Inorganic/organic nanocomposite ion gels with well dispersed secondary silica nanoparticles.

We have previously reported tough inorganic/organic nanocomposite (NC) ion gels composed of silica particles and poly(,-dimethylacrylamide) (PDMAAm) networks and a large amount of ionic liquid. In this study, the network structure and toughening mechanism of NC ion gels were investigated. The NC ion gels showed characteristic mechanical properties; the stress was significantly increased at a highly elongated state.

Energy dissipation via the internal fracture of the silica particle network in inorganic/organic double network ion gels.

Inorganic/organic double network (DN) ion gels, which are composed of an inorganic silica particle network, an organic poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) (PDMAAm) network, and a large amount of ionic liquid, showed excellent mechanical strength of over 25 MPa compression fracture stress at an 80 wt% ionic liquid content. The excellent mechanical strength of these inorganic/organic DN ion gels was attributed to the energy dissipation of the inorganic/organic DN structure. It has been considered that the energy dissipation in inorganic/organic DN ion gels is caused by the internal fracture of the silica particle network, which is preferentially fractured by deformation.

Development of an HKUST-1 Nanofiller-Templated Poly(ether sulfone) Mixed Matrix Membrane for a Highly Efficient Ultrafiltration Process.

Mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) have been drawing increasing attention due to the high permeability and high rejection capabilities for highly efficient wastewater treatment applications. Nonetheless, improving the water permeance while maintaining the high rejection capability is still an ongoing challenge for the practically state-of-the-art MMMs. Herein, a new class of poly(ether sulfone) (PES) based MMM containing metal-organic framework (MOF) nanofillers of HKUST-1 and blending with poly(methyl methacrylate- co-methacrylic acid) (PMMA- co-MAA) copolymer, designated as HKUST-1@mPES MMM, were developed for the highly efficient ultrafiltration (UF) process.

Tough and stretchable inorganic/organic double network ion gel containing gemini-type ionic liquid as a multiple hydrogen bond cross-linker.

Tough and stretchable inorganic/organic double network ion gels containing gemini-type ionic liquids with two OH groups in the di-cation, which can work as multiple hydrogen bond-based weak cross-linkers of the gel networks, are developed.

Inorganic/Organic Double-Network Ion Gels with Partially Developed Silica-Particle Network.

Tough inorganic/organic composite network gels consisting of a partially developed silica-particle network and a large amount of an ionic liquid, named micro-double-network (μ-DN) ion gel, are fabricated via two methods. One is a one-pot/one-step process conducted using a simultaneous network formation via sol-gel reaction of tetraethyl orthosilicate and free radical polymerization of N, N-dimethylacrylamide in an ionic liquid. When the network formation rates of the inorganic and organic networks are almost the same, the μ-DN structure is formed.

Preperimetric Glaucoma Prospective Study (PPGPS): Predicting Visual Field Progression With Basal Optic Nerve Head Blood Flow in Normotensive PPG Eyes.

Purpose: To investigate the site specificity of visual field changes in eyes with normotensive preperimetric glaucoma (PPG), and to determine factors influencing visual field progression.

Methods: This prospective study comprised 84 eyes of 84 normotensive PPG patients followed for at least 16 months. Optic nerve head (ONH) blood flow was assessed with tissue-area mean blur rate (MBR), derived from laser speckle flowgraphy.

Preperimetric Glaucoma Prospective Observational Study (PPGPS): Design, baseline characteristics, and therapeutic effect of tafluprost in preperimetric glaucoma eye.

Purpose: There is no consensus on the diagnosis or treatment policy for Preperimetric Glaucoma (PPG) because the pathogenesis of PPG is not clear at this time. Preperimetric Glaucoma Prospective Observational Study (PPGPS) is a first multicenter, prospective, observational study to clarify the pathogenesis of PPG. This article indicates study design, patient baseline characteristics, and analysis focused on optic nerve head (ONH) blood flow in PPG, as well as the intraocular pressure (IOP) -lowering effect and ONH blood flow-improving effects of Tafluprost.

Inorganic/Organic Double-Network Gels Containing Ionic Liquids.

Highly robust ion gels, termed double-network (DN) ion gels, composed of inorganic/organic interpenetrating networks and a large amount of ionic liquids (ILs), are fabricated. The DN ion gels with an 80 wt% IL content show extraordinarily high mechanical strength: more than 28 MPa of compressive fracture stress. In the DN ion gel preparation, a brittle inorganic network of physically bonded silica nanoparticles and a ductile organic network of polydimethylacrylamide (PDMAAm) are formed in the IL.

Optic Nerve Head Blood Flow, as Measured by Laser Speckle Flowgraphy, Is Significantly Reduced in Preperimetric Glaucoma.

Purpose: To compare optic nerve head (ONH) blood flow in healthy eyes, eyes with preperimetric glaucoma (PPG), and eyes with mild normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) using laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG).

Methods: In 172 eyes (normal: 44 eyes; PPG: 62 eyes; mild NTG: 66 eyes), LSFG was used to measure mean blur rate in the ONH tissue area (MBR), an index of capillary blood flow. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine factors affecting circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (cpRNFLT), mean deviation (MD) and pattern standard deviation (PSD) of the visual field.

Host manipulation by an ichneumonid spider ectoparasitoid that takes advantage of preprogrammed web-building behaviour for its cocoon protection.

Host manipulation by parasites and parasitoids is a fascinating phenomenon within evolutionary ecology, representing an example of extended phenotypes. To elucidate the mechanism of host manipulation, revealing the origin and function of the invoked actions is essential. Our study focused on the ichneumonid spider ectoparasitoid Reclinervellus nielseni, which turns its host spider (Cyclosa argenteoalba) into a drugged navvy, to modify the web structure into a more persistent cocoon web so that the wasp can pupate safely on this web after the spider's death.

Comparison of the reactivity of carbohydrate photoaffinity probes with different photoreactive groups.

A judicious choice of photoreactive group is critical in successful photoaffinity labeling studies of small molecule-protein interactions. A set of carbohydrate-based photoaffinity probes was prepared to compare the effects of three major photoreactive groups on the efficiency and selectivity of crosslinking a binding protein with low affinity. We showed that, despite the low crosslinking yield, the diazirine probe displayed the high ligand-dependent reactivity consistent with the ideal mechanism of photoaffinity labeling.

Progression of visual field defects in eyes with different optic disc appearances in patients with normal tension glaucoma.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between the optic disc appearance and the progression of visual field defects in eyes with normal tension glaucoma (NTG).

Methods: Two hundred nine patients with NTG, who were being treated with topical antiglaucoma drugs and had been followed for at least 3 years, were studied. The baseline optic disc appearance was classified into 4 types: focal ischemic (FI), myopic glaucomatous (MY), senile sclerotic (SS), and generalized cup enlargement (GE).

Presence of myocilin sequence variants in Japanese patients with open-angle glaucoma.

Purpose: To examine the myocilin (MYOC) gene for mutations in Japanese patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and to determine the phenotypes of the patients with the mutations.

Methods: One-hundred thirty-eight unrelated Japanese patients with POAG were studied. Genomic DNA was extracted from leukocytes of peripheral blood, and the three coding exons including the intron-exon boundaries were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and directly sequenced bi-directionally.