Cells that form the corneal epithelium, the outermost layer of the cornea, are exposed to shear stress through blinking during waking hours. In this in vitro study, the effect of fluid shear stress on human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) was investigated. Following exposure to shear stresses of 4 and 8 dyn/cm2, HCECs showed cytoskeletal rearrangement with more prominent, organized and elongated filamentous actin. Cytoskeletal changes were time-dependent, and were most significant after 24 hours of shear stress. Higher rates of migration and proliferation, as evaluated by a scratch assay, were also observed following 24 hours of low shear stress exposure (4 dyn/cm2). This result contrasted the poor migration observed in samples scratched before shear exposure, indicating that shear-induced cytoskeletal changes played a key role in improved wound healing and must therefore precede any damage to the cell layer. HCEC cytoskeletal changes were accompanied by an upregulation in integrin β1 and downregulation of ICAM-1. These results demonstrate that HCECs respond favourably to flow-induced shear stress, impacting their proliferation and migration properties as well as phenotype.

Swelling of normal corn starch granules through heating in water leads to enlargement of the starch particles and a corresponding increase in internal cavity size. Through control of the swelling extent, it is possible to tune the size of the internal cavity for the starch microcapsules (SMCs). The swelling extent can be controlled through regulation of the swelling time and the swelling temperature. Since the swelling extent is correlated with particle size and solubility, these aspects may also be controlled. Imaging the SMCs at increasing levels of swelling extent using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) allowed for the internal cavity swelling process to be clearly observed. Brightfield and polarizing light microscopy validated the SEM observations. Confocal laser scanning microscopy provided further validation and indicated that it is possible to load the SMCs with large molecules through diffusion. The highly tunable SMCs are novel microparticles which could have applications in various industries.

Normal corn starch granules are imaged using a helium ion microscope (HIM). This relatively new imaging technique produces high‐resolution images of both the interior and exterior of the granules that allow features to be observed which had previously not been seen with scanning electron microscope. Of particular interest is the mesh‐like structure which is observed in the interior when starch granules are sectioned with a metal blade, a structure not currently part of existing models of starch architecture. HIM imaging provides a new way to characterize starch in the ongoing quest to elucidate its internal structure.

Copolymere aus Viiiylchlorid (VC) und Vinylidenclilorid (VDC) wurden mittels IH-NMR I)ei 90 MHz uiitersuclit. I h r c h Diadeii-(VC) bzw. Tetradeninterpretatiou (NDC) des hIethyleiiprotoiienspektruiiis wurden Sequenzverteilung und Bruttozusammensetzung bestimmt. Zwischen Proben gleicher Zusammensetzung wurdeli verfahrenstypisclie Unterschiede in der Sequenzverteilung gefunden. NccmaoeanuR pacnpeaenenu fionofiepnm nocneaoeamenbnocnieii conoJcuaeyoe eununxnopuda u eunmudewxoyuda fiernoaofi IH-HMP MccnegoBaHbI COnOJIMMepbI BMHMJIXJIOpHJla (BX) M BMHMJIAgeHXnOpMAa (BAX) MeTOAOM 'H-RMP n p~ 90 Mrq.c IIOMOWbH) HMaHHOfi (BX) M TeTpaAHOi (BAX) HHTepnpeTa4MM MeTHJIeHIIPOTOHHOI' O CIIeKTpa HaPReHO pacnpeAeJIeHMe MOHOMePHbIX 3BeHbeB II OTHOCMTeJIbHOe COAepmaHMe KOMnOHeHTOB RJIR npo6 C OAMHaKOBblM COCTaBOM, HO pa3JIMYaIoWMXCH ~11oco6oM M3l' OTOBJIeHHR, IIOJIyYeHbI pa3JIMqHble PaCnpeAeJIeHHR MOHOMePOB. 'H-NMR investigations of the sequence distribution in vinyl chloride/vinylidene chloride copolyniersCopolymers of vinyl chloride (VC) and vinylidcne chloride (VDC) were studied by lH-NMR a t 90 MHz. Sequence distribution and composition were determined by dyad (VC) and tetrad (VDC) interpretation of the methylene proton spectra. Differences in the sequence distribution of equal composed samples were found to be caused by conditions of preparation.