Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zongyao Zhou, Digambar B. Shinde, Dong Guo, Li Cao, Reham Al Nuaimi, Yuting Zhang, Linga Reddy Enakonda, Zhiping Lai
Summary: A flexible ionic CMP membrane with precisely tailored pore architecture and chemistry is reported in this study, showing significantly improved ion selectivity compared to commercial membranes.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Chemical
Zongyao Zhou, Zhen Li, Lubna M. Rehman, Zhiping Lai
Summary: Conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) are a class of porous organic materials with high surface area and abundant micropores, which have extensive potential applications, especially in the field of chemical separation membranes. In this review, the historical development, state-of-the-art progress, and future prospects of CMPs as membranes are discussed.
CHINESE JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Tong Xin, Yanan Lv, Haoran Chen, Linlin Li, Lijun Shen, Guangcun Shan, Xi Chen, Hua Han
Summary: This article proposes a new method for serial section registration using an unsupervised optical flow network to measure feature similarity and eliminate nonlinear deformation. The optical flow network is also used to estimate and compensate for cumulative registration error, enabling the reconstruction of biological tissue structures. Experimental results demonstrate that this method effectively improves the spatial continuity of serial sections and enhances the accuracy of registration and reconstruction for biological tissue structures.
Article
Engineering, Mechanical
Karolina Olszowska, Marcin Godzierz, Slawomira Pusz, Jerzy Myalski, Anastasiia Kobyliukh, Georgi Georgiev, Andrzej Posmyk, Boyko Tsyntsarski, Urszula Szeluga
Summary: The study investigated the influence of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and carbon foam (CF) micrograins on the morphology and thermomechanical and tribological properties of epoxy composites. Binary composites containing either CF grains or GNPs and multiphase composites with CF particles and GNPs together were prepared using two different procedures. CF, when combined with GNPs, significantly improved the storage modulus, hardness, thermal stability, and reduced the friction coefficient and wear rate compared to the epoxy matrix. Among the two methods, the composite fabricated by the first method demonstrated superior tribological properties, especially under higher wear loads.
TRIBOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Sourav Kumar Mahapatra, Alok Satapathy
Summary: This investigation develops and characterizes a type of multi-phase hybrid composites made of bi-directional ramie fibers, epoxy resin, and micro-sized titania particles in different proportions. The composites are fabricated using the hand layup technique and subjected to physical, compositional, and mechanical characterization tests. The results show that the inclusion of titania particles improves the mechanical properties and hardness of the composites, making them potentially useful as functional materials in wear-prone situations.
POLYMER COMPOSITES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Emmanuela Adjei-Sowah, Yue Peng, Jason Weeks, Jennifer H. Jonason, Karen L. de Mesy Bentley, Elysia Masters, Yugo Morita, Gowrishankar Muthukrishnan, Philip Cherian, X. Eric Hu, Charles E. McKenna, Frank H. Ebetino, Shuting Sun, Edward M. Schwarz, Chao Xie
Summary: This study proposes a new approach using bisphosphonate-conjugated antibiotics to treat bone infections and successfully demonstrates the eradication of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm in a mouse model. The effectiveness of Sitafloxacin BCA in eliminating bacterial biofilm was confirmed, supporting further in vivo drug development.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kuo-Hui Wu, Ryota Sakamoto, Hiroaki Maeda, Eunice Jia Han Phua, Hiroshi Nishihara
Summary: The study presents an efficient electrochemical method to synthesize pi-conjugated redox metal-complex linear polymer wires on glassy carbon surfaces, demonstrating fast redox conduction properties. The method allows for the creation of anisotropic hetero-metal-complex polymer wires with reversible redox reactions, showing potential for integrating functional molecules onto carbon surfaces.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Sangeetha Hari, P. H. F. Trompenaars, J. J. L. Mulders, Pieter Kruit, C. W. Hagen
Summary: This study demonstrates the use of focused electron beam-induced etching (FEBIE) as a direct-write technique for removing carbonaceous interconnecting material in high resolution dense lines. Secondary electron imaging and atomic force microscopy measurements were used to monitor the FEBIE process, confirming the successful fabrication of well-separated FEBID lines. The application of this technique for removing interconnecting material in dense lines was further validated using backscattered electron imaging.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Chisato Takahashi, Mari Sato, Chikara Sato
Summary: Staphylococcus epidermidis, a gram-positive bacterium, plays an important role in biofilm formation and microvesicle secretion. This study successfully imaged the microvesicles secreted by Staphylococcus epidermidis and their integration into biofilms using atmospheric scanning electron microscopy (ASEM). The information obtained is expected to help elucidate the biological mechanism of biofilm formation and develop medicines against biofilms and associated infections.
ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zongyao Zhou, Dong Guo, Digambar B. Shinde, Li Cao, Zhen Li, Xiang Li, Dongwei Lu, Zhiping Lai
Summary: Polymer membranes usually have a wide pore-size distribution, resulting in lower selectivity in ion separation compared to membranes made of crystalline porous materials. However, ion-sieving membranes based on conjugated microporous polymers with high uniform sub-nanometer pores can achieve high ion-separating performance with a sub-1 A size precision, attributed to their uniform and narrow pore-size distribution.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Xinxin Zhang, Jingdang Chai, Liang Shen, Hui Zhang, Jingkun Xu, Ge Zhang
Summary: Poly(2,7-bis(carbazol-9-yl)-9,9-dimethylfluorene) (PBCMF) polymer with porous structure was fabricated and its electropolymerization in dichloromethane (CH2Cl2) systems with different contents of boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BFEE) was studied. The addition of BFEE in CH2Cl2 solution significantly decreased the oxidation potential of BCMF. The polymer films obtained from the 40 vol% BFEE system showed the best electrochemical behavior and fluorescence property.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Biology
Michela Relucenti, Giuseppe Familiari, Orlando Donfrancesco, Maurizio Taurino, Xiaobo Li, Rui Chen, Marco Artini, Rosanna Papa, Laura Selan
Summary: Bacterial biofilms cause infections that are often resistant to antibiotics, necessitating detailed imaging techniques for research. Scanning electron microscopy with customized protocols is preferred for ultrastructural characterization of biofilm matrix and bacterial cells in drug treatment studies, providing unparalleled image quality and resolution. Various imaging methodologies, including traditional and innovative scanning electron microscopy techniques, have been used in biofilm studies to deepen understanding of their structure.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yawei Li, Li Wang, Yufeng He, Wei Zheng, Langhong Lou, Jian Zhang
Summary: The study found that as the temperature increases, the spacing of dislocation networks in the gamma/gamma' interface decreases, while the minimum creep rate increases non-linearly. This is due to the enhanced dislocation-climb in the interface and gamma'-cutting by a <010> superdislocations.
SCRIPTA MATERIALIA
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Delphis F. Levia, Sebastian Bischoff, Marie-Cecile Gruselle, Kerstin Nathe, David R. Legates, Alyssa N. Lutgen, Elizabeth W. Boyer, Beate Michalzik
Summary: This study quantifies the geometric configuration of particulate matter (PM) in different solutions (bulk precipitation, throughfall, stemflow, and soil solution) in a beech forest in Germany. The results show that the routing of PM through the canopy influences its geometrical characteristics in different solutions.
JOURNAL OF AEROSOL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Cunrui Fan, Bangjin Sun, Zhanbo Li, Jiwei Shi, Tao Lin, Jian Fan, Ziliang Shi
Summary: The study successfully achieved on-surface synthesis of giant conjugated macrocycles with a diameter of approximately 7 nm, starting with debrominative coupling of molecular precursors on a hot Ag(111) surface. The final conjugation of the macrocycles was achieved through subsequent cyclodehydrogenation at higher temperatures. This method provides a new design strategy for pi-conjugated macrocycles and opens up new opportunities for precise synthesis of organic nanostructures.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ryosuke Matsuno, Takamasa Ito, Shigeaki Takamatsu, Atsushi Takahara
Summary: The effect of silica coating on BaTiO3 particles was evaluated, showing that silica coating reduced ion migration and increased dielectric breakdown strength. Composite elastomers with HXNBR and silica-coated BaTiO3 exhibited higher generated stress, strain, and output energy density compared to conventional dielectric actuators.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuji Higaki, Kazutaka Kamitani, Takuji Ohigashi, Teruaki Hayakawa, Atsushi Takahara
Summary: Marine mussels efficiently adhere under wet conditions by precisely controlling the secretion of foot proteins on the adhesive plaque. Chemical analysis using spectromicroscopy has been performed on non-uniform plaque morphology, but the mesoscopic morphology has not been fully elucidated. STXM was used to investigate the chemical speciation in the non-uniform mussel plaque morphology, revealing high protein density in the matrix phase and low aromatic residue content in microdomains.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ryosuke Matsuno, Yota Kokubo, Shigeaki Takamatsu, Atsushi Takahara
Summary: A dielectric elastomer actuator was prepared with a composite elastomer containing CN-modified and non-modified TiO2 particles, exhibiting a high relative dielectric constant and stress generation in a low electric field. By adjusting the content of CN-modified TiO2 particles, the relative dielectric constant of the composite elastomer can be increased.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Daiki Ihara, Yuji Higaki, Norifumi L. Yamada, Fumiya Nemoto, Yasuhiro Matsuda, Ken Kojio, Atsushi Takahara
Summary: The molecular mechanisms underlying the cononsolvency of PMPC in ethanol-water mixtures were studied through a combination of statistical mechanical models and neutron reflectivity experiments. The preferential interaction of water and the strong cooperativity of ethanol were identified, resulting in the collapsed PMPC chains being more solvated with water than the bulk mixed solvent at an ethanol volume fraction of 0.90.
Editorial Material
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Atsushi Takahara, Walter Richtering, Gilbert C. Walker
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Chien-Wei Chu, Yucheng Zhang, Tomohiro Kubo, Shiho Tanizaki, Ken Kojio, Kotaro Satoh, Atsushi Takahara
Summary: In this study, a catechol-containing polymer was prepared by copolymerizing a bioinspired acetate-protected vinyl catechol monomer with glycidyl methacrylate. The deprotection of acetate groups allowed for the direct usage of the polymer as a primer or additive, leading to strengthened interfacial interactions and improved lap shear strength of epoxy-adhesive-bonded metallic joints.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Kakeru Obayashi, Kazutaka Kamitani, Chien-Wei Chu, Ryosuke Kawatoko, Chao-Hung Cheng, Atsushi Takahara, Ken Kojio
Summary: The internal structure of polyurethane adhesive undergoes changes during lap shear deformation, with an increase in the spacing of hard segment domains and the merging of tilt angle with the stretching direction. These findings are of great significance for the practical design of adhesives.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xunwu Hu, Sona Rani Roy, Chengzhi Jin, Guanying Li, Qizheng Zhang, Natsuko Asano, Shunsuke Asahina, Tomoko Kajiwara, Atsushi Takahara, Bolu Feng, Kazuhiro Aoki, Chenjie Xu, Ye Zhang
Summary: Engineering peptide assembly that controls integrin ligand presentation on the molecular level is of great significance, expanding the perspective of ligand-density-dependent modulation and providing valuable insights for therapeutic innovations. The bottom-up nanofabrication strategy allows for precise control of ligand presentation and the production of multifunctional nanofilaments.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Ming-Chia Li, Masanao Sato, Fa-Chung Chen, Wei-Tsung Chuang, Tomoyasu Hirai, Atsushi Takahara, Rong-Ming Ho
Summary: This paper presents a facile method for fabricating a thin-film sample with a high asymmetry value of induced circularly polarized luminescence (iCPL). The method involves mixing stereoregular poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and chiral chromophore (TFAE) to form a complex with a dynamic helical conformation of PMMA associated with TFAE via hydrogen bonding. This results in a preferential one-handed helical conformation with a high value of iCPL from self-assembly.
Article
Polymer Science
Adchara Padermshoke, Tomoko Kajiwara, Yingjun An, Mamiko Takigawa, Toan Van Nguyen, Hiroyasu Masunaga, Yutaka Kobayashi, Hiroshi Ito, Sono Sasaki, Atsushi Takahara
Summary: This study investigates the effects of oxo-biodegradable additives on the photo-oxidation of four types of polyolefin polymers. The results suggest that the additives promote the photo-oxidative degradation of the polymers, particularly PE polymers. Among the additive-containing polymers, itPP exhibits the highest degradation rate, while HDPE has the slowest.
Editorial Material
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hendrik Heinz, Yogesh M. Joshi, Hongbo Zeng, Heng-Kwong Tsao, Sissi J. A. de Beer, Erin Koos, Atsushi Takahara, Gilbert C. Walker
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yucheng Zhang, Koichi Hasegawa, Sota Kamo, Kiyoka Takagi, Atsushi Takahara
Summary: Epoxy adhesives are crucial in the manufacturing of various components and products in industrial and daily use. Modifying the surface of adherents with PGMA greatly improves the lap shear strength of epoxy adhesive-bonded joints. The effect of PGMA layer thickness on reinforcement is still uncertain.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sinan Feng, Yokajaksusri Nutthon, Hiroyasu Masunaga, Sono Sasaki, Roman Selyanchyn, Shigenori Fujikawa, Shinichi Murata, Atsushi Takahara
Summary: This study investigated the impact of morphology on the gas transport properties of a poly-(ether-block-amide) (PEBA) multiblock copolymer. Annealing temperature was varied to evaluate changes in microstructure and gas transport properties of PEBA. Time-resolved attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to determine the diffusion coefficient of CO2 in PEBA. The findings revealed a 38% increase in CO2 permeability in the annealed sample, while maintaining a high CO2/N-2 permselectivity.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ken Kojio, Aya Fujimoto, Chigusa Nagano, Shuhei Nozaki, Kazutoshi Yokomachi, Kazutaka Kamitani, Hirohmi Watanabe, Atsushi Takahara
Summary: In this study, the specific deformation behavior of crystalline polymer films under a multiaxial stress field was investigated. The experiments revealed that the string-shaped crystalline polymer chain structure produces local anisotropic uniaxial stress, leading to changes in the aggregation structure of the films.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Masaru Mukai, Akihiko Takada, Ayumi Hamada, Tomoko Kajiwara, Atsushi Takahara
Summary: Imogolite/chitosan hybrid films prepared with PLP as an interfacial modifier showed strong interactions between PLP and imogolite/chitosan, resulting in significant improvement in mechanical properties compared to pristine chitosan/imogolite hybrid films.
