Variable Temperature Thermochromic Switching Under Varying Illumination

Award for Runner-Up Poster Presentation . Abstract Minnesota is home to some of the greatest temperature ranges in the United States, with lows reaching below -40º Celsius and highs reaching nearly 40ºC. This results in higher than average spending on the heating and cooling of buildings. We have been investigating into responsive building materials to help address this. In particular, we have been studying a thermochromic paint that can capture solar energy and transfer it into the building as heat at low temperatures and reflect the energy at higher temperatures to keep the building cooler

A Fiber-Optic Sensor for Leak Detection in a Space Environment

A miniature fiber-optic, laser-based, interferometric leak detector is presented for application as a means to detect on-orbit gas leaks. The sensor employs a fiber-coupled modified Michelson interferometer to detect gas leaks by measuring an increase in gas density in the sensing region. Monitoring changes in the fringe pattern output by the interferometer allows for direct measurement of the gas density in the sensing region and, under the assumption of an equation of state, this can be used to obtain a pressure measurement. Measurements obtained over a pressure range from 20 mtorr to 760 torr using a prototypical interferometer on working gases of air, nitrogen, argon, and helium generally exhibit agreement with a theoretical prediction of the pressure increase required before an interference fringe completely moves over the detector. Additional measurements performed on various gases demonstrate the range of detectable species, measuring sub-torr pressure changes in the process. A high-fidelity measurement places the ultimate pressure resolution for this particular sensor configuration in the 10 mtorr range. Time-resolved data prove the capability of this sensor to detect fast gas flow phenomena associated with transients and pressure waves

Liikuntaa ja musiikkia opettavien luokanopettajien käsityksiä ja kokemuksia musiikkiliikunnasta

Tiivistelmä. Pro gradu- tutkielman tavoitteena on kuvailla ja kartoittaa liikuntaan, musiikkiin tai molempiin erikoistuneiden luokanopettajien kokemuksia ja käsityksiä musiikkiliikunnasta ja sen opettamisesta. Tutkielman tavoitteena on myös selvittää, miten musiikkiliikunta käytännössä toteutuu alakoulun musiikin- ja liikunnanopetuksessa luokanopettajien toteuttamana. Tutkimuksen viitekehyksessä on tarkasteltu musiikki- ja liikuntakasvatuksen erityispiirteitä sekä musiikkiliikuntaa osana näitä oppiaineita peruskoulussa. Tutkimuksen empiirinen aineisto kerättiin teemahaastatteluiden avulla kahdeksalta luokanopettajalta. Haastateltavat ovat Kainuun alueelta ja he ovat erikoistuneet opinnoissaan musiikkiin, liikuntaan tai molempiin aineisiin. Aineiston analyysissä on käytetty teoriaohjaavaa sisällönanalyysiä. Teoriaa käytetään tutkimustulosten analysoinnin yhteydessä, mutta pääpaino on kuitenkin aineistosta nousevassa tiedossa. Luokanopettajien kokemukset omilta peruskouluajoiltaan olivat vähäisiä. Opiskeluajoilta kokemuksia ja valmiuksia musiikkiliikunnan opetukseen oli saatu enimmäkseen liikunnan pakollisista monialaisista opinnoista sekä liikunnan erikoistumisopinnoista. Musiikin opinnot eivät tarjonneet opettajille juurikaan kokemuksia ja valmiuksia, mutta musiikin aineenopettajakoulutuksen suorittanut opettaja koki saaneensa hyvät valmiudet musiikin opinnoistaan. Luokanopettajat käsittävät musiikkiliikunnan laajaksi ja vaikeasti määriteltäväksi aihealueeksi. Musiikillinen ymmärrys laajentaa musiikkiliikunnan käsittämistä ja tuo sen toteuttamiselle monipuolisuutta. Opettajien mukaan musiikkiliikunta on tavoitteellista musiikin ja liikunnan yhdistämistä, jonka avulla on mahdollista saavuttaa musiikin ja liikunnan tavoitteita. Musiikkiliikunta on oivallinen keino saavuttaa myös yleisiä kasvatuksellisia tavoitteita ja kehittää lapsen ilmaisukykyä ja luovuutta. Musiikkiliikunnan avulla lasta voidaan kehittää kokonaisvaltaisesti. Luokanopettajien mukaan musiikkiliikunta jakaa oppilaita motivoivuuden suhteen. Osa nauttii ja osa kokee sen jopa ahdistavana. Luokanopettajien mukaan alkuopetusikäiset pitävät musiikkiliikunnasta erityisen paljon. Motivoivuuden koetaan kuitenkin laskevan luokkatasojen edetessä. Syyksi opettajat epäilevät tottumattomuutta, jota voitaisiin ehkäistä toteuttamalla musiikkiliikuntaa säännöllisesti. He kokevat, että säännöllisesti toteutettuna musiikkiliikunta voisi ehkäistä tarpeettomien estojen syntymistä ja tukea kasvavan nuoren itsetuntoa. Musiikkiliikunnan opettaminen on luokanopettajien mukaan tärkeää, mutta se koetaan osittain haastavaksi. Suunnittelun työläys sekä puutteelliset aika- ja tilaresurssit nousivat esiin monessa vastauksessa. Suurin osa haastatelluista toteuttaa musiikkiliikuntaa monin eri toimintamuodoin ja opetus on monipuolisinta molempiin sekä musiikkiin että liikuntaan erikoistuneilla luokanopettajilla. Yleisimpiä toimintamuotoja ovat luovat toiminnot, tanssit, jumppa sekä kehorytmit. Arviointia tehdään musiikkiliikunnassa hienovaraisesti ja opettajat arvioivat lähinnä oppilaan yrittämistä sekä asennetta varsinaisten taitojen sijaan. Kohdejoukon pieni koko ei oikeuta yleistämiseen, mutta tulosten avulla voidaan tehdä suuntaa antavia johtopäätöksiä. Sellaisinaan tutkimuksen tulokset pätevät koskemaan vain tämän tutkimuksen kohdejoukkoa omassa kontekstissaan. Tutkimuksen luotettavuutta lisää kohdejoukon huolellinen valinta, perustellut tutkimuksen toteutusmenetelmät, tulosten samansuuntaisuus sekä yhteys olemassa olevaan teoriaan. Musiikkiliikunnasta on tehty menneinä vuosikymmeninä muutamia oppaita, mutta varsinaista tutkimustietoa on hyvin vähän ja se on lähinnä Pro gradu -tasoista. Musiikkiliikunnan kiinnostavuus lisääntynee taito- ja taideaineita sekä ilmaisullisuutta korostavien perusopetuksen uusien tavoitteiden ja tuntijaon myötä

Topical delivery of Niacinamide: influence of binary and ternary solvent systems

Niacinamide (NIA) is the amide form of vitamin B3 and has been widely used in pharmaceutical and personal care formulations. Previously, we reported a comparative study of NIA permeation from neat solvents using the Skin Parallel Artificial Membrane Permeability Assay (PAMPA) and mammalian skin. A good correlation between NIA permeation in the different models was found. In the present work, ten binary and ternary systems were evaluated for their ability to promote NIA delivery in the Skin PAMPA model, porcine skin and human epidermis. Penetration enhancement was evident for binary systems composed of propylene glycol and fatty acids in human skin studies. However, propylene glycol and oleic acid did not promote enhancement of NIA compared with other systems in the Skin PAMPA model. A good correlation was obtained for permeation data from Skin PAMPA and porcine skin. However, data from the Skin PAMPA model and from human skin could only be correlated when the PG-fatty acid systems were excluded. These findings add to our knowledge of the potential applications of Skin PAMPA for screening dermal/transdermal preparations

Characterization and topical delivery of phenylethyl resorcinol

Objective: Phenylethyl resorcinol (PR) has been used widely in the personal care industry as a novel skin lightening ingredient. Surprisingly, there is only limited information describing the physicochemical properties of this active. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to perform a comprehensive characterization of PR. A secondary objective was to investigate the delivery of this molecule to mammalian skin. Methods: PR was characterised using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). A new high‐performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for analysis of PR was developed and validated. The logP (octanol water partition coefficient), value, solubility and short‐term stability of PR in a series of vehicles were also determined using HPLC. The evaporation of the selected vehicles was examined using Dynamic Vapour Sorption (DVS). The permeation profiles of PR were investigated under finite dose conditions in porcine and human skin. Results: The melting point of PR was determined to be 79.13 °C and the measured logP (octanol water partition coefficient) at 21 °C was 3.35 ± 0.03. The linearity of the HPLC analytical method was confirmed with an r2 value of 0.99. Accuracy of the method was evaluated by average recovery rates at three tested concentrations, and the values ranged from 99 – 106%. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 0.19 and 0.57 μg/mL, respectively. The solubility of PR in PG, DMI, glycerol was within the range of 367 to 877 mg/mL. The stability of PR in tested solvents were also confirmed by the 72 h stability studies. From the DVS studies, 70‐125% of applied formulations were recovered at 24h. The permeation through porcine skin at 24 h ranged from 4 to 13 μg/cm2, while the corresponding amounts of PR delivered through human skin were 2 to 10 μg/cm2. Conclusion: The physicochemical properties of PR confirm it is suitable for dermal delivery. In this study, propylene glycol was the most promising vehicle for PR delivery to human skin. Future work will expand the range of vehicles studied and explore the percutaneous absorption from more complex formulations

Removing Orbital Debris with Lasers

Orbital debris in low Earth orbit (LEO) are now sufficiently dense that the use of LEO space is threatened by runaway collisional cascading. A problem predicted more than thirty years ago, the threat from debris larger than about 1 cm demands serious attention. A promising proposed solution uses a high power pulsed laser system on the Earth to make plasma jets on the objects, slowing them slightly, and causing them to re-enter and burn up in the atmosphere. In this paper, we reassess this approach in light of recent advances in low-cost, light-weight modular design for large mirrors, calculations of laser-induced orbit changes and in design of repetitive, multi-kilojoule lasers, that build on inertial fusion research. These advances now suggest that laser orbital debris removal (LODR) is the most cost-effective way to mitigate the debris problem. No other solutions have been proposed that address the whole problem of large and small debris. A LODR system will have multiple uses beyond debris removal. International cooperation will be essential for building and operating such a system.Comment: 37 pages, 15 figures, in preparation for submission to Advances in Space Researc

An Interprofessional, Tailored Behavioral Intervention for Sleep Problems in Autism: Use of Sensory Data to Inform Intervention

Purpose: The purpose of this poster is to demonstrate how Sensory Profile data informed occupational therapy sleep interventions for two participants as part of an Interprofessional Tailored Behavioral Intervention study

Expression and In Vivo Rescue of Human ABCC6 Disease-Causing Mutants in Mouse Liver

Loss-of-function mutations in ABCC6 can cause chronic or acute forms of dystrophic mineralization described in disease models such as pseudoxanthoma elasticum (OMIM 26480) in human and dystrophic cardiac calcification in mice. The ABCC6 protein is a large membrane-embedded organic anion transporter primarily found in the plasma membrane of hepatocytes. We have established a complex experimental strategy to determine the structural and functional consequences of disease-causing mutations in the human ABCC6. The major aim of our study was to identify mutants with preserved transport activity but failure in intracellular targeting. Five missense mutations were investigated: R1138Q, V1298F, R1314W, G1321S and R1339C. Using in vitro assays, we have identified two variants; R1138Q and R1314W that retained significant transport activity. All mutants were transiently expressed in vivo, in mouse liver via hydrodynamic tail vein injections. The inactive V1298F was the only mutant that showed normal cellular localization in liver hepatocytes while the other mutants showed mostly intracellular accumulation indicating abnormal trafficking. As both R1138Q and R1314W displayed endoplasmic reticulum localization, we tested whether 4-phenylbutyrate (4-PBA), a drug approved for clinical use, could restore their intracellular trafficking to the plasma membrane in MDCKII and mouse liver. The cellular localization of R1314W was significantly improved by 4-PBA treatment, thus potentially rescuing its physiological function. Our work demonstrates the feasibility of the in vivo rescue of cellular maturation of some ABCC6 mutants in physiological conditions very similar to the biology of the fully differentiated human liver and could have future human therapeutic application

Computational Approaches and Analysis for a Spatio-Structural-Temporal Invasive Carcinoma Model

Spatio-temporal models have long been used to describe biological systems of cancer, but it has not been until very recently that increased attention has been paid to structural dynamics of the interaction between cancer populations and the molecular mechanisms associated with local invasion. One system that is of particular interest is that of the urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) wherein uPA binds uPA receptors on the cancer cell surface, allowing plasminogen to be cleaved into plasmin, which degrades the extracellular matrix and this way leads to enhanced cancer cell migration. In this paper, we develop a novel numerical approach and associated analysis for spatio-structuro-temporal modelling of the uPA system for up to two-spatial and two-structural dimensions. This is accompanied by analytical exploration of the numerical techniques used in simulating this system, with special consideration being given to the proof of stability within numerical regimes encapsulating a central differences approach to approximating numerical gradients. The stability analysis performed here reveals instabilities induced by the coupling of the structural binding and proliferative processes. The numerical results expound how the uPA system aids the tumour in invading the local stroma, whilst the inhibitor to this system may impede this behaviour and encourage a more sporadic pattern of invasion.PostprintPeer reviewe