121 research outputs found
Cross-Platform Mechanical Characterization of Lung Tissue
Published data on the mechanical strength and elasticity of lung tissue is widely variable, primarily due to differences in how testing was conducted across individual studies. This makes it extremely difficult to find a benchmark modulus of lung tissue when designing synthetic extracellular matrices (ECMs). To address this issue, we tested tissues from various areas of the lung using multiple characterization techniques, including micro-indentation, small amplitude oscillatory shear (SAOS), uniaxial tension, and cavitation rheology. We report the sample preparation required and data obtainable across these unique but complimentary methods to quantify the modulus of lung tissue. We highlight cavitation rheology as a new method, which can measure the modulus of intact tissue with precise spatial control, and reports a modulus on the length scale of typical tissue heterogeneities. Shear rheology, uniaxial, and indentation testing require heavy sample manipulation and destruction; however, cavitation rheology can be performed in situ across nearly all areas of the lung with minimal preparation. The Youngâs modulus of bulk lung tissue using micro-indentation (1.4±0.4 kPa), SAOS (3.3±0.5 kPa), uniaxial testing (3.4±0.4 kPa), and cavitation rheology (6.1±1.6 kPa) were within the same order of magnitude, with higher values consistently reported from cavitation, likely due to our ability to keep the tissue intact. Although cavitation rheology does not capture the non-linear strains revealed by uniaxial testing and SAOS, it provides an opportunity to measure mechanical characteristics of lung tissue on a microscale level on intact tissues. Overall, our study demonstrates that each technique has independent benefits, and each technique revealed unique mechanical features of lung tissue that can contribute to a deeper understanding of lung tissue mechanics
Study of a QCM Dimethyl Methylphosphonate Sensor Based on a ZnO-Modified Nanowire-Structured Manganese Dioxide Film
Sensitive, selective and fast detection of chemical warfare agents is necessary for anti-terrorism purposes. In our search for functional materials sensitive to dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), a simulant of sarin and other toxic organophosphorus compounds, we found that zinc oxide (ZnO) modification potentially enhances the absorption of DMMP on a manganese dioxide (MnO2) surface. The adsorption behavior of DMMP was evaluated through the detection of tiny organophosphonate compounds with quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensors coated with ZnO-modified MnO2 nanofibers and pure MnO2 nanofibers. Experimental results indicated that the QCM sensor coated with ZnO-modified nanostructured MnO2 film exhibited much higher sensitivity and better selectivity in comparison with the one coated with pure MnO2 nanofiber film. Therefore, the DMMP sensor developed with this composite nanostructured material should possess excellent selectivity and reasonable sensitivity towards the tiny gaseous DMMP species
An overview of progress in electrolytes for secondary zinc-air batteries and other storage systems based on zinc
The revived interest and research on the development of novel energy storage systems with exceptional inherent
safety, environmentally benign and low cost for integration in large scale electricity grid and electric
vehicles is now driven by the global energy policies. Within various technical challenges yet to be resolved
and despite extensive studies, the low cycle life of the zinc anode is still hindering the implementation of
rechargeable zinc batteries at industrial scale. This review presents an extensive overview of electrolytes for
rechargeable zinc batteries in relation to the anode issues which are closely affected by the electrolyte nature.
Widely studied aqueous electrolytes, from alkaline to acidic pH, as well as non-aqueous systems including
polymeric and room temperature ionic liquids are reported. References from early rechargeable Zn-air research
to recent results on novel Zn hybrid systems have been analyzed. The ambition is to identify the challenges
of the electrolyte system and to compile the proposed improvements and solutions. Ultimately, all the
technologies based on zinc, including the more recently proposed novel zinc hybrid batteries combining the
strong points of lithium-ion, redox-flow and metal-air systems, can benefit from this compilation in order to
improve secondary zinc based batteries performance.Basque Country University
(ZABALDUZ2012 program), and the Basque Country Government
(Project: CIC energiGUNEÌ16 of the ELKARTEK program) and the
European Commission through the project ZAS: âZinc Air Secondary
innovative nanotech based batteries for efficient energy storageâ
(Grant Agreement 646186
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