The structure characterization of thermosensitive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐2‐hydroxypropyl methacrylate) hydrogel

The goal of this work was to investigate a possible way of crosslinking polymer chains and the potential formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonds in thermosensitive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐2‐hydroxypropyl methacrylate) (p(NIPAM‐HPMet)) hydrogels obtained by radical polymerization. The chemical structure of the synthesized hydrogels was investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and XRD. The FTIR spectrum confirmed the presence of hydrogen bonds formed between the chains in the copolymer. XRD analysis confirmed the amorphous ? crystalline structure of the copolymer. A three‐glass transition and two melting temperatures were detected by DSC. It was found that the addition of HPMet increased the glass transition and melting temperatures of the p(NIPAM‐HPMet) copolymer. The swelling transport mechanism of p(NIPAM‐HPMet) changed from non‐Fickian at 20 °C to case III or zero‐order time‐independent kinetics characterized by a linear mass uptake with time with increasing temperature at 40 °C. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influences of synthesis methods and modifier addition on the properties of Ni-based catalysts supported on reticulated ceramic foams

A method of synthesizing Ni-based catalysts supported on α-Al2O3-based foams was developed. The foams were impregnated with aqueous solutions of metal chlorides under an air atmosphere using an aerosol route. Separate procedures involved calcination to form oxides and drying to obtain chlorides on the foam surface. The synthesized samples were subsequently reduced with hydrogen. With respect to the Ni/Al2O3 catalysts, the chloride reduction route enabled the formation ofa Ni coating without agglomerates or cracks. Further research included catalyst modification by the addition of Pd, Cu, and Fe. The influences of the additives on the degree of reduction and on the low-temperature reduction effectiveness （533 and 633 K） were examined and compared for the catalysts obtained from oxides and chlorides. Greater degrees of reduction were achieved with chlorides, whereas Pd was the most effective modifier among those investigated. The reduction process was nearly complete at 533 K in the sample that contained 0.1wt% Pd. A lower reduction temperature was utilized, and the calcination step was avoided, which may enhance the economical and technological aspects of the developed catalyst production method.     

Determination of pK a Values of Oxocholanoic Acids by Potentiometric Titration

The pK _a and the maximum solubility values of cholic, deoxycholic salts and their oxo-derivatives have been measured by the method of potentiometric titration. In the monomer phase (under the critical micellar concentration, CMC), the bile salts have different pK _a values, as a result of their structural differences (the number of hydroxyl and oxo groups in the steroid skeleton) and different hydration properties of the acid anions. In the micellar phase (above the CMC), the bile salts have higher pK _a values than in the monomer phase (under the CMC). This increase in the pK _a values is greater in more hydrophobic bile salts (cholate and deoxycholate), than in less hydrophobic oxo derivatives, which can be explained by the different aggregation numbers of these bile salts. The oxo-derivatives are more likely to form dimeric micelles, where the carboxylic groups are situated on the two sides of the micelle, not causing any electrostatic repulsion. In the more hydrophobic bile salts, aggregation numbers are higher, which causes electrostatic repulsion of the nearby situated carboxylic anions and consequential protonation of these anions (which leads to the stabilization of the micelle). The maximum solubility values are higher for the oxo-derivatives. If the steroid skeleton of the bile salt is more hydrophobic, the capacity to solubilize the unionized bile acid is higher, i.e. a smaller amount of the bile acid anion is needed for the solubilization of the bile acid monomer. The oxo-derivatives are less hydrophobic, but alongside their hydrophobicity, the structure of the micelle determines the solubilization capacities.     

Development of new models for the estimation of deformation moduli in rock masses based on in situ measurements

Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment - Knowledge of the deformation properties of the rock mass is essential for the stress–strain analysis of structures such as dams, tunnels,...     

Antioxidant activity of medicinal plant extracts in cookies

The antioxidant activity of ethanolic extracts of parsley, buckthorn, mint, caraway, and their mixture "Vitalplant" was evaluated, and the potential of "Vitalplant" mixture extract to retard the process of lipid oxidation in cookies was tested. The antioxidant activity was estimated by 2 direct (ESR) and 4 indirect (spectrophotometric) tests and correlated with the total phenolic and flavonoid content. The potential of "Vitalplant" mixture extract to retard the process of lipid oxidation in cookies was measured by thiobarbituric acid (TBA)-reactive-substances assay (TBARS) and DPPH˙ (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl) test. Significantly different (P < 0.05) amounts of total phenolics were found among extracts in the following order: mint > buckthorn > "Vitalplant" > parsley > caraway. Total flavonoid content varied from 0.510% (parsley) to 2.05% ("Vitalplant"). A statistically significant correlation was found between IC(50) values on DPPH˙ and total flavonoid content of the samples (r=- 0.94, P < 0.05) and between IC(50) values on DPPH˙ and IC(50) values on O(2) (·-) scavenging activity (r= 0.89, P < 0.05). A correlation between reducing activity and total phenolic content was found to be positive and statistically significant (r= 0.94, P < 0.05). "Vitalplant" mixture exhibited a relatively high antioxidant activity in most of the tests, which can be explained by synergistic effects of the ingredients of which it is composed. Finally, "Vitalplant" extract addition (2%, 4%, and 6%) improved antioxidant activity and oxidative stability of the cookies in dose-dependent manner. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Supplementation of cookies with a mixture of Petroselini fructus, Frangulae cortex, Mentha piperitae folium, Carvi fructus can retard the process of lipid oxidation and elevate antioxidant activity of the final product.     

Exudates and optic disk detection in retinal images of diabetic patients

Diabetic retinopathy is the progressive pathological alterations in the retinal microvasculature that very often causes blindness. Because of its clinical significance, it will be helpful to have regular cost‐effective eye screening for diabetic patients by developing algorithms to perform retinal image analysis, fundus image enhancement, and monitoring. The two cost‐effective algorithms are proposed for exudates detection and optic disk extraction aimed for retinal images classification and diagnosis assistance. They represent the effort made to offer a cost‐effective algorithm for optic disk identification, which will enable easier exudates extraction, exudates detection and retinal images classification aimed to assist ophthalmologists while making diagnoses. The proposed algorithms apply mathematical modeling, which enables light intensity levels emphasis, easier optic disk and exudates detection, efficient and correct classification of retinal images. The algorithm is robust to various appearance changes of retinal fundus images and shows very promising results. Fundus images are classified into those that are healthy and those affected by diabetes, based on the detected optic disk and exudates. The obtained results indicate that the proposed algorithm successfully and correctly classifies more than 98% of the observed retinal images because of the changes in the appearance of retinal fundus images typically encountered in clinical environments. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reaction of cubic boron nitride with titanium iodides

Conclusions The reaction of cubic boron nitride with the gaseous phase of titanium iodides (process duration 0.25–2.0 h, total pressure of titanium iodides 100 Pa) results in the preferential formation of TIN in the temperature range 900–1200°K and of titanium nitride and titanium diboride at 1200–1300°K.Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, No. 10(262), pp. 57–59, October, 1984.     

Compositional dependence of absorption coefficient and band-gap for Nb2O5-SiO2 mixture thin films

The absorption coefficient of composite films consisting of niobia (Nb₂O₅) and silica (SiO₂) mixtures is studied for photon energies around the band gap. The films were deposited by co-evaporation and their composition was varied by changing the ratio of deposition rates of the two materials. Both, as-deposited and thermally annealed films were characterized by different techniques: the absorption coefficient was determined by spectrophotometric measurements and the structural properties were investigated using infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The correlation between the variations of absorption properties and film composition and structure is established. The absorption coefficients determined experimentally are compared with the results derived from effective medium theories in order to evaluate the suitability of these theories for the studied composites.