Bond Strength of a Silicone Soft Lining Material to Poly(methyl methacrylate) Resin Treated with Maleic Anhydride and its Terpolymers

This study investigated the effectiveness of surface treatment of Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) denture base resin on tensile bond strength between PMMA/silicone-based soft liner. A total of 25 specimens were fabricated and assigned into five groups (n = 5). The surfaces of PMMA were treated with maleic anhydride, maleic anhydride-styrene-vinyl-acetate, n-butylmaleate-styrene-vinyl-acetate, or n-pentamaleate-styrene-vinyl-acetate prior to Primo adhesive primer application and silicone liner placement. The Primo adhesive primer on applied group untreated dentuse base resin served as control. The tensile test was performed using a universal testing machine. Fractured surfaces were observed under Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and spectroscopic interpretation of the interfaces was done by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR). Test results showed that surface treatment increased interfacial strength giving the highest value for n-butylmaleate-styrene-vinyl acetate treated group. SEM micrographs revealed that the specimens with n-butylmaleate-styrene-vinyl-acetate and n-penta maleate-styrene-vinyl-acetate terpolymers underwent cohesive failure. FTIR analysis indicated secondary interactions such as hydrogen bonding, possibly on acrylic resin surfaces, caused by the use of maleic anhydride and its terpolymers, and the adhesive.     

Synthesis,Thermal and Morphological Properties of Polyurethanes Containing Azomethine Linkage

This paper presents synthesis, photophysical, electrochemical, thermal and morphological properties of Schiff bases containing various side-group substitutions and polyurethanes (PUs) containing azomethine linkage. Morphological properties of PUs containing azomethine bonding were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM images showed that PU containing azomethine consist of semi-crystalline particles. Thermal transitions in PUs containing azomethine units were studied using DSC. The obtained DSC curves showed that PUs containing azomethine are semi-crystalline materials due to they contain both crystallization and melting peaks. Electrochemical properties also investigated by using cyclic voltammetry (CV). According to the cyclic voltommagrams and CV data, PUs containing azomethine have below 2.0 eV electrochemical band gap.     

Prioritized Mobile Robot Exploration Based on Percolation Enhanced Entropy Based Fast SLAM

The major aim in search and rescue using mobile robots is to detect and reach trapped survivors and to support rescue operations through disaster environments. Our motivation is based on the fact that a search and rescue (SAR) robot can navigate within and penetrate a disaster area only if the area in question possesses connected voids. Traversability or penetrability of a disaster area is a primary factor that guides the navigation of a search and rescue (SAR) robot, since it is highly desirable that the robot, without hitting a dead end or getting stuck, keeps its mobility for its primary task of reconnaissance and mapping when searching the highly unstructured environment. We propose a novel percolation guidance that collaborates with entropy based SLAM under a switching control setting the priority to either position or map accuracy. This newly developed methodology has proven to combine the superiority of both percolator guidance and entropy based prioritization so that the active SLAM becomes speedy, with high coverage rate of the area as well as increased accuracy in localization. Our percolator guidance stems from a frontier based conditioning of a-posteriori occurrences of upcoming connected voids that uses the fact that every obstacle partially seen at the frontier of the explored domain has a spatial continuity into the unexplored area. The developed modular architecture is introduced in details and demonstrative examples are provided and discussed.     

The effects of the pretreatment of intravenous high dose methylprednisolone on Na(+)-K(+)/Mg(+2) ATPase and lipid peroxidation and early ultrastructural findings following middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat

The sodium-potassium activated and magnesium dependent adenosine-5'-triphosphatase (Na(+)-K(+)/Mg(+2) ATPase EC.3.6.1.3.) activity and lipid peroxidation and early ultrastructural findings were determined in rat brain at the acute stage of ischaemia produced by permanent unilateral occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). The effects of the pretreatment with intravenous high-dose methylprednisolone (MP) on these biochemical indices and ultrastructural findings were also evaluated in the same model. The rats were divided into four groups. In group I, 10 rats were used to determine Na(+)-K(+)/Mg(+2) ATPase activity and the extent of lipid peroxidation by measuring the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and normal ultrastructural findings. In group II on 20 rats, only subtemporal craniectomy was done in order to determine the effects of the surgical procedure on these indices and findings. This group was treated intravenously with saline solution before occlusion. In group III with MCA occlusion, saline solution was administered intravenously to 20 rats in the same amount of methylprednisolone used in group IV, ten minutes before the occlusion. In Group IV, a single high-dose (30 mg/kg) of methylprednisolone was administered intravenously, ten minutes before occlusion in 20 rats. After occlusion of the middle cerebral artery, Na(+)-K(+)/Mg(+2) ATPase activity was decreased promptly in the first ten minutes in the ischaemic hemisphere and remained at a lower level than the contralateral hemispheres in the same group and the normal levels in group I, during 120 minutes of ischaemia. A single dose methylprednisolone pretreatment prohibited the inactivation of Na(+)-K(+)/Mg(+2) ATPase. On the other hand, there was significant difference in malondialdehyde content between group I and group III. Malondialdehyde levels were significantly increased following ischaemia and a non-significant increase was observed in the contralateral hemisphere. Methylprednisolone treatment significantly decreased malondialdehyde content on the side of the ischaemic hemisphere. We conclude that there is a positive relationship between membrane-bound enzyme Na(+)-K(+)/Mg(+2) ATPase activity, malondialdehyde content and early ultrastructural changes in the treated group with MP. These data suggest that the pretreatment injection of high doses (30 mg/kg) methylprednisolone contribute to the protection of the brain from ischaemia with stabilization of the cell membrane by effecting the lipid peroxidation and the activation of Na(+)-K(+)/Mg(+2) ATPase.     

Power·delay product in COSMOS logic circuits

In this simulation work, we use COSMOS logic devices—a novel single gate CMOS architecture recently announced [1]—in multi-input logic gates, assessing its performance in terms of power·delay product. We consider three different multi-input logic circuits: a two-input NOR gate, a three-input NOR gate, and a three-input composite NOR/NAND (NORAND) gate. For this power·delay analysis, the transient TCAD simulations are employed in a mixed-mode approach where circuit and device simulations are coupled together, culminating in the delay response of the circuits as well as the static/dynamic current components. The analysis shows that all circuits, except the 3-input NOR gate, has acceptable characteristics at low-power applications and static leakage limits all COSMOS circuits at high-bias conditions.     

Robust Adaptive Control of Pulse-width Modulated Rectifiers Based on Adaptive Super-twisting Sliding-mode and State Feedback Controllers

Abstract—This article proposes a new robust adaptive hybrid controller for three-phase pulse-width modulated rectifiers to improve control performance. This hybridization is implemented by combining the second-order sliding mode with the adaptive gain super-twisting control law in the DC bus voltage control loop and state feedback adaptive control in the d-q-axis current control loops. The control objectives are fourfold: (1) driving the DC bus voltage to a reference signal without using a priori knowledge of the plant parameters, (2) forcing the d-q-axis current errors to zero, (3) assuring a satisfactory power factor correction in relation to the AC source, and (4) eliminating the chattering effect. In the closed-loop control system, three-phase source currents and the DC bus voltage are supposed to be available for feedback. As a result, no a priori knowledge of the plant parameters is necessary in the design of the proposed controller. In addition, the proposed controller does not have the disadvantages of singularity, over-parameterization, and chattering phenomenon. Results of experimental studies prove that the proposed control system guarantees the tracking of reference signals with high performance despite all the parameter and external disturbance uncertainties.     

Synthesis,characterization, thermal stability,conductivity, and band gap of a new aromatic polyether containing an azomethine as a side

In this study, the oxidative polycondensation reaction conditions of 4‐[(4‐methylphenyl)iminomethyl]phenol (4‐MPIMP) were studied by using oxidants such as air O₂, H₂O₂, and NaOCl in an aqueous alkaline medium between 50 and 90°C. The structures of the synthesized monomer and polymer were confirmed by FTIR, UV–vis, ¹H–¹³C‐NMR, and elemental analysis. The characterization was made by TGA‐DTA, size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and solubility tests. At the optimum reaction conditions, the yield of poly‐4‐[(4‐methylphenyl)iminomethyl]phenol (P‐4‐MPIMP) was found to be 28% for air O₂ oxidant, 42% for H₂O₂ oxidant, and 62% for NaOCl oxidant. According to the SEC analysis, the number–average molecular weight (M_n), weight–average molecular weight (M_w), and polydispersity index values of P‐4‐MPIMP were found to be 4400 g mol^?1, 5100 g mol^?1, and 1.159, using H₂O₂, and 4650 g mol^?1, 5200 g mol^?1, and 1.118, using air O₂, and 5100 g mol^?1, 5900 g mol^?1, and 1.157, using NaOCl, respectively. According to TG analysis, the weight losses of 4‐MPIMP and P‐4‐MPIMP were found to be 85.37% and 72.19% at 1000°C, respectively. P‐4‐MPIMP showed higher stability against thermal decomposition. Also, electrical conductivity of the P‐4‐MPIMP was measured, showing that the polymer is a typical semiconductor. The highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy levels and electrochemical energy gaps (E) of 4‐MPIMP and P‐4‐MPIMP were found to be ?5.76, ?5.19; ?3.00, ?3.24; 2.76 and 1.95 eV, respectively. According to UV–vis measurements, optical band gaps (E_g) of 4‐MPIMP and P‐4‐MPIMP were found to be 3.34 and 2.82 eV, respectively. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

Polymers for medical and tissue engineering applications

Recent decades have seen great advancements in medical research into materials, both natural and synthetic, that facilitate the repair and regeneration of compromised tissues through the delivery and support of cells and/or biomolecules. Biocompatible polymeric materials have become the most heavily investigated materials used for such purposes. Naturally‐occurring and synthetic polymers, including their various composites and blends, have been successful in a range of medical applications, proving to be particularly suitable for tissue engineering (TE) approaches. The increasing advances in polymeric biomaterial research combined with the developments in manufacturing techniques have expanded capabilities in tissue engineering and other medical applications of these materials. This review will present an overview of the major classes of polymeric biomaterials, highlight their key properties, advantages, limitations and discuss their applications. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry     

Preparation and characterization of multilayer anti-reflective coatings via sol-gel process

Single layer and multilayer films consisting of SnO₂, Ta₂O₅, SiO₂, TiO₂, indium tin oxide (ITO) and antimony tin oxide (ATO) have been prepared by sol-gel dip coating technique. All of the multilayer films contained a SiO₂ top layer, which was composed of SiO₂ nanoparticles. The other films had polymeric character. Obtained films were characterized by ellipsometry, XRD, AFM and SEM. Light transmittance values of the films were compared. Films other than SiO₂ and Ta₂O₅ were found to have crystalline structure. Thickness values of the films were in the range of 30–115 nm and roughness values were in 1.2–23 nm range. Single layer porous silica provided 95% light transmittance, whereas ITO-TiO₂-SiO₂ multilayer film provided a light transmittance of 97.2%.