Continuous manufacturing of reentrant structures via roll-to-roll process

Reentrant structures have been deemed necessary for repelling low-surface-tension liquids. In this article, a novel manufacturing methodology using the roll-to-roll process to enable continuous manufacturing of reentrant structures over large areas on a polymeric film was demonstrated. A two-stage process, composed of embossing followed by post-compression, allowed the fabrication of reentrant structures, which cannot be easily fabricated using other processes over large areas in a continuous manner. The treatment of the reentrant surface structures with an additional coating of 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyltrichlorosilane layer provided liquid repellency with contact angles of 155 and 140°, respectively, for water (Y_lv = 72 mN m⁻¹) and diiodomethane (Y_lv = 50 mN m⁻¹). © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 46980.     

Advanced polymer processing technologies for micro- and nanostructured surfaces: A review

Functional surfaces with attractive properties, such as superhydrophobicity and omniphobicity often rely on the synergy between intrinsic material properties and dual scale micro- and nano-hierarchical structures for achieving desired wettability. Historically, engineered liquid repellent surfaces have attracted a great deal of interest from academia and industry due to their broad application prospects. Hence, for several years, there have been significant scientific efforts by researchers exploring state of the art manufacturing technologies that are efficient and yet cost effective to produce functional liquid repellent surfaces at an industrial scale. This technical review summarizes the various advanced and state of the art polymer processing technologies employed to fabricate the micro- and nanostructured polymer surfaces, with a special focus given to superhydrophobic and omniphobic applications. Here, we discuss the merits and limitations of each fabrication methods available for micro- and nanostructuring of polymer-based surfaces. In addition, an attempt has been made to provide insight into the relationship between geometry of micro/nanostructures (size and shape) and intrinsic wettability on liquid repellency. A special section has been devoted to feature and document all commercialization efforts, including various commercially available products that were developed in the past decade. Finally, outlook and the development trend in the polymer micro- and nanostructured surfaces are highlighted to lead future research.     

Evaluation of three Spirulina species grown under similar conditions for their growth and biochemicals

Growth pattern and biochemical composition of three species of Spirulina, S platensis, S laxissima and S lonar, were studied under controlled culture conditions. The chemical constituents were analysed in terms of chlorophyll‐a, phycobilliproteins, β‐carotene and phenolics (intracellular and extracellular). Of the three species S platensis showed highest growth rate, biomass, pigment concentration and low intracellular phenolics. The shortest doubling time was seen in S platensis. The results demonstrated the importance of strain selection for large‐scale cultivation. The results also showed differences in culture conditions (light intensity and pH) for the three species of Spirulina to obtain the maximum growth, as well as biochemical basis for obtaining the maximum growth in Spirulina spp. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Role of Brown and Beige Adipose Tissues in Seasonal Adaptation in the Raccoon Dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides)

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) expresses uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1), which enables energy to be exerted towards needed thermogenesis. Beige adipocytes are precursor cells interspersed among white adipose tissue (WAT) that possess similar UCP1 activity and capacity for thermogenesis. The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) is a canid species that utilizes seasonal obesity to survive periods of food shortage in climate zones with cold winters. The potential to recruit a part of the abundant WAT storages as beige adipocytes for UCP1-dependent thermogenesis was investigated in vitro by treating raccoon dog adipocytes with different browning inducing factors. In vivo positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging with the glucose analog ¹⁸F-FDG showed that BAT was not detected in the adult raccoon dog during the winter season. In addition, UCP1 expression was not changed in response to chronic treatments with browning inducing factors in adipocyte cultures. Our results demonstrated that most likely the raccoon dog endures cold weather without the induction of BAT or recruitment of beige adipocytes for heat production. Its thick fur coat, insulating fat, and muscle shivering seem to provide the adequate heat needed for surviving the winter.     

Specroelectrochemical,switching kinetics,and chronoamperometric studies of dibenzyl derivative of poly(3,4‐propylenedioxythiophene) thin‐film‐based electrochromic device

The dibenzyl derivative of poly(3,4‐propylenedioxythiophene) (PProDOT‐Bz₂) thin film is deposited onto ITO‐coated glass substrate by electropolymerization technique. The electropolymerization of ProDOT‐Bz₂ is carried out by a three‐electrode electrochemical cell. The cyclic voltammogram shows the redox properties of electrochemically prepared films deposited at different scan rates. The thin films prepared were characterized for its morphological properties to study the homogeniety. Classic six‐layer structure of PProDOT‐Bz₂ electrochromic device using this material was fabricated and reported for the first and its characterizations such as spectroelectrochemical, switching kinetics, and chronoamperometric studies are performed. The color contrast of the thin film and the device achieved are 64 and 40%, respectively, at λ_max (628 nm). The switching time is recorded and the observed values are 5 s from the coloring state to the bleaching state and vice versa. The chronoamperometry shows that the device performed up to 400 cycles, and it is capable of working up to 35 cycles without any degradation. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40717.