Search results for " Plastic"
showing 10 items of 3463 documents
Length-scale effects in the nucleation of extended dislocations in nanocrystalline Al by molecular-dynamics simulation
2001
The nucleation of extended dislocations from the grain boundaries in nanocrystalline aluminum is studied by molecular-dynamics simulation. The length of the stacking fault connecting the two Shockley partials that form the extended dislocation, i.e., the dislocation splitting distance, rsplit, depends not only on the stacking-fault energy but also on the resolved nucleation stress. Our simulations for columnar grain microstructures with a grain diameter, d, of up to 70 nm reveal that the magnitude of rsplit relative to d represents a critical length scale controlling the low-temperature mechanical behavior of nanocrystalline materials. For rsplit>d, the first partials nucleated from the bou…
Junction Dynamics in Telechelic Hydrogen Bonded Polyisobutylene Networks
1996
4-Urazoylbenzoic acid groups are attached to the chain ends of polyisobutylene. The cooperative assembling process of these polar groups is studied by DSC and dielectric and dynamic mechanical spectroscopy. The melting of the ordered clusters occurs in the temperature range 380-390 K. Distortions within the U4A clusters (Σ process) are monitored below the melting temperature T m with dielectric spectroscopy. On a larger length scale, these distortions also lead to stress relaxation which can be probed by dynamic mechanical measurements. Near T m , the relaxation ofU4A multiplets (α* relaxation) is detected with dielectric spectroscopy. In this temperature range, dynamic mechanical measureme…
Can Soft Models Describe Polymer Knots?
2020
Similar to macroscopic ropes and cables, long polymers create knots. We address the fundamental question whether and under which conditions it is possible to describe these intriguing objects with crude models that capture only mesoscale polymer properties. We focus on melts of long polymers which we describe by a model typical for mesoscopic simulations. A worm-like chain model defines the polymer architecture. To describe nonbonded interactions, we deliberately choose a generic "soft" repulsive potential that leads to strongly overlapping monomers and coarse local liquid structure. The soft model is parametrized to accurately reproduce mesoscopic structure and conformations of reference p…
Perineuronal Net Formation and the Critical Period for Neuronal Maturation in the Hypothalamic Arcuate Nucleus
2019
In leptin-deficient ob/ob mice, obesity and diabetes are associated with abnormal development of neurocircuits in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC)1, a critical brain area for energy and glucose homoeostasis2,3. Because this developmental defect can be remedied by systemic leptin administration, but only if given before postnatal day 28, a critical period for leptin-dependent development of ARC neurocircuits has been proposed4. In other brain areas, critical-period closure coincides with the appearance of perineuronal nets (PNNs), extracellular matrix specializations that restrict the plasticity of neurons that they enmesh5. Here we report that in humans and rodents, subsets of neurons…
Impact of nanoparticles on the environmental sustainability of polymer nanocomposites based on bioplastics or recycled plastics – A review of life-cy…
2022
Adding nanoparticles to a host polymer can lead to performance improvements that can be twice as beneficial to the environment: first, sustainable nanocomposites based on bioplastics or recycled plastics could replace ubiquitous petroleum-based polymers; second, substantial plastic saving could be achieved by profiting from the superior specific properties of the nanocomposites. Nevertheless, the inherent environmental burden of nanoparticles can compromise the expected benefits. Here we address the controversial issue of the environmental sustainability of “green” polymer nanocomposites based on bioplastics and recycled plastics. A critical review of life-cycle assessment studies regarding…
Investigation of the superstructure of native collagen by a combination of small angle X-ray scattering, electron microscopy and light diffraction
1978
It is shown that there exists a direct correlation between the light diffraction pattern of an electron-microscopical picture and the X-ray small angle scattering. By this means it can be proved for native collagen prepared by a special method that the density pattern of stained samples imaged in the electron microscopy is identical with the density pattern available from moist fibres. The reflex intensities of the small angle X-ray scattering are taken for calculating the density structure whereby the necessary phases are delivered by the electron microscopic examination combined with light diffraction.
Optogenetically blocking sharp wave ripple events in sleep does not interfere with the formation of stable spatial representation in the CA1 area of …
2016
During hippocampal sharp wave/ripple (SWR) events, previously occurring, sensory inputdriven neuronal firing patterns are replayed. Such replay is thought to be important for plasticity-related processes and consolidation of memory traces. It has previously been shown that the electrical stimulation-induced disruption of SWR events interferes with learning in rodents in different experimental paradigms. On the other hand, the cognitive map theory posits that the plastic changes of the firing of hippocampal place cells constitute the electrophysiological counterpart of the spatial learning, observable at the behavioral level. Therefore, we tested whether intact SWR events occurring during th…
Absence of Sex Differential Plasticity to Light Availability during Seed Maturation in Geranium sylvaticum
2015
Sex-differential plasticity (SDP) hypothesis suggests that since hermaphrodites gain fitness through both pollen and seed production they may have evolved a higher degree of plasticity in their reproductive strategy compared to females which achieve fitness only through seed production. SDP may explain the difference in seed production observed between sexes in gynodioecious species in response to resource (nutrients or water) availability. In harsh environments, hermaphrodites decrease seed production whereas females keep it relatively similar regardless of the environmental conditions. Light availability can be also a limiting resource and thus could theoretically affect differently femal…
Endothelialization and Anticoagulation Potential of Surface-Modified PET Intended for Vascular Applications.
2018
In vascular tissue engineering, great attention is paid to the immobilization of biomolecules onto synthetic grafts to increase bio- and hemocompatibility-two critical milestones in the field. The surface modification field of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), a well-known vascular-graft material, is matured and oversaturated. Nevertheless, most developed methods are laborious multistep procedures generally accompanied by coating instability or toxicity issues. Herein, a straightforward surface modification procedure is presented engineered to simultaneously promote surface endothelialization and anticoagulation properties via the covalent immobilization of gelatin through a photoactivate…
Stimuli-Responsive Polymeric Nanocarriers for Drug Delivery, Imaging, and Theragnosis.
2020
In the past few decades, polymeric nanocarriers have been recognized as promising tools and have gained attention from researchers for their potential to efficiently deliver bioactive compounds, including drugs, proteins, genes, nucleic acids, etc., in pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. Remarkably, these polymeric nanocarriers could be further modified as stimuli-responsive systems based on the mechanism of triggered release, i.e., response to a specific stimulus, either endogenous (pH, enzymes, temperature, redox values, hypoxia, glucose levels) or exogenous (light, magnetism, ultrasound, electrical pulses) for the effective biodistribution and controlled release of drugs or genes…