Search

Organic-inorganic hybrid materials are known for their outstanding chemical and physical properties. Although some studies have been published regarding the use of hybrids for biomedical applications, relationship between hydrophilic character and biodegradation, bioactivity and biocompatibility has not been studied yet. The sol–gel method has been chosen for the manufacturing of siloxane-polyurethane hybrids for the exceptional potential of the method to obtain nanostructured materials. The effect of the amount of the urethane oligomer (OPU) on the structure, hydrophilic character, degradability, bioactivity and citotoxicity was investigated. Gelling time of these hybrids increases linearly with the decrease on the Siloxane/OPU ratio up to an 80/20 value. Hydrophilic character of the hybrids can be modulated and affects dramatically the degradation rate of the specimens. A hybrid with a 50/50 Siloxane/OPU ratio displayed an appropriate degradation rate, bioactivity and lack of cell toxicity that makes this material a candidate for further studies for applications in bone regeneration.Los materiales híbridos Orgánico-Inorgánico son conocidos por sus excepcionales propiedades químicas y físicas. Aunque se han publicado algunos estudios respecto al uso de híbridos para aplicaciones biomédicas, aun faltan estudios que determinen la relación que existe entre el carácter hidrofílico de estos materiales y las propiedades que les permiten ser utilizados como biomateriales: degradación, bioactividad y biocompatibilidad. El método sol-gel se ha escogido para la fabricación de híbridos debido a la posibilidad de obtener materiales nanoestructurados que comprenden un componente orgánico y un inorgánico. Se investigó el efecto de la cantidad del olígomero de uretano (OPU) sobre la estructura, el carácter hidrofílico, la degradabilidad, la bioactividad y la citotoxicidad. El tiempo de gelificación de estos híbridos incrementa linealmente con la disminución en la relación Siloxano/OPU hasta un valor de 80/20. El carácter hidrofílico de los híbridos se puede modular y afectar considerablemente la velocidad de degradación de las muestras. Un híbrido con una relación 50/50 Siloxane/OPU muestra una velocidad de degradación, una bioactividad y falta de toxicidad que hacen a este material un candidato para futuros estudios para aplicaciones en regeneración ósea.

The accuracy of density measurements and position resolution in flash (40 ns) radiography of thick objects with 24 Gev/c protons is investigated. A global model fit to step wedge data is shown to give a good description spanning the periodic table. The parameters obtained from the step wedge data are used to predict transmission through the French Test Object (FTO), a test object of nested spheres, to a precision better than 1%. Multiple trials have been used to show that the systematic errors are less than 2%. Absolute agreement between the average radiographic measurements of the density and the known density is 1%. Spatial resolution has been measured to be 200 μm at the center of the FTO. These data verify expectations of the benefits provided by high energy hadron radiography for thick objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of West Indian Medical Journal is the property of West Indian Medical Journal (WIMJ) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective:To determine the capillary partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) and room air transcutaneous hemoglobin saturation (RA SAT) at 36 weeks’ postmenstrual age (PMA) in infants born with weight between 501 and 1250 g.Study Design:Multicenter, prospective investigation with primary data collection within 72 h of 36 weeks PMA or discharge, whichever first. PCO2 and RA SAT determinations were done at rest on infants not requiring mechanical ventilation or nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP).Result:A total of 220 infants were enrolled (mean gestational age 27.7 weeks, mean birthweight 951 g). In infants with traditionally defined chronic lung disease (CLD) compared to those without CLD, the mean PCO2 was significantly higher (54 versus 45 mm Hg) and the median RA SAT significantly lower (<80 versus 97%). In infants with the new classification of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), there was a significant linear trend toward increasing PCO2 with increasing severity of BPD (45, 47, 54 and 62 mm Hg in No, Mild, Moderate and Severe BPD). There was a significant linear trend toward decreasing RA SAT with increasing severity of BPD (97, 95 <80, <80% in No, Mild, Moderate and Severe BPD).Conclusion:Defining CLD as BPD based upon a RA SAT test is a more discriminate, objective method to categorize lung injury. PCO2 is an objective measure of lung function that inversely correlates with RA SAT. These determinations done together at 36 weeks PMA may provide more precise and accurate estimates of lung injury that might allow for better understanding of pulmonary therapies and clearer comparison of BPD rates and severities among NICUs.Journal of Perinatology (2008) 28, 48–54; doi:10.1038/sj.jp.7211859; published online 22 November 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When completed, the DARHT-II linear induction accelerator (LIA) will produce a 2-kA, 17-MeV electron beam in a 1600-ns flat-top pulse. In initial tests, DARHT-II accelerated beams with current pulse lengths from 500 to 1200 ns full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) with more than 1.2-kA, 12.5-MeV peak current and energy. Experiments have now been done with a ∼1600-ns pulse length. These pulse lengths are all significantly longer than any other multimegaelectronvolt LIA, and they define a novel regime for high-current beam dynamics, especially with regard to beam stability. Although the initial tests demonstrated insignificant beam-breakup instability (BBU), the pulse length was too short to determine whether ion-hose instability would be present toward the end of a long, 1600-ns pulse. The 1600-ns pulse experiments reported here resolved these issues for the long-pulse DARHT-II LIA. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The DARHT-II linear-induction accelerator has been successfully operated at 1.2-1.3 kA and 12.5-12.7 MeV to demonstrate the production and acceleration of an electron beam. Beam pulse lengths for these experiments were varied from 0.5 ps to 1.2 ps full-width half-maximum. A low-frequency inductance-capacitance (LC) oscillation of diode voltage and current resulted in an oscillation of the beam position through interaction with an accidental (static) magnetic dipole in the diode region. There was no growth in the amplitude of this oscillation after propagating more than 44 m through the accelerator, and there was no loss of beam current that could be measured. The results of these initial experiments are presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A neutron imaging diagnostic has recently been commissioned at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). This new system is an important diagnostic tool for inertial fusion studies at the NIF for measuring the size and shape of the burning DT plasma during the ignition stage of Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) implosions. The imaging technique utilizes a pinhole neutron aperture, placed between the neutron source and a neutron detector. The detection system measures the two dimensional distribution of neutrons passing through the pinhole. This diagnostic has been designed to collect two images at two times. The long flight path for this diagnostic, 28 m, results in a chromatic separation of the neutrons, allowing the independently timed images to measure the source distribution for two neutron energies. Typically the first image measures the distribution of the 14 MeV neutrons and the second image of the 6-12 MeV neutrons. The combination of these two images has provided data on the size and shape of the burning plasma within the compressed capsule, as well as a measure of the quantity and spatial distribution of the cold fuel surrounding this core. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]