The comprehensive in vitro evaluation of eight different calcium phosphates: Significant parameters for cell behavior

Eight different calcium phosphate nanoparticles, namely bovine bone bioapatite calcined at 500, 600, and 700°C, Mg-doped brushite, fluorinated calcium phosphate, Ca-deficient hydroxyapatite, hydroxyapatite, and tricalcium phosphate, were characterized employing physico-chemical methods. Their cytocompatibility was evaluated under human osteoblast-like cell line MG-63 culture conditions in elution media and via the direct interaction of cells with calcium phosphate nanoparticles. The main objective was to determine the correlation of the cell indices with the differently determined physical and chemical parameters of the calcium phosphates. Chemical composition, which contributes toward pH changes, and the calcium ion concentration in the medium appear to make up particularly significant factors; moreover, it was proved that the number of material types represents a further important aspect. In the case of a large number of material types, almost no correlation was determined between the analyzed parameters; however, in the case of a small number of apatite types, several positive correlations were found. It can be concluded that it is not possible to identify any monitored parameters that had a major impact on cell behavior or, at least, such an effect which can be generalized. It appears more likely that cell behavior is affected by the interplay of various parameters.     

Mercury content and bio-concentration potential of Slippery Jack, Suillus luteus, mushroom

This study aimed to assess the total Hg intake due to the meals made of fruit bodies of wild-grown Slippery Jack (Suillus luteus) fungus, which is popular and numerous species in young the common pine tree (Pinus sylvestris) forests of the northern chemosphere with temporal climate. Total mercury content has been determined separately in 120 composite samples of 383 caps and stipes of Slippery Jack and in surface soil layer (0–10 cm; <2 mm fraction) underneath to fruit bodies. The material originated from eight spatially distant background (unpolluted) areas across of Poland and was collected in 2002–2007. Determination of mercury was by cold-vapour atomic absorption (CV-AAS) after direct sample matrix pyrolysis and further released mercury amalgamation and desorption from gold wool. Slippery Jack effectively accumulated Hg in fruit bodies. Depending on the area of mushrooms collection, the median values of Hg bio-concentration factor varied between 2.5 and 14 for caps and between 1.0 and 8.8 for stipes. For well-developed fruit bodies of Slippery Jack a majority of Hg occurs in caps, when compared to much smaller in size stipes. The means of Hg content varied between 0.095 ± 0.082 and 0.28 ± 0.07 μg/g in caps and between 0.045 ± 0.018 and 0.13 ± 0.03 μg/g dry weight in stipes. A meal consisting of 300 g caps (fresh weight) of Slippery Jack mushroom collected from unpolluted sites could constitute up to 14–40% of daily reference dose (RfD) value of mercury.     

A Panoramic Survey on Grasping Research Trends and Topics

Abstract

Grasping and object manipulation is a key element of intelligent behavior. Many innovative cyberphysical systems involve some kind of object grasp and manipulation, to the extent that grasping has been recognized as a critical technology for the next generation industrial systems. In this survey, we aim to draw a broad landscape of applications and current research trends and topics relating to grasping techniques and tools. Applications range from biomedical and surgical to industrial warehouse pick and place tasks, covering a wide range of spatial scales, from micro to macro scales. The resources involved and research lines under development include the latest computational intelligence tools as well as the research on new materials and devices for sensing and actuation.     

Corrosion of structural constituents of 2017 aluminium alloy in acidic solutions containing inhibitors

The objective of this study is to establish the corrosion behaviour of the most important structural constituents of the aluminium alloy 2017 in orthophosphoric acid solutions containing heteropolyoxomolybdate, tungstate and vanadate. These are potential candidates for replacing toxic hexavalent chromium species in stripping solution for anodic coatings. The corrosion rate of the alloy is estimated with linear polarisation method. It decreases from 0.58 mA cm⁻² in uninhibited solution to 0.10 mA cm⁻² in a solution containing heteropolyoxomolybdate species. Microscopic studies reveal that heteropolyoxomolybdate species inhibit corrosion of the matrix and intermetallic Al₁₅(Fe,Mn)₃(Si,Cu)₂ but not Mg₂Si. Intermetallic Al₂Cu remains not corroded. Heteropolyoxotungstate species virtually do not inhibit the corrosion of the alloy. The solution containing vanadium species is not stable with time and the corrosion rate is not determined. Nevertheless, corrosion of the matrix is inhibited, but intermetallics Al₁₅(Fe,Mn)₃(Si,Cu)₂ together with Mg₂Si are dissolved. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is used for examination of a corrosion product precipitated on the surface.     

Magnetocaloric effect of polycrystalline La0.5Sm0.2Sr0.3Mn1-xCrxO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.20) compound prepared by glycine-nitrate process

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - This paper reports the effect of chromium’s substitution in magnetic oxides with perovskite structure La0.5Sm0.2Sr0.3Mn1-xCrxO3...     

On Two‐Player Interval‐Valued Fuzzy Bayesian Games

Game theory is an important basis to simulate several situations where multiple agents interact strategically for decision making and support. In many applications, such as auctions, frequently used for resource management involving two or more agents competing for the resources, the interacting agents only know their own characteristics and must make decisions while having to estimate the characteristics of the others. When probabilities are assigned for the different types of the interacting agents, this kind of strategic interaction constitutes a Bayesian game. In cases in which it is very difficult to characterize the private information of each agent, the payoffs can be given by approximate (not probabilistic) values, but the concept of Bayesian Nash equilibrium cannot be applied in this context. Fuzzy set theory is an excellent basis for studying this type of game, where the payoffs are represented by fuzzy numbers. When it is the case that there is also uncertainty about such fuzzy numbers, the use of interval fuzzy numbers appears as a good modeling alternative. This paper introduces an approach for interval‐based fuzzy Bayesian games, based on interval‐valued fuzzy probabilities for modeling the types of agents involved in the interaction. We present two different case studies, namely the (Interval) Fuzzy Bayesian Hiring Game and (Interval) Fuzzy Bayesian Prisoner's Dilemma with Moral Standards, comparing the results obtained with the crisp, fuzzy and interval fuzzy approaches, highlighting a particular case in which the interval fuzzy approach presents a solution although the two other do not.     

Development of composite membrane PBAT: Zeolite Y for application as rhynchophorol release system

Composite membranes consisting of biodegradable poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate (PBAT) and zeolite Y (0–10 wt %) were produced by extrusion. Zeolite Y is well dispersed in the membrane up to 5 wt %, but tends to agglomerate at higher contents. The presence of zeolite Y in the composite resulted in an improvement of the thermal stability, mechanical properties, and increased the barrier properties. The interaction of the composite membranes with rhynchophorol was investigated by different techniques, showing that the semiochemical progressively lixiviates PBAT monomers, causing thermal and mechanical properties to decrease. However, no interaction seemed to occur between the rhynchophorol and the zeolite. Studies of diffusion of pheromone through membranes have shown that the addition of the zeolite Y has not contributed significantly to a decrease in the release rate of rhynchophorol, but the presence of the zeolite Y helps to increase chemical, mechanical, and thermal stabilities of the membranes. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 45757.