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Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is one of the microscopic techniques with the highest lateral resolution. It can usually be applied in air or even in liquids, enabling the investigation of a broader range of samples than scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which is mostly performed in vacuum. Since it works by following the sample surface based on the force between the scanning tip and the sample, interactions have to be taken into account, making the AFM of irregular samples complicated, but on the other hand it allows measurements of more physical parameters than pure topography. This is especially important for biopolymers and hydrogels used in tissue engineering and other biotechnological applications, where elastic properties, surface charges and other parameters influence mammalian cell adhesion and growth as well as many other effects. This review gives an overview of AFM modes relevant for the investigations of biopolymers and hydrogels and shows several examples of recent applications, focusing on the polysaccharides chitosan, alginate, carrageenan and different hydrogels, but depicting also a broader spectrum of materials on which different AFM measurements are reported in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The drop deposition technique can impact contact angle measurements. We hypothesized that the drop pinch-off, during the traditionally used pendant drop technique, significantly alters the static contact angle. The capillary waves and dynamic wetting pressure generated during the pendant drop deposition are the source for forced spreading, which can be circumvented by alternative liquid-needle drop deposition techniques. To compare the role of drop pinch-off and resultant dynamic wetting pressure, we meticulously observed and quantified the entire drop deposition process using high speed imaging until the drop attains the static contact angle in both cases, namely pendant drop and liquid needle deposition technique. Conventionally used standard substrates are compared using both techniques and further compared using literature data. The capillary waves and corresponding drop shape variations are analysed for quantifying the dynamic wetting pressure by measuring drop base diameter, contact angle and centre of mass. We compared three parameters - drop pinch-off, spreading behaviour and respective static contact angles along with the resultant dynamic wetting pressure for both the techniques, i.e., pendant drop and liquid-needle. For the pendant drop technique we observed a pronounced drop volume dependency of these parameters even though the corresponding Bond numbers are less than unity. In contrast, for the liquid needle there is no such dependency. With a theoretical argument corroborating experimental observations, this work highlights the importance of a well controlled drop deposition, with a minimum wetting pressure, in order to guarantee contact angle data that is independent of drop deposition effects, thereby only reflecting the substrate properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significant effect of an external dc magnetic field on the splashing behavior of ethanol drops impacting on the unstructured (flat) surface of soft magnetoactive elastomers (MAEs) is reported. The Weber number corresponding to the transition between the deposition and the splashing regime is reduced by ≈20% in a moderate magnetic field of ≈300 mT. Alongside this effect, a two‐fold increase of the initial deceleration of the ejection sheet is observed for the softest sample. The main underlying mechanism for the observed phenomena is believed to be the magnetic‐field‐induced stiffening of the MAEs. Further possible mechanisms are magnetically induced changes in the surface roughness and magnetic‐field‐induced plasticity (magnetic shape memory effect). The potential application areas are magnetically regulable wetting and magneto‐responsive surfaces for controlling the drop splashing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to prepare reference radon emanation sources traceable to primary standards to be used for radon-in-air as well as radon-in-water experiments. The feasibility of making stable radon emanation sources by drop deposition and chemisorption was studied. Experimental emanation coefficients for sources made by drop deposition and chemisorption ranged from 0.10 to 0.74 and from 0.18 to 0.25, respectively. These relatively low emanation coefficient values suggest that further method developments would be desirable. Proposals are made to improve chemisorption yield during source preparation and to obtain more accurate measurements on radon emanation coefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o depósito de calda pulverizada por dois tipos de pontas de pulverização sobre plantas de Salvinia auriculata dispostas em diferentes arranjos populacionais com plantas de Eichhornia crassipes e Pistia stratiotes. Um experimento foi conduzido em condições de caixas-d'água em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram dispostos em esquema fatorial 2 x 8, sendo dois tipos de pontas de pulverização (ConeJet TXVK-8 e TeeJet DG 11002 VS) e oito proporções entre as plantas aquáticas, a saber: dominância total da área de cobertura da caixa-d'água pelas plantas de salvínia (100%); e as proporções entre plantas de salvínia e de aguapé ou alface-d'água a 75%:25%, 50%:50% e 25%:75%. Também foi utilizada uma densidade tripla, na qual as três espécies estiveram igualmente dispostas na proporção de 33%. Soluções dos corantes Amarelo Tartrasina FDC-5 a 3.500 ppm e Azul Brilhante FDC-1 a 1.000 ppm foram utilizadas como traçadores para as pontas TXVK-8 e DG 11002VS, respectivamente. A pulverização das soluções foi efetuada na mesma unidade experimental, com intervalo de 30 minutos entre si, com auxílio de um pulverizador costal pressurizado com CO2, calibrado de modo que proporcionasse volume de aplicação aproximado de 200 L ha-1. Não foram observadas diferenças estatísticas entre os tipos de pontas de pulverização nas diferentes proporções estudadas, exceto para depósitos totais de calda de pulverização nas plantas na condição de dominância total da salvínia, uma vez que a ponta ConeJet TXVK-8 foi superior à TeeJet DG 11002 VS. Os valores dos depósitos diminuíram com o aumento da proporção de plantas de aguapé na associação e foram na condição em que 25% de plantas de salvínia estiveram associadas a 75% de plantas de aguapé. A presença da espécie alface-d'água não influenciou a deposição de gotas sobre as folhas de salvínia.This study aimed to evaluate two types of spray tips (ConeJet TXVK-8 and TeeJet DG 11002 VS) and the amount of spray mix deposited on Salvinia auriculata plants organized under different population arrangements with Eichhornia crassipes and Pistia stratiotes plants. In addition to a full-dominance proportion over the area, corresponding to 100% cover of the water tank by eared water moss plants, arrangements with either water hyacinth or water lettuce were made at 75%:25%, 50%:50%, and 25%:75%. A triple density, in which the three species were equally disposed at a 33.33% proportion, was also used. Dye solutions of FD&C Yellow no. 5 at 3,500 ppm and FD&C Blue no.1 at 1,000 ppm were used, as spraying tracers for TXVK-8 and DG 11002 VS nozzles, respectively. Both solutions were sprayed at the same plot within a 30-minute interval each, through a CO2 pressured backpack, calibrated to deliver a spray volume of around 200 L ha-1. The total spray deposits were estimated in mL per plant and the unit deposits in mL cm² of foliar surface. No significant differences were observed between the nozzle tips used at different population arrangements, except total spray mix deposited on plants at 100% of eared water moss dominance proportion, with ConeJet TXVK-8, providing superior spray mix deposition, compared with TeeJet DG 11002 VS. The highest spray mix deposition was obtained under 100% of salvínia dominance. However, the spray mix quantity decreased with increase of water hyacinth in the proportion and reached the lowest value when 25% of eared water moss plants were associated with 75% of water hyacinth plants. The presence of water lettuce did not influence spray mix deposition over eared water moss plants.

Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar o depósito de calda pulverizada por dois tipos de pontas de pulverização sob plantas de alface-d'água (Pistia stratiotes) dispostas em diferentes arranjos populacionais com plantas de aguapé (Eichhornia crassipes) e salvínia (Salvinia auriculata). Para isso, foi conduzido um experimento em condições de caixas-d'água em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos estiveram dispostos em esquema fatorial 2 x 8, sendo dois tipos de pontas de pulverização (ConeJet TXVK-8 e TeeJet DG 11002 VS) e oito proporções entre as plantas aquáticas, a saber: dominância total da área correspondente a 100% de cobertura da caixa-d'água pelas plantas de alface-d'água; e as proporções entre plantas de alface-d'água e plantas de aguapé ou salvínia a 75%:25%, 50%:50% e 25%:75%. Também foi utilizada uma densidade tripla, na qual as três espécies estiveram igualmente dispostas na proporção de 33,33%. Soluções dos corantes Amarelo Tartrasina FDC-5 a 3.500 ppm e Azul Brilhante FDC-1 a 1.000 ppm foram utilizadas como traçadores para as pontas TXVK-8 e DG 11002VS, respectivamente. A pulverização de ambas as soluções foi efetuada na mesma unidade experimental, com um intervalo de 30 minutos entre si, utilizando-se um pulverizador costal pressurizado com CO2, calibrado de modo a proporcionar um volume de aplicação aproximado de 200 L ha. Após a pulverização, as plantas presentes nos reservatórios foram lavadas com água destilada, até remoção total dos corantes. Os depósitos totais de calda foram estimados em μL por planta, e os depósitos unitários, em μL cm-2 de superfície foliar. O aumento na proporção de plantas de aguapé na associação proporcionou menores depósitos de calda de pulverização sobre as plantas de alface-d'água. Em contrapartida, o aumento na proporção de salvínia na associação propiciou maiores depósitos de calda de pulverização, independentemente do tipo de ponta de pulverização. A ponta TXVK-8 proporcionou depósitos unitários e totais de calda de pulverização superiores aos da ponta DG 11002VS.This study aimed to evaluate two types of nozzles (ConeJet TXVK-8 and TeeJet DG 11002 VS) and the amount of spray mix deposited on water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) plants organized under different population arrangements with water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and eared watermoss (Salvinia auriculata) plants. In addition to a full-dominance proportion over the area, corresponding to 100% cover of the water tank by eared watermoss plants, arrangements were used with either water hyacinth or water lettuce at 75%:25%, 50%:50%, and 25%:75%. Triple density was also used, with the three species being equally displayed at a 33.33% proportion. Dye solutions of FD&C Yellow no. 5 at 3,500 ppm and FD&C Blue no. 1 at 1,000 ppm were used as spraying tracers for TXVK-8 and DG 11002 VS nozzles, respectively. Both solutions were sprayed at the same plot within 30 minute interval each through a CO2 pressured backpack knapsack calibrated to deliver a spray volume around 200 L ha-1 . Plants at reservoirs were flushed with distilled water until total removal of the dyes deposited on them. The total spray deposits were estimated in μL per plant and the unitary deposits where estimated in μL cm-2 of foliar surface. Increase in water hyacinth plant proportion in the arrangement resulted in lower spray deposition over water lettuce. Increase in water moss plant proportion in the arrangement provided higher spray depositions over water lettuce, independently of the nozzle type used. The TXVK-8 nozzles provided higher unitary and total spray depositions compared to the DG 11002 VS nozzle.

Estudos foram conduzidos com o objetivo de avaliar os depósitos de gotas pulverizadas através de dois tipos de pontas sobre as faces adaxial e abaxial de folhas de Eichhornia crassipes dispostas em diferentes ângulos. No primeiro estudo, os tratamentos foram dispostos no esquema fatorial 2x4x7: dois tipos de pontas (TX12 e XR11002VS), quatro ângulos verticais (0º, 30º, 60º e 90º) e sete ângulos horizontais (0º, 15º, 30º, 45º, 60º, 75º e 90º). No ângulo vertical de 90º a lâmina foliar foi posicionada paralelamente ao sentido de deslocamento do jato de pulverização; e no ângulo horizontal de 90º a folha foi posicionada perpendicularmente ao plano do solo. Como traçadores, foram utilizadas soluções de 1.000 ppm do corante Azul FDC-1 e 3.500 ppm do corante Amarelo Tartrasina para as pontas tipo leque e cone, respectivamente. No segundo estudo, os tratamentos foram dispostos no esquema fatorial 2x2x3: dois tipos de pontas (TX12 e XR11002VS), dois tipos de calda (com e sem Aterbane BR a 0,5%) e três ângulos horizontais (0º, 45º e 90º). Adotou-se o ângulo vertical de 90º como padrão para todos os tratamentos. Soluções de 1.000 ppm do corante Azul FDC-1 e 3.500 ppm do corante Amarelo Tartrasina foram utilizadas como traçadores para a calda com e sem surfatante, respectivamente. Os resultados do primeiro estudo revelaram que os depósitos observados em toda a folha e na face adaxial das lâminas foliares de aguapé diminuíram à medida que se aumentou a angulação vertical, independentemente da ponta utilizada. Os menores depósitos sempre estiveram relacionados ao ângulo vertical de 90º, independentemente do ângulo horizontal utilizado. Não foi detectado nenhum depósito na face abaxial das folhas de aguapé em todas as combinações dos fatores estudados. No segundo estudo também foram observados os mesmos decréscimos no volume de calda depositado em toda a folha e na face adaxial à medida que se aumentou a angulação vertical das lâminas foliares. As duas pontas proporcionaram depósitos nulos na face abaxial quando o surfatante não foi utilizado; entretanto, a adição do surfatante à calda incrementou significativamente os depósitos nesta face da folha do aguapé.This study aimed to evaluate the deposition of drops using two nozzle types over Eichhornia crassipes leaves. The first trial was arranged in a factorial design 2x4x7, as follows: 2 nozzle types (TX12 and XR11002VS), 4 vertical angles (0º, 30º, 60º and 90º) and 7 horizontal angles (0º, 15º, 30º, 45º, 60º, 75º and 90º). The laminar leaf was set up parallel to the jet spraying movement direction at a vertical angle of 90º, and perpendicular to the soil plane at a horizontal angle of 90º. Solutions of dyes FD&C Blue no. 1 at 1,000 ppm and FD&C Yellow no. 5 at 3.500 ppm were used as spraying tracers for flat fan and cone nozzles, respectively. The second trial was set up as a factorial design 2x2x3, being 2 nozzle types (TX12 and XR11002VS), 2 spray solution conditions (with and without Aterbane BR at 0.5% v/v) and 4 horizontal angles (0º, 45º and 90º). The vertical angle of 90º was assigned as pattern to all the treatments. Solutions of dyes FD&C Blue no. 1 at 1,000 ppm and FD&C Yellow no. 5 at 3.500 ppm were used as spraying tracers with or without surfactant, respectively. The results obtained from the first trial showed that the spray solution deposits observed on the whole leaf and on the foliar adaxial face of the laminar leaves of water hyacinth decreased as the vertical angle became higher, regardless of the nozzle type used. The lowest spray solution deposits were always related to the vertical angle of 90º, regardless of the horizontal angle adopted. No spray solution deposit was detected on the abaxial face of water hyacinth leaf at the combinations of the factors studied. In the second trial the same spray solution deposit was observed to decrease the whole leaf and adaxial faces as the vertical angle increased. Both nozzle types provided null and void deposits on the abaxial face when the surfactant was not used. However, the surfactant addition to the spray solution provided significant increases on the abaxial face of water hyacinth leaves.

Fluidized bed spray granulation is used to produce porous granular particles from suspensions, solutions, and melts. In this work, the drying of the spray and the drying of the particles in the fluidized bed are simulated using the Two Fluid Model (TFM) with the Eulerian-Eulerian approach. Using the wetted surfaces of the particle, the dust integration is implemented. The model is used to simulate the particle growth for a semi-batch fluidized bed spray granulation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Trisiloxane surfactants are widely used in pesticide applications as adjuvants to promote spray drop spreading on leaves. The efficacy of the spray is related to the wetting of plant surfaces. The surface (composite or wetted) formed by the liquid drop instantly contacting with the substrate is vital to the spreading. In this paper the spreading behaviors of surfactant solutions on dry and previous wet lotus leaf surfaces were studied. It was found that the drop spreading on the wet surface was obviously easier than on the dry surface, which was rational to the existence of water in the grooves of the wet surface. The spreading of Silwet L-77 aqueous drops on the wet lotus leaf surface is mainly controlled by the surface tension gradient along the air–liquid interface. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Self-assembled nanocomplexes composed of individual molecules that spontaneously connect via noncovalent interactions have recently emerged as versatile alternatives to conventional controlled drug delivery systems because of their unique bioinspired properties (responsiveness, dynamics, etc.). Characterization of such nanocomplexes typically includes their size distribution, surface charge, morphology, drug entrapment efficiency, and verification of the coexistence of labeled components within the nanocomplexes using a colocalization study. Less common is the direct examination of the molecular interactions between the different components in the coassembled nanocomplex, especially in nanocomplexes composed of hygroscopic components, because convenient methods are still lacking. Here, we present a detailed experimental protocol for determining the surface composition and the chemical bonds by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) after drying the deposit hygroscopic sample overnight under UHV. We applied this method to investigate the surface chemistry of binary Ca 2+ -siRNA nanocomplexes and ternary nanocomplexes of hyaluronan-sulfate (HAS)-Ca 2+ -siRNA, deposited on a wafer. Notably, we showed that the protocol can be implemented to study the surface composition and interactions of the deposited nanocomplexes with a traditional XPS instrument, and it requires only a relatively small amount of the nanocomplex suspension.