Dynamic mechanical analysis was used to record the behaviour of hydrated and dehydrated byssal threads under tensile stress and during dynamic thermal cycling. Fresh byssi, and byssi aged two weeks prior to testing, were used to further study the effects of age on the mechanical properties of this material. It was found that while older threads demonstrated increased stiffness, age did not nece...

During heart valve remodeling, and in many disease states, valvular interstitial cells (VICs) shift to an activated myofibroblast phenotype which is characterized by enhanced synthetic and contractile activity. Pronounced alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA)containing stress fibers, the hallmark of activated myofibroblasts, are also observed when VICs are placed under tension due to altered mechani...

During heart valve remodeling, and in many disease states, valvular interstitial cells (VICs) shift to an activated myofibroblast phenotype which is characterized by enhanced synthetic and contractile activity. Pronounced alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA)containing stress fibers, the hallmark of activated myofibroblasts, are also observed when VICs are placed under tension due to altered mechani...

Background: Organic agricultural pesticides are so stable in ecosystems and biosphere. These compounds affect soil conditions and agricultural products. The aim of this study was isolation of diazinon-degrading bacteria from Kerman pistachio orchards, Southeastern Iran. Methods: Diazinon-degrading bacteria were enriched in Bushnell-Hass medium. Identification and sequencing of prevalent degr...

Aerial robots can autonomously collect temporal and spatial high-resolution environmental data. This data be utilized to develop mathematical ecology models understand the impact of climate change on habitat. In case drone malfunction, incorporated materials threaten vulnerable environments. The recent introduction transient robotics enables development biodegradable, environmental-sensing dron...

This paper is concerned with the use of leaky Lamb waves for the nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of damage in anisotropic materials such as fiber-reinforced composites. Two fundamental acoustic properties of the material, namely, the wave speed and attenuation have been measured. Stiffness is deduced from the wave speed. The damage mode selected for this study is matrix cracking. As expected, t...

background toluene is a cyclic aromatic hydrocarbon which is widely used as an industrial feedstock and as a solvent. it is one of the major parts of pollution in oil-contaminated environments. objectives the main aim of this study was to isolate and characterize a bacterium with high potential application in toluene bioremediation. materials and methods to isolate a toluene-degrading bacterium...