Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly under Compressed CO : Control of Morphology Using a CO -Responsive MacroRAFT Agent.

Polymerization-induced self-assembly of 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate is conducted in water and water/MeOH using a CO -responsive macroRAFT agent in the form of a statistical copolymer comprising N,N-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DEAEMA) and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (M  = 475 g mol ). Pressurization with CO leads to protonation of DEAEMA units within the stabilizer block, thereby offering a means of adjusting the charge density of the coronal layer. It is demonstrated that a wide range of tunable particle morphologies are accessible by simply varying the CO pressure during polymerization in the range of 10-45 bar.

Open-air spray plasma deposited UV-absorbing nanocomposite coatings.

We demonstrate the deposition of mechanically robust UV-absorbing nanocomposite coatings with a newly developed dual-source deposition method involving ultrasonic spraying and open-air plasma deposition. Nanoparticles and the coating matrix are independently deposited which eliminates difficulties associated with preparing composites with high mass fraction of well-dispersed nanoparticles in the matrix. Nanocomposite coatings containing different concentrations of silica, ceria, and both titania and ceria nanoparticles were successfully deposited with good nanoparticle dispersity, high transparency over the visible range, effective absorption in the UV wavelength, and enhanced mechanical properties.

Synthesis of crosslinked polymeric nanocapsules using catanionic vesicle templates stabilized by compressed CO2.

The synthesis of polymeric nanocapsules in the approximate diameter range 40-100 nm (TEM/SEM) using catanionic surfactant vesicle templates stabilized by subcritical CO2 is demonstrated. Near equimolar aqueous solutions of the surfactants sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) experienced immediate vesicle destabilization and precipitation in the absence of CO2. However, pressurization with CO2 (5 MPa) dramatically enhanced the stability of the initial vesicles, and enabled swelling of the bilayers with hydrophobic monomers via diffusion loading (loading of monomers into preformed bilayers).

Dual Precursor Atmospheric Plasma Deposition of Transparent Bilayer Protective Coatings on Plastics.

We demonstrate a dual organic and inorganic precursor method to deposit transparent organosilicate protective bilayer coatings on poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) substrates with atmospheric plasma deposition in ambient air. The bottom layer was a hybrid organosilicate adhesive layer deposited with dual organic 1,5-cyclooctadiene (CYC) and widely used inorganic tetraethoxysiline (TEOS) precursors. The selection of the organic CYC precursor allowed incorporation of a carbon chain in the organosilicate adhesive layer, which resulted in improved adhesion.

Changes in the expression of four heat shock proteins during the aging process in Brachionus calyciflorus (rotifera).

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are molecular chaperones and have an important role in the refolding and degradation of misfolded proteins, and these functions are related to aging. Rotifer is a useful model organism in aging research, owing to small body size (0.1-1 mm), short lifespan (6-14 days), and senescence phenotypes that can be measured relatively easily.

Changes in expression of manganese superoxide dismutase, copper and zinc superoxide dismutase and catalase in Brachionus calyciflorus during the aging process.

Rotifers are useful model organisms for aging research, owing to their small body size (0.1-1 mm), short lifespan (6-14 days) and the relative easy in which aging and senescence phenotypes can be measured. Recent studies have shown that antioxidants can extend the lifespan of rotifers.

Characterization and expression of cytoplasmic copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZn SOD) gene under temperature and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus.

Superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.

Molecular and expression analysis of manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) gene under temperature and starvation stress in rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus.

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an important antioxidant enzyme that protects organs from damage by reactive oxygen species. We cloned cDNA encoding SOD activated with manganese (Mn-SOD) from the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus Pallas. The full-length cDNA of Mn-SOD was 1,016 bp and had a 669 bp open reading frame encoding 222 amino acids.

Copper-iron bimetal modified PAN fiber complexes as novel heterogeneous Fenton catalysts for degradation of organic dye under visible light irradiation.

A series of Cu-Fe bimetal amidoximated polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fiber complexes with different molar ratios of Cu(2+) to Fe(3+) ions was prepared using a simple exhaustion method, and characterized using FTIR, DRS and XPS, respectively. Then they were tested as the heterogeneous Fenton catalysts for Rhodamine B degradation with H(2)O(2) in the dark and under visible light irradiation. The results indicated that Cu-Fe bimetal amidoximated PAN fiber complexes could more effectively catalyze the dye degradation in water than Fe amidoximated PAN fiber complex, especially in the dark.