Cellulose monoacetate/polycaprolactone and cellulose monoacetate/polycaprolactam blended nanofibers for protease immobilization

Enzymes can be used multiple times when they are immobilized on a support. More enzymes can be immobilized on a surface when nanofibers are used as a supporting surface because the specific surface area increases tremendously. In this regard, polycaprolactam/cellulose monoacetate (PA6/CMA) and polycaprolactone/cellulose monoacetate (PCL/CMA) blended nanofibers (NFs) were prepared via an electrospinning process. Protease enzymes were immobilized on neat PA6, PCL, PA6/CMA, and PCL/CMA nanofibers and glutaraldehyde (GA) activated analogs through the physical adsorption method. The immobilized enzyme activity was measured by using a casein substrate, and the results were compared with free enzyme activity. Among all of the samples, the highest immobilization yield of about 82% was obtained with GA‐activated neat PCL NF samples. The best remaining activity of the immobilized enzymes on pure CMA NFs was found to be 59% after seven reuses. Even after nine reuses, enzyme activities are still observed on the CMA NF samples. It was expected that the addition of CMA in PCL and PA6 NFs would increase the reusability number to reach the reusability of CMA NFs, but it was not significantly enhanced. If CMA chains could be mostly collected on the sheath or close to the sheath of the NFs during the electrospinnig process, this target could be achieved. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 45479.     

RCS2D: A 2D MoM and FDTD‐based scattering simulator

A Java‐based, two‐dimensional electromagnetic (EM) scattering field simulator—RCS2D—is introduced. It enables one to explore EM wave—arbitrary object interaction under a plane wave illumination. RCS2D uses both method of moments and finite‐difference time‐domain models for both transverse magnetic and transverse electric polarizations. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2013.     

Target reflectivity and RCS interactions in integrated maritimesurveillance systems based on surface-wave high-frequency radars

Abnormal fluctuations have been observed in detected power levels of some of the targets during trials of the integrated maritime surveillance system (IMS) based on the Canadian east coast surface-wave high-frequency radar (HFSWR). The power level of most of the surface and air targets fluctuated within measurement-error limits (a few dB) during consecutive detections. These fluctuations have been observed to be more than 15 dB for a huge oil platform and nearby large tankers. These fluctuations are quite different than those observed in microwave radars, such as pulse-to-pulse or scan-to-scan fluctuations (which are modeled as different Swerling-type targets), and as are mentioned in most of the classical radar handbooks. In order to understand the reason behind these fluctuations, the behavior of the target reflectivity and radar cross section (RCS) of surface and air targets and their mutual RCS interaction were investigated. Powerful numerical techniques were used to model and understand the target reflectivity and RCS interactions, mostly in the resonance regime. Different scenarios were created, and the mutual RCS behavior of nearby large targets (such as oil tankers and/or fixed offshore oil platforms) as they were maneuvering were modeled. It was shown that 10 dB to 20 dB RCS fluctuations should be expected when targets interact, especially in the resonance regime     

Stochastic modelling of target detection and tracking in surface wave HF radars

In this study, a software package is described which has been developed for the simulation of detection and tracking in surface wave high frequency (SW-HF) radars. The aim is to investigate the problems related to detection and tracking of surface targets at beyond the horizon ranges. In SW-HF radars target detection and tracking involves stochastic features such as target RCS fluctuations, atmospheric, galactic and/or man-made ambient interference components, and the sea clutter with the dominant resonant Bragg returns which affect target detection are all incorporated in the package. In the model, first, terrain data are fed into the simulator by means of a specially designed graphical user interface. Then, a scenario is prepared where the radar's location, coverage and operational parameters can be defined, together with different targets and their sailing routes. The radial propagation paths for angular resolution cells are extracted from the terrain data with the lengths of (possible) sea–island transitions. The surface wave path losses are calculated over the smooth spherical earth's surface with finite conductivity. Surface roughness and mixed-path propagation effects are also included in these calculations. The target detection is performed in the frequency domain after calculation of the noise floor, signal to noise (SNR) and clutter to noise (CNR) ratios. Since SW-HF radars yield coarse range and azimuth but accurate velocity measurements, different Kalman filter techniques are applied for the target tracking, and algorithms are added to improve the track–measurement data correlation. Various simulation tests are performed and the results are presented. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A recycling assessment of PVC bottles by means of heat impact evaluation on its reprocessing

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) products are very convenient for reclaiming and recycling. Therefore, the heat impact at 160–180°C temperature during the recycling process was investigated in the current study by means of spectroscopic studies, such as infrared and ultraviolet, and of differential scanning calorimetry curves. The bottle samples are slightly and considerably affected at 160 and 180°C heat treatments, respectively, which were determined as the formed decomposition products, color change, loss of volatile components, and peroxide formation in air. However, since this decomposition occurred at 30 min of experimental time, which is about sixfold that of real process times, the reclaimed material found recyclable as is. Judicious recomposition of the powdered reclaimed material making up the lost or consumed component makes possible the use of this material in the production of window sections, profiles, pipes, and even bottles. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 69: 865–869, 1998     

Differences in brain networks of children with ADHD: Whole-brain analysis of resting-state fMRI

The aim of this study was to investigate changes of functional connectivity (FC) in resting state networks (RSNs) in medication-naive children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Twenty children with a diagnosis of ADHD (11.8 ± 2.29 years; 16 boys) and 20 age-matched typically developing (TD) children (13 ± 1.78 years; 10 boys) were included. It was found that brain FC differences in children with ADHD are not only in the well known RSNs such as default mode, visual, sensory motor, attentional, frontal, central executive, and frontal networks but also involve interaction among whole brain functional networks. In addition, basal ganglia and cerebellum networks which later gained importance were examined in this study. All RSNs has been shown significant differences in special regions which belongs related RSN. The highest positive (HPC) and negative (HNC) correlation were calculated between 14 independent components including 11 different RSNs. We observed different FC changes (decreased/increased) according to the RSNs between ADHD and control children. The HPC was defined between the visual and cerebellum network in ADHD children and between the dorsal attentional network and sensory motor network in TD children. Also, the HNC was detected between the visual and basal ganglia network in both groups. Investigating intra and inter network FC could provide a framework to better understand the neural basis that underlies core symptom dimensions in ADHD.     

Ultrasonic Irradiation during the Calcium Sulfate Hemihydrate to Dihydrate Transformation Process

The ultrasound‐assisted transformation of calcium sulfate hemihydrate (CSH) to calcium sulfate dihydrate (CSD) was studied using three ultrasonic power settings. In addition to continuously measuring the variation in the conductivity value with time, the process was followed by X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared, mass spectrometry, and filtration analyses helped to determine the physicochemical properties of the as‐obtained crystals. The morphological changes in the surface morphology were observed by SEM. The experimental results indicate that ultrasonic irradiation and its intensity have a significant effect on the crystal size, morphology, adsorption, and filtration characteristics. Mandelic acid in combination with ultrasonic irradiation can be used as an accelerator for the transformation process from CSH to CSD.     

Purification,characterization, and inhibition sensitivity of peroxidase from wheat (Triticum aestivum ssp. vulgare)

The purification and characterization of peroxidase is currently growing interests since peroxidases have implications in various industrial and biochemical applications. In this study, wheat peroxidase was purified using (NH₄)₂SO₄ precipitation, CM-Sephadex cation exchange, and gel filtration chromatographies. Enzyme purity and molecular mass were checked by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Enzyme kinetics was studied using two substrates: guaiacol and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). K_m and V_max values were calculated from Lineweaver-Burk graph for each substrate. Wheat peroxidase activity has been enhanced 284-fold. Wheat peroxidase had molecular mass of 38.8 kDa. K_m values for guaiacol and H₂O₂ were found as 2.467 mM and 7.307 mM, respectively. The pH and temperature optima were 5.5 and 40.0°C, respectively. Also, the enzyme was highly inhibited by citric acid and Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide.