Topography-driven alterations to single cell stiffness rather than alterations in cell morphology, is the underlying driver for influencing cell biological processes, particularly stem cell differentiation.

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Microporous silica (MS) materials are a kind of an emerging and promising adsorbent precursor. MS prepared from vermiculite has the advantages of easy preparation, low cost, and low layer charge. In this study, organo-MS (OMS) modified by a typical gemini surfactant 1,2-bis(hexadecyldimethylammonio)ethane dibromide (G 16 ) is first synthesized and proved to have effective retention capacity toward cationic dyes. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, TG-DTG, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Brunauer−Emmett−Teller are used to explore the structural characters of adsorbents. Gradient adsorption of compound MS (MS and OMS) in a binary dye system [methylene blue (MB) and crystal violet (CV)] was investigated. In a single system, the relationship between the adsorption capacity and influencing factors (dye concentration, contact time, temperature, and pH), adsorption kinetics, isotherms, as well as thermodynamics was comprehensively compared to reveal the adsorption mechanism. The adsorption values of MB and CV on MS and OMS are 308 mg g −1 (R = 77.0%, 15 min) and 250 mg g −1 (R = 83.3%), respectively, which may be caused by various intermolecular interactions (electrostatic or hydrophobic interactions) between the dye and adsorbent surface. In a binary system, the improved first spectroscopy method is used to calculate the individual concentration of the dye in the binary system. The total removal efficiency of gradient adsorption reaches as high as 89.5% (MB) and 86.4% (CV). In addition, compound MS can be effectively regenerated by HCl solution for several cycles.

Ultrasonic vibration (UV) treatment has been successfully applied to improve the particles distribution of nano-sized SiC particles (SiC) reinforced Al-5Cu alloy matrix composites which were prepared by combined processes of dry high energy ball milling and squeeze casting. When UV treatment is applied, the distribution of nano-sized SiC has been greatly improved. After UV for 1 min, large particles aggregates are broken up into small aggregates due to effects of cavitation and the acoustic streaming. After UV for 5 min, all the particles aggregates are dispersed and the particles are uniformly distributed in the composites. Compared with the Al-5Cu matrix alloy, the ultimate tensile strength, yield strength and elongation of the 1 wt% nano-sized SiC/Al-5Cu composites treated by UV for 5 min are 270 MPa, 173 MPa and 13.3%, which are increased by 7.6%, 6.8% and 29%, respectively. The improvements of mechanical properties after UV are attributed to the uniform distribution of nano particles, grain refinement of aluminum matrix alloy and reduction of porosity in the composites.