An Arthroscopic Device to Assess Articular Cartilage Defects and Treatment with a Hydrogel

The hydraulic resistance R across osteochondral tissue, especially articular cartilage, decreases with degeneration and erosion. Clinically useful measures to quantify and diagnose the extent of cartilage degeneration and efficacy of repair strategies, especially with regard to pressure maintenance, are still developing. The hypothesis of this study was that hydraulic resistance provides a quantitative measure of osteochondral tissue that could be used to evaluate the state of cartilage damage and repair. The aims were to (1) develop a device to measure R in an arthroscopic setting, (2) determine whether the device could detect differences in R for cartilage, an osteochondral defect, and cartilage treated using a hydrogel ex vivo, and (3) determine how quickly such differences could be discerned. The apparent hydraulic resistance of defect samples was ~35% less than intact cartilage controls, while the resistance of hydrogel-filled groups was not statistically different than controls, suggesting some restoration of fluid pressurization in the defect region by the hydrogel. Differences in hydraulic resistance between control and defect groups were apparent after 4 s. The results indicate that the measurement of R is feasible for rapid and quantitative functional assessment of the extent of osteochondral defects and repair. The arthroscopic compatibility of the device demonstrates the potential for this measurement to be made in a clinical setting

Malakis rop till tiden – en rabbins protest mot nazismen 1933 : – en diskursanalytisk granskning av en predikan av Marcus Ehrenpreis

On April 11, 1933, Rabbi Marcus Ehrenpreis delivered a sermon in Stockholm's Reform Jewish synagogue. The text was published by Bonnier's publisher with the title Malachi´s cry to the ages: a speech on old and new bondage. The sermon is a scathing confrontation with Nazism's racial political ideas that would lead to the Holocaust.   The sermon is delivered just a few days after the Nazi regime in Germany introduced its first discrimination laws against Jewish citizens. Malachi´s cry  uses the jewish religion, jewish history and jewish culture to argue for universal human values and rights. The sermon is a part of the Jewish celebration of Pesach - a holiday that aims to commemorate the liberation of the Jewish people from captivity and slavery in Egypt - which led to the Exodus from Egypt and the conclusion of the covenant with God on Mount Sinai. Ehrenpreis argues that a new Mizraim - a new Egypt - has come to plague the Jewish people in Germany. At a time when many believed that the Nazi dictatorship would not mean real and far-reaching persecution of German Jews, Marcus Ehrenpreis already had a clear idea that a catastrophe awaited. Marcus Ehrenpreis envisioned a development that would mean that the German jews were deprived of their civil rights and expelled from the country. He had also already a few weeks after the Nazis introduced their dictatorship in Germany realized that the legal system of the entire world was threatened. According to Marcus Ehrenpreis, no one could predict what consequences the abolition of human rights for the jews in Germany could have for the rest of the world's civilizational foundations.    

Malakis rop till tiden – en rabbins protest mot nazismen 1933 : – en diskursanalytisk granskning av en predikan av Marcus Ehrenpreis

On April 11, 1933, Rabbi Marcus Ehrenpreis delivered a sermon in Stockholm's Reform Jewish synagogue. The text was published by Bonnier's publisher with the title Malachi´s cry to the ages: a speech on old and new bondage. The sermon is a scathing confrontation with Nazism's racial political ideas that would lead to the Holocaust.   The sermon is delivered just a few days after the Nazi regime in Germany introduced its first discrimination laws against Jewish citizens. Malachi´s cry  uses the jewish religion, jewish history and jewish culture to argue for universal human values and rights. The sermon is a part of the Jewish celebration of Pesach - a holiday that aims to commemorate the liberation of the Jewish people from captivity and slavery in Egypt - which led to the Exodus from Egypt and the conclusion of the covenant with God on Mount Sinai. Ehrenpreis argues that a new Mizraim - a new Egypt - has come to plague the Jewish people in Germany. At a time when many believed that the Nazi dictatorship would not mean real and far-reaching persecution of German Jews, Marcus Ehrenpreis already had a clear idea that a catastrophe awaited. Marcus Ehrenpreis envisioned a development that would mean that the German jews were deprived of their civil rights and expelled from the country. He had also already a few weeks after the Nazis introduced their dictatorship in Germany realized that the legal system of the entire world was threatened. According to Marcus Ehrenpreis, no one could predict what consequences the abolition of human rights for the jews in Germany could have for the rest of the world's civilizational foundations.    

The Structural and Energetic Properties of O-HCl Complexes

Color poster with text, images, charts, and graphs.Previous work in the Phillips group explored substituent and matrix effects on hydrogen bond strength in N--HCl systems (NH3–HCl, CH3CN–HCl, fluoropyridine–HCl). The HCl band in CH3CN–HCl shifts to lower frequency, reflecting the effect of environment on hydrogen bond strength. In this work we are exploring complexes of oxygen donors in search of similar effects.NSF (CSDM-A); University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire Office of Research and Sponsored Program

Synthesis and Characterization of Smart Polymers for Architectural Coating Applications

Color poster with text, images, charts, photographs, and graphs.The focus of this research is to study stimuli-responsive “smart” block copolymers for applications in architectural coatings, such as paints, primers, and stains. The smart copolymer polyethylene glycol (PEG) -block- poly (2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) is of interest because of its property changes due to changes in pH and temperature. Such polymers may interface with opacifiers, namely titanium dioxide (TiO₂), to improve dispersion in architectural coatings. Optimized pigment dispersion would increase coating productivity and may reduce environmental impact and cost of manufacturing. PEG-b-PDMAEMA block copolymers were synthesized through Activator ReGenerated by Electron Transfer Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ARGET ATRP). Copolymers of varying PEG molecular weights and PEG:PDMAEMA ratios were synthesized and characterized to study their effects on polymer properties. To determine successful synthesis, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) and Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) were used. Viscosity, a fluid’s resistance to flow, was measured using a Discovery HR2 Rheometer to determine optimal dispersion of particles for paint formulations. A Rame-Hart 250 was used to measure interfacial tension (IFT) between aqueous polymer solutions and toluene, a common architectural coating solvent. This research is ongoing to further explore how these polymers can improve productivity of architectural coatings and reduce environmental impact.WiSys Technology Advancement Grant; WiSys Ambassador Grant; University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire Office of Research and Sponsored Program