Patterned Electrode Assisted One-Step Fabrication of Biomimetic Morphing Hydrogels with Sophisticated Anisotropic Structures

Anisotropic structures are ubiquitous in nature, affording fascinating morphing behaviors. Biomimetic morphing materials can be developed by spatially controlling the orientations of molecules or nanofillers that produce anisotropic responses and internal stresses under external stimuli. However, it remains a serious challenge to fabricate materials with sophisticated anisotropic architectures. Here, a facile strategy to fabricate morphing hydrogels with elaborately ordered structures of nanosheets, which are oriented under distributed electric field and immobilized by polymerization to form a poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) matrix, is proposed. Diverse sophisticated anisotropic structures are obtained by engineering the electric field through the patterns and relative locations of the electrodes. Upon heating, the monolithic hydrogels with through‐thickness and/or in‐plane gradients in orientation of the nanosheets deform into various three‐dimensional configurations. After incorporating gold nanoparticles, the hydrogels become photoresponsive and capable of programmable motions, for example, dynamic twisting and flipping under spatiotemporal stimuli. Such a strategy of using patterned electrodes to generate distributed electric field should be applicable to systems of liquid crystals or charged particles/molecules to direct orientation or electrophoresis and form functional structures. The biomimetically architectured hydrogels would be ideal materials to develop artificial muscles, soft actuators/robots, and biomedical devices with versatile applications

Magneto-Orientation of Magnetic Double Stacks for Patterned Anisotropic Hydrogels with Multiple Responses and Modulable Motions

Reported here is a multi‐response anisotropic poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel developed by using a rotating magnetic field to align magnetic double stacks (MDSs) that are fixed by polymerization. The magneto‐orientation of MDSs originates from the unique structure with γ‐Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles sandwiched by two silicate nanosheets. The resultant gels not only exhibit anisotropic optical and mechanical properties but also show anisotropic responses to temperature and light. Gels with complex ordered structures of MDSs are further devised by multi‐step magnetic orientation and photolithographic polymerization. These gels show varied birefringence patterns with potentials as information materials, and can deform into specific configurations upon stimulations. Multi‐gait motions are further realized in the patterned gel through dynamic deformation under spatiotemporal light and friction regulation by imposed magnetic force. The magneto‐orientation assisted fabrication of hydrogels with anisotropic structures and additional functions should bring opportunities for gel materials in biomedical devices, soft actuators/robots, etc

European vector of modern education, science and production – 2024

The collective monograph summarizes modern trends in pedagogical design, interdisciplinary aspects of modern transformational processes in society. The main problems, trends, perspectives and directions of shifts in society as a result of the change of development paradigms are defined and characterized. The didactic and educational aspects of pedagogical design in professional education and higher education are analyzed, and the problems of managing pedagogical design are considered. The objective logic of changing development paradigms as a result of informational, communication and structural changes in society is revealed, which affects the transformation of technical-technological, socio-economic, political-legal, statist, educational and cultural reality, determines a new dimension of modern social processes. The monograph is intended for a wide range of researchers, teachers and students of higher education institutions, heads of educational institutions and organizations, non-profit institutions and business structures, representatives of state and public authorities, all interested in the development of pedagogical design and modern society

Проблемы перевода диретивов в рамках официально-делового дискурса

The category of directiveness as universal communicative-pragmatic category is widely represented in all languages. The phenomenon of this type of utterances was studied in linguistics, philosophy and logic. However, important questions of functioning and ways of translation of directive speech acts in executive presidential orders remain to be uninvestigated. The article deals with adequate ways of translation explicitly and implicitly expressed directives in the English official discourse on the material of executive orders of US presidents of the 21st century. Also within the framework of this article the specific features of text translation of official discourse were studied in general, and special attention was paid to the question of equivalent translation of directive speech acts and the variability of its explicit and implicit verbalization in executive orders.Категорія директивності як універсальна комунікативно-прагматична категорія широко представлена в усіх мовах. Феномен такого типу висловлень досліджувався в лінгвістиці, філософії та логіці. Однак поза увагою мовознавців залишилися важливі питання функціонування та способів перекладу директивних мовленнєвих актів у текстах виконавчих президентських наказів. Стаття присвячена вивченню способів перекладу експліцитно та імпліцитно виражених директивів в англомовному офіційно-діловому дискурсі на матеріалі виконавчих наказів президентів США ХХІ століття. Також в рамках статті розглянуто особливості перекладу текстів офіційно-ділового дискурсу в цілому, а також, зокрема, питання еквівалентного відтворення директивів та варіативність їх імпліцитного та експліцитного вираження в текстах президентських наказів США.Категория директивности как универсальная коммуникативно-прагматическая категория широко представлена во всех языках. Феномен такого типа высказываний исследовался в лингвистике, философии и логике. Однако без внимания языковедов остались важные вопросы функционирования и способов перевода директивных речевых актов в текстах исполнительных указов глав государств. Статья посвящена изучению способов перевода эксплицитно и имплицитно выраженных директивов в англоязычном официально-деловом дискурсе на материале исполнительных приказов президентов США XXI века. Также в рамках статьи рассмотрены особенности перевода текстов официально-делового дискурса в целом, а также в частности вопрос эквивалентного воспроизведения директивов и вариативность их имплицитного и эксплицитного выражения в текстах президентских приказов США

Spontaneous delamination of affordable natural vermiculite as a high barrier filler for biodegradable food packaging

Expensive biodegradable packaging as a preventative measure against continued accumulation of plastic waste in our environment is often in conflict with the need for high performing packaging materials that prevent food waste. Compounding with delaminated vermiculite nanosheets is a compelling concept to simultaneously improve barrier properties through creation of a ‘tortuous path’ while also decreasing the price of the system due to its natural abundance. However, an effective delamination process that captures the full barrier improvement potential of this natural filler has been lacking. Here, we present a superior protocol for vermiculite delamination based on reducing the intrinsic hydrophobicity due to interlayer Mg2+ cations and the transfer of this osmotically swollen, liquid crystalline state into organic solvents. Nanocomposite coatings of degradable polyesters on nanocellulose exhibited oxygen and water transmission rates of 1.30 cm3 m−2 day−1 atm−1 and 1.74 g m−2 day−1, respectively, which competes with high-end, non-degradable poly(vinylidene dichloride) films.</p