Glass transition temperature prediction of polymers through the mass-per-flexible-bond principle.

A semi-empirical method based on the mass-per-flexible-bond (M/f) principle was used to quantitatively explain the large range of glass transition temperatures (T(g)) observed in a library of 132 L-tyrosine derived homo, co- and terpolymers containing different functional groups. Polymer class specific behavior was observed in T(g) vs. M/f plots, and explained in terms of different densities, steric hindrances and intermolecular interactions of chemically distinct polymers.

Viscoelastic properties of fibrinogen adsorbed to the surface of biomaterials used in blood-contacting medical devices.

The hemocompatibility of polymeric vascular implants is in part dependent on the propensity of fibrinogen to adsorb to the implant surface. Fibrinogen surface adsorption was measured in real time using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D). Six new, biodegradable tyrosine-derived polycarbonates were used as test surfaces.

Receptor-stimulated phospholipase A(2) liberates arachidonic acid and regulates neuronal excitability through protein kinase C.

Type B photoreceptors in Hermissenda exhibit increased excitability (e.g., elevated membrane resistance and lowered spike thresholds) consequent to the temporal coincidence of a light-induced intracellular Ca(2+) increase and the release of GABA from presynaptic vestibular hair cells.