Templated growth of carbon nanotubes with controlled diameters using organic-organometallic block copolymers with tailored block lengths

Block copolymer thin films fabricated from polystyrene-polyferrocenylsilane (PS-b-PFS) block copolymers on silicon substrates were used as precursors of well-ordered, nanosized growth catalysts for carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The size of the catalytic domains was tuned by changing the molecular weight of the block copolymer, enabling control of the diameter of the CNTs grown from these substrates. CNT growth on catalytic substrates with larger organometallic domain sizes, using acetylene as a carbon source, resulted in enhanced amounts of CNT deposition compared to smaller PFS domains, which exhibited low catalytic activity. The inner and outer diameters of the multi-walled CNTs obtained were typically 8 and 16 nm, respectively, and were not influenced by the catalytic domain sizes. Various annealing strategies in inert or in hydrogen atmosphere were investigated. The use acetylene with an additional hydrogen flow as gas feed resulted in a significant increase in deposition on all PS-b-PFS decorated substrates. Under these conditions, the CNT diameters could be controlled by the catalyst domain sizes, resulting in decreasing diameters with decreasing domain sizes. Multiwalled CNTs with inner and outer diameters of 4 and 7 nm, respectively, and a narrow diameter distribution were obtained.     

Effect of Steam Baking on Acrylamide Formation and Browning Kinetics of Cookies

Abstract: Effects of baking method and temperature on surface browning and acrylamide concentration of cookies were investigated. Cookies were baked in natural and forced convection and steam‐assisted hybrid ovens at 165, 180, and 195 °C and at different times. For all oven types, the acrlyamide concentration and surface color of cookies increased with increasing baking temperature. Significant correlation was observed between acrylamide formation and browning index, BI, which was calculated from Hunter L, a, and b color values, and it showed that the BI may be considered as a reliable indicator of acrylamide concentration in cookies. Acrylamide formation and browning index in cookies were considered as the first‐order reaction kinetics and the reaction rate constants, k, were in the range of 0.023 to 0.077 (min^?1) and 0.019 to 0.063 (min^?1), respectively. The effect of baking temperature on surface color and acrylamide concentration followed the Arrhenius type of equation, with activation energies for acrylamide concentration as 6.87 to 27.84 kJ/mol; for BI value as 19.54 to 35.36 kJ/mol, for all oven types. Steam‐assisted baking resulted in lower acrylamide concentration at 165 °C baking temperature and lower surface color for all temperatures. Steam‐assisted baking is recommended as a healthy way of cooking providing the reduction of harmful compounds such as acrylamide for bakery goods, at a minimal level, while keeping the physical quality. Practical Application: The kinetics of acrylamide formation and browning of cookies will possibly allow definition of optimum baking temperatures and times at convectional and steam‐assisted baking ovens. The kinetic model can be used by developing baking programs that can automatically control especially a new home‐scale steam‐assisted hybrid oven producing healthy products, for the use of domestic consumers.     

A Facile Technique to Produce Open Cell Titanium Foams

Nature prefers open cell order in most structures such as trees and skeletons. Engineers have been imitating the nature, to obtain high specific strength, to transfer heat, energy absorbance and filtering for various applications such as filters, heat exchangers, impact absorbers, bone implants. Although ceramic foams have been produced and used as heat shields and filters, recently a great effort has been put on metallic foams produced from aluminium, copper, iron, stainless steel, nickel and titanium. Studies on open cell structured titanium foams are steps forward among these materials due its good biocompatibility and high specific strength. In this study, open cell titanium foams are produced utilizing polymer impregnation process accompanied by a facile sintering method. In traditional foam making, long sintering durations reduce the efficiency as far as cost and delivery time for producers. In order to overcome these problems, an alternative solution is made in the production of open cell titanium foams. A facile method is designed to sinter the impregnated polymers by using induction heating. Titanium foams with open cell structures are successfully produced. SEM, XRD, metallographic characterizations are performed. Average hardness value is calculated as 815.093 ± 6.59 Hv0.1.     

Effect of different surface treatments on the repair bond strength of resin composites with titanium

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of different surface treatment combinations on the bonding of composite resins to NiCr and titanium alloys after thermal cycling. Square-shaped specimens (10?mm x 10?mm x 2?mm) were made from NiCr and titanium alloys. The specimens were divided into 6 pretreatment groups (n?=?11): (1) machined titanium (control, no treatment); (2) CoJet sand application; (3) grinding with a diamond bur; (4) metal primer application; (5) CoJet sand?+?metal primer application; and (6) grinding with a diamond bur?+?metal primer application. The surface roughness of the mechanically treated specimens (control, grinding, CoJet sand) was evaluated. The surface morphology of both metals and elemental composition were examined with SEM and EDS. The composite resin was applied to the specimens. Shear bond strength (SBS) was tested after thermal cycling (5000 cycles, 5?°C to 55?°C). Failure modes were determined. The data were analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilk test, two-way ANOVA and post hoc Fisher’s LSD test (p?=?.05). For titanium specimens, the grinding?+?metal primer exhibited higher values than the other groups, and all groups showed higher SBS values than the control group. Combined use of CoJet sand, grinding with a diamond bur, and metal primer application would be useful for enhancing the bond strength of composite resin to titanium. The grinding of the NiCr surface with a diamond bur is the only method that could improve the bond strength of a composite resin compared to the other methods.     

Replication of bovine respiratory syncytial virus in bovine and ovine peripheral blood lymphocytes and monocytes and monocytic cell lines

The present study compared the replication of bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) in bovine and ovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells, ovine and bovine monocytic cell lines and ovine alveolar macrophages. Low titres of virus were detected in ovine and bovine lymphocytes and monocytes 24-96 h post-exposure to the virus but there was no apparent replication of the virus in ovine alveolar macrophages during the culture period. The virus replicated to higher but statistically insignificant titres in ovine and bovine peripheral blood monocytes than in lymphocytes, with lymphocytes yielding peak titres significantly earlier. The secondary cell lines obtained from ovine liver and bone marrow also supported the replication of BRSV to high titres. The titres of BRSV in ovine and bovine lymphocytes and monocytes were significantly lower than in secondary cell lines. The addition of human recombinant tumour necrosis factor alpha after exposure to the virus or pre-incubation of ovine or bovine monocytic cells with either human recombinant interleukin 2 or phorbol myristate acetate before exposure to BRSV, did not significantly affect virus titre. Pre-incubation of cells with indomethacin or actinomycin significantly lowered virus titre (p < 0.05).     

Antifungal Activity of Olive Oil and Ozonated Olive Oil Against Candida Spp. and Saprochaete Spp.

Ozonated olive oil was investigated for their capacity to inhibit growth of 38 yeast strains of Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida krusei, Candida parapsilosis, and Saprochaete capitata. Two different ozonated olive oil (OZO1, OZO2) and two different olive oil (OL1, OL2) samples having different biochemical parameters were assessed in terms of their antifungal ability and comparison was made. Fluconazole was chosen as control antifungal agent. Each sample’s antifungal activity decreased in the following order: OZO1 > OZO2 > OL1 ≥ OL2. This study demonstrated that ozonated olive oil may help to control some fluconazole-resistant and dose-dependent sensitive fungal strains.     

Lipid adsorption capacities of magnesium silicate and activated carbon prepared from the same rice hull

This study is a comparison of the lipid adsorption capacities of synthetic magnesium silicate and activated carbon produced from rice hulls of the same origin. The lipids examined were the free fatty acids, diacylglycerols and monoacylglycerols of frying oils. Pure oleic acid, an unused sunflower frying oil and a used sunflower frying oil were used in the experiments. The produced adsorbents, magnesium silicate and activated carbon, have surface areas of 680 and 43 m²/g, respectively. The lipid adsorption capacity of the produced magnesium silicate was found as 644 mg polar compounds/g adsorbent and it is higher than the capacities of the industrial adsorbents, Magnesol XL and activated carbon. This value is only 368 mg polar compounds/g adsorbent for the activated carbon produced from the same‐origin rice hull.