2,697 research outputs found
A new gas discharge process for preparation of non-fouling surfaces on biomaterials
A non-fouling surface containing immobilized polyethylene oxide (PEO) was achieved using an argon radio-frequency glow discharge treatment (RFGD) of polyethylene films precoated with Brij hydrocarbon-PEO surfactants. Surface wettability of RFGD-treated and washed surfaces increased the most when PEO surfactants with unsaturated and/or long alkyl tails were used. ESCA measurements of treated and washed surfaces showed increases of surface O/C ratios and ether carbon peaks in high resolution Cls spectra. These results demonstrate the retention of the PEO surfactants on the treated surfaces. Fibrinogen adsorp tion on these treated surfaces was significantly reduced, from 500 to 50 ng/cm2, indicating the non-fouling properties of the RFGD-immobilized PEO surfactants
Modeling of convection phenomena in Bridgman-Stockbarger crystal growth
Thermal convection phenomena in a vertically oriented Bridgman-Stockbarger apparatus were modeled by computer simulations for different gravity conditions, ranging from earth conditions to extremely low gravity, approximate space conditions. The modeling results were obtained by the application of a state-of-the art, transient, multi-dimensional, completely densimetrically coupled, discrete-element computational model which was specifically developed for the simulation of flow, temperature, and species concentration conditions in two-phase (solid-liquid) systems. The computational model was applied to the simulation of the flow and the thermal conditions associated with the convection phenomena in a modified Germanium-Silicon charge enclosed in a stationary fused-silica ampoule. The results clearly indicated that the gravitational field strength influences the characteristics of the coherent vortical flow patterns, interface shape and position, maximum melt velocity, and interfacial normal temperature gradient
Immobilization of Polyethylene Oxide Surfactants for Non-Fouling Biomaterial Surfaces Using an Argon Glow Discharge Treatment
A non-fouling (protein-resistant) polymer surface is achieved by the covalent immobilization of polyethylene oxide (PEO) surfactants using an inert gas discharge treatment. Treated surfaces have been characterized using electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), static secondary ion mass spectrometry (SSIMS), water contact angle measurement, fibrinogen adsorption, and platelet adhesion. This paper is intended to review our recent work in using this simple surface modification process to obtain wettable polymer surfaces in general, and non-fouling biomaterial surfaces in particular
Polaronic transport induced by competing interfacial magnetic order in a LaCaMnO/BiFeO heterostructure
Using ultrafast optical spectroscopy, we show that polaronic behavior
associated with interfacial antiferromagnetic order is likely the origin of
tunable magnetotransport upon switching the ferroelectric polarity in a
LaCaMnO/BiFeO (LCMO/BFO) heterostructure. This is
revealed through the difference in dynamic spectral weight transfer between
LCMO and LCMO/BFO at low temperatures, which indicates that transport in
LCMO/BFO is polaronic in nature. This polaronic feature in LCMO/BFO decreases
in relatively high magnetic fields due to the increased spin alignment, while
no discernible change is found in the LCMO film at low temperatures. These
results thus shed new light on the intrinsic mechanisms governing
magnetoelectric coupling in this heterostructure, potentially offering a new
route to enhancing multiferroic functionality
The first products made in space: Monodisperse latex particles
The preparation of large particle size 3 to 30 micrometer monodisperse latexes in space confirmed that original rationale unequivocally. The flight polymerizations formed negligible amounts of coagulum as compared to increasing amounts for the ground-based polymerizations. The number of offsize large particles in the flight latexes was smaller than in the ground-based latexes. The particle size distribution broadened and more larger offsize particles were formed when the polymerizations of the partially converted STS-4 latexes were completed on Earth. Polymerization in space also showed other unanticipated advantages. The flight latexes had narrower particle size distributions than the ground-based latexes. The particles of the flight latexes were more perfect spheres than those of the ground-based latexes. The superior uniformity of the flight latexes was confirmed by the National Bureau of Standards acceptance of the 10 micrometer STS-6 latex and the 30 micrometer STS-11 latexes as Standard Reference Materials, the first products made in space for sale on Earth. The polymerization rates in space were the same as those on Earth within experimental error. Further development of the ground-based polymerization recipes gave monodisperse particles as large as 100 micrometer with tolerable levels of coagulum, but their uniformity was significantly poorer than the flight latexes. Careful control of the polymerization parameters gave uniform nonspherical particles: symmetrical and asymmetrical doublets, ellipsoids, egg-shaped, ice cream cone-shaped, and popcorn-shaped particles
Artificial Neural Network Uncertainty Quantification for the Sensitivity Analysis of the SIXEP Model
Flux through a hole from a shaken granular medium
We have measured the flux of grains from a hole in the bottom of a shaken
container of grains. We find that the peak velocity of the vibration, vmax,
controls the flux, i.e., the flux is nearly independent of the frequency and
acceleration amplitude for a given value of vmax. The flux decreases with
increasing peak velocity and then becomes almost constant for the largest
values of vmax. The data at low peak velocity can be quantitatively described
by a simple model, but the crossover to nearly constant flux at larger peak
velocity suggests a regime in which the granular density near the container
bottom is independent of the energy input to the system.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures. to appear in Physical Review
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