Reduced graphene oxide: osteogenic potential for bone tissue engineering

Collagen (Col) type I, as the major component of the bone extracellular matrix has been broadly studied for bone tissue engineering. However,inferior mechanical properties limit its usage for load bearing applications. In this research, freeze dried Col scaffolds are coated with graphene oxide (GO) through a covalent bond of the amine Col with the graphene carboxyl groups. The prepared scaffolds were then reduced using a chemical agent. Scanning electron microscopy exhibited a porous structure for the synthesized scaffolds with an approximate pore size of 100–220 ± 12 µm, which is in the suitable range for bone tissue engineering application. Reducing the GO coating improved the compressive modulus of the Col from 250 to 970 kPa. Apatite formation was also indicated by immersing the scaffolds in simulated body fluid after five days. The cytocompatibility of the scaffolds, using human bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells, was confirmed with MTT analysis. Alkaline phosphatase assay revealed that reducing the Col–GO scaffolds can effectively activate the differentiation of hBM‐MSCs into osteoblasts after 14 days, even without the addition of an osteogenic differentiation medium. The results of this study highlight that GO and its reduced form have considerable potential as bone substitutes for orthopaedic and dental applications.Inspec keywords: molecular biophysics, tissue engineering, biochemistry, cellular biophysics, graphene, biomedical materials, bone, proteins, scanning electron microscopy, porous materials, compressive strength, biomechanicsOther keywords: human bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells, reduced graphene oxide, bone extracellular matrix, inferior mechanical properties, load bearing applications, freeze‐dried Col scaffolds, amine Col groups, graphene carboxyl groups, bone tissue engineering, collagen type I, GO‐Col scaffolds, covalent bond, scanning electron microscopy, compressive modulus, apatite formation, cytocompatibility, 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide analysis, alkaline phosphatase assay, osteogenic differentiation medium, dental applications, orthopaedic applications, porous structure, time 14.0 day, CO     

Data reconciliation: Development of an object-oriented software tool

Object-oriented modeling methodology is used for encapsulating different methods and attributes of data reconciliation (DR) in classes. Classes which are defined for DR, cover steady-state, dynamic, linear and nonlinear DR problems. Two main classes are Constraints and DR and defined for manipulating constraints and general DR problem. The remaining classes are derived from these two classes. A class namely DDRMethod is developed for encapsulating all common attributes and methods needed for any DDR method. Developed DR software and the method of performing dynamic DR are discussed in this paper. Two illustrative examples of Extended Kalman Filtering and artificial neural networks are used for DDR and two classes of DDRByKalman and NetDDRMethod developed by inheritance from DDRMethod class for these two methods. Performance of the proposed method is investigated by DDR of temperature measurements of a distillation column.     

Determination of yield distribution in olefin production by thermal cracking of atmospheric gasoil

A pilot plant was designed and set up to study the thermal cracking of atmospheric gasoil. Based on the CCD (central composite design) method, a set of systematic experiments were designed and carried out. The designed variables were COT (coil outlet temperature), steam ratio and feed flow rate. The ranges of these variables were, respectively, equal to 716–884 °C, 0.46–1.136 and 0.977–6.02 g/min. The obtained minimum and maximum yield of ethylene was, respectively, equal to 1.7% and 30.9%, as well as the maximum yield of propylene was 12.2%. To predict the yield distribution of products and the coke formation in the range of operating conditions, a mechanistic model was developed based on experimental results. To analyze and characterize the atmospheric gasoil, a novel algorithm was applied. This algorithm utilized density, ASTM distillation curve, H/C ratio and the total aromatic fraction and generates the detail analysis of feedstock including paraffinic, naphthenic, aromatics and poly aromatic compounds.     

Behavior of Double-Oxide Film Defects in Al-0.05?wt pct Sr Alloy

The change in the composition of oxide layers and the possibility of the formation of bonding between the two layers of a double-oxide film defect when held in an Al-0.05?wt pct Sr melt was investigated. The defect was modeled experimentally by maintaining two aluminum oxide layers in contact with one another in the liquid metal at 1023?K (750?°C) for times ranging from 5?seconds to 50?hours. Any changes in the composition and morphology of these layers were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The results showed that the A1₂O₃ layers started to transform to SrO gradually from the moment that they submerged into the melt. The transformation caused the two layers to bond with each other gradually. The results illustrated that the composition of the oxide layers of a double oxide film defect submerged in Sr-treated melt is different from that of pure Al, and this might affect the mechanical properties and the behavior of the defect in the melt significantly.     

Excellent photocatalytic performance under visible-light irradiation of ZnS/rGO nanocomposites synthesized by a green method

ZnS/graphene nanocomposites with different graphene concentrations (5, 10 and 15 wt.%) were synthesized using L-cysteine as surfactant and graphene oxide (GO) powders as graphene source. Excellent performance for nanocomposites to remove methylene blue (MB) dye and hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) under visible-light illumination was revealed. TEM images showed that ZnS NPs were decorated on GO sheets and the GO caused a significant decrease in the ZnS diameter size. XRD patterns, XPS and FTIR spectroscopy results indicated that GO sheets changed into reduced graphene oxide (rGO) during the synthesis process. Photocurrent measurements under a visiblelight source indicated a good chemical reaction between ZnS NPs and rGO sheets.     

Role of Mechanical Stirring of Al-Mg Melt in the Healing of Bifilm Defect

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B - The effect of mechanical stirring of aluminum melts containing 0.3, 0.7, and 4.5 wt pct Mg with a graphite rotor with different...     

Moving contact lines on heterogeneous substrates

The dynamics of the deformations of a moving contact line on a disordered substrate are formulated, taking a proper account of the various interfacial forces as well as the dissipation mechanisms. Prompted by the results from dynamical renormalization group calculations, it is suggested that the coating transition in contact lines receding at relatively high velocities can be understood as a roughening transition in the contact line. A phase diagram is proposed for the system in which the phase boundaries corresponding to the coating transition and the pinning transition meet at a junction point, and suggest that for sufficiently strong disorder a receding contact line will leave a Landau-Levich film immediately after de-pinning.