Groundwater Remediation Using Modified Biochar

Biochar, a lightweight black residue made of carbon, has proved to be an effective adsorbent to remove TCE from groundwater. Not only is it an economical substitute for conventional adsorbents but it can be created by using a variety of organic materials. For this project, it will rely on walnut shell feedstock to create biochar as this had the best ability to adsorb TCE.https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/durep_posters/1131/thumbnail.jp

Complete Genome Sequences of Mycobacterium smegmatis Phages NihilNomen and Carlyle, Isolated in Las Vegas, Nevada

We present the complete genomes of the Mycobacterium smegmatis phages Carlyle and NihilNomen, isolated from soil in Las Vegas, Nevada. The phages were isolated and annotated by undergraduate students enrolled in the Phage Discovery course offered by the School of Life Sciences at the University of Nevada Las Vegas

Detection of Circulatory Diseases Through Fingernails Using Artificial Neural Network

This study focuses on detection of circulatory diseases such as Coronary Occlusion, Congestive Heart Failure, and Congenital Heart Disease by analyzing fingernails. It used an image processing system which includes image segmentation, color threshold, and shape analysis. The fingernail database used are classified using Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The proposed detection system diagnosed 6 patients having the said diseases (3 Congenital Heart Failure, 2 Congenital Heart Disease, and 1 Coronary Occlusion). It was matched with all the findings and diagnosis of all the attending specialists. With this, it was 100% successful in detecting circulatory diseases

Effect of β2-adrenergic receptor stimulation on lung fluid in stable heart failure patients

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine 1) if stable heart-failure patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) have elevated extravascular lung water (EVLW) versus healthy control subjects, and 2) the effect of acute β2AR agonist inhalation on lung fluid balance. Methods: Twenty-two stable HFrEF patients and 18 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were studied. Lung diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO), alveolar-capillary conductance (DmCO), pulmonary capillary blood volume (Vc) (via rebreathe) and lung tissue volume (Vtis) (via computed tomography) were assessed before and within 30 min of administration of nebulized albuterol. EVLW was derived as Vtis – Vc. Results: Pre-albuterol, Vtis and EVLW were greater in HFrEF vs. control (998 ± 200 vs. 884 ± 123 ml, P = 0.041; 943 ± 202 vs. 802 ± 133 ml, P = 0.015, respectively). Albuterol decreased Vtis and EVLW in HFrEF (−4.6 ± 7.8%, P = 0.010; −4.6 ± 8.8%, P = 0.018) and control (−2.8 ± 4.9%, P = 0.029; −3.0 ± 5.7%, P = 0.045). There was an inverse relationship between pre-albuterol values and the pre- to post-albuterol change for EVLW (r2 = −0.264, P = 0.015) and DmCO (r2 = −0.343, P = 0.004) in HFrEF only. Conclusion: Lung fluid is elevated in stable HFrEF patients relative to healthy subjects. Stimulation of the β2ARs may cause fluid removal in HFrEF, especially in patients who exhibit greater evidence for increased lung water at baseline

Decreased Left Ventricular Torsion and Untwisting in Children with Dilated Cardiomyopathy

The purpose of this study was to analyze left ventricular (LV) torsion and untwisting, and to evaluate the correlation between torsion and other components of LV contraction in children with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Segmental and global rotation, rotational rate (Vrot) were measured at three levels of LV using the two-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking imaging (STI) method in 10 DCM patients (range 0.6-15 yr, median 6.5 yr, 3 females) and 17 age- and sex-matched normal controls. Global torsion was decreased in DCM (peak global torsion; 10.9±4.6° vs. 0.3±2.1°, p<0.001). Loss of LV torsion occurred mainly by the diminution of counterclockwise apical rotation and was augmented by somewhat less reduction in clockwise basal rotation. In DCM, the normal counterclockwise apical rotation was not observed, and the apical rotation about the central axis was clockwise or slightly counterclockwise (peak apical rotation; 5.9±4.1° vs. -0.9±3.1°, p<0.001). Systolic counterclockwise Vrot and early diastolic clockwise Vrot at the apical level were decreased or abolished. In DCM, decreased systolic torsion and loss of early diastolic recoil contribute to LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction. The STI method may facilitate the serial evaluation of the LV torsional behavior in clinical settings and give new biomechanical concepts for better management of patients with DCM

Region-Specific Microstructure in the Neonatal Ventricles of a Porcine Model

© 2018, Biomedical Engineering Society. The neonate transitions from placenta-derived oxygen, to supply from the pulmonary system, moments after birth. This requires a series of structural developments to divert more blood through the right heart and onto the lungs, with the tissue quickly remodelling to the changing ventricular workload. In some cases, however, the heart structure does not fully develop causing poor circulation and inefficient oxygenation, which is associated with an increase in mortality and morbidity. This study focuses on developing an enhanced knowledge of the 1-day old heart, quantifying the region-specific microstructural parameters of the tissue. This will enable more accurate mathematical and computational simulations of the young heart. Hearts were dissected from 12, 1-day-old deceased Yorkshire piglets (mass: 2.1–2.4kg, length: 0.38–0.51m), acquired from a breeding farm. Evans blue dye was used to label the heart equator and to demarcate the left and right ventricle free walls. Two hearts were used for three-dimensional diffusion-tensor magnetic resonance imaging, to quantify the fractional anisotropy (FA). The remaining hearts were used for two-photon excited fluorescence and second-harmonic generation microscopy, to quantify the cardiomyocyte and collagen fibril structures within the anterior and posterior aspects of the right and left ventricles. FA varied significantly across both ventricles, with the greatest in the equatorial region, followed by the base and apex. The FA in each right ventricular region was statistically greater than that in the left. Cardiomyocyte and collagen fibre rotation was greatest in the anterior wall of both ventricles, with less dispersion when compared to the posterior walls. In defining these key parameters, this study provides a valuable insight into the 1-day-old heart that will provide a valuable platform for further investigation the normal and abnormal heart using mathematical and computational models

Fabrication and characterization of tin oxide-silver composite nanomaterials synthesized by horizontal vapor phase growth (HVPG) technique for UV blocking property and antimicrobial application

Tin oxide and silver composite nanomaterials were successfully synthesized using the vapor phase crystal growth technique. Silver and tin oxide powders of high purity (99.99%) were weighed at approximately 35 mg with stoichiometric mixtures of 1:4, 2:3, 3:2, and 4:1 respectively and were poured into the quartz tube. Each quartz tube was attached to the Thermionic High Vacuum System with a pressure of 10-6 Torr which was fully sealed in one end. The sealed quartz tube was placed in a Thermolyne Horizontal Tube Furnace and baked at 800 0C growth temperature and 6 hours dwell time. The collected samples from the different zones of the tube were characterized using the scanning electron microscope (SEM), and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The nanomaterials were mixed with the laminating fluid and the solutions were coated to a glass slide. UV/Vis Spectrophotometer was used to measure the absorbance and transmittance values of the said coated glass to evaluate the materials UV blocking property. To confirm the materials antimicrobial property, alamar blue assay and absorbance measurement were used. Geometric and electronic property of the materials was also computed using Density Functional Theory. The SEM photomicrographs revealed the presence of nanoparticles, wires, rods and cotton-like structures grown in random directions. Most of the nanomaterials were observed at zone 3 of the quartz tube. Micromaterials like wires, rods, sphere, and cotton like structures were observed at zone 2. Zone 1 displays structures in nanometer and micrometer size. Energy dispersive X-ray analyses confirmed the presence of Ag, Sn, and O in the composite nanomaterials with a minimal presence of impurities. DFT analysis verified the growth of tin oxide on the surface of silver. Using largest unit cells of SnO2 (110) and Ag (111), nanorods can be formed which is supported by the SEM micrographs. Analysis on the different surface termination showed that tin oxide and silver composites are UV blockers with computed band gap energies of 2.72 to 4.84 eV. Absorbance peaks of the glass coated with nanomaterials solution showed that the materials are classified as UV absorbers. The findings revealed that the wavelength of the light absorbed by the glass slide ranges from 200 to 400 nm. Highest absorbance of UV was observed in the glass coated with nanoSnO2 solutions followed by 4:1 SnO2-Ag stoichiometric ratio. As the amount of tin oxide over silver increases, the absorbance values also increases. Highest transmittance of UVB and visible light was observed in the glass coated with nanomaterials solutions from zone 3 of the quartz tube. Alamar blue reduction was observed at the medium containing powder materials for both E. coli and S. aureus bacteria. Its pink color exhibits the viability of bacteria. SnO2 nanomaterials are more toxic to E. coli than S. aureus. Absorbance values depicted that the toxicity to E. coli and S. aureus increases as the amount of silver over tin oxide increases. Antimicrobial property was enhanced by reducing the materials to nanosize. The highest toxicity was observed at 1:4 SnO2-Ag stoichiometric ratios collected at zone 3