Fano-resonant asymmetric metamaterials for ultrasensitive spectroscopy and identification of molecular monolayers

Engineered optical metamaterials present a unique platform for biosensing applications owing to their ability to confine light to nanoscale regions and to their spectral selectivity. Infrared plasmonic metamaterials are especially attractive because their resonant response can be accurately tuned to that of the vibrational modes of the target biomolecules. Here we introduce an infrared plasmonic surface based on a Fano-resonant asymmetric metamaterial exhibiting sharp resonances caused by the interference between subradiant and superradiant plasmonic resonances. Owing to the metamaterial's asymmetry, the frequency of the subradiant resonance can be precisely determined and matched to the molecule's vibrational fingerprints. A multipixel array of Fano-resonant asymmetric metamaterials is used as a platform for multispectral biosensing of nanometre-scale monolayers of recognition proteins and their surface orientation, as well as for detecting chemical binding of target antibodies to recognition proteins.     

The peripheral dose outside the applicator in electron beams of Oncor linear accelerator

In this study, the peripheral dose outside the applicator was measured using electron beams produced by an Oncor linear accelerator and compared with the data of the treatment planning system (TPS). The dose profiles have been measured, by using a water-equivalent slab phantom and a parallel plate ionisation chamber, at 6, 9 and 15 MeV energy levels in 5×5, 10×10, 15×15, 20×20 and 25×25 cm(2) applicators and at 0, 10 and 20° gantry angles; and at the surface, 0.2, 0.5, 1 cm and d(max) depth for each electron energy level. The peripheral dose has been determined with these profiles by normalisation at the field central beam axis (CAX). It has been noticed that, using a 10×10 cm(2) applicator, there is a 1.4 % dose peak on the surface 6 cm away from the field edge where the field CAX is at 100 %, at a gantry angle of 0° with 6 and 9 MeV electron beams; also for the 15 MeV electron beam there is a 2.3 % dose peak. It has been discovered that the peak dose approaches a minimum depending on the increase in depth and reaches 2.5-4 % depending on the growth of the field dimension. At gantry angles of 10 and 20°, 6 and 9 MeV electron beams created small peaks and a maximum dose could be reached at 0.2 and 1 cm depth. Electron beam of 15 MeV did not peak at depths of 0.2 and 1 cm at gantry angles of 10 and 20°. The measured peripheral dose outside the applicators has been compared with the data from a TPS's computer using the Pencil Beam algorithm; it has been stated that dose calculations can be made as far as 3 cm outside the field. In conclusion, the TPS is not sufficient to measure the peripheral dose outside the applicators, and this dose can only be determined by direct measurement.     

Valorization of bio-calcium carbonate based Chamelea gallina shell waste fillers in shape memory polymer composites

In recent years, the focus has been on the use of calcium carbonate-based seashell wastes in the production of new thermoplastic and thermoset polymer materials, paving the way for their use as biofillers in polymeric composites. In this study, it is aimed to obtain a new polymeric composite material by doping Chamelea gallina shells, on polylactic acid (PLA)/polyethylene glycol (PEG) blend. Structural characterization of the obtained PLA/PEG blend/C. gallina composite films was performed with attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR). When the thermal properties of composite materials were examined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), it was determined that the thermal stability of polymeric composites increased with the addition of C. gallina. SEM images showed that the polymer blend films, which appeared to have a porous structure, filled the pores with increasing C. gallina ratio. It was observed that the biodegradability of PLA/PEG blend composite films decreased with increasing C. gallina shells addition. However, C. gallina had a positive effect on the swelling and water absorption capacities of polymeric composites. The increase in tensile strength and elongation at break values of PLA/PEG blend/C. gallina composite films with increasing C. gallina means that the mechanical properties of the polymer are improved.     

Simultaneous correlation of excess gibbs energy and enthalpy of mixing by the UNIQUAC Equation

Using data for excess Gibbs energy, g^E, and enthalpy of mixing, h^E, temperature dependent parameters of the UNIQUAC equation have been estimated for twenty four systems of binary mixtures. Fifteen of them include data for g^E and h^E at more than one different isotherm. These parameters are later tested in predicting the g^E and h^E data simultaneously and representing the effect of temperature on such data. The UNIQUAC equation with temperature dependent parameters represents larger values of maximum heat of mixing than does the UNIQUAC equation with the parameters independent of temperature.     

Devolatilization kinetics of olive leaves with application as a precursor for activated carbon production

The objectives of the study were to investigate the devolatilization kinetics of olive leaves and their utilization as precursors for activated carbon. The devolatilization process was performed using thermogravimetric analysis under nitrogen at heating rates of 10, 15, and 20°C min^?1 with kinetic evaluation by the Coats-Redfern and Horowitz-Metzger methods. Potassium hydroxide activated olive leaves were employed as precursors for the production of activated carbon at 700°C for 60?min. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller and infrared spectroscopy were used for the characterization of texture and chemical properties of activated carbon. The adsorption capacity of fabricated active carbon with 1422?m² g^?1 surface area for methyl orange was characterized and data fitted well with a Langmuir model (R²?=?0.9977). The monolayer adsorption capacity of the activated carbon on methyl orange was 714.86?mg?g^?1 and the kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model.     

The effects of season on fat and fatty acids contents of shrimp and prawn species

The effects of seasons on the lipid content and fatty acid compositions of five different shrimp and prawn species (green tiger prawn – Penaeus semisulcatus, kuruma prawn – Marsupenaeus japonicus, caramote prawn – Melicertus kerathurus, deepwater pink shrimp – Parapenaeus longirostris, speckled shrimp – Metapenaeus monoceros) were evaluated. Results showed that lipid content ranged from 0.89 to 1.55% in muscle, showing that all species were considered as lean. There were significant differences (p<0.05) in the levels of saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in terms of season and species. They were rich in n‐3 fatty acids, especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The highest proportions of EPA were obtained from kuruma prawn (180.9 mg/100 g) in spring and deepwater pink shrimp (173.2 mg/100 g) and caramote prawn (146.3 mg/100 g) in summer. Kuruma prawn had the highest DHA in spring (140.8 mg/100 g) followed by deepwater pink shrimp (132.2 mg/100 g) and caramote prawn (129.6 mg/100 g) in summer. The results also showed that the seasons affected lipid content and the fatty acid composition of shrimp and prawn species. Practical Application: The beneficial effect of seafood consumption on human health has been related to the high content of n‐3 fatty acids, especially EPA (20:5n‐3) and DHA (22:6n‐3). The ratios of n‐6/n‐3, PUFA/SFA and EPA + DHA are considered as useful criteria for comparing relative nutritional and oxidation values of marine oils. In the current study, the influence of seasonality on the lipid content and the fatty acid compositions of shrimp and prawn were investigated in order to find the best source of n‐3 fatty acids during the year.     

Effect of laser etching on the fracture strength of the monolithic zirconia and fiber-reinforced composite inlay-retained fixed partial dentures

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the fracture strength of monolithic zirconia and fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) inlay-retained FPDs, both of which are cemented to the laser-etched cavity surfaces.

Materials and Methods: Eighty freshly extracted sound human teeth were used. A premolar and a molar tooth were embedded in an autopolymerizing acrylic resin. Forty acrylic resin models were randomly divided into two groups including monolithic zirconia and FRC inlay-retained FPDs (n = 20). Then, these groups were divided into two subgroups according to conditioning of the cavity surfaces with or without Er:YAG laser etching. Monolithic zirconia inlay-retained FPDs were produced by an inLab MC XL milling device using monolithic zirconia blocks. Tescera? Fiber Reinforcement Materials were used for the FRC inlay-retained FPDs. After 10.000 thermal cycles, fracture strength test was applied to the specimens.

Results: The monolithic zirconia inlay-retained FPDs exhibited the highest fracture strength than the FRC inlay-retained FPDs. Fracture strength was increased with laser etching for both restorative materials (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Laser etching had positively effect on the fracture strength of the inlay-retained FDPs.     

Synthesis and characterization of polymers from soybean oil and p‐dinitrosobenzene

In this study, rubbery, bio‐based thermoset polymers were synthesized from soybean oil (SO) and p‐dinitrosobenzene (DNB) via an ene reaction. Polymeric p‐dinitrosobenzene (PDNB) was synthesized from p‐quinone dioxime and was thermally depolymerized in the presence of SO. SO/PDNB polymers were synthesized by a two‐stage polymerization. During the reaction, the role of different parameters such as mol ratio of SO and PDNB, preheating temperature of SO, polymerization time, and temperature were examined. Polymerization was followed by IR spectroscopy, and the polymers obtained were characterized by dynamic mechanical analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. The polymers have glass transition temperature ranging from ?51.5°C to ?46.3°C, whereas their storage moduli are between 430 and 210 MPa at ?60°C. Thermogravimetric analysis reveals that all of the polymers have temperatures of maximum degradation around 500°C. The crosslinked network structure of the polymers was investigated by swelling behavior and surface hardness test. Methyl oleate was used as a model compound to examine the chemical structure of the products. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009