Preparation and characterization of electrospun polyurethane–polypyrrole nanofibers and films

Polyurethane (PU)–polypyrrole (PPy) composite films and nanofibers were successfully prepared for the purpose of combining the properties of PU and PPy. Pyrrole (Py) monomer was polymerized and dispersed uniformly throughout the PU matrix by means of oxidative polymerization with cerium(IV) [ceric ammonium nitrate Ce(IV)] in dimethylformamide. Films and nanofibers were prepared with this solution. The effects of the PPy content on the thermal, mechanical, dielectric, and morphological properties of the composites were investigated with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR)–attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectroscopy, dielectric spectrometry, and scanning electron microscopy. The Young's modulus and glass-transition temperatures of the composites exhibited an increasing trend with increases in the initially added amount of Py. The electrical conductivities of the composite films and nanofibers increased. The crystallinity of the composites were followed with DSC, the mechanical properties were followed with DMA, and the spectroscopic results were followed with FTIR–ATR spectroscopy. In the composite films, a new absorption band located at about 1650 cm⁻¹ appeared, and its intensity improved with the addition of Py. The studied composites show potential for promising applications in advanced electronic devices. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Synthesis of C8‐N‐Arylamine‐Modified 2′‐Deoxyguanosine‐5′‐Triphosphates and Their Effects on Primer Extension by DNA Polymerases

C8‐N‐arylamine adducts of 2′‐deoxyguanosine (2′‐dG) play an important role in the induction of the chemical carcinogenesis caused by aromatic amines. C8‐N‐acetyl‐N‐arylamine dG adducts that differ in their substitution pattern in the aniline moiety were converted by cycloSal technology into the corresponding C8‐N‐acetyl‐N‐arylamine‐2′‐deoxyguanosine‐5′‐triphosphates and C8‐NH‐arylamine‐2′‐deoxyguanosine‐5′‐triphosphates. Their conformation preference has been investigated by NOE spectroscopy and DFT calculations. The substrate properties of the C8‐dG adducts were studied in primer‐extension assays by using Klenow fragment exo^? of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I and human DNA polymerase β. It was shown that the incorporation was independent of the substitution pattern in the aryl moiety and the N‐acetyl group. Although the triphosphates were poor substrates for the human polymerases, they were incorporated twice before the termination of the elongation process occurred; this might demonstrate the importance of C8‐N‐arylamine‐2′‐deoxyguanosine‐5′‐triphosphates in chemical carcinogenesis.     

Electrospun carbon nanofiber web electrode: Supercapacitor behavior in various electrolytes

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) draw great interest due to their noticeable mechanical, electrochemical, and physical properties. In this study, polyacrylonitrile‐based CNFs are obtained via electrospinning technique. Thermal oxidation and low temperature (950 °C) carbonization are applied to the electrospun web in order to achieve CNF. Through the process, Fourier transform infrared‐attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopic results are investigated. The electrochemical properties of the self‐standing CNF webs are examined with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. In addition, various electrolyte solutions are studied to investigate the capacitive behavior of CNF webs. Electrolyte type variation has a significant effect on the capacitance results and high capacitance values are achieved in aqueous solution. According to the differing electrolyte types, specific capacitance values (C_sp) are recorded between 204 and 149 F g^?1 where maximum specific capacitance is obtained in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ as 204 F g^?1. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 45723.     

Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase in the Synthesis and Modification of Nucleic Acids

The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) belongs to the X family of DNA polymerases. This unusual polymerase catalyzes the template-independent addition of random nucleotides on 3′-overhangs during V(D)J recombination. The biological function and intrinsic biochemical properties of the TdT have spurred the development of numerous oligonucleotide-based tools and methods, especially if combined with modified nucleoside triphosphates. Herein, we summarize the different applications stemming from the incorporation of modified nucleotides by the TdT. The structural, mechanistic, and biochemical properties of this polymerase are also discussed.     

Low speed impact behaviour of adhesively bonded foam-core sandwich T-joints

This paper investigates the effects of foam core density and aluminum skin plates on the low speed impact behaviour of adhesively bonded sandwich T-joints having a PVC foam core and aluminum face-sheets. The dynamic response of adhesively bonded sandwich T-joints was analyzed by the explicit finite element method. Two different material models were implemented to the foam core material: a hyperelastic model and a crushable foam material with ductile damage whereas the aluminum face-sheets were modelled as an elasto-plastic material. The cohesive response of adhesive interfaces was included using three dimensional cohesive element based on cohesive zone model. Adhesively bonded sandwich T-joint specimens were manufactured and tested to validate the numerical model. A very good agreement between the experimental and FE results were achieved. The density of the foam core material of adhesively bonded sandwich T-joint played important role on the joint failure mechanism. The joint having a stiffer foam core experienced more damage in both stiffener panel and adhesive layers.     

Identifying strategic management concepts: An analytic network process approach

This paper presents an approach to the identification of an organization’s strategic management concepts (SMCs) – mission, vision, values and competences. The highly qualitative relationships among these concepts are operationalized using the Analytic Network Process (ANP). As ANP captures the outcome of dependence and feedback between components of elements, the proposed approach enables us to handle indirect relationships and complex interactions existing among the SMCs. The alternatives with the highest overall priorities, resulting from the ANP, are selected as the organization’s most dominant SMC set. To improve the quality of the decision further analysis of the ANP results is suggested. Accordingly, alternative concept sets are derived by applying two approaches – bottom-up and top-down. The bottom-up approach indicates an explorative perspective where only common values and core competences held by the organization are used to identify the corresponding mission and vision statements. On the other hand, the top-down approach indicates a normative perspective where the necessary values and competences are determined according to a given desired vision statement. The proposed ANP approach has been applied to the Industrial Engineering Department (IED) of Istanbul Technical University. In light of the dominant, bottom-up and top-down sets, a final set of SMCs has been suggested for the IED.     

Characterization of pyrolysis products of harbolite and Avgamasya asphaltites: comparison with solvent extracts

The products of pyrolysis at 525 and 840 °C of two asphaltites from South-Eastern Turkey have been analysed and compared with the bitumen obtained by solvent extraction. The yield of oil product is reasonably similar for all three treatments, with gas (hydrogen, ethene, C₁C₄ alkanes and hydrogen sulphide) being liberated during pyrolysis. Greater percentages of alkanes with shorter chain lengths (along with some alkenes), and of pentane-soluble aromatic oils with reduced molecular masses, are generated during pyrolysis, at the expense of asphaltenes. The extra alkanes are generated partly by the cracking of aromatic side-chains and also from kerogen. Pyrolysis reduces the number of sulphur linkages in the oil, but nitrogen- and oxygen-containing structures are liberated from kerogen during heating.     

On the feasibility of re-stimulation of shale wells

As a result of advances in horizontal completions and multi-stage hydraulic fracturing, the U.S. has been able to economically develop several decades of worth of natural gas. However, a considerable concern has risen on the economic viability of shale gas development for reasons associated with the fast production declines as well as recent down-turns of natural gas prices besides rises in the costs of new technologies. Therefore, an economic analysis is required to investigate the profitability of the refracturing treatment of unconventional gas resources. Net present value of cash flows and internal rate of return are calculated for a range of gas prices considering 20 years of natural gas production from a typical unconventional shale gas reservoir. A systematic comparison is then accomplished for three scenarios: (1) re-fracturing versus no refracturing, (2) combination of re-fracturing and drilling new wells, and (3) time-dependent re-fracturing treatment. Further, this paper incorporates the cost of re-fracturing treatment, the cost of drilling a new horizontal well, the water treatment cost, as well as the current and future price of natural gas in the model. The findings of this work would help the future re-stimulation development plans of the emerging unconventional shale gas plays.     

Relay Multi-hop Communications for Next Generation Mobile Networks: Investigation of Path-Loss Models

In next generation communication systems, a multi-hop scheme, in which stations between a mobile terminal and a base station relay signal transmissions, seems a promising ap-proach for wide-area coverage and system capacity enhancement. Another prospective benefit for multi-hop scheme is the reduction of transmission power for a link. This reduction is expected by splitting the transmission into a series of hops using the other mobile stations as repeaters which provide a gain from receiver (Rx) to transmitter (Tx). In this way, the transmission power is expected to become less due to the non-linear nature of the path loss. In this work, different path loss models are examined for multi-hop communication systems. Direct communication and the multi-hop communication cases are compared according to different path loss models. The question of how path loss changes by splitting the transmission into a series of sub-paths is also investigated. The investigations show that it is not possible to reduce the path losses except for some cases thus the transmit power. On the other hand using the multi-hop scheme makes possible to increase the coverage area of the network and also reduce the dead spots in the cell.     

Conducting polymer coated carbon surfaces and biosensor applications

This review article focuses on several approaches in the characterization and modification of carbon surfaces with electrocoated thin films which has been realized by recent progress in experimental methods. Electropolymerization and electrocopolymerization of π-conjugated polymers (pyrrole, carbazole, N-vinylcarbazole and aniline) onto carbon surfaces are reviewed with 348 references. Particular emphasis is placed on the recent nanoscale surface characterization techniques applied to the resulting electrocoated polymers onto carbon fibers (i.e., scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), focused ion beam-secondary ion mass spectroscopy (FIB-SIMS), Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (reflectance-FTIR), and Raman spectroscopic measurements).