Synthesis and characterization of pH‐sensitive crosslinked (NIPA‐co‐AAC) nanohydrogels copolymer

A thermoresponsive polymeric nanohydrogels has been synthesized by inverse microemulsion polymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) and acrylic acid (AAc) using Aerosol (AOT) as a surfactant, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as a crosslinker, and 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator. The effect of concentration of AIBN, EGDMA, and NIPA/AAc weight ratio was investigated. The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of poly (NIPA‐co‐AAC) can be manipulated to be 40°C and 45°C which was correlated to amount of AAc that was copolymerized with NIPA. FTIR, 1H NMR, TEM, and DSC characterized the nanohydrogels. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

On the kinematic geometry of relative screw motions

We present an exact formulation for the central problem of screw theory, namely, the determination of the principal screws of given relative screw motions. Using the Study??s dual-line coordinates, a method for the kinematic synthesis of spatial gears with skew axes is introduced. This approach allows showing that the principal screws of the system can be determined via the extreme values of the pitch. The well known equation of Plücker??s conoid associated with the three-systems has been derived, and it is shown that the principal axes of it are two screw axes located at its center and at right angles. More specifically, these two axes and the common normal to all screw axes form a reference frame that simplifies the expression of Plücker??s conoid. Finally, geometric conditions are discussed for some of the special screw systems.     

Oxidative stability of flax and hemp oils

Oxidative stability of flax and hemp oils, and of flax and hemp oils stripped of their minor components, was evaluated in the dark at 60°C and under fluorescent light at 27°C. Several analytical methods were used to assess the oxidative stability of oils. Oil extracts were also investigated for their scavenging of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and for their total phenolic contents. The results indicate that bioactive constituents of these edible oils play a major role in their oxidative stability. However, the FA composition of the oils and their total content of tocopherols as well as the type of pigments present contribute to their stability. Nonstripped flax and hemp oils were more stable than their corresponding stripped counterparts. Furthermore, nonstripped hemp oil had a higher oxidative stability than nonstripped flax oil as evidenced by scavenging of DPPH radical and consideration of total phenolic contents.     

Rapid synthesis of cesium-doped hydroxyapatite nanorods: characterisation and microbial activity

Rapid synthesis of cesium-doped hydroxyapatite (Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂, (HAp)) by rapid microwave synthesis technique is reported. The crystal, chemical, and dielectric properties, along with the phase composition and morphology were investigated. SEM study proved successful synthesis of HAp nanorods. The dielectric properties were affected by the doping amount of Cs-ions in HAp. The values of crystallinity degree at different concentrations of Cs-ions were decreased on increasing the Cs content. The antimicrobial activities of Cs-doped HAp showed high effects of growth inhibition on Staphylococcus aureus, S. saprophyticus, Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenza, Candida albicans, and C. tropicalis. The concentration of 0.32 Cs-doped HAp has the high inhibition effect against S. aureus with the percentage of inhibition to 88.89%. The microbial inhibition growth reflected on the MICs and MBCs and MFCs. This newly designed Cs-doped HAp can be applicable in wide scales biomedical applications such as bone cement engineering and antimicrobial agents.     

Analysis and Demonstration of Mach–Zehnder Polymer Modulators Using In-Plane Coplanar Waveguide Structure

Analysis, design, and experimental demonstration of polymer Mach-Zehnder (MZ) modulators with a newly proposed in-plane coplanar waveguide (CPW) electrode are presented in this paper. Compared to the conventional CPW electrode, the new in-plane CPW configuration significantly enhances the overlap factor between microwave and optical wave by 40% from the theoretical calculations. Different from polymer modulators using the traditional microstrip electrodes, this structure can suppress dc bias voltage drift and widen modulation bandwidth. Using CLD1/APC and AJL8/APC electrooptic polymers, MZ modulators using the in-plane CPW are fabricated and tested. The measured Vpi's of the MZ with 15-mum gap spacing and 2 cm electrode length are 5.4 and 9.5 V at 1.55 mum for the AJL8/APC and CLD1/APC devices, respectively. The evaluated Upsi₃₃'s are 46 pm/V for the AJL8/APC and 26 pm/V for the CLD1/APC MZ. The dc bias stability is tested and compared for both the microstrip and the in-plane CPW electrode modulators. Experimental results show that the in-plane CPW modulator greatly improves the bias stability. From the microwave measurement, the microwave signal loss of the modulator using the in-plane CPW is much reduced to 0.2 dB/cmradicGHz, while 0.7 dB/cmradicGHz using the microstrip.     

Design Principles-Based Interactive Learning Tool for Solving Nonlinear Equations

Interactive learning tools can facilitate the learning process and increase student engagement, especially tools such as computer programs that are designed for human-computer interaction. Thus, this paper aims to help students learn five different methods for solving nonlinear equations using an interactive learning tool designed with common principles such as feedback, visibility, affordance, consistency, and constraints. It also compares these methods by the number of iterations and time required to display the result. This study helps students learn these methods using interactive learning tools instead of relying on traditional teaching methods. The tool is implemented using the MATLAB app and is evaluated through usability testing with two groups of users that are categorized by their level of experience with root-finding. Users with no knowledge in root-finding confirmed that they understood the root-finding concept when interacting with the designed tool. The positive results of the user evaluation showed that the tool can be recommended to other users.     

Increased LRG1 Levels in Overweight and Obese Adolescents and Its Association with Obesity Markers,Including Leptin,Chemerin, and High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein

Leucine-rich α-2 glycoprotein1 (LRG1) is a member of the leucine-rich repeat (LRR) family that is implicated in multiple diseases, including cancer, aging, and heart failure, as well as diabetes and obesity. LRG1 plays a key role in diet-induced hepatosteatosis and insulin resistance by mediating the crosstalk between adipocytes and hepatocytes. LRG1 also promotes hepatosteatosis by upregulating de novo lipogenesis in the liver and suppressing fatty acid β-oxidation. In this study, we investigated the association of LRG1 with obesity markers, including leptin and other adipokines in adolescents (11–14 years; n = 425). BMI-for-age classification based on WHO growth charts was used to define obesity. Plasma LRG1 was measured by ELISA, while other markers were measured by multiplexing assay. Median (IQR) of LRG1 levels was higher in obese (30 (25, 38) µg/mL) and overweight (30 (24, 39) µg/mL) adolescents, compared to normal-weight participants (27 (22, 35) µg/mL). The highest tertile of LRG1 had an OR [95% CI] of 2.55 [1.44, 4.53] for obesity. LRG1 was positively correlated to plasma levels of high sensitivity c-reactive protein (HsCRP) (ρ = 0.2), leptin (ρ = 0.2), and chemerin (ρ = 0.24) with p < 0.001. Additionally, it was positively associated with plasma level of IL6 (ρ = 0.17) and IL10 (ρ = 0.14) but not TNF-α. In conclusion, LRG1 levels are increased in obese adolescents and are associated with increased levels of adipogenic markers. These results suggest the usefulness of LRG1 as an early biomarker for obesity and its related pathologies in adolescents.     

BPA Decreases PDCD4 in Bovine Granulosa Cells Independently of miR-21 Inhibition

microRNAs (miRNAs) are susceptible to environmental factors that might affect cellular function and impose negative effects on female reproduction. miR-21 is the most abundant miRNA in bovine granulosa cells and is widely reported as affected by Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure, yet the cause and consequences are not entirely elucidated. BPA is a synthetic endocrine disruptor associated with poor fertility. miR-21 function in bovine granulosa cells is investigated utilizing locked nucleic acid (LNA) oligonucleotides to suppress miR-21. Before measuring apoptosis and quantifying miR-21 apoptotic targets PDCD4 and PTEN, transfection was optimized and validated. BPA was introduced to see how it affects miR-21 regulation and which BPA-mediated effects are influenced by miR-21. miR-21 knockdown and specificity against additional miRNAs were confirmed. miR-21 was found to have antiapoptotic effects, which could be explained by its effect on the proapoptotic target PDCD4, but not PTEN. Previous findings of miR-21 overexpression were validated using BPA treatments, and the temporal influence of BPA on miR-21 levels was addressed. Finally, BPA effects on upstream regulators, such as VMP1 and STAT3, explain the BPA-dependent upregulation of miR-21 expression. Overall, this research enhances our understanding of miR-21 function in granulosa cells and the mechanisms of BPA-induced reproductive impairment.