by Rohan R. Ravindranath  , Issaka Yougbare  , Heyu Ni  , Jason E. Fish  , Alexander Romaschin  and Michael Thompson

Received: 25 January 2020;  Published: 27 March 2020;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2001008

by Rolf R. Gerhardts

Received: 11 November 2019;  Published: 17 March 2020;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2001007

We summarize and discuss a self-consistent screening and magneto-transport theory, developed to understand the results of scanning-force-microscope experiments on the current distribution in a two-dimensional electron system (2DES), located in a narrow Hall bar under the conditions of the integer quantum Hall effect (IQHE) and its breakdown. The theory explains why, at low temperatures, at certain intervals of the applied perpendicular magnetic field, the current density is confined to “incompre [...]

by H. Hakemi  , M. Khenkin  , R. Tamari  and D. Gal-Fuss

Received: 10 December 2019;  Published: 05 March 2020;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2001006

In the present study, we report the experimental results related to the transient phenomenon, i.e., the time-dependent changes in the electro-optical properties of as-made polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films prepared by the UV-curing phase-separation method. This phenomenon occurs explicitly via polymer-induced phase separation when the matrix curing is not complete, some liquid crystal plasticized in the matrix, and some uncured pre-polymer components remain in the liquid crystal drop [...]

by Ryan Dimmock  , Xuyiling Wang  , Yibin Fu  , Alicia El Haj  and Ying Yang

Received: 09 December 2019;  Published: 28 February 2020;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2001005

Advancements in surface engineering and material fabrication techniques have enabled the creation and replication of naturally occurring surface topographies or the extrapolation of natural patterns to become achievable targets. Polymers are used extensively in the field of biomedical sciences for containment, handling, and as cell culture substrates. It is well established that several polymers exhibit good biocompatibility for cell culture, with properties that include exhibiting minimal to no [...]

by Maria Alonso-González  , José Fernando Rubio-Valle  , Victor Perez-Puyana  , Mercedes Jiménez-Rosado  and Alberto Romero

Received: 01 November 2019;  Published: 26 February 2020;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2001004

The present study deals with the development of scaffolds based on gelatin (G) and/or chitosan (CH) through modifications in the central processing method. This process consists of the fabrication of a hydrogel which is, then submitted to a freeze-drying stage. To compare the effects of the different modifications, the mechanical properties of the various systems were characterized, employing both dynamic compressive strain and frequency sweep tests. In addition, their porosity as well as the st [...]

by Satoshi Migita  and Tomoya Yamaguchi

Received: 18 September 2019;  Published: 14 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2001003

The surface roughness of titanium could regulate various cellular functions such as survival and growth. In the context of cell adhesion to materials, cell spreading and cell shape are also closely linked to various cellular functions. Previously, we found that Ti substrate with a 100-nm scale surface roughness reduced cell survival. However, effects of surface roughness on cell shape were not investigated. Herein, we quantified the initial adhesion behavior of osteoblasts on a Ti substrate with [...]

by Fabrice Debbasch

Received: 15 October 2019;  Published: 06 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2001002

A relativistic Wigner function for free Discrete Time Quantum Walks (DTQWs) on the square 2D space-time lattice is defined. The transport equation obeyed by the relativistic Wigner function is derived in terms of discrete derivatives and degenerates in the continuum limit into the transport equation obeyed by the Wigner function of 2D Dirac fermions. The first corrections to the continuous equation induced by the discreteness of the lattice are also determined and the similarities with non-quant [...]

by H. Hakemi  and G. Hakemi

Received: 05 December 2019;  Published: 03 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2001001

In this study, we explored the phase equilibria in blends of a nematic liquid crystal monomer and a nematic liquid crystal flexible polymer within the whole composition of the phase diagram. The crystal-nematic and nematic-isotropic transition temperatures, as well as the transition enthalpies and entropies, indicated the total miscibility in this mesogenic blend system. We also extracted an empirical axial ratio of 4.52 for the polymer from the nematic-isotropic transitions of the blends. Furth [...]