In September I participated in a great scientific event. It was the ESAO 2013 conference in Glasgow –Scotland. I had an opportunity to present results of my recent work in form of speech entitled “Alginate and poly-L-lysine modified capsules as human cardiac stem cells delivery system for myocardial regeneration”.
The presentation concerned heart regeneration modern ideas. The endogenous repair of injured myocardium is limited process, therefore either cell replacement or recruitment into damaged heart area is required. The human cardiac stem cells (hCSC) therapy has been suggested as a novel approach to address myocardial regeneration. Unfortunately commonly applied methods of cell transfer are not sufficiently effective. The polymer alginate (ALG) or poly-L-lysine – alginate (PLL-ALG) microcapsules can be used to improve the efficiency of cell delivery and therapy. The aim of this study was to assess hemocompatybility and cytotoxic influence of capsules on the human cardiac stem cells growth and proliferation. The cytotoxic effect of alginate, poly-L-lysine-alginate microcapsules or their extracts on the primary hCSC culture conditions was examined by microscopic analysis of the death cells contribution. The viability and precentage of apoptotic cells was assessed after hCSC culture incubation with capsules by flow cytometric analysis of propidium iodide potential to intracellular penetration and anexin V, CD95, caspase-9 receptor expression. Changes in cell morphology were determined by microscopic observations after DAPI, phalloidin, anti-vimetnin staining and Shape Index (SI) evaluation. Moreover, the thrombogenicity of alginate, poly-L-lysine-alginate microcapsules in a few different dilutions was investigated by a flow cytometric analysis of platelets activation and aggregates formation. The effect of capsules or their extracts on lymphocytes activation was determined based on cytometric measurements of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD14, CD16, CD19, CD40, CD45RA, CD45RO and CD86 markers expression. Results of cytotoxicity studies showed significantly higher effect both of ALG capsules and extracts on the contribution of the death cells in comparison with PLL-ALG treated samples. It was found that capsules had no influence on cells viability. However, it was significant difference in caspase-9 expression between samples. The highest contribution of caspase-9 positive cells was noticed in PLL-ALG treated cultures. There was no significant difference in morphology and Shape Index values between control and samples treated by ALG or PLL-ALG capsules. It was no influence of capsule type on thrombogenic process. Dilution was significant only in case of aggregates formation. Samples treated with 100 times diluted PLL-ALG capsules indicated the highest aggregates contribution. It was found that capsule or extract type had no significant influence on lymphocyte activation. Results of performed studies showed that application of capsules is promising concept of myocardium regeneration based on paracrine action of hCSC, due to non-toxic effect on cardio-spheres, either lack of trombogenicity or potential to lymphocytes system activation.

In August, I was mainly writing a paper on boundaries
of special (i.e., tilt, twist, symmetric, and 180-tilt)
in hexagonal materials.
I tried to demonstrate the usefulness of theoretically
obtained diagrams for interpretation of
experimentally obtained grain boundary distributions available in the literature.

Microstructure of grade 2 titanium after KoBo deformation have been investigated. Orientation map have been collected by SEM/EBSD technique from longitudinal cross section of sample. The microstructure differs substantially from one observed in transverse cross section, due to highly anisotropic conditions of KoBo deformation. Curled grains observed in transverse section are replaced by heavily elongated grains in longitudinal section. Elongated grains are grouped in clusters and separated by high angle grain boundaries. Similarly to transverse cross section clusters of elongated grain are accompanied by areas of more strongly refined grains with shapes closer to equiaxed ones.
Similar microstructure have been observed in cold rolled titanium, however there are importatn differences. First are curled grains which are not observed in CR titanium and second are twins which are almost completely absent after KoBo deformation, while in cold rolling are one of most important deformation mechanisms leading to characteristic microstructure.

In August I did:
- microhardness measurement for selected samples of AA3004,
- preparing samples for annealing of Al-Zr,
- continued analysis of global textures measured by X-ray diffractometer,
- preparing a presentation for a meeting summarizing the academic year 2012/2013,
- finished writing and sent the article for the 41th School of Materials Science and Engineering which will be held in 24-27.09.2013 in Krynica (Poland). Below its abstract:

MICROSTRUCTURE AND TEXTURE EVOLUTION DURING ANNEALING
OF AA1050 ALUMINIUM ALLOY PRE-DEFORMED IN ECAP
J. Poplewska, H. Paul, A. Tarasek, K. Berent
Abstract
The main aim of the experiment was to analyze the microstructure and texture evolution during recrystallization of commercial AA1050 aluminum alloy. The samples were processed by ECAP in six passes along route A and then annealed for 1 hour at temperatures ranging from 100°C to 350°C. Studies carried out using scanning electron microscopy equipped with local orientation system and X-ray diffractometer. The obtained results showed that at lower annealing temperatures, the material retains ultra-fine grain structure formed by ECAP. At higher temperatures rapid grain growth appears and transformation of flattened grains into nearly equiaxed was observed. The results showed that obtaining the fine-grained and homogeneous structure of equiaxed grains, is problematic.

Keywords : AA1050 Aluminium alloy; ECAP; Recrystallization; Grain growth; EBSD

Again I tried etched the porous silicon layer and again nothing. So I took the simulations to see how it should be in case of reflectance for textured surface and textured with porous layer. Surprisingly, the real sample reflect less light than the simulated one. Moreover, the porous layer in the simulations worsen the reflectance. You have yet to see it. This must be checked.