Colloidal buckets formed via internal phase separation

We report the fabrication of novel hollow particles, with a hole engineered in the shell, via a coacervation technique. These particles are termed colloidal buckets. Two sets of conditions were explored: (i) lowering the operating temperature to reduce the solvent evaporation rate, and (ii) incorporation of a third component to alter the interfacial tensions between different phases. The particles were characterised by dynamic light scattering, gas adsorption and differential scanning calorimetry. The buckets had a higher surface area than spheres of the same size and the core was easily removed by washing in a suitable solvent

Release Profiles of Encapsulated Actives from Colloidosomes Sintered for Various Durations

This paper presents the formation of low temperature colloidosomes from colloidal poly(styrene-co-butyl acrylate) particles for both water-in-oil and oil-in-water systems. An investigation into the sintering conditions examines the ultimate shell morphology formed, with longer sintering times and higher sintering temperatures producing less porous microcapsules. This has been verified by the release of an encapsulated dye from the aqueous core microcapsules, in which slower release has been detected for longer sintering times. The results are subsequently fitted with a diffusion equation to give a diffusion coefficient of fluorescein through the polymeric shell of 10−17 m2/s

NASA metrology information system: A NEMS subsystem

the NASA Metrology Information Systems (NMIS) is being developed as a standardized tool in managing the NASA field Center's instrument calibration programs. This system, as defined by the NASA Metrology and Calibration Workshop, will function as a subsystem of the newly developed NASA Equipment Management System (NEMS). The Metrology Information System is designed to utilize and update applicable NEMS data fields for controlled property and to function as a stand alone system for noncontrolled property. The NMIS provides automatic instrument calibration recall control, instrument historical performance data storage and analysis, calibration and repair labor and parts cost data, and instrument user and location data. Nineteen standardized reports were developed to analyze calibration system operations

Hydrofocusing Bioreactor for Three-Dimensional Cell Culture

The hydrodynamic focusing bioreactor (HFB) is a bioreactor system designed for three-dimensional cell culture and tissue-engineering investigations on orbiting spacecraft and in laboratories on Earth. The HFB offers a unique hydrofocusing capability that enables the creation of a low-shear culture environment simultaneously with the "herding" of suspended cells, tissue assemblies, and air bubbles. Under development for use in the Biotechnology Facility on the International Space Station, the HFB has successfully grown large three-dimensional, tissuelike assemblies from anchorage-dependent cells and grown suspension hybridoma cells to high densities. The HFB, based on the principle of hydrodynamic focusing, provides the capability to control the movement of air bubbles and removes them from the bioreactor without degrading the low-shear culture environment or the suspended three-dimensional tissue assemblies. The HFB also provides unparalleled control over the locations of cells and tissues within its bioreactor vessel during operation and sampling

Application of the results of excavation response experiments at climax and the Colorado School of Mines to the development of an experiment for the underground research laboratory

Large-scale underground experiment programs to examine excavation response have been performed at the Climax facility in Nevada and at the Colorado School of Mines. These two programs provided fundamental information on the behavior of rock and the effects of excavation; on instrument performance and configuration; and on the relationship between test geometry and test behavior. This information is being considered in the development of a major excavation response experiment to be carried out in the Canadian Underground Research Laboratory. 11 refs., 3 figs

Neutralizing Anti-Interleukin-1β Antibodies Reduce Ischemia-Related Interleukin-1β Transport Across the Blood-Brain Barrier in Fetal Sheep

Hypoxic ischemic insults predispose to perinatal brain injury. Pro-inflammatory cytokines are important in the evolution of this injury. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is a key mediator of inflammatory responses and elevated IL-1β levels in brain correlate with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes after brain injury. Impaired blood-brain barrier (BBB) function represents an important component of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in the fetus. In addition, ischemia-reperfusion increases cytokine transport across the BBB of the ovine fetus. Reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine entry into brain could represent a novel approach to attenuate ischemia-related brain injury. We hypothesized that infusions of neutralizing IL-1β monoclonal antibody (mAb) reduce IL-1β transport across the BBB after ischemia in the fetus. Fetal sheep were studied 24-h after 30-min of carotid artery occlusion. Fetuses were treated with placebo- or anti-IL-1β mAb intravenously 15-min and 4-h after ischemia. Ovine IL-1β protein expressed from IL-1β pGEX-2T vectors in E. Coli BL-21 cells was produced, purified, and radiolabeled with 125I. BBB permeability was quantified using the blood-to-brain transfer constant (Ki) with 125I-radiolabeled-IL-1β. Increases in anti-IL-1β mAb were observed in the brain of the mAb-treated group (P \u3c 0.001). Blood-to-brain transport of 125I-IL-1β was lower (P \u3c 0.04) across brain regions in the anti-IL-1β mAb treated than placebo-treated ischemic fetuses. Plasma 125I-IL-1β counts were higher (P \u3c 0.001) in the anti-IL-1β mAb than placebo-treated ischemic fetuses. Systemic infusions of anti-IL-1β mAb reduce IL-1β transport across the BBB after ischemia in the ovine fetus. Our findings suggest that conditions associated with increases in systemic pro-inflammatory cytokines and neurodevelopmental impairment could benefit from an anti-cytokine therapeutic strategy

A Comparative Gene Map of the Horse (Equus caballus)

A comparative gene map of the horse genome composed of 127 loci was assembled based on the new assignment of 68 equine type I loci and on data published previously. PCR primers based on consensus gene sequences conserved across mammalian species were used to amplify markers for assigning 68 equine type I loci to 27 horse synteny groups established previously with a horse-mouse somatic cell hybrid panel (SCHP, UC Davis). This increased the number of coding genes mapped to the horse genome by over 2-fold and allowed refinements of the comparative mapping data available for this species. In conjunction with 57 previous assignments of type I loci to the horse genome map, these data have allowed us to confirm the assignment of 24 equine synteny groups to their respective chromosomes, to provisionally assign nine synteny groups to chromosomes, and to further refine the genetic composition established with Zoo-FISH of two horse chromosomes. The equine type I markers developed in this study provide an important resource for the future development of the horse linkage and physical genome maps

Decoding antioxidant and antibacterial potentials of Malaysian green seaweeds: Caulerpa racemosa and Caulerpa lentillifera

Seaweeds are gaining a considerable amount of attention for their antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Caulerpa racemosa and Caulerpa lentillifera, also known as ‘sea grapes’, are green seaweeds commonly found in different parts of the world, but the antioxidant and antibacterial potentials of Malaysian C. racemosa and C. lentillifera have not been thoroughly explored. In this study, crude extracts of the seaweeds were prepared using chloroform, methanol, and water. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were measured, followed by in vitro antioxidant activity determination using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. Antibacterial activities of these extracts were tested against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and neuropathogenic Escherichia coli K1. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LCMS) analysis was then used to determine the possible compounds present in the extract with the most potent antioxidant and antibacterial activity. Results showed that C. racemosa chloroform extract had the highest TPC (13.41 ± 0.86 mg GAE/g), antioxidant effect (EC50 at 0.65 ± 0.03 mg/mL), and the strongest antibacterial effect (97.7 ± 0.30%) against MRSA. LCMS analysis proposed that the chloroform extracts of C. racemosa are mainly polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, terpenes, and alkaloids. In conclusion, C. racemosa can be a great source of novel antioxidant and antibacterial agents, but isolation and purification of the bioactive compounds are needed to study their mechanism of action

Study of drag and orientation of regular particles using stereo vision, Schlieren photography and digital image processing

© 2017 Elsevier B.V.A new experimental, image-based methodology suitable to track the changes in orientation of non-spherical particles and their influence on the drag coefficient as they settle in fluids is presented. Given the fact that non-spherical solids naturally develop variations in their angular orientation during the fall, none-intrusiveness of the technique of analysis is of paramount importance in order to preserve the particle/fluid interaction undisturbed. Three-dimensional quantitative data about the motion parameters is obtained through single-camera stereo vision whilst qualitative visualizations of the adjacent fluid patterns are achieved with Schlieren photography. The methodology was validated by comparing the magnitudes of the drag coefficient of a set of spherical particles at terminal velocity conditions against those estimated from drag correlations published in the literature. A noteworthy similarity was attained. During the fall of non-spherical solids, once the particle Reynolds number approximated 163 for disks, and 240 for cylinders, or exceeded those values, secondary motions composed by regular oscillations and tumbling were present. They altered the angular orientation of the particles with respect to the main motion direction and caused complete turbulent patterns in the surrounding flow, therefore affecting the instantaneous projected area, drag force, and coefficient of resistance. The impact of the changes in angular orientation onto the drag coefficient was shown graphically as a means for reinforcing existing numerical approaches, however, an explicit relation between both variables could not be observed

Research findings from the Memories of Nursing oral history project.

Capturing the stories of nurses who practised in the past offers the opportunity to reflect on the changes in practice over time to determine lessons for the future. This article shares some of the memories of a group of 16 nurses who were interviewed in Bournemouth, UK, between 2009 and 2016. Thematic analysis of the interview transcripts identified a number of themes, three of which are presented: defining moments, hygiene and hierarchy. The similarities and differences between their experiences and contemporary nursing practice are discussed to highlight how it may be timely to think back in order to take practice forward positively in the future