Finite Element Modeling of Shell Shape in the Freshwater Turtle Pseudemys concinna Reveals a Trade-Off between Mechanical Strength and Hydrodynamic Efficiency

Aquatic species can experience different selective pressures on morphology in different flow regimes. Species inhabiting lotic regimes often adapt to these conditions by evolving low-drag (i.e., streamlined) morphologies that reduce the likelihood of dislodgment or displacement. However, hydrodynamic factors are not the only selective pressures influencing organismal morphology and shapes well suited to flow conditions may compromise performance in other roles. We investigated the possibility of morphological trade-offs in the turtle Pseudemys concinna. Individuals living in lotic environments have flatter, more streamlined shells than those living in lentic environments; however, this flatter shape may also make the shells less capable of resisting predator-induced loads. We tested the idea that ‘‘lotic’’ shell shapes are weaker than ‘‘lentic’’ shell shapes, concomitantly examining effects of sex. Geometric morphometric data were used to transform an existing finite element shell model into a series of models corresponding to the shapes of individual turtles. Models were assigned identical material properties and loaded under identical conditions, and the stresses produced by a series of eight loads were extracted to describe the strength of the shells. ‘‘Lotic’’ shell shapes produced significantly higher stresses than ‘‘lentic’’ shell shapes, indicating that the former is weaker than the latter. Females had significantly stronger shell shapes than males, although these differences were less consistent than differences between flow regimes. We conclude that, despite the potential for many-to-one mapping of shell shape onto strength, P. concinna experiences a trade-off in shell shape between hydrodynamic and mechanical performance. This trade-off may be evident in many other turtle species or any other aquatic species that also depend on a shell for defense. However, evolution of body size may provide an avenue of escape from this trade-off in some cases, as changes in size can drastically affect mechanical performance while having little effect on hydrodynamic performance.

Addition of Zinc Sulfide Shells to Semiconducting Nanoparticles and its Effect on the Nanoparticle Fluorescence Emission Properties

The addition of a ZnS shell to CdSe and CdS quantum dot cores was explored using various methods. Spectrophotometry was used to assess the success of ZnS overcoating, which produces both an increase in overall fluorescence and decrease in particle size distribution. A new method was developed, involving preheating of the zinc and sulfide precursor solutions, resulting in CdSe(ZnS) particles with improved fluorescence and a more uniform shell coating from oleylamine-capped CdSe core particles.

Scale Up of PLA Nanoparticle Synthesis by Solvent Displacement and Functionalization of the Particles with a Silica Shell for Targeted Drug Delivery Applications

Biodegradable polymer nanoparticles have the properties necessary to address many of the issues associated with current drug delivery techniques including targeted and controlled delivery. A novel drug delivery vehicle is proposed consisting of a poly(lactic acid) nanoparticle core, with a functionalized, mesoporous silica shell. In this study, the production of PLA nanoparticles is investigated using solvent displacement in both a batch and continuous manner, and the effects of various system parameters are examined. Using Pluronic F-127 as the stabilization agent throughout the study, PLA nanoparticles are produced through solvent displacement with diameters ranging from 200 to 250 nm using two different methods: dropwise addition and in an impinging jet mixer. The impinging jet mixer allows for easy scale-up of particle production. The concentration of surfactant and volume of quench solution is found to have minimal impact on particle diameter; however, the concentration of PLA is found to significantly impact the diameter mean and polydispersity. In addition, the stability of the PLA nanoparticles is observed to increase as residual THF is evaporated. Lastly, the isolated PLA nanoparticles are coated with a silica shell using the Stöber Process. It is found that functionalizing the silica with a phosphonic silane in the presence of excess Pluronic F-127 decreases coalescence of the particles during the coating process. Future work should be conducted to fine-tune the PLA nanoparticle synthesis process by understanding the effect of other system parameters and in synthesizing mesoporous silica shells.