An improved three‐node hybrid‐mixed element for Mindlin/Reissner plates

Based on the mixed shear projected (MiSP) approach [6], an enhanced bending approximation for homogeneous isotropic plates is presented. Some hard benchmark tests, as skew plate (30°) problem for instance, have often shown poor convergence when low order elements (3‐ or 4‐node element) are developed using linear approximations for kinematic variables. To put right this weakness, we propose a high‐order interpolation for rotational dofs which results in more rich bending curvatures. The mid‐side rotational nodes are eliminated using a combination of local discrete kinematic and constitutive Mindlin hypothesises. The derived 3‐node triangular element, called MiSP3+, is free of shear locking and passes all patch‐tests for thick and thin plates in an arbitrary mesh. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Novel 3D electrospun polyamide scaffolds prepared by 3D printed collectors and their interaction with chondrocytes

Electrospinning is significantly one of the simple and versatile methods for producing micro- and nanofibrous scaffolds. Its assembly can be modified in different ways to combine material properties with different morphological structures for biomedical applications. In this process, collector design plays an important role to determine the nanofiber orientation in electrospun nanoweb. In this work, 3D patterned scaffolds were produced by electrospinning of polyamide-66 solution on different 3D collectors that have been obtained. The aim of this work is to investigate the attachment of the chondrocyte cells on the prepared electrospun scaffolds that have different types of nanofiber orientations that could be used in tissue engineering applications.     

Investigation of liquid–liquid interfacial electron transfer kinetics using multicenter ferrocenyl complexes

The redox behavior of two novel multicenter redox molecules (triferrocenylmethane and triferrocenylmethanol) has been studied in a thin film of nitrobenzene (NB) imposed between a graphite electrode and an aqueous electrolyte. The well separated three sets of redox peaks indicate strong intramolecular electronic communications between the three ferrocene centers in each molecule. They were adapted as model compounds for the study of electron transfer kinetics across the liquid/liquid interface with varied overall driving force using only one-type redox couples in the organic and aqueous phase, respectively. It has been shown that in both cases the dependence of interfacial electron transfer rate on the increased overall driving force across the nitrobenzene/water interface is not monotonic.     

Improved preparative electrochemical oxidation of d-glucose to d-glucaric acid

The 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy free radical (TEMPO) mediated electrochemical oxidation of d-glucose to d-glucaric acid on a synthetically useful scale is reported. Using TEMPO and a graphite felt anode combined with a stainless steel cathode, d-glucose was oxidized under different conditions (pH, temperature, co-oxidant), and the reaction outcomes were analyzed. Optimized conditions for such oxidation are provided along with few new interesting results unique to this reaction, such as the appearance of a novel triacid.