An ApoA-I mimetic peptide high-density-lipoprotein-based MRI contrast agent for atherosclerotic plaque composition detection

Cardiovascular disease is one of the prime causes of mortality throughout the world and there is a need for targeted and effective contrast agents to allow noninvasive imaging of the cholesterol-rich atherosclerotic plaques in arteries. A new, fully synthetic, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-mimicking MRI contrast agent is developed, which enhances macrophage-rich areas of plaque in a mouse model of atherosclerosis by 94%. Confirmation of the targeting of this nanoparticulate agent is achieved using confocal microscopy by tracking a fluorescent lipid incorporated into the nanoparticle.     

Using electronic textiles to implement an acoustic beamforming array: A case study

Highly-automated textile manufacturing equipment has the potential for integrating electronic components into fabric in a low-cost process. These electronic textiles (or e-textiles) have a wide range of potential applications in wearable computing and large-area applications, including medical monitoring, assistance to the disabled, and distributed sensor networks. This paper discusses the design and implementation of a large-scale e-textile that functions as an acoustic beamforming array. The paper conveys the implementation experience and gives results gathered from the prototype. Further, the primary implementation issues and guidelines for future development are identified.     

Degradation and bioavailability of dried alginate hydrocolloid capsules in simulated soil system

Hydrocolloid capsules are common chemical carriers used in many types of applications in foods, biotechnology, and agriculture. Alginate microbeads and macrobeads are some of the more prevalent types of hydrocolloid capsules. Most studies to date have focused on alginate carrier applications but only a few have looked at their bioavailability after use. In this study, alginate carriers were subjected to simulated field conditions and their biodegradation in the soil was evaluated by respiration measurements, visualization, and volatile solids reduction. Using respiration rate, the degradation rate was calculated at 32 ± 3.1% (w/w) after 2 months. The visually estimated volume and volatile solids reduction gave degradation rates of 40 ± 8.6% (v/v) and 22.5 ± 2.5% (w/w), respectively. Moreover, water-loss calculations suggested that the carriers can serve as a stand-alone soil amendment for water retention. These findings emphasize the importance of studying hydrocolloid bioavailability in the soil and alginate carrier suitability for future applications. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 48142.     

The Network Architecture of the Connection Machine CM-5

The Connection Machine Model CM-5 Supercomputer is a massively parallel computer system designed to offer performance in the range of 1 teraflops (10¹²floating-point operations per second). The CM-5 obtains its high performance while offering ease of programming, flexibility, and reliability. The machine contains three communication networks: a data network, a control network, and a diagnostic network. This paper describes the organization of these three networks and how they contribute to the design goals of the CM-5.     

Assay of in vitro osteoclast activity on dentine,and synthetic calcium phosphate bone substitutes

Resorption of synthetic bone substitute materials is essential for the integration of these materials into the natural bone remodeling process. Osteoclast behavior in the presence of calcium phosphate bioceramics (CaPB) is partially understood, and a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms is expected to facilitate the development of new synthetic bone substitutes to improve bone regeneration. In the present study, our aim was to investigate osteoclastic resorption of various synthetic CaPB. We used neonatal total rabbit bone cells to generate osteoclasts. Osteoclast-generated resorption on dentine and multiple CaPB was investigated by quantifying the surface resorbed and measuring tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) enzyme activity. In this study, we observed that osteoclastic cells responded in a different way to each substrate. Both dentine and CaPB were resorbed but the quantitative results for the surface resorbed and TRAP activity showed a specific response to each substrate and that increased mineral density seemed to inhibit osteoclast activity.     

Managing architectural design – a recent survey

The complexity of building projects and the increasing sophistication of professionals involved in construction are creating new challenges to building design management. For example the clients are not only interested in value for money in relation to the project cost but in cost in use through time of their buildings. Clients must show profits in competitive markets and architects have to understand the commercial aspects of buildings as well as the more central design parameters. Coping with these challenges requires a full understanding of the wide variety of contractual relationships between all of the parties involved in building; it requires a good understanding of advanced management techniques as well us the latest advancements in technology. This paper studies the architectural design process in the UK, to discover how it is managed and the levels of performance which are currently achieved in practice.     

Treatment of periodontal defects in dogs using an injectable composite hydrogel/biphasic calcium phosphate

An injectable composite silanized hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose/biphasic calcium phosphate (Si-HPMC/BCP) has been investigated in humans with promising results. The aim of this study was to evaluate his efficacy for treating periodontal defects (canine fenestration and premolar furcation) in dog models. At 3?months, we observed that bone formation around BCP particles in furcation model is more discernible but not statistically significant in defects filled with Si-HPMC/BCP compared to healing in control. We suggest that BCP particles sustain the bone healing process by osteoconduction, while the Si-HPMC hydrogel enhances intergranular cohesion and acts as an exclusion barrier. Furthermore, bone ingrowth is not so distinctive in superficial defects where the biomaterial appears unstable. These results with Si-HPMC/BCP are encouraging. In addition, this biomaterial is easy to use and simplifies the process of filling periodontal lesions. However, more researches are needed to improve the viscosity and hardness to adjust the material to the specificities of periodontal defects.     

Fly ash characterization and application in Al–based Mg alloys

Continuing study in metallurgical field calls for growing reinforcements of which fly ash plays an important role. In this study, Al alloys were reinforced with different solid fly ash particles. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyses were used to identify the fly ash particles, and they were also applied to the composite alloys. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results indicated that the crystalline phase of the fly ash was an effective reinforced phase. Meanwhile, the SEM and optical micrographs of the composite samples indicated that fly ash could be reacted or settled in the matrix of the aluminium. The physical, tribological and microhardness analyses were also used to study the Al–fly ash composites. The best wear resistance corresponding to the lowest loss was obtained in the samples with as-received fly ash which were mostly in accordance with the results in the samples containing treated fly ash. Meanwhile, the proportion of the wear results to the hardness of the samples was observed. Finally, the light weight Al alloys was realized, and increasing the strength is a likeness.