RGD functionalized poly(ε-caprolactone)/poly(m-anthranilic acid) electrospun nanofibers as high-performing scaffolds for bone tissue engineering RGD functionalized PCL/P3ANA nanofibers

RGD functionalized nanofibers of poly(ε-caprolactone)/poly(m-anthranilic acid) (PCL/P3ANA) were fabricated to address the mechanical, structural and functional requirements of bone tissue engineering. Nanofibers containing the highest amount of P3ANA with more carboxyl groups for functionalization have exhibited higher surface area and better mechanical properties. FTIR-ATR and UV-visible measurements evidenced the covalent RGD immobilization. After RGD peptide immobilization, the surface properties of nanofibers changed as evidenced by contact angle and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The effects of RGD functionalized nanofibers (PCL/P3ANA-RGD) on Saos-2 cell attachment, proliferation, and osteogenic activity were investigated. PCL/P3ANA-RGD nanofibers favored cell attachment, proliferation, and osteogenic activity.     

Fatty acid composition of 19 species of fish from the black sea and the Marmara Sea

Evidence suggests that differences in fatty acid composition among various fish species may be due to differences in diet or to environmental factors such as temperature, salinity, and depth at which the fish are caught. The beneficial effects of a diet containing fish on cardiovascular or other diseases have been associated with their high content of eicosapentaenoic (20∶5n-3) and docosahexaenoic (22∶6n-3) acids. In this study we analyzed the fatty acid composition of the flesh of 18 different species of marine fish and of cultured rainbow trout. The fish were obtained from the Black and the Marmara Seas, both of which have unique biological and ecological systems as well as eutrophication and pollution. The contents of 20∶5n-3 and 22∶6n-3 in the marine fish ranged from 4.2 to 13.3 wt% of total fatty acids, and from 6.6 to 40.8 wt%, respectively. The most important differences from other studies on oceanic fish were the tendencies toward higher percentages of 16∶0 and 22∶6n-3. The n-3 series of polyunsaturated fatty acids were present as 32.4±1.9% of the total fatty acids. The present study suggests that mature and immature Pomatomus saltator, as well as Engraulis encrasicolus, Mullus surmuletus, Sardina pilchardus, Mugil cephalus, and Sarda sarda may be preferred for the Turkish diet as a result of their high 20∶5 n-3 and 22∶6 n-3 contents. The cultured rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss is not as good a source of n-3 fatty acids as are the marine fish.     

Synthesis,antibacterial and antifungal evaluation of thio- or piperazinyl-substituted 1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives

A series of S-, S,S-, S,O-, N- and N,S-derivatives from 2,3-dichloro-1,4-naphthoquinone compound 1 were synthesized in different reaction media and evaluated for their antibacterial and antifungal activities. The structures of the novel products were characterized by spectroscopic methods, such as microanalysis, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and MS. Among the tested compounds 9, 12 and 18 are the most effective compounds against Candida tenuis as potent antifungal compounds. Compound 9 is also the most effective compound against Staphylococcus aureus as a potent antifungal compound.     

High-pressure viscosity and density of polyethylene solutions in n-pentane

Viscosity and density of homogeneous one-phase solutions (1 wt %) of polyethylenes with narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w = 2150, 15,520, 108,000, and 420,000) in n-pentane were determined at 398, 413, and 428 K over a pressure range from 20 to 60 MPa. Measurements were done with a special falling cylinder type viscometer that permits simultaneous determination of viscosity, density, and phase state of the solutions. It is shown that the viscosities of these solutions can be correlated with density (p) using the exponential relationships μ ? A exp {B/(1 ? V_oρ)} or μ = C₁ exp (C_2ρ), which are based on free-volume considerations. Analysis of the temperature dependence of viscosity at fixed pressures, and its pressure dependence at fixed temperatures show that the flow-activation energies for these solutions are in the range 8–12 kJ/mol, and the apparent activation volumes are in the range 30–45 cm³/mol. Evaluation of the specific viscosity and analysis of the molecular weight dependence of intrinsic viscosity in accordance with Mark–Houwink type relationship μ = KM^a suggest a value of 0.5 for the exponent a, which is typical of poor or theta solvents. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Equilibrium, thermodynamic and kinetic studies for the biosorption of aqueous lead(II), cadmium(II) and nickel(II) ions on Spirulina platensis

The biosorption of lead(II), cadmium(II) and nickel(II) ions from aqueous solution by Spirulina platensis was studied as a function of time, concentration, temperature, repetitive reactivity, and ionic competition. The kinetic results obeyed well the pseudo second-order model. Freundlich, Dubinin Radushkevich and Temkin isotherm models were applied in describing the equilibrium partition of the ions. Freundlich isotherm was applied to describe the design of a single-stage batch sorption system. According to the thermodynamic parameters such as DeltaG degrees, DeltaH degrees and DeltaS degrees calculated, the sorption process was endothermic and largely driven towards the products. Sorption activities in a three metal ion system were studied which indicated that there is a relative selectivity of the biosorbent towards Pb2+ ions. The measurements of the repetitive reusability of S. platensis indicated a large capacity towards the three metal ions.     

Forecasting backwater through bridge constrictions in Mississippi River Basin

Hydraulic data collected in the 1960s during 92 distinct floods at 35 different bridge sites in the Mississippi River Basin revealed that the water surface profiles of these real‐life cases were distinctly different from those observed in laboratory models of the comprehensive experimental studies of the 1950s by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and by U.S. Bureau of Public Roads (USBPR). The laboratory‐developed methods of USGS and USBPR yielded only about half of the field backwaters when applied to the comprehensive field data. In the current work, using the same field data and accepting a profile like that observed in the field, a new regression‐based formula for estimating bridge backwater is proposed and compared with the methods of USGS and USBPR, which yields more accurate results than these two methods with the advantage of requiring a smaller load of arithmetic operations. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy of molecularly imprinted hydroxyethyl methacrylate based polymers

Radiation-induced molecular imprinting of d-glucose onto poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (HEMA) matrix was achieved to create three-dimensional cavities to recognize and bind glucose. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were synthesized with different types of crosslinkers and varying amounts of template molecule in an attempt to elucidate the impact of imprint quantities on the effectiveness of imprinting technique. The crosslinking agents used in this study were diethylene glycol diacrylate (DEGDA), triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) and polypropylene glycol dimethacrylate (PPGDMA) in the order of increasing chain length. Crosslinking agent concentration in the polymerization mixture (monomer, crosslinking agent and template) covered a range of 10, 20, 30, and 70 mol%. The mole ratio of template molecule, d-glucose to functional monomer, HEMA, was kept either as 1:3 or 1:6. The absorbed dose varied from 1 to 15 kGy. Control polymers were synthesized with exactly the same composition in the absence of d-glucose. Cavity sizes of MIPs were investigated by positron annihilation lifetime (PAL) measurements. A sandwich arrangement (sample-source-sample) was used. PAL experiments were carried out using a conventional fast-fast coincidence system having a time resolution (FWHM) of about 280 ps. Free-volume hole radii of samples were investigated in their dry and fully water swollen state.The results obtained from a systematic study of the effects of concentration and molecular size of the crosslinking agents, template to monomer ratio and irradiation dose experiments suggest that control of cavity size is feasible in nanometer scale by the optimization of these parameters revealed by means of (PAL) spectroscopy technique.