Abstract. We develop a general theory of the swelling kinetics of polymer gels, with the view that a polymer gel is a two-phase fluid. The model we propose is a free boundary problem and can be used to understand both contraction and swelling, including complete dissolving or dehydration of polymeric gels. We show that the equations of motion satisfy a minimum energy dissipation rate principle ...

single-phase squirrel cage and three-phase induction electromotors are the most popular electromotors used in industry from long ago. when an induction motor starts with direct connection method, it takes a lot of current from the power supply (several times the nominal current); so, several methods have been devised to start such electromotors. these methods either reduce the voltage of the st...

Co-mixed cellulose acetate butyrate and permutit in a definite composition was prepared and coded as MRS-2.The membrane potential was measured with uni-uni valent electrolyte, NaCl solutions using saturated calomel electrodes (SCEs).The effective fixed charge density of the membrane was determined by TMS method and it showed dependence on the porosity, charge on the membrane matrix, charge and ...

Human aquaporin-1 (hAQP1) is a water channel found in many tissues and potentially involved in several human pathologies. Selective inhibitors of hAQP1 are discussed as novel treatment opportunities for glaucoma, brain edema, inflammatory pain, and certain types of cancer. However, only very few potent and chemically attractive blockers have been reported to date. In this study we present three...

Biological hydrogels are continuously turned over through secretion and degradation. This nonequilibrium flux may be important for cellular and molecular transport through mucus and the extracellular matrix. Gel-digesting enzymes can drastically change the physical and chemical properties of the hydrogel environment. We report that a spatial gradient in the degradation of two gel/enzyme systems...

Dog red blood cells (RBC) are shown to regulate their volume in anisosmotic media. Extrusion of water from osmotically swollen cells requires external calcium and is associated with net outward sodium movement. Accumulation of water by osmotically shrunken cells is not calcium dependent and is associated with net sodium uptake. Net movements of calcium are influenced by several variables includ...

Oncogenic mutation of KRAS (Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog) in colorectal cancer (CRC) confers resistance to both chemotherapy and EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor)-targeted therapy. We uncovered that KRAS mutant (KRAS(mut)) CRC is uniquely sensitive to treatment with recombinant LGALS9/Galectin-9 (rLGALS9), a recently established regulator of epithelial polarity. Upon treatme...

Cells move along surfaces both as single cells and multi-cellular units. Recent research points toward pivotal roles for water flux through aquaporins (AQPs) in single cell migration. Their expression is known to facilitate this process by promoting rapid shape changes. However, little is known about the impact on migrating epithelial sheets during wound healing and epithelial renewal. Here, we...

Cirrhosis is associated with altered gastrointestinal function, and bacterial translocation from the gut plays an important role in the etiology of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) seen in this condition. Although alterations in gut motility and intestinal permeability are recognized in cirrhosis, the intestinal damage at the cellular and subcellular levels is not well understood. This s...

In the present work, the drug volume fraction profiles of a colored and very soluble drug, buflomedil pyridoxal phosphate, in the gel layer of initially glassy hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose matrices were studied, using image analysis of pictures of the matrices during swelling and release. The goal was to correlate the drug release kinetics with the dynamic behavior of the drug gradient in the ...