., chemical and plasma treatment, ion implantation, and ultraviolet irradiation etc.) are in use or being developed for the modification of polymer surfaces. However an important limitation in their employment is the alteration of bulk material. Different surface and bulk properties of biomaterials are often desirable for biomedical applications. Because extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation penetration is quite limited even in low density mediums, it could be possible to use it for surface modification without influencing the bulk material. This article reviews the degree of biocompatibility of different polymeric biomaterials being currently employed in various biomedical applications, the surface properties required to be modified for biocompatibility control, plasma and laser ablation based surface modification techniques, and research studies indicating possible use of EUV for enhancing biocompatibility. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

First-principles prediction of new photocatalyst materials with visible-light absorption and improved charge separation: surface modification of rutile TiO₂ with nanoclusters of MgO and Ga₂O₃.

PubMed

Nolan, Michael

2012-11-01

Titanium dioxide is an important and widely studied photocatalytic material, but to achieve photocatalytic activity under visible-light absorption, it needs to have a narrower band gap and reduced charge carrier recombination. First-principles simulations are presented in this paper to show that heterostructures of rutil TiO₂ modified with nanoclusters of MgO and Ga₂O₃ will be new photocatalytically active materials in the UV (MgO-TiO₂) and visible (Ga₂O₃-TiO₂) regions of the solar spectrum. In particular, our investigations of a model of the excited state of the heterostructures demonstrate that upon light excitation electrons and holes can be separated onto the TiO₂ surface and the metal oxide nanocluster, which will reduce charge recombination and improve photocatalytic activity. For MgO-modified TiO₂, no significant band gap change is predicted, but for Ga₂O₃-modified TiO₂ we predict a band gap change of up to 0.6 eV, which is sufficient to induce visible light absorption. Comparisons with unmodified TiO₂ and other TiO₂-based photocatalyst structures are presented.

Analyses of Fatigue and Fatigue-Crack Growth under Constant- and Variable-Amplitude Loading

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Newman, J. C., Jr.

1999-01-01

Studies on the growth of small cracks have led to the observation that fatigue life of many engineering materials is primarily crack growth from micro-structural features, such as inclusion particles, voids, slip-bands or from manufacturing defects. This paper reviews the capabilities of a plasticity-induced crack-closure model to predict fatigue lives of metallic materials using small-crack theory under various loading conditions. Constraint factors, to account for three-dimensional effects, were selected to correlate large-crack growth rate data as a function of the effective stress-intensity factor range (delta K(sub eff)) under constant-amplitude loading. Modifications to the delta K(sub eff)-rate relations in the near-threshold regime were needed to fit measured small-crack growth rate behavior. The model was then used to calculate small- and large-crack growth rates, and to predict total fatigue lives, for notched and un-notched specimens under constant-amplitude and spectrum loading. Fatigue lives were predicted using crack-growth relations and micro-structural features like those that initiated cracks in the fatigue specimens for most of the materials analyzed. Results from the tests and analyses agreed well.

Metal-assisted SIMS and cluster ion bombardment for ion yield enhancement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heile, A.; Lipinsky, D.; Wehbe, N.; Delcorte, A.; Bertrand, P.; Felten, A.; Houssiau, L.; Pireaux, J.-J.; De Mondt, R.; Van Vaeck, L.; Arlinghaus, H. F.

2008-12-01

In addition to structural information, a detailed knowledge of the local chemical environment proves to be of ever greater importance, for example for the development of new types of materials as well as for specific modifications of surfaces and interfaces in multiple fields of materials science or various biomedical and chemical applications. But the ongoing miniaturization and therefore reduction of the amount of material available for analysis constitute a challenge to the detection limits of analytical methods. In the case of time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), several methods of secondary ion yield enhancement have been proposed. This paper focuses on the investigation of the effects of two of these methods, metal-assisted SIMS and polyatomic primary ion bombardment. For this purpose, thicker layers of polystyrene (PS), both pristine and metallized with different amounts of gold, were analyzed using monoatomic (Ar +, Ga +, Xe +, Bi +) and polyatomic (SF 5+, Bi 3+, C 60+) primary ions. It was found that polyatomic ions generally induce a significant increase of the secondary ion yield. On the other hand, with gold deposition, a yield enhancement can only be detected for monoatomic ion bombardment.

Measurement Challenges for Carbon Nanotube Material

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sosa, Edward; Arepalli, Sivaram; Nikolaev, Pasha; Gorelik, Olga; Yowell, Leonard

2006-01-01

The advances in large scale applications of carbon nanotubes demand a reliable supply of raw and processed materials. It is imperative to have a consistent quality control of these nanomaterials to distinguish material inconsistency from the modifications induced by processing of nanotubes for any application. NASA Johnson Space Center realized this need five years back and started a program to standardize the characterization methods. The JSC team conducted two workshops (2003 and 2005) in collaboration with NIST focusing on purity and dispersion measurement issues of carbon nanotubes [1]. In 2004, the NASA-JSC protocol was developed by combining analytical techniques of SEM, TEM, UV-VIS-NIR absorption, Raman, and TGA [2]. This protocol is routinely used by several researchers across the world as a first step in characterizing raw and purified carbon nanotubes. A suggested practice guide consisting of detailed chapters on TGA, Raman, electron microscopy and NIR absorption is in the final stages and is undergoing revisions with input from the nanotube community [3]. The possible addition of other techniques such as XPS, and ICP to the existing protocol will be presented. Recent activities at ANSI and ISO towards implementing these protocols as nanotube characterization standards will be discussed.

Reducing the cytotoxicity of inhalable engineered nanoparticles via in situ passivation with biocompatible materials.

PubMed

Byeon, Jeong Hoon; Park, Jae Hong; Peters, Thomas M; Roberts, Jeffrey T

2015-07-15

The cytotoxicity of model welding nanoparticles was modulated through in situ passivation with soluble biocompatible materials. A passivation process consisting of a spark discharge particle generator coupled to a collison atomizer as a co-flow or counter-flow configuration was used to incorporate the model nanoparticles with chitosan. The tested model welding nanoparticles are inhaled and that A549 cells are a human lung epithelial cell line. Measurements of in vitro cytotoxicity in A549 cells revealed that the passivated nanoparticles had a lower cytotoxicity (>65% in average cell viability, counter-flow) than the untreated model nanoparticles. Moreover, the co-flow incorporation between the nanoparticles and chitosan induced passivation of the nanoparticles, and the average cell viability increased by >80% compared to the model welding nanoparticles. As a more convenient way (additional chitosan generation and incorporation devices may not be required), other passivation strategies through a modification of the welding rod with chitosan adhesive and graphite paste did also enhance average cell viability (>58%). The approach outlined in this work is potentially generalizable as a new platform, using only biocompatible materials in situ, to treat nanoparticles before they are inhaled. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ion implantation modified stainless steel as a substrate for hydroxyapatite deposition. Part I. Surface modification and characterization.

PubMed

Pramatarova, L; Pecheva, E; Krastev, V; Riesz, F

2007-03-01

Material surfaces play critical role in biology and medicine since most biological reactions occur on surfaces and interfaces. There are many examples showing that the surface properties of the materials control and are directly involved in biological reactions and processes in-vitro like blood compatibility, protein absorption, cell development, etc. The rules that govern the diversity of biological surface phenomenon are fundamental physical laws. Stainless steel doped with Cr, Ni and Mo is widely used material in medicine and dentistry due to its excellent corrosion resistance and mechanical properties. The interest in this material has stimulated extensive studies on improving its bone-bonding properties. This paper describes the surface modification of Cr-Ni stainless steel (AISI 316) by a whole surface sequential implantation of Ca and P ions (the basic ions of hydroxyapatite). Three groups of stainless steel samples are prepared: (i) ion-implanted, (ii) ion-implanted and thermally treated at 600( composite function)C in air for 1 h and (iii) initials. The surface chemistry and topography before and after the surface modification are characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy, magic mirror method, atomic force microscopy and contact angle measurements.

Project Success for the SLD Child, Curriculum Modification.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Owens, Jean

The curriculum modification guide, developed by project success (Nebraska) through a Title III grant for language disabled elementary level students, contains suggested activities and instructional materials to be used in units of art, health, mathematics, music, science, and social studies. Explained are program planning, criteria for selecting…

Editorial

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2006-01-01

This volume contains the Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Ion Beam Modification of Materials, IBMM 2004, and is published by Elsevier as a special issue of Nuclear Instruments and Methods B. The conference series is the major international forum to present and discuss recent research results and future directions in the field of ion beam modification, synthesis and characterization of materials. The first conference in the series was held in Budapest, Hungary, 1978, and subsequent conferences were held every two years at locations around the Globe, most recently in Japan, Brazil and the Netherlands. The series brings together physicists, materials scientists and ion beam specialists from all over the world. The official conference language is English.

Carbon materials modified by plasma treatment as electrodes for supercapacitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lota, Grzegorz; Tyczkowski, Jacek; Kapica, Ryszard; Lota, Katarzyna; Frackowiak, Elzbieta

The carbon material was modified by RF plasma with various reactive gases: O 2, Ar and CO 2. Physicochemical properties of the final carbon products were characterized using different techniques such as gas adsorption method and XPS. Plasma modified materials enriched in oxygen functionalities were investigated as electrodes for supercapacitors in acidic medium. The electrochemical measurements have been carried out using cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge/discharge and impedance spectroscopy. The electrochemical measurements have confirmed that capacity characteristics are closely connected with a type of plasma exposition. Modification processes have an influence on the kind and amount of surface functional groups in the carbon matrix. The moderate increase of capacity of carbon materials modified by plasma has been observed using symmetric two-electrode systems. Whereas investigations made in three-electrode system proved that the suitable selection of plasma modification parameters allows to obtain promising negative and positive electrode materials for supercapacitor application.

Postpolymerization Modifications of Alkene-Functional Polycarbonates for the Development of Advanced Materials Biomaterials.

PubMed

Thomas, Anthony W; Dove, Andrew P

2016-12-01

Functional aliphatic polycarbonates have attracted significant attention as materials for use as biomedical polymers in recent years. The incorporation of pendent functionality offers a facile method of modifying materials postpolymerization, thus enabling functionalities not compatible with ring-opening polymerization (ROP) to be introduced into the polymer. In particular, polycarbonates bearing alkene-terminated functional groups have generated considerable interest as a result of their ease of synthesis, and the wide range of materials that can be obtained by performing simple postpolymerization modifications on this functionality, for example, through radical thiol-ene addition, Michael addition, and epoxidation reactions. This review presents an in-depth appraisal of the methods used to modify alkene-functional polycarbonates postpolymerization, and the diversity of practical applications for which these materials and their derivatives have been used. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Engineering the performance of mixed matrix membranes for gas separations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shu, Shu

Mixed matrix membranes that comprise domains of organic and inorganic components are investigated in this research. Such materials effectively circumvent the polymeric 'upper bound trade-off curve' and show properties highly attractive for industrial gas separations. Nevertheless, lack of intrinsic compatibility between the organic polymers and inorganic fillers poses the biggest challenge to successful fabrication of mixed matrix membranes. Consequently, control of the nanoscale interface between the sieve and polymer has been the key technical challenge to the implementation of composite membrane materials. The overarching goal of this research was to devise and explore approaches to enhance the performance of mixed matrix membranes by properly tailoring the sieve/polymer interface. In an effort to pursue the aforementioned objective, three approaches were developed and inspected: (i) use of silane coupling agents, (ii) hydrophobizing of sieve surface through alcohol etherification reactions, and (iii) a two-step modification sequence involving the use of a Grignard reagent. A comparison was drawn to evaluate these methodologies and the most effective strategy (Grignard treatment) was selected and further investigated. Successful formulation and characterization of mixed matrix membranes constituting zeolite 4A modified via the Grignard treatment are described in detail. Membranes with impressive improvements in gas separation efficiency and mechanical properties were demonstrated. The basis for the improvements in polymer/sieve compatibility enabled by this specific process were proposed and investigated. A key aspect of the present study was illuminating the detailed chemical mechanisms involved in the Grignard modification. Systematic characterization and carefully designed experiments revealed that the formation of distinctive surface structures is essentially a heterogeneous nucleation process, where Mg(OH)2 crystals grow from the nuclei previously extracted from zeolites. In addition to the main work, discovery of sonication-induced dealumination of zeolites was made during the systematic exploration of Grignard chemistry. The new procedure employing sonication can potentially be applied to prepare zeolites with a variety of Si/Al ratios under relatively mild conditions. The last part of this thesis focused on development of a technique to generalize the highly specific Grignard treatment to inorganic materials other than zeolite 4A. This work delivered composite membranes with improved interfacial adhesion. Moreover, research revealed the effect of surface nuclei density on the ultimate morphology of deposited nanostructures and how different surface morphologies influence polymer/filler interaction in composite membranes. Methods were devised to tailor the morphologies of such structures in order to optimize adhesion enhancement. The acquired results demonstrated the potential of extending this modification process to a broad domain of materials and render it a general methodology for interfacial adhesion promotion.

The effects of metal ions on the DNA damage induced by hydrogen peroxide.

PubMed

Kobayashi, S; Ueda, K; Komano, T

1990-01-01

The effects of metal ions on DNA damage induced by hydrogen peroxide were investigated using two methods, agarose-gel electrophoretic analysis of supercoiled DNA and sequencing-gel analysis of single end-labeled DNA fragments of defined sequences. Hydrogen peroxide induced DNA damage when iron or copper ion was present. At least two classes of DNA damage were induced, one being direct DNA-strand cleavage, and the other being base modification labile to hot piperidine. The investigation of the damaged sites and the inhibitory effects of radical scavengers revealed that hydroxyl radical was the species which attacked DNA in the reaction of H2O2/Fe(II). On the other hand, two types of DNA damage were induced by H2O2/Cu(II). Type I damage was predominant and inhibited by potassium iodide, but type II was not. The sites of the base-modification induced by type I damage were similar to those by lipid peroxidation products and by ascorbate in the presence of Cu(II), suggesting the involvement of radical species other than free hydroxyl radical in the damaging reactions.

Alcohol and epigenetic changes: Summary of the 2011 Alcohol and Immunology Research Interest Group (AIRIG) meeting

PubMed Central

Zahs, Anita; Curtis, Brenda J.; Waldschmidt, Thomas J.; Brown, Lou Ann S.; Gauthier, Theresa W.; Choudhry, Mashkoor A.; Kovacs, Elizabeth J.; Bird, Melanie D.

2013-01-01

On November 18, 2011, the 16th annual Alcohol and Immunology Research Interest Group (AIRIG) meeting was held at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois. The focus of this year’s meeting was alcohol’s effect on epigenetic changes and possible outcomes induced by these changes. Two sessions, which consisted of talks from invited speakers as well as presentations of selected abstracts, were held in addition to a poster session. Participants presented information on alcohol-induced alterations in histone modifications and gene expression along with immunologic responses to alcohol. Speakers shared new research specifically on histone deacetylase enzyme expression and modifications due to alcohol and the downstream effect of these modifications may have on gene expression and tissue damage. Additional studies suggested that alcohol exacerbates inflammation when combined with other insults such as infection, trauma, inhalation injury, and disease. PMID:22738858

Effects of electrode modification using calcium on the performance of alternating current field-induced polymer electroluminescent devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xia, Yingdong; Chen, Yonghua; Smith, Gregory M.; Li, Yuan; Huang, Wenxiao; Carroll, David L.

2013-06-01

In this work, the effects of electrode modification by calcium (Ca) on the performance of AC field induced polymer electroluminescence (FIPEL) devices are studied. The FIPEL device with Ca/Al electrode exhibits 550 cd m-2, which is 27.5 times higher than that of the device with only an Al electrode (20 cd m-2). Both holes and electrons are injected from one electrode in our FIPEL device. We found that the electron injection can be significantly enhanced by a Ca modification on the Al electrode without greatly affecting the hole injection. Therefore, the electrons and holes can be effectively recombined in the emissive layer to form more excitons under the AC voltage, leading to effective light emission. The device emitted much brighter light than other AC-based organic EL devices. This result provides an easy and effective way to improve FIPEL performance.

Role of Carbonyl Modifications on Aging-Associated Protein Aggregation

PubMed Central

Tanase, Maya; Urbanska, Aleksandra M.; Zolla, Valerio; Clement, Cristina C.; Huang, Liling; Morozova, Kateryna; Follo, Carlo; Goldberg, Michael; Roda, Barbara; Reschiglian, Pierluigi; Santambrogio, Laura

2016-01-01

Protein aggregation is a common biological phenomenon, observed in different physiological and pathological conditions. Decreased protein solubility and a tendency to aggregate is also observed during physiological aging but the causes are currently unknown. Herein we performed a biophysical separation of aging-related high molecular weight aggregates, isolated from the bone marrow and splenic cells of aging mice and followed by biochemical and mass spectrometric analysis. The analysis indicated that compared to younger mice an increase in protein post-translational carbonylation was observed. The causative role of these modifications in inducing protein misfolding and aggregation was determined by inducing carbonyl stress in young mice, which recapitulated the increased protein aggregation observed in old mice. Altogether our analysis indicates that oxidative stress-related post-translational modifications accumulate in the aging proteome and are responsible for increased protein aggregation and altered cell proteostasis. PMID:26776680

77 FR 58216 - Notice of Applications for Modification of Special Permit

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-19

... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Notice of... Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations (49 CFR Part 107, Subpart B), notice is hereby... hazardous materials, packaging design changes, additional mode of transportation, etc.) are described in...

77 FR 23541 - Notice of Applications for Modification of Special Permit

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-04-19

... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Notice of... Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations (49 CFR part 107, subpart B), notice is hereby... hazardous materials, packaging design changes, additional mode of transportation, etc.) are described in...

77 FR 64845 - Notice of Applications for Modification of Special Permit

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-10-23

... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Notice of... Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations (49 CFR part 107, subpart B), notice is hereby... hazardous materials, packaging design changes, additional mode of transportation, etc.) are described in...

49 CFR 180.413 - Repair, modification, stretching, rebarrelling, or mounting of specification cargo tanks.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... Transportation PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAZARDOUS MATERIALS REGULATIONS CONTINUING QUALIFICATION AND MAINTENANCE OF PACKAGINGS Qualification and Maintenance... respect to structural design analysis, material and welding procedures. (ii) Assure compliance of the...

Engineering on-chip nanoporous gold material libraries via precision photothermal treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chapman, Christopher A. R.; Wang, Ling; Biener, Juergen; Seker, Erkin; Biener, Monika M.; Matthews, Manyalibo J.

2015-12-01

Libraries of nanostructured materials on a single chip are a promising platform for high throughput and combinatorial studies of structure-property relationships in the fields of physics and biology. Nanoporous gold (np-Au), produced by an alloy corrosion process, is a nanostructured material specifically suited for such studies because of its self-similar thermally induced coarsening behavior. However, traditional heat application techniques for the modification of np-Au are bulk processes that cannot be used to generate a library of different pore sizes on a single chip. Here, laser micro-processing offers an attractive solution to this problem by providing a means to apply energy with high spatial and temporal resolution. In the present study we use finite element multiphysics simulations to predict the effects of laser mode (continuous-wave vs. pulsed) and thermal conductivity of the supporting substrate on the local np-Au film temperatures during photothermal annealing. Based on these results we discuss the mechanisms by which the np-Au network is coarsened. Thermal transport simulations predict that continuous-wave mode laser irradiation of np-Au thin films on a silicon substrate supports the widest range of morphologies that can be created through photothermal annealing of np-Au. Using the guidance provided by simulations, we successfully fabricate an on-chip material library consisting of 81 np-Au samples of 9 different morphologies for use in the parallel study of structure-property relationships.Libraries of nanostructured materials on a single chip are a promising platform for high throughput and combinatorial studies of structure-property relationships in the fields of physics and biology. Nanoporous gold (np-Au), produced by an alloy corrosion process, is a nanostructured material specifically suited for such studies because of its self-similar thermally induced coarsening behavior. However, traditional heat application techniques for the modification of np-Au are bulk processes that cannot be used to generate a library of different pore sizes on a single chip. Here, laser micro-processing offers an attractive solution to this problem by providing a means to apply energy with high spatial and temporal resolution. In the present study we use finite element multiphysics simulations to predict the effects of laser mode (continuous-wave vs. pulsed) and thermal conductivity of the supporting substrate on the local np-Au film temperatures during photothermal annealing. Based on these results we discuss the mechanisms by which the np-Au network is coarsened. Thermal transport simulations predict that continuous-wave mode laser irradiation of np-Au thin films on a silicon substrate supports the widest range of morphologies that can be created through photothermal annealing of np-Au. Using the guidance provided by simulations, we successfully fabricate an on-chip material library consisting of 81 np-Au samples of 9 different morphologies for use in the parallel study of structure-property relationships. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Details of sample preparation, fabrication of material libraries, as well as further analysis and supporting scanning electron micrographs can be found in ESI. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr04580k

PEG-template for surface modification of zeolite: A convenient material to the design of polypropylene based composite for packaging films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toommee, S.; Pratumpong, P.

2018-06-01

Zeolite was successfully modified by conventional synthetic route. Polyethylene glycol was employed for surface modification of zeolite. The surface of zeolite exhibited therefore hydrophobic properties. Less than 5 wt% of modified zeolites with uniform size and shape were integrated into polypropylene matrix. Mechanical properties of composite exhibited the similar trend compare to neat polypropylene. Oxygen transmission rate and water vapor transmission rate were evaluated and it exhibited the strong potential to be a good candidate material in active packaging.

The influence of storage and heat treatment on a magnesium-based implant material: an in vitro and in vivo study.

PubMed

Bracht, Katja; Angrisani, Nina; Seitz, Jan-Marten; Eifler, Rainer; Weizbauer, Andreas; Reifenrath, Janin

2015-10-19

Magnesium alloys are recommended as a potential material for osteosynthesis. It is known that storage-induced property modifications can occur in materials like aluminum. Thus the aim of this study was to analyze the influence of storage durations of up to 48 weeks on the biomechanical, structural, and degradation properties of the degradable magnesium alloy LAE442. Extruded implants (n = 104; Ø 2.5 mm × 25 mm) were investigated after storage periods of 0, 12, 24, and 48 weeks in three different sub-studies: (I) immediately after the respective storage duration and after an additional (II) 56 days of in vitro corrosion in simulated body fluid (SFB), and (III) 48 weeks in vivo corrosion in a rabbit model, respectively. In addition, the influence of a T5-heat treatment (206 °C for 15 h in an argon atmosphere) was tested (n = 26; 0 week of storage). Evaluation was performed by three-point bending, scanning electron microscopy, radiography, µ-computed tomography, evaluation of the mean grain size, and contrast analysis of precipitations (such as aluminum or lithium). The heat treatment induced a significant reduction in initial stability, and enhanced the corrosion resistance. In vivo experiments showed a good biocompatibility for all implants. During the storage of up to 48 weeks, no significant changes occurred in the implant properties. LAE442 implants can be safely used after up to 48 weeks of storage.

Evaluation of materials and design modifications for aircraft brakes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ho, T. L.; Kennedy, F. E.; Peterson, M. B.

1975-01-01

A test program is described which was carried out to evaluate several proposed design modifications and several high-temperature friction materials for use in aircraft disk brakes. The evaluation program was carried out on a specially built test apparatus utilizing a disk brake and wheel half from a small het aircraft. The apparatus enabled control of brake pressure, velocity, and braking time. Tests were run under both constant and variable velocity conditions and covered a kinetic energy range similar to that encountered in aircraft brake service. The results of the design evaluation program showed that some improvement in brake performance can be realized by making design changes in the components of the brake containing friction material. The materials evaluation showed that two friction materials show potential for use in aircraft disk brakes. One of the materials is a nickel-based sintered composite, while the other is a molybdenum-based material. Both materials show much lower wear rates than conventional copper-based materials and are better able to withstand the high temperatures encountered during braking. Additional materials improvement is necessary since both materials show a significant negative slope of the friction-velocity curve at low velocities.

Improvement of β-TCP/PLLA biodegradable material by surface modification with stearic acid.

PubMed

Ma, Fengcang; Chen, Sai; Liu, Ping; Geng, Fang; Li, Wei; Liu, Xinkuan; He, Daihua; Pan, Deng

2016-05-01

Poly-L-lactide (PLLA) is a biodegradable polymer and used widely. Incorporation of beta tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) into PLLA can enhance its osteoinductive properties. But the interfacial layer between β-TCP particles with PLLA matrix is easy to be destroyed due to inferior interfacial compatibility of the organic/inorganic material. In this work, a method of β-TCP surface modification with stearic acid was investigated to improve the β-TCP/PLLA biomaterial. The effects of surface modification on the β-TCP were investigated by FTIR, XPS, TGA and CA. It was found that the stearic acid reacted with β-TCP and oxhydryl was formed during the surface modification. Hydrophilicity of untreated or modified β-TCP/PLLA composite was increased by the addition of 10 wt.% β-TCP, but it decreased as the addition amount increased from 10 wt.% to 20 wt.%. Two models were suggested to describe the effect of β-TCP concentration on CA of the composites. Mechanical properties of β-TCP/PLLA composites were tested by bending and tensile tests. Fractures of the composites after mechanical test were observed by SEM. It was found that surface modification with stearic acid improved bending and tensile strengths of the β-TCP/PLLA composites obviously. The SEM results indicated that surface modification decreased the probability of interface debonding between fillers and matrix under load. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Preparation and performance investigation of Trichoderma viride-modified corn stalk as sorbent materials for oil spills].

PubMed

Lan, Zhou-Lin; Peng, Dan; Guo, Chu-Ling; Zhu, Chao-Fei; Xue, Xiu-Ling; Dang, Zhi

2013-04-01

This work aims at preparing oil spill sorbent (TCS, Trichoderma viride-modified corn stalk) through solid-state fermentation of corn stalk by Trichoderma viride. Single-factor experiments, including the effect of modification time, solid-liquid ratio of modification and modification temperature, and adsorption experiments simulating oil spill condition, were carried out. The results indicated that the maximum oil adsorption of TCS, 13.84 g x g(-1), could be obtained under the conditions of 6 days of modification, with a solid-liquid ratio of 1:4 and a modification temperature of 25 degrees C. This oil absorption was 110.33% of that of the raw material (RCS, Raw Corn Stalk). Comparing RCS and TCS by means of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD), the results separately showed that TCS had rougher surface, lower cellulose content and higher instability, which explains the increase of oil absorption. Also, the component analysis indicated that bio-modification could reduce the contents of celluloses and hemicelluloses from corn stalk. Besides, sorption kinetics and oil retention performance test showed that, TCS, which could reach adsorption equilibrium after 1 h of 80 r x min(-1) oscillating, had fast oil adsorption rate, and it also had good oil retention performance, which could keep 74. 87% of the initial adsorption rate when trickling 10 min after reaching adsorption equilibrium.

29 CFR 2520.104b-3 - Summary of material modifications to the plan and changes in the information required to be...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... future must disclose a summary of that modification within 210 days after the close of the plan year in... plan, including a reduction that occurs as a result of a change in formulas, methodologies or schedules...

Mainstreaming: Sharing Ideas, Strategies, Materials, Techniques.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hillside School, Cushing, OK.

The manual provides teaching approaches based on a model of least to highest modification of instruction, which may be used for a continuum of special education placements ranging from regular classroom through hospital settings. The first section on adaptive techniques (requiring the least modification) includes suggestions to adjust time for…

Raman-microscopy investigation of vitrification-induced structural damages in mature bovine oocytes

PubMed Central

De Canditiis, Carolina; Zito, Gianluigi; Rubessa, Marcello; Roca, Maria Serena; Carotenuto, Rosa; Sasso, Antonio; Gasparrini, Bianca

2017-01-01

Although oocyte cryopreservation has great potentials in the field of reproductive technologies, it still is an open challenge in the majority of domestic animals and little is known on the biochemical transformation induced by this process in the different cellular compartments. Raman micro-spectroscopy allows the non-invasive evaluation of the molecular composition of cells, based on the inelastic scattering of laser photons by vibrating molecules. The aim of this work was to assess the biochemical modifications of both the zona pellucida and cytoplasm of vitrified/warmed in vitro matured bovine oocytes at different post-warming times. By taking advantage of Principal Component Analysis, we were able to shed light on the biochemical transformation induced by the cryogenic treatment, also pointing out the specific role of cryoprotective agents (CPs). Our results suggest that vitrification induces a transformation of the protein secondary structure from the α-helices to the β-sheet form, while lipids tend to assume a more packed configuration in the zona pellucida. Both modifications result in a mechanical hardening of this cellular compartment, which could account for the reduced fertility rates of vitrified oocytes. Furthermore, biochemical modifications were observed at the cytoplasmic level in the protein secondary structure, with α-helices loss, suggesting cold protein denaturation. In addition, a decrease of lipid unsaturation was found in vitrified oocytes, suggesting oxidative damages. Interestingly, most modifications were not observed in oocytes exposed to CPs, suggesting that they do not severely affect the biochemical architecture of the oocyte. Nevertheless, in oocytes exposed to CPs decreased developmental competence and increased reactive oxygen species production were observed compared to the control. A more severe reduction of cleavage and blastocyst rates after in vitro fertilization was obtained from vitrified oocytes. Our experimental outcomes also suggest a certain degree of reversibility of the induced transformations, which renders vitrified oocytes more similar to untreated cells after 2 h warming. PMID:28531193

Detecting Chemically Modified DNA Bases Using Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

PubMed Central

Barhoumi, Aoune; Halas, Naomi J.

2013-01-01

Post-translational modifications of DNA- changes in the chemical structure of individual bases that occur without changes in the DNA sequence- are known to alter gene expression. They are believed to result in frequently deleterious phenotypic changes, such as cancer. Methylation of adenine, methylation and hydroxymethylation of cytosine, and guanine oxidation are the primary DNA base modifications identified to date. Here we show it is possible to use surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to detect these primary DNA base modifications. SERS detection of modified DNA bases is label-free and requires minimal additional sample preparation, reducing the possibility of additional chemical modifications induced prior to measurement. This approach shows the feasibility of DNA base modification assessment as a potentially routine analysis that may be further developed for clinical diagnostics. PMID:24427449

Detecting Chemically Modified DNA Bases Using Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy.

PubMed

Barhoumi, Aoune; Halas, Naomi J

2011-12-15

Post-translational modifications of DNA- changes in the chemical structure of individual bases that occur without changes in the DNA sequence- are known to alter gene expression. They are believed to result in frequently deleterious phenotypic changes, such as cancer. Methylation of adenine, methylation and hydroxymethylation of cytosine, and guanine oxidation are the primary DNA base modifications identified to date. Here we show it is possible to use surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to detect these primary DNA base modifications. SERS detection of modified DNA bases is label-free and requires minimal additional sample preparation, reducing the possibility of additional chemical modifications induced prior to measurement. This approach shows the feasibility of DNA base modification assessment as a potentially routine analysis that may be further developed for clinical diagnostics.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Samohyl, P.

The application of the LBB requires also fatigue flaw growth assessment. This analysis was performed for PWR nuclear power plants types VVER 440/230, VVER 440/213c, VVER 1000/320. Respecting that these NPP`s were designed according to Russian codes that differ from US codes it was needed to compare these approaches. Comparison with our experimental data was accomplished, too. Margins of applicability of the US methods and their modifications for the materials used for construction of Czech and Slovak NPP`s are shown. Computer code accomplishing the analysis according to described method is presented. Some measurement and calculations show that thermal stratifications inmore » horizontal pipelines can lead to additive loads that are not negligible and can be dangerous. An attempt to include these loads induced by steady-state stratification was made.« less

CFA Films in Amorphous Substrate: Structural Phase Induction and Magnetization Dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Correa, M. A.; Bohn, F.; Escobar, V. M.

We report a systematic study of the structural and quasi-static magnetic properties, as well as of the dynamic magnetic response through MI effect, in Co2FeAl and MgO//Co2FeAl single layers and a MgO//Co2FeAl/Ag/Co2FeAl trilayered film, all grown onto an amorphous substrate. We present a new route to induce the crystalline structure in the Co2FeAl alloy and verify that changes in the structural phase of this material leads to remarkable modifications of the magnetic anisotropy and, consequently, dynamic magnetic behavior. Considering the electrical and magnetic properties of the Co2FeAl, our results open new possibilities for technological applications of this full-Heusler alloy in rigid and flexible spintronic devices.

Pectin functionalised by fatty acids: Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopic characterisation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamnev, Alexander A.; Calce, Enrica; Tarantilis, Petros A.; Tugarova, Anna V.; De Luca, Stefania

2015-01-01

Chemically modified pectin derivatives obtained by partial esterification of its hydroxyl moieties with fatty acids (FA; oleic, linoleic and palmitic acids), as well as the initial apple peel pectin were comparatively characterised using diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy. Characteristic changes observed in DRIFT spectra in going from pectin to its FA esters are related to the corresponding chemical modifications. Comparing the DRIFT spectra with some reported data on FTIR spectra of the same materials measured in KBr or NaCl matrices has revealed noticeable shifts of several polar functional groups both in pectin and in its FA-esterified products induced by the halide salts. The results obtained have implications for careful structural analyses of biopolymers with hydrophilic functional groups by means of different FTIR spectroscopic methodologies.

In-SITU Raman Spectroscopy of Single Microparticle Li-Intercalation Electrodes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dokko, Kaoru; Shi, Qing-Fang; Stefan, Ionel C.; Scherson, Daniel A.

2003-01-01

Modifications in the vibrational properties of a single microparticle of LiMn2O4 induced by extraction and subsequent injection of Li(+) into the lattice have been monitored in situ via simultaneous acquisition of Raman scattering spectra and cyclic voltammetry data in 1M LiC1O4 solutions in ethylene carbonate (EC):diethyl carbonate (DEC) mixtures (1:1 by volume). Statistical analyses of the spectra in the range 15 < SOD < 45%, where SOD represents the state of discharge (in percent) of the nominally fully charged material, i.e. lambda-MnO2, were found to be consistent with the coexistence of two distinct phases of lithiated metal oxide in agreement with information derived from in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements involving more conventional battery-type electrodes.

Structural and physico-chemical properties of insoluble rice bran fiber: effect of acid–base induced modifications

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The structural modifications of insoluble rice bran fiber (IRBF) by sequential regimes of sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and their effects on the physicochemical attributes were studied. The increment of H2SO4 concentration resulted in decreased water holding capacity that ultimately enhanced the oil bindin...

76 FR 2950 - Office of Hazardous Materials Safety; Notice of Applications for Modification of Special Permit

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-18

... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Office of... processing of, special permits from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations (49 CFR... 107 of the Federal hazardous materials transportation law (49 U.S.C. 5117(b); 49 CFR 1.53(b)). Issued...

75 FR 26025 - Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Modifications to Renewable Fuel Standard Program

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-10

... information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available either... materials, as provided in 40 CFR part 2. IV. Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) Program Amendments EPA is taking...

New family of graphene-based organic semiconductors: An investigation of photon-induced electronic structure manipulation in half-fluorinated graphene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walter, Andrew L.; Sahin, Hasan; Kang, Jun; Jeon, Ki-Joon; Bostwick, Aaron; Horzum, Seyda; Moreschini, Luca; Chang, Young Jun; Peeters, Francois M.; Horn, Karsten; Rotenberg, Eli

2016-02-01

The application of graphene to electronic and optoelectronic devices is limited by the absence of reliable semiconducting variants of this material. A promising candidate in this respect is graphene oxide, with a band gap on the order of ˜5 eV , however, this has a finite density of states at the Fermi level. Here, we examine the electronic structure of three variants of half -fluorinated carbon on Sic(0001), i.e., the (6 √{3 }×6 √{3 } ) R 30∘ C/SiC "buffer layer," graphene on this (6 √{3 }×6 √{3 } ) R 30∘ C/SiC buffer layer, and graphene decoupled from the SiC substrate by hydrogen intercalation. Using angle-resolved photoemission, core level photoemission, and x-ray absorption, we show that the electronic, chemical, and physical structure of all three variants is remarkably similar, exhibiting a large band gap and a vanishing density of states at the Fermi level. These results are explained in terms of first-principles calculations. This material thus appears very suitable for applications, even more so since it is prepared on a processing-friendly substrate. We also investigate two separate UV photon-induced modifications of the electronic structure that transform the insulating samples (6.2-eV band gap) into semiconducting (˜2.5 -eV band gap) and metallic regions, respectively.

Enhanced magnetoimpedance and field sensitivity in microstructure controlled FeSiCuNbB ribbons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sahoo, Trilochan; Chandra Mishra, Amaresh; Srinivas, V.; Nath, T. K.; Srinivas, M.; Majumdar, B.

2011-10-01

Fe73.5Si13.5Cu1Nb3B9 and Fe77.2Si11.2Cu0.8Nb3.3B7.5 nanocomposite materials consisting of nanocrystalline phase in an amorphous matrix were obtained by heat-treatment of their precursor amorphous ribbons. The influence of structural modifications induced during the heat-treatment on soft magnetic properties and magnetoimpedance (MI) effect have been studied. The structural investigations on both these ribbons revealed the presence of two phases, fine grained Fe3Si phase and a residual amorphous phase on heat-treatment. The maximum MI ratio obtained in the present study is 95% at f = 4 MHz, for the optimized heat-treated Fe77.2Si11.2Cu0.8Nb3.3B7.5 ribbon. This is ascribed to the increase in magnetic permeability and decrease in coercive force and intrinsic resistivity. Moreover, a maximum magnetic field sensitivity (ξ) of 8.3%/Oe at f = 2.5 MHz is obtained, for the optimized nanocrystalline Fe73.5Si13.5Cu1Nb3B9 ribbon. This suggests that tailoring of the nanocrystalline microstructures induced by optimum heat-treatment conditions can result in obtaining excellent combinations of the magnetic permeability and resistivity. Our results indicate that these Fe-based nanocrystalline materials can be ideally used for low magnetic field and high frequency sensor applications.

Precision Photothermal Annealing of Nanoporous Gold Thin Films for the Microfabrication of a Single-chip Material Libraries

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Harris, C. D.; Shen, N.; Rubenchik, A.

2015-06-30

Single-chip material libraries of thin films of nanostructured materials are a promising approach for high throughput studies of structure-property relationship in the fields of physics and biology. Nanoporous gold (np-Au), produced by an alloy corrosion process, is a nanostructured material of specific interest in both these fields. One attractive property of np-Au is its self-similar coarsening behavior by thermally induced surface diffusion. However, traditional heat application techniques for the modification of np-Au are bulk processes that cannot be used to generate a library of different pore sizes on a single chip. Laser micromachining offers an attractive solution to this problemmore » by providing a means to apply energy with high spatial and temporal resolution. In the present study we use finite element multiphysics simulations to predict the effects of laser mode (continuous-wave vs. pulsed) and supporting substrate thermal conductivity on the local np-Au film temperatures during photothermal annealing and subsequently investigate the mechanisms by which the np-Au network is coarsening. Our simulations predict that continuous-wave mode laser irradiation on a silicon supporting substrate supports the widest range of morphologies that can be created through the photothermal annealing of thin film np-Au. Using this result we successfully fabricate a single-chip material library consisting of 81 np-Au samples of 9 different morphologies for use in increased throughput material interaction studies.« less

Molecular engineering of phosphole-based conjugated materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ren, Yi

The work in this thesis focuses on the molecular engineering of phosphorus-based conjugated materials. In the first part (Chapters Two and Three), new phosphorus-based conjugated systems were designed and synthesized to study the effect of the heteroelement on the electronic properties of the π-conjugated systems. The second part (Chapters Four and Five) deals with the self-assembly features of specifically designed phosphorus-based conjugated systems. In Chapter Two, electron-poor and electron-rich aromatic substituents were introduced to the dithienophosphole core in order to balance the electron-accepting and electron-donating character of the systems. Furthermore, an intriguing intramolecular charge transfer process could be observed between two dithienophosphole cores in a bridged bisphosphole-system. In Chapter Three, a secondary heteroelement (Si, P, S) was incorporated in the phosphorus-based conjugated systems. Extensive structure-property studies revealed that the secondary heteroelement can effectively manipulate the communication in phosphinine-based systems. The study of a heterotetracene system allowed for selectively applying distinct heteroatom (S/P) chemistries, which offers a powerful tool for the modification of the electronic structure of the system. More importantly, the heteroatom-specific electronic nature (S/P) can be utilized to selectively control different photophysical aspects (energy gap and fluorescence quantum yield). Furthermore, additional molecular engineering of the heterotetracene provided access to well-defined 1D microstructures, which opened the door for designing multi-functional self-assembled phosphorus-based materials. In Chapter Four, the self-organizing phosphole-lipid system is introduced, which combines the features of phospholipids with the electronics of phospholes. Its amphiphilic nature induces intriguing self-assembly features - liquid crystal and soft crystal architectures, both exhibiting well-organized lamellar structure at a wide range of temperatures. Importantly, its dynamic structure endows the phosphole-lipid system with intriguing external stimuli-responsive features allowing for the modification of the emission of the system without further chemical modification. Chapter Five describes how further molecular engineering allowed for access to a series of new highly fluorescent phosphole-lipid organogels. Remarkably, the external-stimuli responsive features of the system can be amplified in a donor-acceptor system accessible through changes in long distance fluorescence resonance energy transfer processes. In addition, the first fluorescent liquid phospholes could also be accessed in the context of the work on the new phosphole-lipid system.

Citric acid functionalized carbon materials for fuel cell applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Poh, Chee Kok; Lim, San Hua; Pan, Hui; Lin, Jianyi; Lee, Jim Yang

Carbon materials can be easily functionalized using citric acid (CA) treatment. The CA modification of carbon materials is both simple and effective. It requires no prolonged heating, filtration and washing, and produces more functional groups such as carboxyl and hydroxide on CA-modified carbon nanotubes and XC72 carbon blacks than on HNO 3-H 2SO 4 oxidized carbon nanotubes and as-purchased XC72. Platinum nanoparticles are deposited on these functionalized carbon materials by means of a microwave-assisted polyol process. The investigations using TEM, XRD, FTIR and TGA indicate that CA modification creates more functional groups and thus deposits more Pt nanoparticles with smaller average particle size on the surface of carbon materials. Electrochemical studies of the Pt/C samples for methanol oxidation reveal higher activity for Pt on CA-modified carbon materials. It is therefore considered that this method can find important applications in reducing the cost and improving performance of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells.

49 CFR 237.131 - Design.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... modification which materially modifies the capacity of a bridge or the stresses in any primary load-carrying... materially modify the capacity of a bridge or the stresses in any primary load-carrying component of a bridge...

49 CFR 237.131 - Design.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... modification which materially modifies the capacity of a bridge or the stresses in any primary load-carrying... materially modify the capacity of a bridge or the stresses in any primary load-carrying component of a bridge...

Self assembled monolayers of octadecyltrichlorosilane for dielectric materials

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kumar, Vijay, E-mail: cirivijaypilani@gmail.com; Mechanical Engineering Department, Birla Institute of Technology and Science-Pilani; Puri, Paridhi

2016-04-13

Treatment of surfaces to change the interaction of fluids with them is a critical step in constructing useful microfluidics devices, especially those used in biological applications. Selective modification of inorganic materials such as Si, SiO{sub 2} and Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} is of great interest in research and technology. We evaluated the chemical formation of OTS self-assembled monolayers on silicon substrates with different dielectric materials. Our investigations were focused on surface modification of formerly used common dielectric materials SiO{sub 2}, Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} and a-poly. The improvement of wetting behaviour and quality of monolayer films were characterized using Atomic force microscope,more » Scanning electron microscope, Contact angle goniometer, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) monolayer deposited oxide surface.« less

Polymerization reactivity of sulfomethylated alkali lignin modified with horseradish peroxidase.

PubMed

Yang, Dongjie; Wu, Xiaolei; Qiu, Xueqing; Chang, Yaqi; Lou, Hongming

2014-03-01

Alkali lignin (AL) was employed as raw materials in the present study. Sulfomethylation was conducted to improve the solubility of AL, while sulfomethylated alkali lignin (SAL) was further polymerized by horseradish peroxidase (HRP). HRP modification caused a significant increase in molecular weight of SAL which was over 20 times. It was also found to increase the amount of sulfonic and carboxyl groups while decrease the amount of phenolic and methoxyl groups in SAL. The adsorption quantity of self-assembled SAL film was improved after HRP modification. Sulfonation and HRP modification were mutually promoted. The polymerization reactivity of SAL in HRP modification was increased with its sulfonation degree. Meanwhile, HRP modification facilitated SAL's radical-sulfonation reaction. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Dandan; Perkins, Jordan T.; Department of Animal and Food Sciences, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536

Epigenetic modifications of DNA and histones alter cellular phenotypes without changing genetic codes. Alterations of epigenetic marks can be induced by exposure to environmental pollutants and may contribute to associated disease risks. Here we test the hypothesis that endothelial cell dysfunction induced by exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is mediated in part though histone modifications. In this study, human vascular endothelial cells were exposed to physiologically relevant concentrations of several PCBs congeners (e.g., PCBs 77, 118, 126 and 153) followed by quantification of inflammatory gene expression and changes of histone methylation. Only exposure to coplanar PCBs 77 and 126 inducedmore » the expression of histone H3K9 trimethyl demethylase jumonji domain-containing protein 2B (JMJD2B) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) subunit p65, activated NF-κB signaling as evidenced by nuclear translocation of p65, and up-regulated p65 target inflammatory genes, such as interleukin (IL)-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and IL-1α/β. The increased accumulation of JMJD2B in the p65 promoter led to a depletion of H3K9me3 repression mark, which accounts for the observed up-regulation of p65 and associated inflammatory genes. JMJD2B gene knockdown confirmed a critical role for this histone demethylase in mediating PCB-induced inflammation of the vascular endothelium. Finally, it was determined, via chemical inhibition, that PCB-induced up-regulation of JMJD2B was estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-α) dependent. These data suggest that coplanar PCBs may exert endothelial cell toxicity through changes in histone modifications. - Highlights: • Coplanar PCBs significantly induced histone demethylase JMJD2B expression. • Coplanar PCBs activated NF-κB through p65 up-regulation and nuclear translocation. • Histone H3K4 and K9 modifications were mediated by ER-α/JMJD2B/MLL2 complex. • ER-α may be involved in the regulation of PCB-induced JMJD2B expression.« less

FIBER OPTICS: Role of point defects in the photosensitivity of hydrogen-loaded phosphosilicate glass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Larionov, Yu V.

2010-08-01

It is shown that point defect modifications in hydrogen-loaded phosphosilicate glass (PSG) do not play a central role in determining its photosensitivity. Photochemical reactions that involve a two-step point defect modification and pre-exposure effect are incapable of accounting for photoinduced refractive index changes. It seems likely that a key role in UV-induced refractive index modifications is played by structural changes in the PSG network. Experimental data are presented that demonstrate intricate network rearrangement dynamics during UV exposure of PSG.

Speckle contrast techniques in the study of tissue thermal modification and denaturation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agafonov, Dmitry N.; Kuznetsova, Liana V.; Zimnyakov, Dmitry A.; Sviridov, Alexander P.; Omelchenko, Alexander I.

2002-05-01

Results of the contrast analysis of time-averaged dynamic speckle patterns in application to monitoring of the structure modification of the thermally treated collagenous tissue such as cartilage are presented. The modification presumably induced by the bound to free water phase transition in the matrix of the treated tissue cause the specific feature of evolution of the time-averaged speckle contrast with the change of the current temperature of modified collagen tissue. This evolution appears as hysteresis associated with irreversible changes in tissue structure.

TiO2 induced structural modifications in Cs containing borosilicate glasses: Raman and infrared studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pandey, M.; Banerjee, D.; Sudarsan, V.; Kshirsagar, R. J.

2018-04-01

Effect of TiO2 addition in Cs containing Sodium-borosilicate glasses is studied using Raman and infrared spectroscopic techniques. As revealed from infrared and Raman studies, TiO2 does not form segregated phase, but instead enters into the borosilicate network. It is further observed that TiO2 addition results in modifications of the borate and silicate structural units by transforming into tetraborates and metasilicate structural units. These structural modifications are responsible for Cs immobilization, leach rate and chemical durability of these glasses.

Drug Addiction and DNA Modifications.

PubMed

Brown, Amber N; Feng, Jian

2017-01-01

Drug addiction is a complex disorder which can be influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Research has shown that epigenetic modifications can translate environmental signals into changes in gene expression, suggesting that epigenetic changes may underlie the causes and possibly treatment of substance use disorders. This chapter will focus on epigenetic modifications to DNA, which include DNA methylation and several recently defined additional DNA epigenetic changes. We will discuss the functions of DNA modifications and methods for detecting them, followed by a description of the research investigating the function and consequences of drug-induced changes in DNA methylation patterns. Understanding these epigenetic changes may provide us translational tools for the diagnosis and treatment of addiction in the future.

Modification of Aortic Cannula With an Inlet Chamber to Induce Spiral Flow and Improve Outlet Flow.

PubMed

Darlis, Nofrizalidris; Osman, Kahar; Padzillah, Muhamad Hasbullah; Dillon, Jeswant; Md Khudzari, Ahmad Zahran

2018-05-01

Physiologically, blood ejected from the left ventricle in systole exhibited spiral flow characteristics. This spiral flow has been proven to have several advantages such as lateral reduction of directed forces and thrombus formation, while it also appears to be clinically beneficial in suppressing neurological complications. In order to deliver spiral flow characteristics during cardiopulmonary bypass operation, several modifications have been made on an aortic cannula either at the internal or at the outflow tip; these modifications have proven to yield better hemodynamic performances compared to standard cannula. However, there is no modification done at the inlet part of the aortic cannula for inducing spiral flow so far. This study was carried out by attaching a spiral inducer at the inlet of an aortic cannula. Then, the hemodynamic performances of the new cannula were compared with the standard straight tip end-hole cannula. This is achieved by modeling the cannula and attaching the cannula at a patient-specific aorta model. Numerical approach was utilized to evaluate the hemodynamic performance, and a water jet impact experiment was used to demonstrate the jet force generated by the cannula. The new spiral flow aortic cannula has shown some improvements by reducing approximately 21% of impinging velocity near to the aortic wall, and more than 58% reduction on total force generated as compared to standard cannula. © 2017 International Center for Artificial Organs and Transplantation and Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Histone Deacetylase Inhibition Facilitates Massed Pattern-Induced Synaptic Plasticity and Memory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pandey, Kiran; Sharma, Kaushik P.; Sharma, Shiv K.

2015-01-01

Massed training is less effective for long-term memory formation than the spaced training. The role of acetylation in synaptic plasticity and memory is now well established. However, the role of this important protein modification in synaptic plasticity induced by massed pattern of stimulation or memory induced by massed training is not well…

Ion Beam Materials Analysis and Modifications at keV to MeV Energies at the University of North Texas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rout, Bibhudutta; Dhoubhadel, Mangal S.; Poudel, Prakash R.; Kummari, Venkata C.; Lakshantha, Wickramaarachchige J.; Manuel, Jack E.; Bohara, Gyanendra; Szilasi, Szabolcs Z.; Glass, Gary A.; McDaniel, Floyd D.

2014-02-01

The University of North Texas (UNT) Ion Beam Modification and Analysis Laboratory (IBMAL) has four particle accelerators including a National Electrostatics Corporation (NEC) 9SDH-2 3 MV tandem Pelletron, a NEC 9SH 3 MV single-ended Pelletron, and a 200 kV Cockcroft-Walton. A fourth HVEC AK 2.5 MV Van de Graaff accelerator is presently being refurbished as an educational training facility. These accelerators can produce and accelerate almost any ion in the periodic table at energies from a few keV to tens of MeV. They are used to modify materials by ion implantation and to analyze materials by numerous atomic and nuclear physics techniques. The NEC 9SH accelerator was recently installed in the IBMAL and subsequently upgraded with the addition of a capacitive-liner and terminal potential stabilization system to reduce ion energy spread and therefore improve spatial resolution of the probing ion beam to hundreds of nanometers. Research involves materials modification and synthesis by ion implantation for photonic, electronic, and magnetic applications, micro-fabrication by high energy (MeV) ion beam lithography, microanalysis of biomedical and semiconductor materials, development of highenergy ion nanoprobe focusing systems, and educational and outreach activities. An overview of the IBMAL facilities and some of the current research projects are discussed.

Growth and cell wall changes in stem organs under microgravity and hypergravity conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoson, Takayuki; Soga, Kouichi; Wakabayashi, Kazuyuki; Kamisaka, Seiichiro

Gravity strongly influences plant growth and development, which is fundamentally brought about by modifications to the properties of the cell wall. We have examined the changes in growth and cell wall properties in seedling organs under hypergravity conditions produced by centrifugation and under microgravity conditions in space. Hypergravity stimuli have been shown to decrease the growth rate of various seedling organs. When hypergravity suppressed elongation growth, a decrease in cell wall extensibility (an increase in cell wall rigidity) was induced. Hypergravity has also been shown to increase cell wall thickness in various mate-rials. In addition, a polymerization of certain matrix polysaccharides was brought about by hypergravity: in dicotyledons hypergravity increased the molecular size of xyloglucans, whereas hypergravity increased that of 1,3,1,4-β-glucans in monocotyledonous Gramineae. These mod-ifications to cell wall metabolism may be responsible for a decrease in cell wall extensibility, leading to growth suppression under hypergravity conditions. How then does microgravity in-fluence growth and cell wall properties? Here, there was a possibility that microgravity might induce changes similar to those by hypergravity, because plants have evolved and adapted to 1 g condition for more than 400 million years. However, the changes observed under microgravity conditions in space were just opposite to those induced by hypergravity: stimulation of elonga-tion growth, an increase in cell wall extensibility, and a decrease in cell wall thickness as well as depolymerization of cell wall polysaccharides were brought about in space. Furthermore, growth and cell wall properties varied in proportion to the logarithm of the magnitude of grav-ity in the range from microgravity to hypergravity, as shown in the dose-response relation in light and hormonal responses. Thus, microgravity may be a `stress-less' environment for plant seedlings to grow and develop. Preliminary results obtained by recent Space Seed experiment in the Kibo Module on the International Space Station (PI: S. Kamisaka) suggest that this hypothesis is also applicable to mature Arabidopsis plants.