Biomimetic mineral-organic composite scaffolds with controlled internal architecture

Bone and cartilage generation by three-dimensional scaffolds is one of the promising techniques in tissue engineering. One approach is to generate histologically and functionally normal tissue by delivering healthy cells in biocompatible scaffolds. These scaffolds provide the necessary support for cells to proliferate and maintain their differentiated function, and their architecture defines the ultimate shape. Rapid prototyping (RP) is a technology by which a complex 3-dimensional (3D) structure can be produced indirectly from computer aided design (CAD). The present study aims at developing a 3D organic-inorganic composite scaffold with defined internal architecture by a RP method utilizing a 3D printer to produce wax molds. The composite scaffolds consisting of chitosan and hydroxyapatite were prepared using soluble wax molds. The behaviour and response of MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblast cells on the scaffolds was studied. During a culture period of two and three weeks, cell proliferation and in-growth were observed by phase contrast light microscopy, histological staining and electron microscopy. The Giemsa and G?m?ri staining of the cells cultured on scaffolds showed that the cells proliferated not only on the surface, but also filled the micro pores of the scaffolds and produced extracellular matrix within the pores. The electron micrographs showed that the cells covering the surface of the struts were flattened and grew from the periphery into the middle region of the pores.     

On the synthesis of linear control systems with specified characteristics

The Popov invariants are used to define two matrices M_AB and K_AB, which describe the properties of a system $\text{x}\text{?}\text{= Ax + Bu}$ in a basis-independent form. Also a control system with state feedback K and nonsingular input transformation M, $\text{x}\text{?}\text{= (A ? BK)x + BMw = Fx + Gw}$, can be uniquely specified by the corresponding matrices M_FG and K_FG, which may be chosen arbitrarily with the only condition, that (F, G) must have the same unordered set of Kronecker invariants as (A, B). It is shown, how K and M are computed from M_AB, K_AB, M_FG and K_FG. Implications for pole assignment, minimal polynomial assignment and observer design are shown. Also a solution to the minimal realization problem is given, which results in M_AB, K_AB and the output relation y = Cx.     

Sensor fault diagnosis for nonlinear processes with parametric uncertainties

This paper addresses the problem of detecting, discriminating, and reconstructing sensor faults for nonlinear systems with known model structure but uncertainty in the parameters of the process. The convenience of the proposed technique lies in the fact that historical operational data and/or a priori fault information is not required to achieve accurate fault reconstruction except for fixed, short intervals. The overall fault diagnosis algorithm is composed of a series of nonlinear estimators, which estimates parameter and a fault isolation and identification filter. Parameter estimation and fault reconstruction cannot be performed accurately since faults and parametric uncertainty interact with each other. Therefore, these two tasks are performed at different time scales, where the fault diagnosis takes place at a more frequent rate than the parameter estimation. It is shown that the fault can be reconstructed under some realistic assumptions and the performance of the proposed methodology is evaluated on a simulated chemical process exhibiting nonlinear dynamic behavior.     

Targeted Synthesis of Complex Spiro[3H-indole-3,2′-pyrrolidin]-2(1H)-ones by Intramolecular Cyclization of Azomethine Ylides: Highly Potent MDM2–p53 Inhibitors

Mouse double minute 2 (MDM2) is a main and direct inhibitor of the crucial tumor suppressor p53. Reports from initial clinical trials showed that blocking this interaction with a small-molecule inhibitor can have great value in the treatment of cancer for patients with p53 wild-type tumors; however, it also revealed dose-limiting hematological toxicities and drug-induced resistance as main issues. To overcome the former, an inhibitor with superior potency and pharmacokinetic properties to ultimately achieve full efficacy with less-frequent dosing schedules is required. Toward this aim, we optimized our recently reported spiro-oxindole inhibitors by focusing on the crucial interaction with the amino acid side chain of His96_MDM2. The designed molecules required the targeted synthesis of structurally complex spiro[indole-3,2′-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyrrole]-2,4′-diones for which we developed an unprecedented intramolecular azomethine ylide cycloaddition and investigated the results by computational methods. One of the new compounds showed superior cellular potency over previously reported BI-0252. This finding is a significant step toward an inhibitor suitable to potentially mitigate hematological on-target adverse effects.     

Caffeine intake and its sources: A review of national representative studies

Aim of this review is to summarize current daily caffeine intake of children, adolescents, and adults, and trends in caffeine intake over the past decade. A literature search was conducted (1997–2015) which yielded 18 reports on nationally representative studies, describing caffeine consumption of over 275,000 children, adolescents and adults. The data revealed that mean total daily caffeine intake in children, adolescents, and adults is below caffeine intake recommendations such as those stated by Health Canada (2.5 mg/kg bw/day for children and adolescents, and 400 mg/day for adults) and the European Food Safety Authority, EFSA (3 mg/kg bw/day for children and adolescents, and 400 mg/day for adults). Total daily caffeine intake has remained stable in the last 10–15 years, and coffee, tea and soft drinks are the most important caffeine sources. Across all age groups, energy drinks contribute little to total caffeine intake. The highest potential for reducing daily caffeine intake is by limiting coffee consumption, and in some countries and age groups, by reducing tea and soft drink consumption.     

Micro molecular tagging velocimetry for analysis of gas flows in mini and micro systems

A new micro molecular tagging velocimetry (μMTV) setup has been developed to analyze velocity fields in confined internal gas flows. MTV is a little-intrusive velocimetry technique. It relies on the properties of molecular tracers which can experience relatively long lifetime luminescence once excited by a laser beam with an appropriate wavelength. The technique has been validated for acetone seeded flows of argon inside a 1 mm depth rectangular minichannel, with a multilayer design offering two optical accesses. Velocity profiles have been obtained using a specific data reduction process, with a resolution in the order of 15 μm. The experimental data are compared to theoretical velocity profiles of compressible pressure-driven flows. A good agreement is observed, except close to the walls, where the accuracy would still need to be improved. Following these first results obtained at atmospheric pressure, the influence of pressure on the luminescence intensity of acetone molecules is analyzed. The obtained data lead to a discussion of MTV applicability to rarefied flows and its possible use for a direct measurement of velocity slip at the channel walls.     

Biodegradable Frequency‐Selective Magnesium Radio‐Frequency Microresonators for Transient Biomedical Implants

Bioresorbable implantable medical devices show a great potential for applications requiring medical care over well‐defined periods of time. Once their function is fulfilled, such implants naturally degrade and resorb in the body, which eliminates adverse long‐term effects or the need for a secondary surgery to extract the implanted device. Since biodegradable materials are water‐soluble, the fabrication of such transient electronic circuits and devices requires special care and needs to rely solely on dry processing steps without exposure to aqueous solutions. A further challenge is the in vivo powering of medical implants that are only constituted of biodegradable materials. This paper describes the design, fabrication, and testing of radio‐frequency biodegradable magnesium microresonators. To this end, an innovative microfabrication process with minimal exposure to aqueous media is developed to fabricate magnesium‐based, water‐soluble electronic components. It consists of a novel sequence of only three steps: one physical vapor deposition, one photolithography, and one ion beam etching step. The frequency‐selective wireless heating of different resonators is demonstrated. This represents a significant step toward their use as power receivers and microheaters in biodegradable implantable medical devices, for applications such as triggered drug release.     

In-situ resource utilisation manufacturing of optically transparent glass from lunar regolith simulant

Journal of Materials Science - International space agencies are aiming to establish permanent outposts on the lunar surface. For that purpose, new technologies and equipment are being developed...     

亚洲洗涤习惯与衣物白度的保持

荧光增白剂会在使用过程中被清洗或降解掉,其常规性更新换代促使白色织物越来越被人们所接受.由于白色织物的种类和洗涤习惯都存在着千差万别,很难定义一种最为行之有效的荧光增白剂配方,既能提供高效的增白效果,又不具有不可逆地破坏织物外观的威胁.通过预测白度在反复的洗涤和日晒过程中可能发生的变化,可以得到一种减小风险的新方法.这个模型的基础是来源于不同地区的白色织物的基本数据,光照数据和评价一切与白度相关的因素的各种工具.