The influence of electron beam irradiation,plastic deformation,and re‐irradiation on crystallinity degree,mechanical and sclerometric properties of GUR 1050 used for arthroplasty

The article describes the influence of an electron beam irradiation (I), plastic deformation (D), and re‐irradiation (R) on the properties of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (GUR 1050). It was found that the modification through irradiation entailed a gradual increase in the degree of crystallinity (after irradiation–I). After plastic deformation and re‐irradiation (IDR) the degree of crystallinity decreases which had a direct influence on the mechanical properties. The polymer irradiation only (technique I) resulted in an increase in the maximum stress as compared with the material in the initial state. The application of deformation and re‐irradiation (technique IDR) allowed increasing the deformation resistance by more than 40%. Moreover, the irradiation with an electron beam resulted in the increase in hardness (H) and Young's modulus (E) proportionally to the applied irradiation dose and in the reduction of total indentation work (W_tot) and its components. After deformation and re‐irradiation the polyethylene hardness went down. The application of technique (I) caused an improvement to the material abrasion resistance (reduction of parameter PD–working scratch depth) with the increasing irradiation dose. The introduction of deformation and re‐irradiation did not have a material impact on parameter (PD) increasing at the same time elastic properties of UHMWPE (increase in parameter NPS–elastic recovery). Modification IDR has changed the wear mechanism (β) toward ploughing and has increased the abrasion‐resistance index (W_β) and also significantly reduced the coefficient of friction (μ) of GUR 1050. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43683.     

Characterization of Photoluminescent (Y1–xEux)2O3 Thin Films Prepared by Metallorganic Chemical Vapor Deposition

The purpose of this study was to identify and correlate the microstructural and luminescence properties of europium-doped Y₂O₃ (Y_{1– x} Eu _x )₂O₃ thin films deposited by metallorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), as a function of deposition time and temperature. The influence of deposition parameters on the crystallite size and microstructural morphology were examined, as well as the influence of these parameters on the photoluminescence emission spectra. (Y_{1– x} Eu _x )₂O₃ thin films were deposited onto (111) silicon and (001) sapphire substrates by MOCVD. The films were grown by reacting yttrium and europium tris(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl–3,5-heptanedionate) precursors with an oxygen atmosphere at low pressures (5 torr (1.7 × 10³ Pa)) and low substrate temperatures (500°–700°C). The films deposited at 500°C were smooth and composed of nanocrystalline regions of cubic Y₂O₃, grown in a textured [100] or [110] orientation to the substrate surface. Films deposited at 600°C developed, with increasing deposition time, from a flat, nanocrystalline morphology into a platelike growth morphology with [111] orientation. Monoclinic (Y_{1– x} Eu _x )₂O₃ was observed in the photoluminescence emission spectra for all deposition temperatures. The increase in photoluminescence emission intensity with increasing postdeposition annealing temperature was attributed to the surface/grain boundary area-reduction effect.     

Field-Assisted Sintering of Nanocrystalline Titanium Nitride

Nanosized TiN powder was densified via field-assisted sintering at temperatures of 1150°–1350°C and a pressure of 66 MPa under vacuum. A maximum relative density of ∼97% and a maximum mean grain size of 150–200 nm were obtained. Densification and microstructural evolution have been discussed, in terms of superplasticity and electric-field effects.     

Kinetics of nucleation and growth of L-sorbose crystals in a continuous MSMPR crystallizer with draft tube: Size-independent growth model approach

The experimental data concerning kinetics of a continuous mass crystallization in L-sorbose - water system are presented and discussed. Influences of L-sorbose concentration in a feeding solution and mean residence time of suspension in a working volume of laboratory DT MSMPR crystallizer on the resulting crystal size distributions, thus on the nucleation and growth kinetics, were determined. The kinetic parameter values were evaluated on the basis of size-independent growth (SIG) kinetic model (McCabe’s ΔL law). It was observed that within the investigated range of crystallizer productivity (220–2,200 kg of L-sorbose crystals m⁻³ h⁻¹), a crystal product of mean size Lm from 0.22 to 0.28 mm and CV from 68.8 to 44.0% was withdrawn. The values of linear growth rate show increasing trend (from 6.6·10⁻⁸ to 7.6·10⁻⁸ m s⁻¹) with the productivity enlargement (assuming constant residence time τ=900 s). Occurrence of secondary nucleation phenomena within the circulated suspension, resulting from the crystals attrition and breakage was observed. The parameter values in a design equation, matching linear growth rate and suspension density with nucleation rate were determined.     

导流筒浆态连续结晶器内鸟粪石的反应结晶动力学——器内流体力学的影响

A laboratory-scale reaction-crystallization process of struvite synthesis from diluted water solution of Mg2+, and ions was studied. The research covered the tests of two original constructions of continuous jet-pump Draft Tube Magma (DTM)-type crystallizers with internal circulation of suspension (upward/downward). Interactions between constructional, hydrodynamic and kinetic factors were established and discussed. Nucleation and linear growth rates of struvite crystals were calculated on the basis of population density distribution. Kinetic model of idealized Mixed Suspension Mixed Product Removal (MSMPR) crystallizer considering the size-dependent growth mechanism was applied (Rojkowski hyperbolic equation). For comparison purposes the kinetic data corre-sponded to a simpler, continuous draft tube-type crystallizer equipped with propeller agitator were analyzed. It was concluded that crystal product of larger size was withdrawn from the jet-pump DTM crystallizer of the descending flow of suspension in a mixing chamber.     

Phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of extracts of Ginkgo leaves

The aim of the present study was to determine the flavonol contents of crude extracts from Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba L.) leaves, their antioxidant properties in model system studies, and their inhibitory action of linoleic acid oxidation in an emulsion system and of triacylglycerols (TAG) in rapeseed oil. Extracts were prepared from both green and yellow leaves of Ginkgo trees using water, aqueous acetone, and ethanol. Extracts were analyzed by HPLC for their presence and content of selected flavonols; these included myricetin, quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, and morin. The highest level of flavonols, especially quercetin, myricetin and kaempferol, were found in the aqueous acetonic extracts. Crude extracts from yellow Ginkgo leaves contained greater amounts of flavonols. The best DPPH radical‐scavenging activity amongst the Ginkgo extracts examined was determined for aqueous acetonic extracts, while the lowest was noted for the ethanolic extract of green leaves. Water infusion extracts exhibited the highest iron(II) chelating activity. The reducing power of extracts from yellow leaves was 2 higher than that of crude extracts from green leaves. Nevertheless, extracts from green Ginkgo leaves imparted a greater protection factor against TAG oxidation, as assessed by the Rancimat method. Crude extracts from yellow Ginkgo leaves were more efficacious than green ones at inhibiting oxidation of the linoleic acid emulsion.     

Spectral studies of zinc octacarboxyphthalocyanine aggregation

The association of zinc octacarboxyphthalocyanine, was studied using UV–vis absorption and fluorescence emission spectroscopy; the effects of dye concentration, pH and solvents on spectra were discussed. Calculations showed that the dye dimerized in aqueous solutions ranging from 5.0 × 10^?7 to 5.0 × 10^?5 mol/dm³, at 25 °C. The dimerization constant of 10⁶ dm³/mol and the spectral Q band shift of 1185 cm^?1 imparted by dimerization indicated strong π–π interactions between phthalocyanine molecules. Red S₁ fluorescence of the dye monomer was observed in various solutions which was quenched owing to molecular association and other factors. The strong influence of pH on both aggregation and fluorescence was discussed. At pH < 5.0, only dye aggregates were present in solution; monomers appeared at pH ≥ 5.0 and, in alkaline solution, only the monomeric anions of phthalocyanine existed. The spectral absorption and emission data for the dye in binary solvents revealed that at concentrations ranging from 0.5 × 10^?5 to 1.0 × 10^?5 mol/dm³, the dye can be used in photosensitised oxidation reactions.     

Characteristics and Cryopreservation of Semen of Sex-Reversed Females of Salmonid Fish

Sex reversal has been used as a breeding strategy by salmonid fish to produce genetically and phenotypically single sex populations. Production of all-female fish has great importance for the creation of monosex female triploids of salmonid fish, which are valued for their sterility, lack of female maturation, and larger commercial size. Among salmonids, the majority of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) production is based on all-female production with a high proportion of all-female triploid production in Europe. The main aim of this review is to present the recent knowledge regarding sex-reversed females (SRFs) of salmonid fish. We discuss the methods of sex reversal as well as their effects on the morphology and histology of the reproductive tract. We focus on the characteristics of SRF semen as well as the factors determining semen quality. The lower quality of SRF sperm compared to that of normal males has resulted in the need for the artificial maturation of semen. Most importantly, methods of semen storage—both short-term and long-term (cryopreservation)—that can improve hatchery operations are presented with the special emphasis on recent progress in development of efficient cryopreservation procedures and use of cryopreserved semen in hatchery practice. Moreover, we also address the emerging knowledge concerning the proteomic investigations of salmonid sperm, focusing primarily on the proteomic comparison of normal male and SRF testicular semen and presenting changes in SRF rainbow trout sperm proteome after in vitro incubation in artificial seminal plasma.     

Role of HMOX1 Promoter Genetic Variants in Chemoresistance and Chemotherapy Induced Neutropenia in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Whilst the survival rates of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have increased remarkably over the last decades, the therapy resistance and toxicity are still the major causes of treatment failure. It was shown that overexpression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) promotes proliferation and chemoresistance of cancer cells. In humans, the HO-1 gene (HMOX1) expression is modulated by two polymorphisms in the promoter region: (GT)n-length polymorphism and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) A(−413)T, with short GT repeat sequences and 413-A variants linked to an increased HO-1 inducibility. We found that the short alleles are significantly more frequent in ALL patients in comparison to the control group, and that their presence may be associated with a higher risk of treatment failure, reflecting the role of HO-1 in chemoresistance. We also observed that the presence of short alleles may predispose to develop chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. In case of SNP, the 413-T variant co-segregated with short or long alleles, while 413-A almost selectively co-segregated with long alleles, hence it is not possible to determine if SNPs are actually of phenotypic significance. Our results suggest that HO-1 can be a potential target to overcome the treatment failure in ALL patients.