Topologically Distinct Lamellar Block Copolymer Morphologies Formed by Solvent and Thermal Annealing.

Solvent annealing produces ordered assemblies in thin films of block copolymers and, in contrast to uniform thermal annealing, can be used to tune the self-assembled morphology, control the domain orientation with respect to the substrate, and, as demonstrated here, reduce the defect density. The two-dimensional network topology of lamellae self-assembled by polystyrene--poly(methyl methacrylate) block copolymers in thin films was compared when processed by solvent and thermal annealing techniques. The mixed solvent annealing method described here reduced the overall defect density (e.

Hoof accelerations and ground reaction forces of Thoroughbred racehorses measured on dirt, synthetic, and turf track surfaces.

Objective: To compare hoof acceleration and ground reaction force (GRF) data among dirt, synthetic, and turf surfaces in Thoroughbred racehorses.

Animals: 3 healthy Thoroughbred racehorses.

Procedures: Forelimb hoof accelerations and GRFs were measured with an accelerometer and a dynamometric horseshoe during trot and canter on dirt, synthetic, and turf track surfaces at a racecourse.

Solvent dependence of the activation energy of attachment determined by single molecule observations of surfactant adsorption.

Single-molecule total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy was used to obtain real-time images of fluorescently labeled hexadecanoic (palmitic) acid molecules as they adsorbed at the interface between fused silica and three different solvents: hexadecane (HD), tetrahydrofuran (THF), and water. These solvents were chosen to explore the effect of solvent polarity on the activation energy associated with the attachment rate, i.e.