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Direct Freeform Fabrication of Spatially Heterogeneous Living Cell-Impregnated Implants
The objectives of this work are the development of the processes, materials, and tooling to
directly “3-D print” living, pre-seeded, patient-specific implants of spatially heterogeneous
compositions. The research presented herein attempts to overcome some of the challenges to
scaffolding, such as the difficulty of producing spatially heterogeneous implants that require
varied seeding densities and/or cell-type distributions. In the proposed approach, living implants
are fabricated by the layer-wise deposition of pre-cell-seeded alginate hydrogel. Although
alginate hydrogels have been previously used to mold living implants, the properties of the
alginate formulations used for molding were not suitable for 3-D printing. In addition to changing
the formulation to make the alginate hydrogels “printable,” we developed a robotic hydrogel
deposition system and supporting CAD software to deposit the gel in arbitrary geometries. We
demonstrated this technology’s capabilities by printing alginate gel implants of multiple materials
with various spatial heterogeneities, including, implants with completely embedded material
clusters. The process was determined to be both viable (94±5% n=15) and sterile (less than one
bacterium per 0.9 µL after 8 days of incubation). Additionally, we demonstrated the printing of a
meniscus cartilage-shaped gel generated directly from a CT Scan. The proposed approach may
hold advantages over other tissue printing efforts [5,9]. This technology has the potential to
overcome challenges to scaffolding and could enable the efficient fabrication of spatially
heterogeneous, patient-specific, living implants.Mechanical Engineerin
Trophic classification of Tennessee Valley area reservoirs derived from LANDSAT multispectral scanner data
LANDSAT MSS data from four different dates were extracted from computer tapes using a semiautomated digital data handling and analysis system. Reservoirs were extracted from the surrounding land matrix by using a Band 7 density level slice of 3; and descriptive statistics to include mean, variance, and ratio between bands for each of the four bands were calculated. Significant correlations ( 0.80) were identified between the MSS statistics and many trophic indicators from ground truth water quality data collected at 35 reservoirs in the greater Tennessee Valley region. Regression models were developed which gave significant estimates of each reservoir's trophic state as defined by its trophic state index and explained in all four LANDSAT frames at least 85 percent of the variability in the data. To illustrate the spatial variations within reservoirs as well as the relative variations between reservoirs, a table look up elliptical classification was used in conjunction with each reservoir's trophic state index to classify each reservoir on a pixel by pixel basis and produce color coded thematic representations
COMPARISON OF MEN'S AND WOMEIU'S 100 M FREESTYLE PERFORMANCES AT THE 1996 PARALYMPIC GAMES
Swimming competition for persons with a loco-motor disability is organised according to a functional classification system. One manner of checking the validity of this system is to compare the race results of men and women, in this case for the 100 m freestyle at the 1996 Paralympic Games. Men swam faster than women and had longer stroke lengths but no differences in stroke rate. Starting and turning ability did not differ. Women finished faster. In general the pattern of differences between Olympic and Paralympic swimmers and among classes was similar in men and women, supporting the validity of the functional classification system used for freestyle
Evidence for nodal superconductivity in LaFePO
In several iron-arsenide superconductors there is strong evidence for a fully
gapped superconducting state consistent with either a conventional s-wave
symmetry or an unusual state where there the gap changes sign between
the electron and hole Fermi surface sheets. Here we report measurements of the
penetration depth in very clean samples of the related
iron-phosphide superconductor, LaFePO, at temperatures down to 100 mK.
We find that varies almost perfectly linearly with strongly
suggesting the presence of gap nodes in this compound. Taken together with
other data, this suggests the gap function may not be generic to all pnictide
superconductors
The Antiferromagnetic Band Structure of La2CuO4 Revisited
Using the Becke-3-LYP functional, we have performed band structure
calculations on the high temperature superconductor parent compound, La2CuO4.
Under the restricted spin formalism (rho(alpha) equal to rho(beta)), the
R-B3LYP band structure agrees well with the standard LDA band structure. It is
metallic with a single Cu x2-y2/O p(sigma) band crossing the Fermi level. Under
the unrestricted spin formalism (rho(alpha) not equal to rho(beta)), the UB3LYP
band structure has a spin polarized antiferromagnetic solution with a band gap
of 2.0 eV, agreeing well with experiment. This state is 1.0 eV (per formula
unit) lower than that calculated from the R-B3LYP. The apparent high energy of
the spin restricted state is attributed to an overestimate of on-site Coulomb
repulsion which is corrected in the unrestricted spin calculations. The
stabilization of the total energy with spin polarization arises primarily from
the stabilization of the x2-y2 band, such that the character of the eigenstates
at the top of the valence band in the antiferromagnetic state becomes a strong
mixture of Cu x2-y2/O p(sigma) and Cu z2/O' p(z). Since the Hohenberg-Kohn
theorem requires the spin restricted and spin unrestricted calculations give
exactly the same ground state energy and total density for the exact
functionals, this large disparity in energy reflects the inadequacy of current
functionals for describing the cuprates. This calls into question the use of
band structures based on current restricted spin density functionals (including
LDA) as a basis for single band theories of superconductivity in these
materials.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. B, for more information
see http://www.firstprinciples.co
Two-dimensional dynamic stall as simulated in a varying freestream
A low speed wind tunnel equipped with a axial gust generator to simulate the aerodynamic environment of a helicopter rotor was used to study the dynamic stall of a pitching blade in an effort to ascertain to what extent harmonic velocity perturbations in the freestream affect dynamic stall. The aerodynamic moment on a two dimensional, pitching blade model in both constant and pulsating airstream was measured. An operational analog computer was used to perform on-line data reduction and plots of moment versus angle of attack and work done by the moment were obtained. The data taken in the varying freestream were then compared to constant freestream data and to the results of two analytical methods. These comparisons show that the velocity perturbations have a significant effect on the pitching moment which can not be consistently predicted by the analytical methods, but had no drastic effect on the blade stability
Use of Otolith Strontium:Calcium Ratios for Hindcasting Larval Cod Gadus Morhua Distributions Relative to Water Masses on Georges Bank
The concentration ratios of strontium to calcium in laboratory-reared larval cod otoliths are shown to be related to the water temperature (T) at the time of otolith precipitation. This relationship is curvilinear, and is best described by a simple exponential equation of the form (Sr/Ca x 1000 = a exp(-T/b). We show that when Sr/Ca elemental analyses are related to the daily growth increments in the larval otoliths, relative temperature histories of individual field-caught larvae can be reconstructed from the egg stage to the time of capture. We present preliminary examples of how such reconstructed temperature histories of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua larvae, collected on Georges Bank during April and May 1993, may be interpreted in relation to the broad-scale larval distributions and the hydrography of the Bank
The implausibility of ‘usual care’ in an open system: sedation and weaning practices in Paediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs) in the United Kingdom (UK)
Background: The power of the randomised controlled trial depends upon its capacity to operate in a closed
system whereby the intervention is the only causal force acting upon the experimental group and absent in the
control group, permitting a valid assessment of intervention efficacy. Conversely, clinical arenas are open systems
where factors relating to context, resources, interpretation and actions of individuals will affect implementation and
effectiveness of interventions. Consequently, the comparator (usual care) can be difficult to define and variable in
multi-centre trials. Hence outcomes cannot be understood without considering usual care and factors that may
affect implementation and impact on the intervention.
Methods: Using a fieldwork approach, we describe PICU context, ‘usual’ practice in sedation and weaning from
mechanical ventilation, and factors affecting implementation prior to designing a trial involving a sedation and
ventilation weaning intervention. We collected data from 23 UK PICUs between June and November 2014 using
observation, individual and multi-disciplinary group interviews with staff.
Results: Pain and sedation practices were broadly similar in terms of drug usage and assessment tools. Sedation
protocols linking assessment to appropriate titration of sedatives and sedation holds were rarely used (9 % and 4 %
of PICUs respectively). Ventilator weaning was primarily a medical-led process with 39 % of PICUs engaging senior
nurses in the process: weaning protocols were rarely used (9 % of PICUs). Weaning methods were variably based
on clinician preference. No formal criteria or use of spontaneous breathing trials were used to test weaning
readiness. Seventeen PICUs (74 %) had prior engagement in multi-centre trials, but limited research nurse
availability. Barriers to previous trial implementation were intervention complexity, lack of belief in the evidence and
inadequate training. Facilitating factors were senior staff buy-in and dedicated research nurse provision.
Conclusions: We examined and identified contextual and organisational factors that may impact on the
implementation of our intervention. We found usual practice relating to sedation, analgesia and ventilator weaning
broadly similar, yet distinctively different from our proposed intervention, providing assurance in our ability to
evaluate intervention effects. The data will enable us to develop an implementation plan; considering these factors
we can more fully understand their impact on study outcomes
Implementing Pharmacy Informatics in College Curricula: The AACP Technology in Pharmacy Education and Learning Special Interest Group
Many professional organizations have initiatives to increase the awareness and use of informatics in the practice of pharmacy. Within education we must respond to these initiatives and make technology integral to all aspects of the curriculum, inculcating in students the importance of technology in practice. This document proposes 5 central domains for organizing planning related to informatics and technology within pharmacy education. The document is intended to encourage discussion of informatics within pharmacy education and the implications of informatics in future pharmacy practice, and to guide colleges of pharmacy in identifying and analyzing informatics topics to be taught and methods of instruction to be used within the doctor of pharmacy curriculum
Multiply Folded Graphene
The folding of paper, hide, and woven fabric has been used for millennia to
achieve enhanced articulation, curvature, and visual appeal for intrinsically
flat, two-dimensional materials. For graphene, an ideal two-dimensional
material, folding may transform it to complex shapes with new and distinct
properties. Here, we present experimental results that folded structures in
graphene, termed grafold, exist, and their formations can be controlled by
introducing anisotropic surface curvature during graphene synthesis or transfer
processes. Using pseudopotential-density functional theory calculations, we
also show that double folding modifies the electronic band structure of
graphene. Furthermore, we demonstrate the intercalation of C60 into the
grafolds. Intercalation or functionalization of the chemically reactive folds
further expands grafold's mechanical, chemical, optical, and electronic
diversity.Comment: 29 pages, 10 figures (accepted in Phys. Rev. B
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