Preparation of bioactive glass-polyvinyl alcohol hybrid foams by the sol-gel method

A new class of materials based on inorganic and organic species combined at a nanoscale level has received large attention recently. In this work the idea of producing hybrid materials with controllable properties is applied to obtain foams to be used as scaffolds for tissue engineering. Hybrids were synthesized by reacting poly(vinyl alcohol) in acidic solution with tetraethylorthosilicate. The inorganic phase was also modified by incorporating a calcium compound. Hydrated calcium chloride was used as precursor. A surfactant was added and a foam was produced by vigorous agitation, which was cast just before the gel point. Hydrofluoric acid solution was added in order to catalyze the gelation. The foamed hybrids were aged at 40 ^∘C and vacuum dried at 40 ^∘C. The hybrid foams were analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy, Mercury Porosimetry, Nitrogen Adsorption, X-ray Diffraction and Infra-red Spectroscopy. The mechanical behavior was evaluated by compression tests. The foams obtained had a high porosity varying from 60 to 90% and the macropore diameter ranged from 30 to 500 μ m. The modal macropore diameter varied with the inorganic phase composition and with the polymer content in the hybrid. The surface area and mesopore volume decreased as polymer concentration increased in the hybrids. The strain at fracture of the hybrid foams was substantially greater than pure gel-glass foams.     

Design and evaluation of a restraint-free small animal inhalation dosing chamber

The aim of research was to design a small, restraint free, low stress animal dosing chamber for inhalation studies, and to investigate distribution of a model drug within the chamber. A small animal dosing chamber was designed that consisted of a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) airtight box (40.6 × 11.4 × 21.6 cm) with a hinged top, having a nominal wall thickness of 1.25 cm. The chamber was designed to hold up to 14 mice, each having a floor area of approximately 63 cm², in accordance with Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) guidelines. A “rodent proof” distribution fan was attached to the center of the hinged closure lid. The chamber was divided into 1 inch² zones (120 in total) to enable a profile of drug distribution within the chamber to be obtained. Small holes were drilled into the side of the chamber and sealed using Parafilm® to allow access to the sampling zones. Syringes (5 mL) with appropriate length polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tubing were inserted into the holes to reach the sampling zones (eight on either side of the chamber giving a total of 16 zones). An aqueous caffeine solution (2% w/v) in glycerol (25% w/v) was prepared and nebulized into the chamber using an Aeroneb Pro® nebulizer. Caffeine containing droplets were circulated into the chamber at a flow rate of 1.5 L/min^- 1, and the air was recirculated in a closed system for a total of 20 minutes to ensure a high concentration of caffeine droplets throughout. Following nebulization, air samples (5 mL) were withdrawn from the 16 sampling zones of the sealed chamber. The process was repeated in quadruplet until a total of 64 sampling zones had been sampled. The entire experiment was also repeated with the absence of the “rodent-proof” distribution fan. Drug concentrations were calculated from a calibration curve of caffeine using UV absorbance at 272 nm. An average mass of caffeine (Standard Deviation; S.D.) of 5.0 (4.2) mg was detected throughout the chamber when the distribution fan was fitted, and caffeine 12.6 (9.7) mg was detected without the fan. This indicated that presence of the fan caused impingement of the drug on both the chamber walls and fan components; effectively removing nebulized drug from circulation within the chamber. The distribution of drug was plotted using a 3D graph; this revealed a lower concentration at the periphery and a higher concentration in the center of the chamber both with and without the distribution fan in place. In conclusion, a humane, nonrestraint rodent dosing chamber was designed for the efficientdelivery of nebulized drugs for up to 14 mice simultaneously. The highest levels of the model drug caffeine were detectable throughout the small animal dosing chamber without the distribution fan. A circulation flow rate of 1.5 L/min^- 1 was found to be adequate to distribute drug in the chamber. Surprisingly, the results demonstrate that avoiding the use of a distribution fan altogether maximizes the drug concentration within the chamber by reducing impingement of the nebulized drug. The small animal, restraint-free dosing chamber represents an advancement in reproducible dosing via the pulmonary route in the small animal model. The dosing chamber may be adapted to present the lung with an almost unlimited array of compounds, encompassing drugs, toxic compounds, and even pathogens, while still maintaining a relatively stress-free microenvironment for the test subject and furthermore, total safety for the operator.     

Design and implementation of dynamic near-infrared optical tomographic imaging instrumentation for simultaneous dual-breast measurements

Dynamic near-infrared optical tomographic measurement instrumentation capable of simultaneous bilateral breast imaging, having a capability of four source wavelengths and 32 source-detector fibers for each breast, is described. The system records dynamic optical data simultaneously from both breasts, while verifying proper optical fiber contact with the tissue through implementation of automatic schemes for evaluating data integrity. Factors influencing system complexity and performance are discussed, and experimental measurements are provided to demonstrate the repeatability of the instrumentation. Considerations in experimental design are presented, as well as techniques for avoiding undesirable measurement artifacts, given the high sensitivity and dynamic range (1:10(9)) of the system. We present exemplary clinical results comparing the measured physiologic response of a healthy individual and of a subject with breast cancer to a Valsalva maneuver.     

Comparative adsorption of metal and dye on flake- and bead-types of chitosans prepared from fishery wastes

The adsorption capacities and rates of Cu(II) and a commercial reactive dye RR222 on flake- and bead-types of chitosans prepared from three fishery wastes (shrimp, crab, and lobster shells) were compared at 30 degrees C. It was shown that all equilibrium isotherms could be well fitted by the Langmuir equation. The adsorption capacity of Cu(II) on flake- and bead-types of chitosans appeared to be comparable, but the adsorption capacity of RR222 on bead type was much larger than that on flake type by a factor of 2. 0-3.8. The rates of dye adsorption on both types of chitosans indicated different controlling mechanisms. In addition, the bead type of chitosans exhibited a greater rate compared to the flake type.     

Asynchronous transfer mode distribution network by use of an optoelectronic VLSI switching chip

We describe a new optoelectronic switching system demonstration that implements part of the distribution fabric for a large asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switch. The system uses a single optoelectronic VLSI modulator-based switching chip with more than 4000 optical input-outputs. The optical system images the input fibers from a two-dimensional fiber bundle onto this chip. A new optomechanical design allows the system to be mounted in a standard electronic equipment frame. A large section of the switch was operated as a 208-Mbits/s time-multiplexed space switch, which can serve as part of an ATM switch by use of an appropriate out-of-band controller. A larger section with 896 input light beams and 256 output beams was operated at 160 Mbits/s as a slowly reconfigurable space switch.     

Raman spectroscopic determination of the structure and orientation of organic monolayers chemisorbed on carbon electrode surfaces

Azobenzene (AB) and 4-nitroazobenzene (NAB) were covalently bonded to carbon surfaces by electrochemical reduction of their diazonium derivatives. The N(1s) features of XPS spectra of modified surfaces had intensities expected for monolayer coverage. However, the Raman spectra were significantly more intense than expected, implying an increase in scattering cross section upon chemisorption. A likely explanation is resonance enhancement of the carbon/adsorbate chromophore analogous to that reported earlier for dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) chemisorption. Vibrational assignments indicate that the C-C vibration between azobenzene and the carbon surface is in the 1240-1280 cm(-1) region, and this conclusion is supported by spectra obtained from [(13)C]graphite. Observation of depolarization ratios for 4-nitroazobenzene and DNPH on graphite edge plane indicate that NAB is able to rotate about the NAB/carbon C-C bond, while chemisorbed DNPH is not. The partial multiple bond character of the DNPH linkage to graphite is consistent with the observation that the DNPH π system remains parallel to the graphitic planes.     

Fabrication and characterization of a solid-state nanopore with self-aligned carbon nanoelectrodes for molecular detection

Stochastic molecular sensors based on resistive pulse nanopore modalities are envisioned as facile DNA sequencers. However, recent advances in nanotechnology fabrication have highlighted promising alternative detection mechanisms with higher sensitivity and potential single-base resolution. In this paper we present the novel self-aligned fabrication of a solid-state nanopore device with integrated transverse graphene-like carbon nanoelectrodes for polyelectrolyte molecular detection. The electrochemical transduction mechanism is characterized and found to result primarily from thermionic emission between the two transverse electrodes. Response of the nanopore to Lambda dsDNA and short (16-mer) ssDNA is demonstrated and distinguished.     

Degradation studies of hydrophilic,partially degradable and bioactive cements (HDBCs) incorporating chemically modified starch

The degradation rate in Hydrophilic, Degradable and Bioactive Cements (HDBCs) containing starch/cellulose acetate blends (SCA) is still low. In order to increase degradation, higher amounts of starch are required to exceed the percolation threshold. In this work, gelatinization, acetylation and methacrylation of corn starch were performed and assessed as candidates to replace SCA in HDBCs. Formulations containing methacrylated starch were prepared with different molar ratios of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate in the liquid component and the amount of residual monomer released into water was evaluated. The concentration of reducing sugars, percentage of weight loss and morphologic analyses after degradation all confirmed increased degradation of HDBC with α-amylase, with the appearance of pores and voids from enzymatic action. Methacrylated starch therefore is a better alternative to be used as the solid component of HDBC then SCA, since it leads to the formation of cements with a lower release of toxic monomers and more prone to hydrolytic degradation while keeping the other advantages of HDBCs.     

Chemical ionization mass spectrometer instrument for the measurement of tropospheric HO2 and RO2

Laboratory characterizations of the peroxy radical chemical ionization mass spectrometer (PerCIMS) instrument have been performed. The instrument functions by drawing ambient air through a 50-microm-diameter orifice into an inlet held at low pressure. Peroxy radicals (HO2 and RO2) within this air are detected by amplified chemical conversion into a unique ion (HSO4-) via the chemistry initiated by the addition of NO and SO2 to the inlet. HSO4- ions are then quantified by a quadrupole filter mass spectrometer. PerCIMS provides measurements of the sum of peroxy radicals, HO2 + RO2 (HOxROx mode), or the HO2 component only (HO2 mode), achieved through the control of concentration of NO and SO2 added to the instrument. The characterization and response of this instrument have been evaluated through modeling of inlet chemistry and laboratory experiments and have also been demonstrated through successful deployment during field campaigns. The performance of PerCIMS with respect to calibration pressure and relative humidity is reported, as are the sensitivities of the instrument to organic peroxy radicals with different hydrocarbon groups. These data show PerCIMS to be a practical field instrument for the fast and accurate evaluation of the concentration of peroxy radicals over a variety of atmospheric conditions. The estimated accuracy of the derived [HOxROx] concentrations is +/- 35% (at the 95% confidence interval), while [HO2] measurements have accuracies of +/- 41% (at the 95% confidence interval). Typical precision of measurements well above the detection limit is 10%, and typical detection limits are 1 x 10(7) radicals cm(-3) for 15-s averaging times.     

Liquid-solid phase countercurrent multi-stage adsorption process for using the Langmuir equation

Mass balance and the Langmuir equation were used to deduct the countercurrent multi-stage adsorption process. The relationships between the Langmuir parameter (K(L)y(i)) and the required amounts of adsorbent in countercurrent two-, three- and infinite-stage processes were obtained to find the optimum number of stages as well as the reduction in the adsorbent consumption of the countercurrent multi-stage process of an adsorption system. Pistachio shell activated carbons with BET surface areas of 1013, 1398, and 1919m(2)/g were obtained by KOH activation with CO(2) gasification at gasification times of 0, 10, and 30min. The isotherm adsorption of four adsorbates were investigated and analyzed with the Langmuir equation. The activated carbons studied in this work show compared with other published literatures, the K(L)y(i) and q(mon) values in this work showed excellent adsorption performance. The amount of activated carbon for a countercurrent two- and single stage adsorption operation was calculated, a saving of 66-87% adsorbent was obtained. A simple countercurrent two-stage adsorption system was designed for use in engineering applications.