Geometric bionics: Lotus effect helps polystyrene nanotube films get good blood compatibility

Various biomaterials have been widely used for manufacturing biomedical applications including artificial organs, medical devices and disposable clinical apparatus, such as vascular prostheses, blood pumps, artificial kidney, artificial hearts, dialyzers and plasma separators, which could be used in contact with blood^1^. However, the research tasks of improving hemocompatibility of biomaterials have been carrying out with the development of biomedical requirements^2^. Since the interactions that lead to surface-induced thrombosis occurring at the blood-biomaterial interface become a reason of familiar current complications with grafts therapy, improvement of the blood compatibility of artificial polymer surfaces is, therefore a major issue in biomaterials science^3^. After decades of focused research, various approaches of modifying biomaterial surfaces through chemical or biochemical methods to improve their hemocompatibility were obtained^1^. In this article, we report that polystyrene nanotube films with morphology similar to the papilla on lotus leaf can be used as blood-contacted biomaterials by virtue of Lotus effect^4^. Clearly, this idea, resulting from geometric bionics that mimicking the structure design of lotus leaf, is very novel technique for preparation of hemocompatible biomaterials

Relationship between nutrient pollutants and suspended sediments in upper reaches of Yangtze River

AbstractIn order to study the relationship between nutrient pollutants and suspended sediments (SS) in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and two tributaries, water samples were collected from September 1, 2010 to September 30, 2011 at the Zhutuo, Cuntang, Beibei, Wulong, Qingxichang, Wanxian, and Fengjie cross-sections. In the laboratory, the SS concentration and the concentration of SS whose particle size was smaller than 0.02 mm were measured. The phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N), and permanganate index (CODMn) concentrations in the natural water sample, the settled water sample, and two types of filtered water samples obtained through filter membranes with pore sizes of 0.02 mm and 0.45 μm were monitored synchronously. The results show that there are strong relationships between the P and CODMn concentrations and the SS concentration. P mainly exists in particulate form, while N mainly exists in dissolved form. SS whose particle size is smaller than 0.02 mm accounts for a high proportion of sediments in the Yangtze River and has a strong effect on water quality. At the seven cross-sections, the amounts of P, N, and CODMn in particulate form in the wet season are higher than in the dry season and the adsorption amounts of P, N, and CODMn per unit mass of sediment are higher in the dry season than in the wet season

Poly[μ-chlorido-[μ4-5-(4-pyrid­yl)tetra­zol­ato]dicopper(I)]

The title three-dimensional coordination polymer, [Cu2Cl(C6H4N5)]n, is the product of the hydro­thermal reaction of CuCl2·2H2O and 5-(4-pyrid­yl)-1H-tetra­zole (4-Hptz). The two independent CuI ions are coordinated in distorted tetra­hedral and distorted trigonal coordination environments. In the unique 5-(4-pyrid­yl)-1H-tetra­zolate ligand, the dihedral angle between the pyridine and tetra­zole rings is 17.3 (2)°

Modeling and Hydrodynamic Characteristics of Bionic Undulate Fin Propeller Driven by Hydraulic

The bionic undulating propeller driven by hydraulic system has different structure, kinematic and dynamic characteristics than that of the common bionic undulating propellers driven by other sources. This paper highlights firstly the structure and driving mechanism of bionic undulating propeller with a hydraulic system, and then setup its kinematic model, based on ruled-surface equation. Changing rules of dynamic mesh for bionic fin is designed based on kinetic model. Later on, the changing courses of hydrodynamic force caused by the bionic undulating fin are calculated and studied with the CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) method, as well as the changing characteristics of the fluid pressure field. The analysis showed that while driven by hydraulic system, the bionic propeller could produce full-baseline undulating motion, and has flexible start-up process, as well as doubled-frequency character. The bionic undulating fin driven by hydraulic system puts up flexible characters on both kinematic and dynamics. Key Words: Hydraulic Driven; Undulating Fin; Bionic Propeller; Dynamic Mesh; Hydrodynamic