Molecularly imprinted macroporous polymer monolithic layers for L-phenylalanine recognition in complex biological fluids

In present work, the development of macroporous monolithic layers bearing the artificial recognition sites toward L-phenylalanine has been carried out. The set of macroporous poly(2-aminoethyl methacrylate-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) materials with average pore size ranged in 340–1200 nm was synthesized. The applicability of Hildebrand's and Hansen's theories for the prediction of polymer compatibility with porogenic solvents was evaluated. The dependences of average pore size on theoretically calculated parameters were plotted. The linear trend detected for Hansen's theory has indicated the high suitability of this approach to select appropriate porogens. The synthesized monolithic MIP layers were tested toward the ability to rebind phenylalanine-derivative in microarray format. The influence of such factors as average pore size of the material, the concentration of template molecule in polymerization mixture, interaction time of analyte with its imprinted sites on binding efficiency were studied. The developed materials demonstrated good analyte rebinding from buffer solution with recognition factors 2.5–3.4 depending on the MIP sample. The comparable rebinding efficiency was also detected when the analysis was carried using complex biological media. The selectivity of phenylalanine binding from the equimolar mixture of structural analogues was 81.9% for free amino acid and 91.2% for labeled one.     

Lignite oxidative desulphurization: notice 3—process technological aspects and application of products

International Journal of Coal Science & Technology - The study reviews the process of oxidative desulphurization of high-sulphur Ukrainian lignite, which was performed by coal treatment using...     

Design and Synthesis of Polycyclic Imidazole‐Containing N‐ Heterocycles based on C?H Activation/Cyclization Reactions

A new strategy for the synthesis of polycyclic imidazole‐containing N‐heterocycles, based on the two general synthetic ways, namely the Pd(II)‐catalyzed intramolecular arylation via CH/C Hal and CH/CH coupling reactions, was developed. The method proposed here enables the synthesis of many fused N‐heterocycles containing purine, 1‐deazapurines and benzimidazole structural units.     

Digital replicas of historical skirts

Abstract

Digitisation of historical costumes is an actual multidisciplinary area of research that uses science-based methods of reconstruction in virtual reality. The main aim of this study was to create a method for generating numerical replicas of skirts of the late 1850?s and the1860s. We applied two-dimensional and three-dimensional software to parameterise all the elements of the skirts and recreate them layer by layer. Computer modelling allowed us to gain insight into the interrelation between the parameters of cage crinolines, skirt construction and the behaviour of textile materials on the crinoline’s surface. A replica of a historical costume was generated and the similarity between the historical prototype and its replica was proved. The application of computer graphics tools for the reconstruction of the visible and invisible elements of historical costumes can advance their scientific study. The reconstructions can be an effective instrument for teaching, enriching museum collections and producing online presentations.     

Guiding Cell Network Assembly using Shape-Morphing Hydrogels

Forces and relative movement between cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) are crucial to the self-organization of tissues during development. However, the spatial range over which these dynamics can be controlled in engineering approaches is limited, impeding progress toward the construction of large, structurally mature tissues. Herein, shape-morphing materials called “kinomorphs” that rationally control the shape and size of multicellular networks are described. Kinomorphs are sheets of ECM that change their shape, size, and density depending on patterns of cell contractility within them. It is shown that these changes can manipulate structure-forming behaviors of epithelial cells in many spatial locations at once. Kinomorphs are built using a new photolithographic technology to pattern single cells into ECM sheets that are >10× larger than previously described. These patterns are designed to partially mimic the branch geometry of the embryonic kidney epithelial network. Origami-inspired simulations are then used to predict changes in kinomorph shapes. Last, kinomorph dynamics are shown to provide a centimeter-scale program that sets specific spatial locations in which ≈50 µm-diameter epithelial tubules form by cell coalescence and structural maturation. The kinomorphs may significantly advance organ-scale tissue construction by extending the spatial range of cell self-organization in emerging model systems such as organoids.     

Microstructure and Phase Composition of Ni-Based Alloy Obtained by High-Speed Direct Laser Deposition

Phase composition and structural features of nickel-based alloy EP741 obtained by high-speed direct laser deposition were discussed in the paper. The technology of high-speed direct laser deposition has been successfully applied during the formation of samples with the various operating parameters of the experimental device. The laser power was between 450 and 1200 W, the scanning speed was 1.2 mm/s, the powder feed rate was 45 g/min, and the laser beam diameter was 1.2 mm. The structure and phase composition of the initial material and as-deposited samples were studied using optical and scanning electron microscopy, x-ray analysis and transmission electron microscopy. The investigation has shown that spherical particles of powder (EP741) can be used to form products by additive manufacturing with the presence of additional heat treatment, since almost all the as-deposited samples obtained do not contain cracks, and large volume of pores was observed only in the sample obtained with the power of 450 W. In addition, the phase composition of the as-deposited samples showed a high content of precipitating phase Ni₃(Al, Ti) in matrix, which is coherent to the solid solution based on nickel. In theory, the presence of Ni₃(Al, Ti) phase corresponds to the heat-treated nickel-base alloy obtained by standard methods of processing.