Protein adsorption on preadsorbed polyampholytic monolayers

The adsorption behaviour of five different globular proteins on pure silicon substrates and on preadsorbed polyampholytic monolayers has been investigated as a function of protein concentration. The prelayers were prepared by adsorption of the ampholytic diblock copolymer poly(methacrylic acid)-block-poly ((dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PMAA-b-PDMAEMA). This polyampholyte adsorbs in densely packed micelles directly from aqueous solution. Ellipsometry was used to determine the amount of adsorbed polyampholyte and protein. While ATR-IR spectroscopy gives information about the adsorption and desorption behaviour of the preadsorbed polyampholytic layer, the lateral structures of the dried films were investigated by scanning force microscopy (SFM). The amount of protein adsorbed was found to be strongly influenced by the preadsorbed polyampholyte compared to the adsorption on the pure silicon substrates. No displacement of the polyampholyte by the proteins was detected. In most cases the protein adsorption was reduced by the preadsorbed polyampholytic layer. The observed trends are explained by the change in electrostatic and hydrophilic characteristics of the substrates. Furthermore, the entropy of adsorption has to be taken into account.Peer reviewe

Nonthrombogenic, Biodegradable Elastomeric Polyurethanes with Variable Sulfobetaine Content

For applications where degradable polymers are likely to have extended blood contact, it is often important for these materials to exhibit high levels of thromboresistance. This can be achieved with surface modification approaches, but such modifications may be transient with degradation. Alternatively, polymer design can be altered such that the bulk polymer is thromboresistant and this is maintained with degradation. Toward this end a series of biodegradable, elastic polyurethanes (PESBUUs) containing different zwitterionic sulfobetaine (SB) content were synthesized from a polycaprolactone-diol (PCL-diol):SB-diol mixture (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100) reacted with diisocyanatobutane and chain extended with putrescine. The chemical structure, tensile mechanical properties, thermal properties, hydrophilicity, biodegradability, fibrinogen adsorption and thrombogenicity of the resulting polymers was characterized. With increased SB content some weakening in tensile properties occurred in wet conditions and enzymatic degradation also decreased. However, at higher zwitterionic molar ratios (50% and 75%) wet tensile strength exceeded 15 MPa and breaking strain was >500%. Markedly reduced thrombotic deposition was observed both before and after substantial degradation for both of these PESBUUs and they could be processed by electrospinning into a vascular conduit format with appropriate compliance properties. The mechanical and degradation properties as well as the acute in vitro thrombogenicity assessment suggest that these tunable polyurethanes could provide options appropriate for use in blood contacting applications where a degradable, elastomeric component with enduring thromboresistance is desired

Determination of stress state in coal seam based on inverse problem solution using acoustic sounding data

The paper presents an algorithm for calculating the horizontal, vertical and tangential stresses in a horizontal coal seam lying between galleries. These stresses are expressed in terms of the Airy function, which satisfies a homogeneous biharmonic equation. For its numerical solution it is necessary to set boundary conditions. Practical limitations do not allow us to determine the tangential stresses on horizontal boundaries of the coal seam. Calculations of stresses are proposed to be carried out in two steps. The first step is to solve the inverse problem for the biharmonic equation to find unknown tangential stresses on horizontal boundaries of the coal seam. The inverse problem is solved by minimizing the residual functional. Its strong convexity is proved, which implies the existence and uniqueness of the solution of the inverse problem. The second step is to solve the boundary value problem for the biharmonic equation to calculate stresses in the coal seam. The result of a numerical experiment is presented

Surgical Treatment of Uterine Leiomyomas from 2016-2022 in the Republic of Kazakhstan

Background: Due to the transition to a mandatory health insurance system (MHIS) and also taking into account the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the surgical treatment of uterine leiomyoma in Kazakhstan in recent years, taking into account the ratio of uterine-preserving surgery (UPS) and hysterectomy. Methods and Results: This epidemiological study was carried out upon the request of the Republican E-Health Center (RCEZ) to assess the dynamics of surgical treatment of uterine leiomyomas (UL) in Almaty at the expense of the Republican budget from 2016 to 2022. Since 2016, by 2022 there was a decrease in the total number of treated cases of UL at the expense of the Republican budget (from 1,478 to 1,063). From 2016 to 2019, there were statistically significantly more hysterectomies, whereas from 2020 to 2022 the number of uterine-preserving surgeries increased statistically significantly. The number of laparoscopic myomectomy and hysteroscopic myomectomy for treating submucous leiomyomas increased statistically significantly from 2016 to 2019. However, there were no statistical differences in the number of treated cases with this technique from 2020 to 2022. Conclusion: Although high-tech fibroid surgery has been performed more frequently in recent years, these numbers are insufficient today, which justifies the need to train more specialists in advanced technologies