69 research outputs found

    Classification of fracture and non-fracture groups by analysis of coherent X-ray scatter

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    Osteoporotic fractures present a significant social and economic burden, which is set to rise commensurately with the aging population. Greater understanding of the physicochemical differences between osteoporotic and normal conditions will facilitate the development of diagnostic technologies with increased performance and treatments with increased efficacy. Using coherent X-ray scattering we have evaluated a population of 108 ex vivo human bone samples comprised of non-fracture and fracture groups. Principal component fed linear discriminant analysis was used to develop a classification model to discern each condition resulting in a sensitivity and specificity of 93% and 91%, respectively. Evaluating the coherent X-ray scatter differences from each condition supports the hypothesis that a causal physicochemical change has occurred in the fracture group. This work is a critical step along the path towards developing an in vivo diagnostic tool for fracture risk prediction

    Superhydrophilic Functionalization of Microfiltration Ceramic Membranes Enables Separation of Hydrocarbons from Frac and Produced Water

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    The environmental impact of shale oil and gas production by hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is of increasing concern. The biggest potential source of environmental contamination is flowback and produced water, which is highly contaminated with hydrocarbons, bacteria and particulates, meaning that traditional membranes are readily fouled. We show the chemical functionalisation of alumina ceramic microfiltration membranes (0.22 Ī¼m pore size) with cysteic acid creates a superhydrophilic surface, allowing for separation of hydrocarbons from frac and produced waters without fouling. The single pass rejection coefficients wasā€‰>90% for all samples. The separation of hydrocarbons from water when the former have hydrodynamic diameters smaller than the pore size of the membrane is due to the zwitter ionically charged superhydrophilic pore surface. Membrane fouling is essentially eliminated, while a specific flux is obtained at a lower pressure (<2ā€‰bar) than that required achieving the same flux for the untreated membrane (4ā€“8ā€‰bar)

    Mineral Composition is Altered by Osteoblast Expression of an Engineered Gs-Coupled Receptor

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    Activation of the Gs G proteinā€“coupled receptor Rs1 in osteoblasts increases bone mineral density by 5- to 15-fold in mice and recapitulates histologic aspects of fibrous dysplasia of the bone. However, the effects of constitutive Gs signaling on bone tissue quality are not known. The goal of this study was to determine bone tissue quality in mice resulting from osteoblast-specific constitutive Gs activation, by the complementary techniques of FTIR spectroscopy and synchrotron radiation micro-computed tomography (SRĪ¼CT). Col1(2.3)-tTA/TetO-Rs1 double transgenic (DT) mice, which showed osteoblast-specific constitutive Gs signaling activity by the Rs1 receptor, were created. Femora and calvariae of DT and wild-type (WT) mice (6 and 15Ā weeks old) were analyzed by FTIR spectroscopy. WT and DT femora (3 and 9Ā weeks old) were imaged by SRĪ¼CT. Mineral-to-matrix ratio was 25% lower (PĀ =Ā 0.010), carbonate-to-phosphate ratio was 20% higher (PĀ =Ā 0.025), crystallinity was 4% lower (PĀ =Ā 0.004), and cross-link ratio was 11% lower (PĀ =Ā 0.025) in 6-week DT bone. Differences persisted in 15-week animals. Quantitative SRĪ¼CT analysis revealed substantial differences in mean values and heterogeneity of tissue mineral density (TMD). TMD values were 1,156Ā Ā±Ā 100 and 711Ā Ā±Ā 251Ā mg/cm3 (meanĀ Ā±Ā SD) in WT and DT femoral diaphyses, respectively, at 3Ā weeks. Similar differences were found in 9-week animals. These results demonstrate that continuous Gs activation in murine osteoblasts leads to deposition of immature bone tissue with reduced mineralization. Our findings suggest that bone tissue quality may be an important contributor to increased fracture risk in fibrous dysplasia patients
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