Peptide‐Enhanced Selective Surface Deposition of Polymer‐Based Fragrance Delivery Systems

Surface deposition is a critical step in the application of fragrance‐containing products. This contribution presents a novel strategy to enhance the deposition of polymer‐based fragrance delivery systems onto cotton substrates from the application medium using phage display identified peptides. Following the identification of cotton binding peptide ligands under fabric softening conditions via phage display, the strongest binding peptide ligand is incorporated into two model polymer‐based fragrance delivery systems, viz., polymer profragrances and polymer nanoparticles. The model polymer profragrance used is a linear, water soluble poly(N‐(2‐hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide) conjugate, while poly(styrene‐co‐acrylic acid) (PS‐co‐PAA) nanoparticles prepared via miniemulsion polymerization are chosen as the second model system. The incorporation of the cotton binding peptide ligand into these fragrance delivery systems enhances their surface deposition two‐ to three‐fold, as evidenced by fluorescence intensity measurements. In the case of the fragrance‐containing PS‐co‐PAA nanoparticles, the enhanced surface deposition also translates into an increased fragrance release from the cotton surface according to dynamic headspace sampling measurements.     

Basin/Reservoir System Integration for Real Time Reservoir Operation

This paper demonstrates the basin/reservoir system integration as a decision support system for short term operation policy of a multipurpose dam. It is desired to re-evaluate and improve the current operational regulation of the reservoir with respect to water supply and flood control especially for real time operation. The most innovative part of this paper is the development of a decision support system (DSS) by the integration of a hydrological (HEC-HMS) and reservoir simulation model (HEC-ResSim) to guide the professional practitioners during the real time operation of a reservoir to meet water elevation and flood protection objectives. In this context, a hybrid operating strategy to retain maximum water elevation is built by shifting between daily and hourly decisions depending on real time runoff forecasts. First, a daily hydro-meteorological rule based reservoir simulation model (HRM) is developed for both water supply and flood control risk. Then, for the possibility of a flood occurrence, hourly flood control rule based reservoir simulation model (FRM) is used. The DSS is applied on Yuvac?k Dam Basin which has a flood potential due to its steep topography, snow potential, mild and rainy climate in Turkey. Numerical weather prediction based runoff forecasts computed by a hydrological model together with developed reservoir operation policy are put into actual practice for real time operation of the reservoir for March – June, 2012. According to the evaluations, proposed DSS is found to be practical and valuable to overcome subjective decisions about reservoir storage.     

Axial dynamics of functionally graded Rayleigh-Bishop nanorods

Microsystem Technologies - Present study considers the longitudinal dynamic analysis of carbon nanotubes which has been modeled as an axially functionally graded Rayleigh-Bishop rod with the help...     

Synergistic effect of the locust bean gum on the thermal phase transitions of κ-carrageenan gels

Synergism between κ-carrageenan and locust bean gum (LBG) was studied using the photon transmission technique. Synergistic effects in these polymeric mixtures strongly affected the physical properties of the gel structure. The transmitted light intensities, I_tr, versus temperature variations were investigated during the gelation and liquefaction processes. Slight synergistic peaks were detected in gel–sol and sol–gel transition temperatures for high κ-carrageenan/LBG ratios (approx. 80/2). Moreover, apparent synergistic peaks were observed in gel–sol and sol–gel transition activation energies for the mixtures approximately with the ratios of 80/10.     

Measuring long-term performance of a manufacturing firm using the Analytic Network Process (ANP) approach

This paper provides a multicriteria performance measurement model to measure a manufacturing firm's performance in terms of areas of success, which can be defined as critical areas in generating revenues and controlling costs in the operations of a manufacturing firm. In developing the performance measurement model, the Analytic Network Process (ANP) approach is used. The ANP approach, which is the general form of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methodology, is recommended when independence among different elements of a system assumption is violated. In a manufacturing system, the system's attributes are interrelated. Furthermore, the relative importance of these attributes with respect to each other and their contribution to the overall performance are affected by the competitive strategies applied by the manufacturing firms. The performance evaluation model developed here incorporates the competitive strategies and interdependence between the system attributes in its hierarchical structure and achieves a more realistic and accurate representation of the firm's long-term performance.     

Preparation, Growth, and Magnetic Properties of Co-doped Yb2O3 Nanoparticles and Thin Films by the Sol–Gel Process

In this study, the preparation, growth, structure and magnetic properties of Co-doped Yb₂O₃ (with the Co concentration of x=0.2) nanoparticles and thin films are studied. Precursor solutions were prepared by using the sol?Cgel synthesis process to produce nanoparticles and thin films. Co-doped Yb₂O₃ thin films with different thickness were produced on Si(100) substrate using the sol?Cgel dip coating procedure. The particle size and the crystal structure of nanoparticles were ascertained by X-ray diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscope. The surface morphologies and the microstructure of all samples were investigated by means of the Scanning Electron Microscope and the X-ray diffraction. A Quantum Design PPMS was used for magnetic measurements. Surface morphologies of Co-doped Yb₂O₃ thin films were found to be dense, without porosity, uniform, and devoid of cracks and pinholes. The grain size and thin-film thickness of Co-doped Yb₂O₃ were determined to be approximately 50?nm and 84?nm, respectively.     

Application of cyclodextrin to the textile dyeing and washing processes

Cyclodextrins can form inclusion complexes with different molecules with the aid of their special chemical (molecular) structures. Physical and chemical properties of molecules can change after the formation of complex. This special feature enables the usage of dextrins in different industry areas. In this study, applicability of cylcodextrins in textile dyeing and washing processes was investigated. With this aim, β‐cyclodextrin was used in direct dyeing of cellulosic fabrics and in rinsing processes of direct dyed fabrics. Retarder/leveling effect of β‐cyclodextrin in dyeing process has been studied and the results were compared with that of a commercial product. In general, cyclodextrins were used in washing processes to remove the absorbed surfactants. It has been investigated whether this effect was the same for washing of dyed fabrics. Eight different direct dyes, for which the chemical structures are known, were used in dyeing and washing processes, and effect of β‐cyclodextrin on different chemical structures was investigated. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 208–218, 2006     

Structural and Dielectric Properties of Two Different BaTiO3/Polyaniline Nanocomposites

Barium titanium oxide/polyaniline (BaTiO₃/PANI) nano-composites were obtained in two different processes by the use of PANI and BaTiO₃ nano-particles synthesized by the sol–gel technique. FT-IR, XRD, SEM and TGA measurements were taken for structural properties of all samples. The molecular interaction between BaTiO₃ nanoparticles and PANI was between the H atoms in the N–H bond and the OH molecules in the solution environment. The said interaction was coordinated with BaTiO₃ molecules over O atoms. XRD results confirmed that the synthesized BaTiO₃ had a characteristic cubic perovskite structure and that its structure had not changed. TGA results revealed that the composites became more stable as the BaTiO₃ amount increased. The dielectric measurement results are consistent with the structural results at higher frequencies. Dielectricity increased as BaTiO₃ ratio increased in the environment. The change in the real part of the dielectric permittivity by frequency was stable at high frequencies. According to these results, it is concluded that the composite samples could have very high electromagnetic wave absorption values at higher frequencies (GHz).     

Development of a component-based machining centre selection model using AHP

Machining centres are widely used in manufacturing companies all over the world. Since investments in machining centres are long-term and expensive, selection of the most appropriate machining centre is an important decision for manufacturing companies. There has been considerable effort spent in developing crisp and fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) models that use technical specifications provided by machining-centre manufacturers such as, axis size, power, spindle speed, tolerance, repeatability, cutting-tool change time, and number of cutting tools along with other economical and commercial factors. However, the technical specifications are directly taken from machining-centre manufacturers’ catalogues without checking their correctness, adequacies, or ability to represent the areas that are used for measurement. In such a case, one cannot be sure whether the outcomes are sound or not without a detailed check of the technical specifications, which can only be performed after actual usage of the machine itself. To overcome all such problems, an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) model that evaluates the machining centre components is developed in this paper. The new component-based AHP model is then compared with two MCDM models that use only technical specification values.     

Fibromyalgia in Beh?et's syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the frequency of fibromyalgia (FM) in Beh?et's syndrome (BS) and to evaluate the relationship of FM to Beh?et's disease activity. METHOD: Self-questionnaires were completed by 108 patients with BS. Each patient was evaluated by an observer blinded to diagnosis; evaluation included assessment of tender points by palpation. Another observer determined the disease activity of patients at that time. RESULTS: Ten of 108 patients (9.2%) met the American College of Rheumatology criteria for FM. Nine of the patients who met the criteria for FM were women. In contrast to patients without FM, patients with FM had mild to moderate disease activity in which musculoskeletal complaints were common. CONCLUSION: There is a trend for an increased frequency of FM in female BS patients.