Archive for January, 2015

Caddisfly silk gets shocked into self-recovery

The tough, extendable, energy-dissipating properties of the casemaker caddisfly’s adhesive silk are down to a self-recovering network of calcium crosslinks, new research shows. US researchers behind the discovery hope to harness these findings to design new synthetic bioadhesives that can adhere to wet tissues.

Images (l and m) of silk holding together glass beads in the same way that silk and stones combine to make the body armour (r)

To read the full article visit Chemistry World.

Self-recovering caddisfly silk: energy dissipating, Ca2+-dependent, double dynamic network fibers
Nicholas N. Ashton and Russell J. Stewart  
Soft Matter, 2015, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C4SM02435D, Paper

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Joint Biomaterials Science and Soft Matter ‘Silk and silk-inspired materials’ Web Collection

Take a look at the ‘Silk and silk-inspired materials’ web collection, a joint venture by Biomaterials Science and Soft Matter.

Are you interested in why spider silk is so strong? Or maybe you’re intrigued to find out how silk can be utilised in cell delivery? Whatever your curiosity be sure to check out the ‘Silk and silk-inspired materials’ web collection and find out why this growing area of research is proving so popular!

The web collection features articles from both Biomaterials Science and Soft Matter by leading authors from around the world. The collection contains a range of article types which cover the properties and rheology of silk-inspired materials as well as investigations into the surface properties of spider silk particles. Please follow the link to read all the articles in this popular area of research.

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Soft Matter Lectureship: Nominations now open

Do you know someone who deserves recognition for their contribution to the soft matter field?

Now is your chance to ensure they receive the accolade they deserve.

Soft Matter is pleased to announce that nominations are now being accepted for its Soft Matter Lectureship 2015. This annual lectureship was established in 2009 to honour an early-stage career scientist who has made a significant contribution to the soft matter field.

Previous winners include:

Eric Dufresne                                            Eric Furst                                                 Patrick Doyle


2014 – Eric Dufresne, based at Yale University, USA

2013 – Eric Furst, from the University of Delaware, USA

2012 – Patrick Doyle, based at MIT, USA

2011 – Michael J. Solomon, from the University of Michigan, USA

2010 – Bartosz Grzybowski, based at Northwestern University, USA

2009 – Emanuela Zaccarelli, from Sapienza University of Rome, Italy

Qualification

To be eligible for the Soft Matter Lectureship, the candidate should be in the earlier stages of their scientific career, typically within 15 years of attaining their doctorate or equivalent degree, and will have made a significant contribution to the field.

Description

The recipient of the award will be asked to present a lecture three times, one of which will be located in the home country of the recipient. The Soft Matter Editorial Office will provide the sum of £1000 to the recipient for travel and accommodation costs.

The award recipient will be presented with the award at one of the three award lectures. They will also be asked to contribute a lead article to the journal and will have their work showcased on the back cover of the issue in which their article is published.

Selection

The recipient of the award will be selected and endorsed by the Soft Matter Editorial Board.

Nominations

Those wishing to make a nomination should send details of the nominee, including a brief C.V. (no longer than 2 pages A4) together with a letter (no longer than 2 pages A4) supporting the nomination, to the Soft Matter Editorial Office by 6th March 2015.  Self-nomination is not permitted.

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Soft Matter Welcomes New Associate Editor Dimitris Vlassopoulos

We are delighted to welcome our newest Soft Matter Associate Editor: Professor Dimitris Vlassopoulos (University of Crete, Greece).

Dimitris is a leading expert in polymer rheology and has published over 160 papers. His research focuses on soft matter physics and engineering problems with specific interests in molecular rheology and rheo-physics in the bulk and at liquid interfaces, architecturally complex polymers, and soft colloids.

Dimitris also brings a wealth of previous editorial experience to the Soft Matter team; we are delighted to have him board.

To find out more about Dimitris’ research, take a look at this recent paper:

Molecular rheology of branched polymers: decoding and exploring the role of architectural dispersity through a synergy of anionic synthesis, interaction chromatography, rheometry and modeling
Evelyn van Ruymbeke, Hyojoon Lee, Taihyun Chang, Anastasia Nikopoulou, Nikos Hadjichristidis, Frank Snijkers, Dimitris Vlassopoulos

And a Soft Matter issue dedicated to the theme of ‘Bridging the gap between soft and hard colloids’ of which Dimtris was a Guest Editor along with Professor Michel Cloitre

As a Soft Matter Associate Editor, Dimitris will be handling submissions to the journal. Why not submit your next paper to his Editorial Office?
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HOT articles for January!

Graphene oxide single sheets as substrates for high resolution cryoTEM
Marcel W. P. van de Put, Joseph P. Patterson, Paul H. H. Bomans, Neil R. Wilson, Heiner Friedrich, Rolf A. T. M. van Benthem, Gijsbertus de With, Rachel K. O’Reilly and Nico A. J. M. Sommerdijk

Graphical abstract: Graphene oxide single sheets as substrates for high resolution cryoTEM

Cell membrane wrapping of a spherical thin elastic shell
Xin Yi and Huajian Gao

Graphical abstract: Cell membrane wrapping of a spherical thin elastic shell

 

These articles will be free until 3rd February 2015


A Master equation for the probability distribution functions of forces in soft particle packings
Kuniyasu Saitoh, Vanessa Magnanimo and Stefan Luding

Graphical abstract: A Master equation for the probability distribution functions of forces in soft particle packings

Structural tailoring of hydrogen-bonded poly(acrylic acid)/poly(ethylene oxide) multilayer thin films for reduced gas permeability
Fangming Xiang, Sarah M. Ward, Tara M. Givens and Jaime C. Grunlan

Graphical abstract: Structural tailoring of hydrogen-bonded poly(acrylic acid)/poly(ethylene oxide) multilayer thin films for reduced gas permeability

These articles will be free until 10th February 2015


Smectic layer instabilities in liquid crystals
Ingo Dierking, Michel Mitov and Mikhail A. Osipov

Graphical abstract: Smectic layer instabilities in liquid crystals

 
Graphical abstract: Coarse-grained simulation of dynamin-mediated fission
 
 
 These articles will be free until 17th February 2015Self-recovering caddisfly silk: energy dissipating, Ca2+-dependent, double dynamic network fibers
Nicholas N. Ashton and Russell J. Stewart   

Graphical abstract: Self-recovering caddisfly silk: energy dissipating, Ca2+-dependent, double dynamic network fibers
Structure and percolation of one-patch spherocylinders
Cheng-yu Zhang, Xing-liang Jian and Wei Lu   

Graphical abstract: Structure and percolation of one-patch spherocylinders

These articles will be free until 24th February 2015


 


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