Multi-Nozzle Biopolymer Deposition for Freeform Fabrication of Tissue Constructs

Advanced freeform fabrication techniques have been recently used for the construction of tissue scaffolds because of the process repeatability and capability of high accuracy in fabrication resolution at the macro and micro scales. Among many applicable tissue scaffolding materials, polymeric materials have unique properties in terms of the biocompatibility and degradation, and have thus been widely utilized in tissue engineering applications. Hydrogels, such as alginate, has been one of the most important polymer scaffolding materials because of its biocompatibility and internal structure similarity to that of the extracellular matrix of many tissues, and its relatively moderate processing. Three-dimensional deposition has been an entreating freeform fabrication method of biopolymer and particularly hydrogel scaffolds because of its readiness to deposit fluids at ambient temperatures. This paper presents a recent development of biopolymer deposition based freeform fabrication for 3-diemnsinal tissue scaffolds. The system configuration of multi-nozzles used in the deposition of sodium alginate solutions and Poly-?- Caprolactone (PCL) are described. Studies on polymer deposition feasibility and structural formability are conducted, and the preliminary results are presented.Mechanical Engineerin

Helices at Interfaces

Helically coiled filaments are a frequent motif in nature. In situations commonly encountered in experiments coiled helices are squeezed flat onto two dimensional surfaces. Under such 2-D confinement helices form "squeelices" - peculiar squeezed conformations often resembling looped waves, spirals or circles. Using theory and Monte-Carlo simulations we illuminate here the mechanics and the unusual statistical mechanics of confined helices and show that their fluctuations can be understood in terms of moving and interacting discrete particle-like entities - the "twist-kinks". We show that confined filaments can thermally switch between discrete topological twist quantized states, with some of the states exhibiting dramatically enhanced circularization probability while others displaying surprising hyperflexibility

Free Energy Approach to the Formation of an Icosahedral Structure during the Freezing of Gold Nanoclusters

The freezing of metal nanoclusters such as gold, silver, and copper exhibits a novel structural evolution. The formation of the icosahedral (Ih) structure is dominant despite its energetic metastability. This important phenomenon, hitherto not understood, is studied by calculating free energies of gold nanoclusters. The structural transition barriers have been determined by using the umbrella sampling technique combined with molecular dynamics simulations. Our calculations show that the formation of Ih gold nanoclusters is attributed to the lower free energy barrier from the liquid to the Ih phases compared to the barrier from the liquid to the face-centered-cubic crystal phases

Propagation of Exchange Bias in CoFe/FeMn/CoFe Trilayers

CoFe/FeMn, FeMn/CoFe bilayers and CoFe/FeMn/CoFe trilayers were grown in magnetic field and at room temperature. The exchange bias field $H_{eb}$ depends strongly on the order of depositions and is much higher at CoFe/FeMn than at FeMn/CoFe interfaces. By combining the two bilayer structures into symmetric CoFe/FeMn($t_\mathrm{FeMn}$)/CoFe trilayers, $H_{eb}^t$ and $H_{eb}^b$ of the top and bottom CoFe layers, respectively, are both enhanced. Reducing $t_\mathrm{FeMn}$ of the trilayers also results in enhancements of both $H_{eb}^b$ and $H_{eb}^t$. These results evidence the propagation of exchange bias between the two CoFe/FeMn and FeMn/CoFe interfaces mediated by the FeMn antiferromagnetic order

Kinesthetic Language Learning: How an Accident Led to a Revelation

This essay analyzes a critical incident that took place in a hybrid distancelearning Hebrew language class that was adapting interactive, immersion-style, kinesthetic pedagogy during the week-long face-to-face intensive portion of the class – including Total Physical Response techniques in which students respond to the language with whole-body actions, entering into the world created by the language and the particular biblical text. Memorization, performance, interactive games, songs, and skits also contribute to the immersion-style learning environment. A snafu on the final day of the week led to a serendipitous solution that demonstrated Parker Palmer’s idea of subject centered pedagogy. A brief description and analysis of the critical incident is followed by two short responses