Photo-Embossed Surface Relief Structures with Improved Aspect Ratios and Their Applications in Liquid Crystal Devices

Photo-embossing has been developed as a convenient and economical method for creating complex surface relief structures in polymer films. The pursuit for large aspect ratios of the photo-embossed structures has never stopped. Here, we demonstrate a simple strategy to obtain improved aspect ratios by adding a quick solvent developing step into the photo-embossing process. A good solvent for the monomer is used to remove unreacted monomers from the unexposed region, resulting in deepened valleys of the surface reliefs. In a polymer film as thin as 2.5 µm, the height of the surface reliefs can be increased by a factor of three to around 1.0 µm. This strategy is also shown to be compatible with other methods used to improve the aspect ratios of the photo-embossed structures. Lastly, we employ these surface relief structures in the fabrication of liquid crystal (LC) devices and investigate their performances for visible light regulation.

A facile and economical method to synthesize a novel wide gamut fluorescent copolyester with outstanding properties

A series of high molecular weight copolyesters PExBTyAm were synthesized by a simple and economical two-step polycondensation method, and for the first time we found that the copolyesters exhibited an green fluorescence under 365 nm UV light.

ENSURING THE SAFETY OF METAL STRUCTURES IN CONSTRUCTION

The author considers the main methods of fire protection for residential and public buildings and structures. The efficiency of metal structures is analyzed, the latest methods of corrosion and fire protection of metal structures are selected. For the plastering, cladding and coating methods, a table of the required thickness in relation to the fire resistance limits was compiled. Based on this table, graphical and empirical dependences for the 30k1 I-beam column are constructed, showing the dependence of temperature on time and the limits of fire resistance on the reduced coating thickness. According to the graphic data, the most economical method of fire protection was chosen, but the resulting deflections exceed the limit according to current standards.

Oscillating water column plant

This article is describing the way of construction and operation of an oscillating water column system in order to recover as much as possible from the waves energy. The oscillating water column plant is used for the production of electrical energy by tidal currents, and it is currently the most widespread and economical method for the conversion of wave motion. The environmental impact of these infrastructures remains very low: no emissions of gas or any waste during their operation. In addition, the swell is a formidable source of energy.

Electric propulsion of ships and its advantages for anchor lifting towing vessels

This article is describing the way of construction and operation of an oscillating water column system in order to recover as much as possible from the waves energy. The oscillating water column plant is used for the production of electrical energy by tidal currents, and it is currently the most widespread and economical method for the conversion of wave motion. The environmental impact of these infrastructures remains very low: no emissions of gas or any waste during their operation. In addition, the swell is a formidable source of energy.

PSXI-10 How to use ultrasonic cutter on frozen semen for multiple embryo production

The objective of the present study was to establish conditions for using technology that can potentially enhance the efficiency of bovine embryos derived from in vitro fertilization (IVF) with frozen semen. Frozen semen from selected bulls can be stored indefinitely in liquid nitrogen as genetic resources; however, these resources are considered consumable because they cannot be regenerated. Therefore, to optimize the utilization of frozen semen, as many oocytes as possible should be fertilized with one straw. However, a sufficient number of prepared oocytes might not be available for one experiment, which can limit the use of the total spermatozoa population. Thus, an economical method for producing embryos needs to be established by optimizing technology for transplantable embryos. In this study, the utilization of frozen semen was increased by dividing the straw with an ultrasonic cutter. The post-thaw survival rate of uncut straws from Korean Proven Bulls did not differ from that of half cuttings. When ultrasonic cutting was applied to frozen semen, spermatozoa could be prepared for IVF trials at least four times, and blastocysts were produced. Therefore, cutting frozen semen with an ultrasonic cutter represents a potentially useful tool to expand genetic resources from excellent breeding stocks. This approach could also be valuable in the field of IVF of endangered species or rare breeds for their preservation, as well as in ovum pick-up (OPU) techniques.