Initial cholesterol uptake by everted sacs of rat small intestine: Kinetic and thermodynamic aspects

The kinetics of initial cholesterol uptake by everted rat proximal and distal small intestinal sacs were evaluated in vitro. The mucosal incubation solution consisted of 0.05 mM cholesterol solubilized in 4.8 mM sodium taurocholate micellar solution at pH 7.4. Experiments were performed at temperatures from 26 to 38 C. The rate of cholesterol uptake followed a linear relationship when plotted against time indicating an apparent zero-order kinetics mechanism for initial uptake. An Arrhenius plot of the results of uptake versus temperature remained linear over the entire range of temperatures studied. The large free energy of activation (20 kcal/mole) suggests that an energy barrier for cholesterol uptake exists at the enterocyte luminal cell membrane and may be an important limiting step in cholesterol uptake. It is proposed that a transient association between cholesterol and a component of the enterocyte luminal cell membrane is formed during initial uptake of cholesterol. The transient association may be an activated complex formed with proteins present at or within the luminal enterocyte cell membrane.     

Wrinkling of epoxy powder coatings

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and mechanical profilometry were used to study wrinkle formation in curing epoxy powder coatings. Powder coating formulations were studied that contained solid epoxy resins, methylene disalicylic acid (MDSA) crosslinker, and an amine‐blocked Lewis acid catalyst. Both the crosslinker (MDSA) and the amine‐blocked catalyst are required for wrinkle formation. Evaporation of the blocking amine from the free surface of the coating generated a depthwise gradient in the extent of polymerization and crosslinking, and hence in the degree of solidification, as evidenced by the formation of a mechanical skin prior to wrinkling. It is hypothesized that compressive elastic stress develops in the still swellable skin when unreacted low‐molecular‐weight material from beneath diffuses up into the monomer‐ or oligomer‐depleted crosslinking skin and swells it. This compressive stress, if above a critical value, buckles the skin to produce wrinkles. Experimentally observed compositional requirements for wrinkle formation were consistent with the proposed mechanism. The size of the wrinkles can be controlled by varying formulation parameters such as the amount of catalyst or crosslinker. Increasing the amount of catalyst decreased both the wavelength and the amplitude of the wrinkle pattern. Increasing the amount of crosslinker initially increased the amplitude of the wrinkles; after reaching a maximum level, the wrinkle amplitude decreased. DSC was a useful tool to understand the critical reactions responsible for wrinkling in this system. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 98: 116–129, 2005     

Thin-Layer Dielectrics in the Pb[(Mg1/3Nb2/3)1-xTix]O3 System

Thin layers of Pb[(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)_{1– x} Ti _x ]O₃ (PMNT) were prepared by spin casting alkoxide-based solutions on platinized Si. The effects of additives, heat treatment, and composition ( x = 0 to 0.9) on perovskite phase development, ceramic microstructure, and dielectric properties are reported. Depending upon the processing conditions, ceramic thin layers could be formed in a nonferroelectric pyrochlore phase (A₂B₂O₆) or in a ferroelectric perovskite phase (ABO₃). The dimensions of the pyrochlore and perovskite units cells were related and increased with Mg and Nb contents. To minmize pyrochlore formation, the most effective processing method involved rapid heat treatment between successive solution depositions. Phase development and microstructure were also affected by solution additives. Additions of benzoic acid were found to affect the structure in solution and the later organic pyrolysis behavior from thin layers. The effect of composition on the dielectric and ferroelectric properties is also reported.     

Ultimate properties of blown films of linear low density polyethylene resins as affected by alpha-olefin comonomers

Blown film samples of linear low density polyethylene resins copolymerized with butene, hexene, and octene were characterized in terms of various mechanical and optical properties which included tensile, impact, tear, puncture, haze, and gloss. The microstructure development aspects were also investigated employing crystallinity and density, infrared dichroic ratio, and birefringence, and focusing on various positions along the circumference of the bubble. The ultimate properties, and the microstructure of the blown film samples, were found to depend strongly on the extent of short chain branching and on the comonomer employed.     

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of multilayer coextruded and laminated films

The packaging industry is undergoing a period of rapid expansion in the use of multilayer and coextruded containers. This presents a challenge to the analytical chemist, who must characterize these extremely complex structures. The state of the art for the production of the new generation of containers, including methods, materials and structures, will be briefly reviewed. The applications of such containers and the motivations for the analysis of the structures involved will also be reviewed. The methods for the analysis of these multilayer and coextruded structures will then be considered in detail. The characterization of the surfaces involved will be emphasized. Techniques to identify, quantify, and determine the orientation of the structures will be discussed. The use of infrared spectroscopy (with emphasis on internal reflection spectroscopy) for the identification of the materials in these structures will be discussed. Also, the use of infrared spectroscopy in quantitatively determining the composition and orientation of the structures will be presented. The use of optical microscopy and combined microscopy/infrared spectroscopy for the quantification of the layer structures will be discussed. The use of auxiliary techniques for the completion of the analysis of the complex layer structures will be presented.     

Polydimethylsiloxane based polyurethane and its composite with layered double hydroxide: Synthesis and its thermal properties

This investigation reports the synthesis of a new class of polyurethane (PU) based on bis(hydroxyalkyl) polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as diol and isophorone diisocyanate as diisocyanate followed by the preparation of PU/layered double hydroxide (PU/LDH) nanocomposite via ex-situ technique. Nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy studies confirm the formation of PU and incorporation of PDMS into the PU backbone. Thermogravimetry analysis revealed that thermal stability of the composite improves significantly with incorporation of LDH into the PU matrix. This may be accredited to the barrier effect rendered by the LDH layers. Differential scanning calorimetry study reveals that with the incorporation of LDH, glass transition temperature (T_g) of the composite increases for an optimum level of loading beyond which it remains constant.     

Finishing effects of spiral polishing method on micro lapping surface

This study presents a spiral polishing method and a device for micro-finishing purposes. This novel finishing process has wider application than traditional processes. This offers both automation and flexibility in final machining operations for deburring, polishing, and removing recast layers, thereby producing compressive residual stresses even in difficult to reach areas. Applying of this method can obtain a fine polished surface by removing tiny fragments via a micro lapping generated by transmission of an abrasive medium through a screw rod. The effect of the removal of the tiny fragments can be achieved due to the function of micro lapping. The method is not dependent on the size of the work-piece's application area in order to carry out the ultra precise process. The application of this research can be extended to various products of precision ball-bearing lead screw. The proposed method produces products with greater precision and more efficiently than traditional processes, in terms of processing precisions and the surface quality of products. These parameters used in achieving maximum material removal rate (MRR) and the lowest surface roughness (SR) are abrasive particle size, abrasive concentration, gap, revolution speed and machining time.     

Topography of the flank wear surface

In many applications, topography represents the main external features of a surface. This paper describes the topography of the flank wear surface and also presents the relationship between the maximum flank wear and the topography parameters (roughness parameters) of the flank wear surface during the turning operation. A modern CNC lathe machine (Okuma LH35-N) was used for the machine turning operation. Three-dimensional surface roughness parameters of the flank wear surface were measured by a surface texture instrument (from Talysurf series) using surface topography software (Talymap). Based on the resulting experimental data, it is found that as the flank wear increases, the roughness parameters (sR_a, sR_q, and sR_t) on the flank surface increase significantly. The greater the roughness value of the flank wear surface, the higher the friction of the tool on the workpiece and the greater the heat generation that will occur, thus ultimately causing tool failure. On the other hand, positive skewness (sR_sk) indicates the presence of a small number of spikes on the flank surface of the cutting tool, which could quickly wear off during the machining process.     

Annular ring slot antenna design with reconfigurable polarization

A microstrip‐fed conventional annular ring slot (ARS) antenna with linear polarization (LP) is initially studied. To generate two orthogonal degenerate modes for circular polarization (CP) radiations, two identical meandering perturbation slots (MPS) are symmetrically loaded into the ARS. By further incorporating a PIN diode switch across each MPS, the proposed antenna can switch between left‐hand CP (LHCP), right‐hand CP (RHCP), and LP. All three polarizations have shown good impedance bandwidth and broad CP bandwidth that can satisfy the wireless local area network (WLAN) 2.4‐GHz operating band (2400–2480 MHz). Furthermore, desirable gains of 1.8–2.0 dBi and 2.40–2.84 dBic are also exhibited at LP and LHCP/RHCP, respectively. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 26:110–120, 2016.