Electrospun polylactide‐based materials for curcumin release: Photostability,antimicrobial activity,and anticoagulant effect

New microfibrous materials from polylactide and polyvinylpyrrolidone or polyethylene glycol loaded with the natural polyphenolic compound curcumin have been prepared by one‐pot electrospinning. The incorporation of curcumin in the fibers contributes to shielding curcumin from photodestruction and to enhancement of the mechanical properties of the fibers. Moreover, the formation of hydrogen bonds between curcumin and polyvinylpyrrolidone or polyethylene glycol facilitates the drug release. Curcumin release provides for the antibacterial and anticoagulant activity of the curcumin‐loaded mats and prevents adhesion and aggregation of platelets onto the surface of the mats. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 42940.     

Characterization of Si-SiOx nanocomposite layers by comparative analysis of computer simulated and experimental infra-red transmission spectra

The infra-red (IR) transmission spectra of SiO_x (x ≤ 2) layers containing crystalline or amorphous Si nanoparticles deposited on p-Si substrates is simulated in the range 300-1500 cm^− 1. To that purpose the average dielectric function of the nanocomposites is calculated by means of the Bruggeman effective medium approximation. The IR spectra of the system (film and substrate) are computed. The results are compared with experimental IR spectra measured on Si-SiO_x nanocomposite layers with identical composition, fabricated by thermal evaporation of SiO in vacuum followed by thermal annealing at 700 °C or 1030 °C. A good correspondence between theory and experiment is found from where valuable information about important characteristics of the investigated nanocomposites is obtained, such as matrix density, homogeneity and composition of the layers.     

Understanding and Designing the Gold–Bio Interface: Insights from Simulations

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are an integral part of many exciting and novel biomedical applications, sparking the urgent need for a thorough understanding of the physicochemical interactions occurring between these inorganic materials, their functional layers, and the biological species they interact with. Computational approaches are instrumental in providing the necessary molecular insight into the structural and dynamic behavior of the Au‐bio interface with spatial and temporal resolutions not yet achievable in the laboratory, and are able to facilitate a rational approach to AuNP design for specific applications. A perspective of the current successes and challenges associated with the multiscale computational treatment of Au‐bio interfacial systems, from electronic structure calculations to force field methods, is provided to illustrate the links between different approaches and their relationship to experiment and applications.     

Optische Konstanten von Substraten im NIR/MIR‐Spektralbereich

Determination of the Optical Constants of Common Substrate Materials in the NIR/MIR‐Spectral Regions An approach is reported for determining the optical constants of substrates and single layer coatings in the near and mid‐infrared spectral regions. A combination of the algorithm from Nichelatti and a multi‐oscillator model has been used to determine the optical constants of the substrates. Thus, the approach even works when the sample transmittance is vanishing. We demonstrate the application of the approach to the evaluation of transmission and reflection spectra of common substrates (CaF₂, Q1, Sapphire) measured by a Fourier‐Transform‐Infrared spectrophotometer. The comparison of the calculated optical constants with values reported in literature confirms the validity of the used approach. We also demonstrate the IR characterisation of a tantalum oxide single layer deposited onto a Q1 substrate by means of the multi‐oscillator‐model. The results are again in good agreement with literature data.     

Structure of polycrystalline Al-Ni-Fe-La alloys after quenching and plastic deformation by shear under pressure

The structure and phase composition of aluminum-based polycrystalline alloys (85 at % Al) containing transition (Fe, Ni) and rare-earth (La) metals are studied by metallography, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and electron-microscopic analysis after melt quenching and subsequent severe plastic deformation (SPD) by shear under pressure. The melt-quenched alloys are shown to have a four-phase structure consisting of an aluminum-based solid solution, intermetallics Al₃Ni and Al₁₁La₃, and iron intermetallics. SPD results in the fragmentation and spheroidization of all phase constituents of the alloys and in the dissolution of the iron intermetallics. A multiphase nanostructured state forms in the alloys. The nanocrystallite sizes after SPD at various deformation parameters are determined. The microhardness is maximal after deformation corresponding to six anvil revolutions at a pressure of 8 or 10 GPa. The structural parameters and the microhardnesses are compared after SPD by shear under pressure of the alloys having the same compositions and different structural states (namely, amorphous and polycrystalline) before deformation. An amorphous-nanocrystalline structure with the minimum nanograin sizes and the maximum microhardnesses forms in the alloys having an initial amorphous structure and subjected to SPD.     

Thermal stability of Al-Ni-Fe-La aluminum amorphous alloys

The thermal stability of aluminum amorphous alloys with various contents of nickel, iron, and lanthanum is studied by differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and electron-microscopic analysis in the initial state and after heat and deformation treatment. The alloys are found to crystallize in two stages. The alloy with the maximum iron content (Al₈₅Ni₇Fe₄La₄) is shown to have the maximum thermal stability. Preliminary annealing at temperatures below the temperature of the onset of crystallization weakly affects this temperature. Preliminary severe plastic deformation increases the thermal stability of the alloys, which is caused by the existence of the first stage of crystallization during deformation. The structural aspects affecting the thermal stability of the alloys are considered.     

Possibility for the light stabilization of polycaproamide for fiber production

A considerable setback of polyamide fibers, especially polycaproamidefibers (PCAFs), is their low light resistance. This leads to changes in their appearance and their physicomechanical parameters under ambient atmosphere conditions and as a result of the effect of sunlight. This setback could be compensated to a certain extent by the introduction of suitable light stabilizers in the fiber mass. Depending on its efficiency, each light stabilizer is added at a concentration of 0.2–5% with respect to the mass of the polymer. We have investigated two possibilities for introducing the light stabilizer into the fiber mass. In the first one, the composition was finished immediately after the fiber spinning, and in the second one, polycaproamide granules were processed with a solution of light stabilizers before their melting. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 4921–4924, 2006     

Cost‐effective shaft torque observer for condition monitoring of wind turbines

Improvement of condition monitoring (CM) systems for wind turbines (WTs) and reduction of the cost of wind energy are possible if knowledge about the condition of different WT components is available. CM based on the WT drive train shaft torque signal can give a better understanding of the gearbox failure mechanisms as well as provide a method for detecting mass imbalance and aerodynamic asymmetry. The major obstacle preventing the industrial application of CM based on the shaft torque signal is the costly measurement equipment which is impractical for long‐term use on operating WTs. This paper suggests a novel approach for low‐cost, indirect monitoring of the shaft torque from standard WT measurements. The shaft torque is estimated recursively from measurements of generator torque, high speed shaft and low speed shaft angular speeds using the well‐known Kalman filter theory. The performance of the augmented Kalman filter with fading memory (AKFF) is compared with the augmented Kalman filter (AKF) using simulated data of the WT for different load conditions, measurement noise levels and WT fault scenarios. A multiple‐model algorithm, based on a set of different Kalman filters, is designed for practical implementation of the shaft torque estimator. Its performance is validated for a scenario where there are frequent changes of operating points. The proposed cost‐effective shaft torque estimator overcomes all major problems, which prevent the industrial application of CM systems based on shaft torque measurements. Future work will be focused on validating the method using experimental data and developing suitable signal processing algorithms for fault detection. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Compositional dependence of the optical properties of new quaternary chalcogenide glasses of Ge–Sb–(S,Te) system

New quaternary telluride glassy materials with composition of Ge_xSb_40−xS₅₀Te₁₀ and Ge_xSb_40−xS₅₅Te₅ (x = 10, 20, and 27) have been synthesized and their optical properties have been studied by means of spectroscopic ellipsometry in the range of 400–820 nm. The optical constants, i.e. the refractive index, extinction coefficient, absorption coefficient, and the optical band gap energy are determined and their compositional dependence is considered. These parameters are characteristics for amorphous structure of the synthesized glasses, revealed from the neutron diffraction measurements.     

Materials from Nanosized ZnO and Polyacrylonitrile: Properties Depending on the Design of Fibers (Electrospinning or Electrospinning/Electrospraying)

New hybrid fibrous materials from polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and nanosized zinc oxide have been prepared by electrospinning or by combining electrospinning and electrospraying techniques. Electrospinning of PAN/nanosized zinc oxide dispersion leads to the production of mats with nanofiller distributed mainly in the bulk of the fibers. Electrospinning of PAN solution performed in conjunction with electrospraying of nanosized zinc oxide dispersion enables the preparation of fibers decorated with zinc oxide particles. The incorporation of zinc oxide in the fibers leads to enhancement of the mechanical properties of the mats. The fibrous materials having zinc oxide particles situated on the fibers surface exhibit better photocatalytic activity in respect to photo-induced degradation of the model dye methylene blue and greater antibacterial activity against the pathogenic microorganism Staphylococcus aureus.