An electron microscopy three‐dimensional characterization of titania nanotubes

To characterize complex, three‐dimensional nanostructures, modern microscopy techniques are needed, such as electron tomography and focused ion beam (FIB) sectioning. The aim of this study was to apply these two techniques to characterize TiO₂ nanotubes in terms of their size, shape, volume, porosity, geometric surface area, and specific surface area (SSA). For these experiments, titania nanotubes were fabricated by means of the electrochemical oxidation of titanium at a voltage of 20 V for 2 hr followed by heat treatment at 450°C for 3 hr to change the amorphous structure into a crystalline anatase structure. The quantitative data obtained from the FIB and electron tomography reconstructions show a high similarity in porosity and some differences in SSA. These might be the result of differences in resolution between the two reconstruction techniques.     

Creep life assessment method for online monitoring of steam turbine rotors

The principal objective of work was to develop fast and accurate method for online creep life monitoring of steam turbine rotors. For this purpose, a characteristic strain model of creep was investigated and validated using test data of 2%CrMoV rotor steel. The model was then used to determine creep damage functions which are introduced to compute creep damage at a constant temperature based on the Robinson time fraction rule. Finite element (FE) creep calculations of a turbine rotor were performed using the same creep model to obtain reference damage results for validating the proposed method. Comparisons of the results obtained using both methods showed a very good accuracy of the online creep damage predictions.     

A quadratic boundedness approach to a neural network-based simultaneous estimation of actuator and sensor faults

Neural Computing and Applications - The paper is devoted to the problem of a neural network-based robust simultaneous actuator and sensor faults estimator design for the purpose of the fault...     

Single‐lumen tunneled catheter: An old but useful option

We report a case of long‐term uneventful catheter use in a patient with previous recurrent vascular access dysfunction and infection. A single‐lumen tunneled catheter was inserted into the left internal jugular vein after a failed attempt of dual‐lumen permanent catheter placement. The follow‐up since device implantation has exceeded 5 years without any complications related to vascular access.     

Effect of adding fresh and freeze‐dried buckwheat sourdough on gluten‐free bread quality

This study demonstrates new possibilities in using freeze‐dried buckwheat sourdoughs in the processing of gluten‐free bread (GFB). Fresh and freeze‐dried (at temperatures of 20, 40 and 60 °C) sourdoughs were added in the amounts of 10, 20, 30 and 40% of the total flour content. Significant and beneficial changes in the quality of bread under the influence of different quantities of fresh and freeze‐dried sourdoughs additive were observed. Freeze‐dried buckwheat sourdoughs at the level of 20 and 30% gave the best baking results for GFB. pH of bread significantly changed, which had a positive effect on increasing its suitability for the storage. Buckwheat sourdough dried at 40 °C is the most highly recommended for GFB processing. Higher temperatures (60 °C) caused the least change in bread volume; however, a bitter aftertaste from burning was slightly detectable. Freeze‐dried buckwheat sourdoughs can be used directly in processing, thus eliminating the long fermentation of sourdough.     

Measurement of the average shear rate around a microparticle in the shear thinning medium with laser tweezers

A novel method for the determination of the average shear rate around a microparticle moving in the fluid is presented. Although the shear rate around a particle moving in the fluid is a parameter of paramount importance in sedimentation studies, its determination is time-consuming, thus model-based solutions are preferred. However, the current literature models require still rigorous validation. The presented technique relies on optical tracking of a laser-tweezers trapped particle suspended in the liquid medium. The obtained experimental results for spherical particles of 1 micron diameter show a good agreement with the classical rheology and literature correlation models. The new method is a valuable tool for determination of sedimentation parameters as it reduces the time of experiments and the sample volume by order(s) of magnitude when compared to classical methods.     

Study of Multilayer Thin Film Structures by Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry

Technical Physics Letters - We have evaluated possibilities of using the method of Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) for depth profiling of multilayer thin-film structures containing...     

Poly(hydromethylsiloxane)-derived high internal phase emulsion-templated materials (polyHIPEs) containing palladium for catalytic applications

Journal of Materials Science - Cross-linking of poly(hydromethylsiloxane) (PHMS) with 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-1,3,5,7-tetravinylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4Vi) in water-in-oil high internal phase emulsion...     

The Palladium(II) Complex of Aβ4−16 as Suitable Model for Structural Studies of Biorelevant Copper(II) Complexes of N-Truncated Beta-Amyloids

The Aβ4−42 peptide is a major beta-amyloid species in the human brain, forming toxic aggregates related to Alzheimer’s Disease. It also strongly chelates Cu(II) at the N-terminal Phe-Arg-His ATCUN motif, as demonstrated in Aβ4−16 and Aβ4−9 model peptides. The resulting complex resists ROS generation and exchange processes and may help protect synapses from copper-related oxidative damage. Structural characterization of Cu(II)Aβ4−x complexes by NMR would help elucidate their biological function, but is precluded by Cu(II) paramagneticism. Instead we used an isostructural diamagnetic Pd(II)-Aβ4−16 complex as a model. To avoid a kinetic trapping of Pd(II) in an inappropriate transient structure, we designed an appropriate pH-dependent synthetic procedure for ATCUN Pd(II)Aβ4−16, controlled by CD, fluorescence and ESI-MS. Its assignments and structure at pH 6.5 were obtained by TOCSY, NOESY, ROESY, 1H-13C HSQC and 1H-15N HSQC NMR experiments, for natural abundance 13C and 15N isotopes, aided by corresponding experiments for Pd(II)-Phe-Arg-His. The square-planar Pd(II)-ATCUN coordination was confirmed, with the rest of the peptide mostly unstructured. The diffusion rates of Aβ4−16, Pd(II)-Aβ4−16 and their mixture determined using PGSE-NMR experiment suggested that the Pd(II) complex forms a supramolecular assembly with the apopeptide. These results confirm that Pd(II) substitution enables NMR studies of structural aspects of Cu(II)-Aβ complexes.