113 research outputs found

    Surface-Mediated Molecular Transport of a Lipophilic Fluorescent Probe in Polydisperse Oil-in-Water Emulsions

    Get PDF
    Emulsions often act as carriers for water-insoluble solutes that are delivered to a specific target. The molecular transport of solutes in emulsions can be facilitated by surfactants and is often limited by diffusion through the continuous phase. We here investigate this transport on a molecular scale by using a lipophilic molecular rotor as a proxy for solutes. Using fluorescence lifetime microscopy we track the transport of these molecules from the continuous phase toward the dispersed phase in polydisperse oil-in-water emulsions. We show that this transport comprises two time scales, which vary significantly with droplet size and surfactant concentration, and, depending on the type of surfactant used, can be limited either by transport across the oil-water interface or by diffusion through the continuous phase. By studying the time-resolved fluorescence of the fluorophore, accompanied by molecular dynamics simulations, we demonstrate how the rate of transport observed on a macroscopic scale can be explained in terms of the local environment that the probe molecules are exposed to.</p

    “This is not life, this is just vegetation” — Lived experiences of long-term care in Europe's largest psychiatric home

    Get PDF
    Purpose: Understanding the experiences of long-term care (LTC) may help to improve care by assisting mental health professionals and allowing mental health policies to be customized more effectively. Design and Methods: Semistructured interviews were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Findings: Three main themes emerged as a result: 1. Perception of selves, 2. Experience and representation of the institution, 3. Maintenance of safe spaces. Practice Implications: Communication with patients, investigation of their identity processes, and relationship toward their past and present self during LTC might aid in well-being and sense of congruency in their identities. Nurses should encourage patients to keep connected with their memories and past selves through different activities. © 2021 The Authors. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care published by Wiley Periodicals LL

    Mapping the Complex Morphology of Cell Interactions with Nanowire Substrates Using FIB-SEM

    Get PDF
    Using high resolution focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) we study the details of cell-nanostructure interactions using serial block face imaging. 3T3 Fibroblast cellular monolayers are cultured on flat glass as a control surface and on two types of nanostructured scaffold substrates made from silicon black (Nanograss) with low- and high nanowire density. After culturing for 72 hours the cells were fixed, heavy metal stained, embedded in resin, and processed with FIB-SEM block face imaging without removing the substrate. The sample preparation procedure, image acquisition and image post-processing were specifically optimised for cellular monolayers cultured on nanostructured substrates. Cells display a wide range of interactions with the nanostructures depending on the surface morphology, but also greatly varying from one cell to another on the same substrate, illustrating a wide phenotypic variability. Depending on the substrate and cell, we observe that cells could for instance: break the nanowires and engulf them, flatten the nanowires or simply reside on top of them. Given the complexity of interactions, we have categorised our observations and created an overview map. The results demonstrate that detailed nanoscale resolution images are required to begin understanding the wide variety of individual cells' interactions with a structured substrate. The map will provide a framework for light microscopy studies of such interactions indicating what modes of interactions must be considered

    Optic-Vestibular Orientation to the Vertical

    Get PDF
    • 

    corecore