Effect of nanofillers on the flame retardant properties of a polyethylene–calcium carbonate–silicone elastomer system

This study shows the effects of three different nanofillers on the viscosity properties and fire behavior of a halogen‐free flame retardant system. The original system, based on ethylene‐acrylate copolymer, calcium carbonate, and a silicone elastomer, shows good flame retardant properties. One of the nanofillers, montmorillonite (MMT), significantly increases the viscosity above 250^°C, resulting in reduced dripping and decreased heat release rate. The ash residue, however, is very brittle, indicating poor interactions between the MMT and other components of the system. The second nanofiller, sepiolite, shows no improvement on the flame retardant properties of the system. Reduced dripping is observed when a small amount of the third nanofiller, polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane, POSS, is incorporated into the system. In this case, high silica content on the surface indicates char formation originating from the POSS. However, an increased heat release is observed when POSS is used in the system. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reversibly erasable nanoporous anti-reflection coatings from polyelectrolyte multilayers

For nearly two centuries, researchers have sought novel methods to increase light transmission in optical systems, as well as to eliminate unwanted reflections and glare. Anti-reflection coatings and surfaces have enabled the increasing performance demands of optical components fabricated from glass-based optical materials. With the current trend of technology moving towards optically transparent polymeric media and coatings, the need for anti-reflection technology and environmentally benign processing methods for polymeric materials independent of shape or size has become quite apparent. We describe an economical, aqueous-based process controlled at the molecular level that simultaneously coats all surfaces of almost any material. Systematically designed nanoporous polymer films are used, which are suitable for optical applications operating at both visible and near-infrared wavelengths. These high-efficiency anti-reflection coatings are created from phase-separated polyelectrolyte multilayer films that undergo a reversible pH-induced swelling transition. Furthermore, such films, easily patterned by an inkjet printing technique, possess potential for pH-responsive biomaterial and membrane applications.     

Prediction of chromatographic retention and protein identification in liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

Liquid chromatography coupled on- or off-line with mass spectrometry is rapidly advancing as a tool in proteomics capable of dealing with the inherent complexity in biology and complementing conventional approaches based on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Proteins can be identified by proteolytic digestion and peptide mass fingerprinting or by searching databases using short-sequence tags generated by tandem mass spectrometry. This paper shows that information on the chromatographic behavior of peptides can assist protein identification by peptide mass fingerprinting in liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. This additional information is significant and already available at no extra experimental cost.     

Uzawa Conjugate Gradient Domain Decomposition Methods for Coupled Stokes Flows

This paper deals with nonoverlapping domain decomposition methods for two coupled Stokes flows, based on the duality theory. By introducing a fictitious variable in the transmission condition and using saddle-point equations, the problem is restated as a linearly constrained maximization problem. According to whether constraints are uncoupled Stokes problems or uncoupled Poisson problems, two Uzawa-type domain decomposition algorithms are proposed. The results of some numerical experiments on a model problem are given.     

Abstraction paradigms for computer graphics

In computer graphics we use techniques from different areas of mathematics. Mathematical models are used to simulate real-world objects, as well as natural phenomena. In order to understand these models and pose relevant problems in each particular field of this area, it is important to create levels of abstraction. These levels encapsulate common properties of the different models and allow us to have a global, conceptual view of the methods and techniques in each field. In this paper we study a paradigm for creating abstraction levels that can also be used to characterize more general problems in computational applied mathematics. We apply this paradigm to different areas of computer graphics: modeling, animation, illumination, color theory, image processing and human-computer interface.     

Neurological protection during cardiopulmonary bypass/deep hypothermia

OBJECTIVE: To determine if arthroscopic synovectomy in normal and inflamed joints had temporal or site-related effects on articular cartilage. STUDY DESIGN: Alterations in equine third carpal bone articular cartilage were studied at two time periods: groups 1 and 2 (6 weeks) and groups 3 and 4 (2 weeks) after synovectomy in normal (groups 2 and 4) and inflamed carpi (groups 1 and 3). ANIMAL POPULATION: 16 carpi from eight horses. METHODS: Biochemical and biomechanical properties of dorsal and palmar articular cartilage were determined by radioloabeling, proteoglycan (PG) extraction, chromatography, electrophoresis, and indentation testing. RESULTS: Synovectomy in inflamed joints produced the greatest concentration of newly synthesized PG in articular cartilage by 2 weeks. Synovectomy in normal joints produced significantly greater newly synthesized PG in articular cartilage by 6 weeks. Dorsal sites had greater newly synthesized and endogenous PG in some groups. Chromatographic profiles of newly synthesized PG demonstrated early and late PG peaks. Electrophoresis of late PG peak showed a toluidine blue-positive band that comigrated with human A1D1 PG monomer in the two groups with the most newly synthesized PG> This band was reactive with monoclonal antibody 1C6 specific for the hyaluronic acid-binding region of aggrecan. For the material properties evaluated, only Poisson's ratio was significantly decreased between groups as a function of time (6 weeks < 2 weeks). and this was most pronounced in the thicker dorsal sites. CONCLUSIONS: Synovectomy in inflamed joints produced site-specific, significantly greater responses in articular cartilage as compared with synovectomy in normal joints. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Synovectomy may not be beneficial to the articular cartilage in inflamed joints.