Mechanical properties of (poly(L‐lactide‐co‐glycolide))‐based fibers coated with hydroxyapatite layer

This article presents the results of the experimental study on manufacturing and mechanical evaluation of poly(L ‐lactide‐co‐glycolide) (PLGA)‐based fibers modified with ceramic nanoparticles. Study was conducted to establish the effect of biomimetic formation of apatite layers on polymeric fibers on their mechanical properties. The tensile tests were performed to determine the influence of polymer crystallinity and the presence of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (nanoHAp) on mechanical properties of PLGA fibers coated with hydroxyapatite (HAp) layer. HAp deposits on the surfaces of the fibers precipitated from simulated body fluid (SBF). Three types of fibers coated with HAp layers were compared in mechanical tests. The results indicated that by using a biomimetic fiber coating method the mechanical properties of the fibers are affected by their crystallinity. The nanoHAp modified polymer fibers after incubation in SBF were found to have a continuous HAp layer. The layer affected the mechanical behavior (force–strain function) of the fibers from nonlinear to linear, typical of ceramic materials. The tensile modulus of the fibers with a continuous layer was found to increase with the apatite layer thickness, whereas the tensile strength decreases. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Effect of protein concentration on whey protein gels obtained by a two-stage heating process

 The influence of protein concentration on the properties of gels obtained by a two-stage heating process was determined. In the first stage, whey protein dispersion (3–10%) was heated at pH 8.0, and in the second stage it was diluted to 3% protein, adjusted to pH 7.0 and heated again. Increased protein concentration in the first stage of polymerization resulted in the gels obtained in the second stage having a lower phase angle, increased storage modulus and increased hardness. Increased protein concentration also resulted in gels with an increased optical density, which suggests thathigher protein concentration leads to more and larger aggregates. Gels obtained from dispersions preheated at a higher protein concentration had higher permeability coefficient (B _gel) values. The increase in B _gel suggests that the higher protein concentration increased the size of the aggregates, which in a second stage of heating formed a gel matrix with a larger pore size. Received: 11 February 1999     

Do Cu(II) ions need Al atoms in their environment to make CuSiBEA active in the SCR of NO by ethanol or propane? A spectroscopy and catalysis study

The two-step postsynthesis method (creation of vacant T-sites and associated SiOH groups by dealumination of BEA zeolite with nitric acid followed by incorporation of copper in the resulting SiBEA by impregnation with an aqueous solution of copper nitrate) allows to obtain a CuSiBEA zeolite which contains 0.8 Cu wt%. The incorporation of Cu(II) into the lattice of SiBEA is evidenced by XRD while the concomitant consumption of SiOH groups is monitored by FTIR. The presence of mainly isolated mononuclear Cu(II) in D_2d-distorted tetrahedral symmetry is evidenced by diffuse reflectance UV–vis-NIR, EXAFS and XANES. The CuSiBEA zeolite is active in the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO with ethanol or propane with maximum NO conversion of 40 and 20% and selectivity toward N₂ close to 80–90 and 90–100%, respectively. These results suggest that the SCR process occurs on isolated mononuclear Cu(II) in D_2d-distorted tetrahedral symmetry after Al atoms have been removed from the zeolite structure. Thus, Cu(II) ions do not need Al atoms in their environment to be catalytically active. The lack of correlation between the SCR activity in presence of ethanol and the oxidation of NO to NO₂ suggests that the two reactions are more competitive than sequential. The higher activity of CuSiBEA with ethanol than with propane may be due to different activation energies and/or reaction mechanisms.     

Estimating regions of asymptotic stability with sliding for relay-control systems

The object of this article is the estimation of stability boundaries and regions of asymptotic stability with sliding for a class of single-input relay-control systems. The direct method of Lyapunov is used to obtain these estimates. A coordinate transformation that brings the system into a special canonical form is utilized to facilitate the stability analysis. The proposed approach to stability regions estimation is applied to a class of second-order systems, and analytical expressions for stability regions are derived.Recommended by K. Mizukami     

Numerical modelling of heat transfer processes with supplementary data

Mathematical models of heat transfer processes are usually studied using formulation that is unique in the mathematical sense. For example, in solving initial-boundary value problems in conduction heat transfer, the mathematical model consists of the governing equation and initial and boundary conditions. An extension of such an approach by introducing the supplementary information (or data) concerning the process has been proposed here as a method for verifying the accuracy of the model equations. This means that the mathematical model consists of more equations than unknowns which leads in consequence to a finite set of probable solutions. A criterion for choosing the most probable solution has been proposed. Special attention has been paid to numerical formulation. Computational methods have been derived using the Lagrange multipliers. Theoretical considerations have been illustrated by computing the temperature distribution inside a laboratory combustion chamber.     

Physical and mechanical properties of coarse-grained alluvial soils from some valleys in the Carpathian and sudety MTS,Poland

The tests described in the paper were made in connection with a large project for hydrotechnical structures in the mountain regions of Poland. The soils considered could be used in the construction of earth-dams. For testing these soils, special, original type, large-dimensioned units were designed and constructed. The author of this paper is co-designer of these pieces of apparatus. Thanks to their application the following physical and mechanical properties of soils were established: compactness, permeability and shear strength. In the paper relations are given between the properties mentioned above and other properties such as: particle size distribution, petrographic composition, degree of roundness, volume density and weight density. The tests were carried out on soils taken from three large river valleys in the Carpathian Mountains and one from the Sudety Mountains.     

REVIEW OF THIN-LAYER DRYING AND WETTING EQUATIONS

Thin-layer equations contribute to the understanding of the heat and mass transfer phenomena in agricultural products and computer simulations for designing new and improving existing commercial drying processes. Many different equations have been developed to represent thin-layer drying behaviour of the grains. Many thin-layer drying and rewetting equations are reviewed and discussed. Some suggestions for future coordinated research work arc given.     

Low power microwave‐assisted enzymatic esterification of starch

A series of starch esters was obtained using microwave‐assisted enzymatic transformation of starch. For the reaction hog pancreas lipase was used as a biocatalyst as well as followed acyl donors: acetic, lauric, and stearic acid. DMF and DMSO were applied as a reaction media. Experiments focused on low level microwave irradiation were compared with conventional heating of the reaction mixture. The structure of obtained starch esters was investigated by means of FTIR, analysis of substitution degree, changes in molecular parameters (M_Ws and M_Ws distributions), and microscopic studies (SEM). The spectroscopic analysis confirmed the ester bond formation. The microwave‐assisted reaction in DMF and lauric acid as an acyl donor, gave the highest degree of substitution (0.513) what followed the lowest polysaccharide degradation and maintaining the granular structure of starch. According to all the results the significant shortening in the reaction time (about 2.5 times) for microwave‐assisted reactions were observed. The influence of microwaves on esterification of starch was discussed focusing on reaction media and acyl donor type. The investigated reaction systems were demonstrated as new protocols for obtaining starch ester with higher efficiency in comparison to those known as conventional. Replacement of sophisticated derivatives including vinyl esters or acyl chlorides by simple acyl donors were shown as an additional benefit of proposed starch esterification method.