Thieno[3,2-b]thiophene as π-bridge at different acceptor systems for electrochromic applications

Benzoselenadiazole, quinoxaline and thieno[3,2-b]thiophene are the units preferred in conducting polymers due to their electrochemical properties. There are no reports in the literature on polymers containing both moieties. In this study, novel benzoselenadiazole, quinoxaline and thieno[3,2-b]thiophene based monomers; 4-(3a,6a-dihydrothieno[3,2-b]thiophen-2-yl)-7-(thieno[3,2-b]thiophenyl)benzo[c][1,2,5]selenadiazole (BSeTT) and 2,3-bis(3,4-bis(decyloxy)phenyl)-5,8-dibromo-2,3-dihydroquinoxaline (QTT) were synthesized via Stille Coupling and polymerized electrochemically. These polymers were characterized in terms of their spectroelectrochemical and electrochemical properties by cyclic voltammetry and UV–Vis–NIR spectroscopy. Spectroelectrochemistry analysis of PBSeTT revealed an electronic transition at 525 nm corresponding to π–π* transition with a band gap of 0.93 eV whereas PQTT revealed electronic transitions at 440 and 600 nm corresponding to π–π* transitions with a band gap of 1.30 eV. Electrochromic investigations showed that PBSeTT has gray color PQTT switching between green and gray. Switching time of the polymers was evaluated by a kinetic study upon measuring the percent transmittance (%T) at the maximum contrast point.     

Antibacterial oil‐based polyurethane films for wound dressing applications

As an alternative to petroleum‐based polyol, hydroxyl containing material was prepared from linseed oil for polyurethane synthesis. Hexamethylene di‐isocyanate (HMDI) and/or 4, 4′‐methylene diphenyl di‐isocyanate (MDI) were used as isocyanate source. The polymerization reaction was carried out without catalyst. Polymer films were prepared by casting‐evaporation technique. The MDI/HMDI‐based polyurethane and its films had higher T_g and better thermal property than that of the HMDI‐based one because of the existence of benzene ring in the polymer chain. Static water contact angle was determined to be 74° and 77.5° for HMDI and MDI/HMDI‐based films, respectively. Water adsorption was found to be around 2.6–3.6% for both films. In vitro degradation of polyurethanes in phosphate buffered saline at 37°C was investigated by gravimetric method. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used for confirmation of degradation on the polymer surface. The degradation rate of the HMDI‐based polyurethane film was found higher than that of the MDI/HMDI‐based film. Both the direct contact method and the MMT test were applied for determination of cytotoxicity of polymer films, and the polyurethane films investigated here was not cytotoxic. Silver‐containing films were prepared using Biocera A® as filler and were screened for their antibacterial performance against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and/or Bacillus subtilis. The films prepared with and without Biocera A® exhibited antibacterial activity. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

An Estimation of the Suspended Sediment Load Using Adaptive Network Based Fuzzy Inference System,Support Vector Machine and Artificial Neural Network Models

Sediment transport in streams and rivers takes two forms as suspended load and bed load. Suspended load comprises sand + silt + clay-sized particles that are held in suspension due to the turbulence and will only settle when the stream velocity decreases, such as when the streambed becomes flatter, or the streamflow into a pond or lake. The sources of the suspended sediments are the sediments transported from the river basin by runoff or wind and the eroded sediments of the river bed and banks. Suspended-sediment load is a key indicator for assessing the effect of land use changes, water quality studies and engineering practices in watercourses. Measuring suspended sediment in streams is real sampling and the collection process is both complex and expensive. In recent years, artificial intelligence methods have been used as a predictor for hydrological phenomenon namely to estimate the amount of suspended sediment. In this paper the abilities of Support Vector Machine (SVM), Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and Adaptive Network Based Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) models among the artificial intelligence methods have been investigated to estimate the suspended sediment load (SSL) in Ispir Bridge gauging station on Coruh River (station number: 2316). Coruh River is located in the northern east part of Turkey and it is one of the world”s the fastest, the deepest and the largest rivers of the Coruh Basin. In this study, in order to estimate the suspended sediment load, different combinations of the streamflow and the SSL were used as the model inputs. Its results accuracy was compared with the results of conventional correlation coefficient analysis between input and output variables and the best combination was identified. Finally, in order to predict SSL, the SVM, ANFIS and various ANNs models were used. The reliability of SVM, ANFIS and ANN models were determined based on performance criteria such as Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Efficiency Coefficient (EC) and Determination Coefficient (R²).     

An antibacterial composite system based on multi-responsive microgels hosting monodisperse gold nanoparticles

A multi-responsive microgel having response to pH, temperature, and salt concentration was successfully prepared using a water-soluble monomer. Microgels were readily prepared from 2-(N-morpholino)ethyl methacrylate (MEMA) via emulsion polymerization using glycidyl methacrylate as a comonomer cross-linker. The morpholino groups of MEMA residues of microgels were able to give complexation with metal containing anions such as AuCl₄ ^? in acidic conditions. The reduction of aurate ions with sodium borohydride led to immobilized-gold nanoparticles (AuNP) in the microgel system. Average particle diameters of AuNPs were determined to be 10 ± 2 nm. The resulting AuNP-microgel system was examined as a nanoreactor for catalyst system and determined to be very effective in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol model reaction in aqueous media. AuNPs-microgel composite system had antibacterial properties against several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria similar to amoxicillin. This P(MEMA-co-GMA) microgel is also very useful for different applications such as a host for metal nanoparticle production, a drug carrier or drug delivery system.     

Macroanatomic,light and scanning electron microscopic studies of the pecten oculi in the stork (Ciconia ciconia)

This study was undertaken to investigate the pecten oculi of stork by using macroscopic, light and electron microscopic techniques. A total of 20 eyes that were obtained from 10 storks were used. The eyes were cleaned and isolated by dissection. After various procedures, four of the pecten oculi were examined by light microscope while the other four with an electron microscope. The remaining 12 eyes were assigned for macroscopic investigation. Pecten oculi of the stork were determined as accordion‐like structures that originated from n. opticus, consisting of 15–17 plica and projecting up to 2/5 of the diameter of the bulbus oculi. Light microscopic examination revealed two types of blood vessels. Afferent–efferent vessels were larger in diamater (40–45 µm), fewer in numbers, and the capillary vessels were smaller in diamater (2–5 µm) and more in numbers. There were granules including amount of melanin pigment at the apical part of the pleats. These granules were fewer and scattered randomly on the basal part of the pleats. As a result, pecten oculi in the stork, which is a migrating bird, were determined to be similar to those of other diurnal birds. Microsc. Res. Tech. 76:963–967, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A review of the liquid chromatographic methods for the determination of biogenic amines in foods

Biogenic amines (BAs) are biologically active molecules which have aliphatic (putrescine, cadaverine, spermine, spermidine), aromatic (tyramine, phenylethylamine) or heterocyclic (histamine, tryptamine) structures. They can be detected in raw and processed foods which are formed and degraded through several pathways during the metabolic processes of animals, plants and microorganisms. The identification and quantitation procedures of BAs in food samples are very important, because BAs are considered as the indicators of food quality and freshness. The determination of BAs are commonly achieved by separation techniques such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC) and capillary electrophoresis (CE). In this article, analysis of BAs in foods were reviewed from 2007 to present.     

Thermal conductivity of MgO-C refractory ceramics: Effects of pyrolytic liquid and pyrolytic carbon black obtained from waste tire

In the present study, thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of MgO-C refractory ceramic bricks were investigated. Pyrolytic liquid and pyrolytic carbon black obtained from pyrolysis of waste tires were used as a resin and carbon source, respectively. The pyrolysis of the tires was conducted in a fixed bed reactor at the temperature of 500?°C with a 15?°C/min heating rate under nitrogen flow (0.5?lt/min). Before using in MgO-C refractory ceramic blends, pyrolytic products were purified with the acidic extraction methods which resulted in 61and 66?wt%. decreases in sulfur and ash contents in pyrolytic carbon, respectively. After this treatment of pyrolytic liquid, the sulfur content was reduced by 24?wt%. Eight different blends of MgO-C refractory ceramics consisting of different pyrolytic product contents were prepared, pressed, and tempered at 250?°C, and then characterized in terms of porosity, thermal conductivity, and density. The mechanical behavior of the samples was tested using a three-point bending test. Archimedes test was employed to determine the porosity and density. Surface properties of the bricks were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The obtained results were compared with a reference consisting of graphite and resin. The results revealed that mechanical and thermal properties of the developed bricks were highly sensitive to the porosity and the carbon source as well as the type of binder.     

Multi‐responsive microgel of a water‐soluble monomer via emulsion polymerization

Microgel of a water‐soluble monomer [2‐(N‐morpholino)ethyl methacrylate (MEMA)] was successfully prepared in aqueous media via emulsion polymerization by using a novel water‐soluble block copolymer as stabilizer. Characterization studies confirmed monodisperse spherical morphologies of microgels with a diameter of 280 nm at neutral pH. These microgels exhibited multi‐responsive behavior by responding solution pH, temperature, ionic strength, type of dispersing media, and magnetic particles. It swells well at low pH (<6.0) and at low temperature, but shrinks above pH 6.0, or even more shrinks with salt addition at neutral and basic conditions. In addition, the hydrodynamic diameter of PMEMA microgel was decreased gradually at basic and neutral pH when solution temperature was increased up to the lower critical solution temperature of PMEMA (LCST, 35°C), but microgel diameter did not change much above LCST. Multi‐responsive behavior of PMEMA microgel was investigated by using dynamic light scattering, UV‐Vis spectrophotometer and zeta potentiometer. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42072.