Analysis of bread bag closures for individuals with rheumatoid arthritis

The purpose of this study was to analyze four different plastic bag closure devices to determine if there was a difference in their ease of use for individuals with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) between closures currently on the market and an autoclave bag closure currently in use in medical laboratories. This was based on research into issues experienced by individuals with RA and their abilities to perform activities of daily living. This study evaluated the issues of opening and closing bread bags so that they are accessible to people with functional limitations due to the effects of RA. It was determined that the autoclave closure is not a preferred instrument for use by individuals with RA due to the difficulties in small object manipulation, the strength required to use the device and its unfamiliarity. However, closures currently available pose considerable frustration to the user and need to be re-evaluated. </jats:p

Performance Characterization of the Caltech Compact Torus Injector

A device is described which is designed to refuel tokamaks of major radius [approximately-equal-to]1 m and magnetic field [approximately-equal-to]1 T by the injection of a compact torus. The injector utilizes an acceleration stage which adds kinetic energy to the compact torus so that it can penetrate the tokamak magnetic field. The performance of the device was found to be optimized in an unexpected parameter regime. It is theorized that in this regime the accelerator takes part in the formation of the CT. A performance threshold with respect to accelerator current will be presented and methods of impurity reduction will be detailed

Integrating cell sheets for kidney-on-a-chip applications

A drug being developed undergoes many stages of development to get to market. Information of the drugs absorption, distribution, excretion, metabolism, and systemic toxicology both short and long term are mandatory by regulatory agencies during clinical trials [1]. Drug-induced organ toxicity leads to 30% of all drugs failing to reach the market. Specifically, nephrotoxicity leads to 19% of all failures during phase III trials but only 2% during preclinical development stages. Current early stage tests for toxicity are widely perceived to be inadequate. 2D cell culture models can produce valuable data for drug discovery but do not accurately predict toxicity. A typical animal study to assess nephrotoxicity uses \u3e 26 rodents, with substantially more animals if both sexes are required. An in vitro model that replaces or reduces animal use in toxicity testing is required for ethical reasons and to reduce species-specific effects. A drug can take 8-12 years and 0.8-1.2 billion US$ to get to market, hence there is a need for a more complex, human cell derived, in vitro model to accurately predict drug toxicity and reduce failure rates during the pre-clinical to clinical transition in drug development. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Performance characterization of the Caltech compact torus injector

A device is described which is designed to refuel tokamaks of major radius [approximately-equal-to]1 m and magnetic field [approximately-equal-to]1 T by the injection of a compact torus. The injector utilizes an acceleration stage which adds kinetic energy to the compact torus so that it can penetrate the tokamak magnetic field. The performance of the device was found to be optimized in an unexpected parameter regime. It is theorized that in this regime the accelerator takes part in the formation of the CT. A performance threshold with respect to accelerator current will be presented and methods of impurity reduction will be detailed

Commercial community: a better big box

Bibliography: p. 62-63Some pages are in colour.This Master's Degree Project examines the condition of the large-scale retail environment and its potential to net positive contribution to the public realm of the city. It challenges the notion of the "big-box" within its current context to provide more than a one-dimensional shopping experience, and become of succinct part of the urban experience. This design exploration, through analysis and synthesis, proposes a recalibration of the existing commercial components in order to create a diverse commercially based community that merges the pedestrian within an auto-centric culture. Through this recalibration of the key components that comprise the existing large­scale shopping environment - parking, scale, access - and those that provide a more human experience of public space - diversity, engagement, activity - a new application of the existing shopping typology is created; one of social and economic intensity