Adaptive Liquid Interfacially Assembled Protein Nanosheets for Guiding Mesenchymal Stem Cell Fate

There is a growing interest in the development of dynamic adaptive biomaterials for regulation of cellular functions. However, existing materials are limited to two-state switching of the presentation and removal of cell-adhesive bioactive motifs that cannot emulate the native extracellular matrix (ECM) in vivo with continuously adjustable characteristics. Here, tunable adaptive materials composed of a protein monolayer assembled at a liquid–liquid interface are demonstrated, which adapt dynamically to cell traction forces. An ultrastructure transition from protein monolayer to hierarchical fiber occurs through interfacial jamming. Elongated fibronectin fibers promote formation of elongated focal adhesion structures, increase focal adhesion kinase activation, and enhance neuronal differentiation of stem cells. Cell traction force results in spatial rearrangement of ECM proteins, which feeds back to alter stem cell fate. The reported biomimetic adaptive liquid interface enables dynamic control of stem cell behavior and has potential translational applications.     

Analyses of biped walking posture by dynamical-evaluating index

In this paper, biped walking posture and design are evaluated through dynamic reconfiguration manipulability shape index (DRMSI). DRMSI is the concept derived from dynamic manipulability and reconfiguration manipulability with remaining redundancy. DRMSI represents the ability of dynamical system of manipulators possessing shape changing acceleration in task space by normalized torque inputs, while the hand motion is assigned as the primary task. Besides, we use visual lifting approach to stabilize the walking and stop falling down. In this research, the primary task is to make the position of the head direct to the desired one as much as possible. And realizing the biped walking is the second task. This research indicates that proposed dynamical-evaluating index is effective in evaluating the biped walking motion and biped humanoid robot has the adjustable configuration to walk with higher flexibility. Flexibility represents the dynamical shape changeability of humanoid robot based on redundancy of the humanoid robot with the premise of the primary task given to keeping the head position high.     

Direct synthesis of L10 type Fe-Pt nanoparticles using microwave-polyol method

We report the synthesis of Fe-Pt nanoparticles with microwave irradiation during polyol-reduction reaction. Chemically ordered Fe-Pt nanoparticles with L1₀ structure are fabricated at 250 °C using a microwave-polyol method without any post-synthesis treatments. Mössbauer analyses reveal the nanoparticles have partially ordered L1₀ structure. The partially ordered Fe-Pt nanoparticles exhibit coercivity of 3.4 kOe, saturation magnetization of 49 emu/g, and anisotropy field of 83 kOe at room temperature.     

Structural Investigation of a Rapidly Quenched 20Li4SiO4·80Li2WO4 Glass

A 20Li₄SiO₄·80Li₂WO₄ glass was prepared by the rapid quenching technique, and its structure was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman scattering. The coordination number of the oxygen atoms around a tungsten atom, N_O/W, was determined to be 4.8 by XRD and 4.6 by Raman scattering. The deviation of N_O/W from 4 resulted from the coexistence of condensed structural units, such as WO₆, Si₂O⁶⁻₇ ions containing bridging oxygens, WO²⁻₄ ions, and SiO⁴⁻₄ ions.     

Zirconia Coating on Stainless Steel Sheets from Organozirconium Compounds

The stability and the coating characteristics of a variety of organozirconium compounds have been investigated to coat ZrO₂ films on stainless steets for the improvement of heat resistance against oxidation. Zirconium tetraoctylate and zirconium tetrakis(acetylacetonate) were found to be more stable than zirconium alkoxides in an ambient atmosphere. The ZrO₂ films from zirconium alkoxides became white and discontinuous when the thickness of the films exceeded about 200 Å (20 nm). On the other hand, transparent ZrO₂ films were obtained from zirconium tetraoctylate and zirconium tetrakis(acetylacetonate). The IR spectra of the films showed that the heat treatment at 400°C for 5 min produced organic-free ZrO₂ films. The heat resistance of stainless steel sheets against oxidation was improved by the ZrO₂ coating, depending on the film thickness.     

Effect of volatile organic contamination on head-disk interface tribology and a method for its reduction

Volatile organic contamination is known to be one of the factors to cause the failure of head-disk interface (HDI). Therefore, reduction of its harmful effects and improvement of the stability and reliability of HDI is becoming an important issue. In this study, the effects of some model compounds of volatile organic contamination on the tribological characteristics of HDI were systematically investigated using a contact start/stop (CSS) tester. The slider surface after the CSS tests was analyzed using Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (TOF-SIMS). Transfer of lubricating oil onto the slider surface was detected after the CSS tests. The organic contaminants promoted the transfer and resulted in high and unstable friction force. Fluorinated self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) were applied on the slider surface for reducing the transferred amount of the lubricating oil. Tribological performance of the slider coated with the SAMs and the transfer amount of lubricating oil onto the slider surface in the presence of contaminant was investigated. The friction force was low and stable in the case of the SAMs coated slider even under environmental contaminant. This result could be explained by the reduction of the transferred lubricating oil because the SAMs that coated on the slider surface were low surface energy.     

Tribological Behaviors of 52100 Steel in Carbon Dioxide Atmosphere

The tribological behavior of 52100 steel in a carbon dioxide (CO₂) atmosphere was investigated using a reciprocating ball-on-disk tribometer. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to identify the adsorbed surface layers and tribochemical products. We found that CO₂can substantially reduce friction and wear of the steel. Adsorbed and reacted surface layers containing iron carbonate and/or bicarbonate play an important role in reducing friction. A disk, exposed once to CO₂atmosphere, also shows a low friction for a long time even in a vacuum environment. An optimum CO₂pressure exists for effectively reducing friction and wear. A low-pressure CO₂atmosphere is insufficient to produce iron carbonate. In contrast, high pressure engenders serious chemical wear.     

Investigation of anti-wear additives for low viscous synthetic esters: Hydroxyalkyl phosphonates

Various synthetic esters are widely applied as lubricating fluid to reduce friction and wear at tribological contact. Among them low viscous synthetic esters are expected to improve fuel efficiency by minimizing the fluid friction. These low viscous esters are composed of short-chain fatty acids. Therefore, low viscous synthetic esters are inherently polar molecules. Since efficiency of anti-wear additives decreases with increase of polarity of the base oil, new additive technology is requested.In this work, hydroxyalkyl phosphates [P(O)(OCHRCH₂OH)₃], and hydroxyalkyl phosphonates [P(OH)_n(OCHRCH₂OH)_3−n, where n=1,2] are proposed as novel anti-wear additives for polar synthetic esters. The anti-wear additives are evaluated under the boundary conditions. The additives prevent wear in polar esters, in which conventional anti-wear additives do not work at all. Interestingly, effects of substituent in additive molecule on anti-wear properties are found. Alkyl and aryl derivatives reduce wear remarkably, whereas allyl derivatives exhibit poor results. It is speculated that the anti-wear inefiiciency of allylic compounds is due to auto-oxidation of the additives.A facile preparative method for hydroxyalkyl derivatives characterizes the present additive system. They are prepared in situ by simply mixing phosphonic acid and substituted epoxides. Flexiblity of lubricant design can be made possible by the present additive system.     

Predicting Solid–Liquid Equilibrium of Fatty Acid Methyl Ester and Monoglyceride Mixtures as Biodiesel Model Fuels

Fatty acid methyl esters from plant oils are the main component of biodiesel and used as a substitute for petroleum diesel. Biodiesel generally contains a small amount of monoglycerides as intermediate compounds, which have high melting points and often solidify and clog fuel filters. The prediction of the cold-flow property of biodiesel is of great importance for practical application. In this study, a thermodynamic study was conducted for mixtures of monoglycerides and fatty acid methyl esters. Temperatures of the solid–liquid equilibrium for the mixtures were measured by differential scanning calorimetry and visual observation, while the theoretical values were calculated using the modified Universal Quasi-chemical Functional-group Activity Coefficients (UNIFAC) model (Dortmund). The theoretical and experimental results were in good agreement, especially for binary mixtures of monoglycerides and methyl esters. The importance of monoglycerides on the cold-flow properties of biodiesel was determined, and the effects could be well described by the modified UNIFAC model (Dortmund).     

Generalized crack initiation and crack damage stress thresholds of brittle rock masses near underground excavations

The rock mass failure process is characterized by several distinct deformation stages which include crack initiation, crack propagation and coalescence. It is important to know the stress levels associated with these deformation stages for engineering design and practice.Extensive theoretical, experimental and numerical studies on the failure process of intact rocks exist. It is generally understood that crack initiation starts at 0.3 to 0.5 times the peak uniaxial compressive stress. In confined conditions, the constant-deviatoric stress criterion was found to describe the crack initiation stress level.Here, generalized crack initiation and crack damage thresholds of rock masses are proposed. The crack initiation threshold is defined by σ₁−σ₃=A σ_cm and the crack damage threshold is defined by σ₁−σ₃=B σ_cm for jointed rock masses, where A and B are material constants and σ_cm is the uniaxial compressive strength of the rock masses. For a massive rock mass without joints, σ_cm is equal to σ_cd, the long-term uniaxial strength of intact rock. After examining data from intact rocks and jointed rock masses, it was found that for massive to moderately jointed rock masses, the material constants A and B are in the range of 0.4 to 0.5, 0.8 to 0.9, respectively, and for moderately to highly jointed rock masses, A and B are in the range of 0.5 to 0.6, 0.9 to 1.0, respectively. The generalized crack initiation and crack damage thresholds, when combined with simple linear elastic stress analysis, assist in assessing the rock mass integrity in low confinement conditions, greatly reducing the effort needed to obtain the required material constants for engineering design of underground excavations.