Search

The increasing demands of electronic devices and electric transportation necessitate lithium-ion batteries with simultaneous high energy and power capabilities. However, rate capabilities are often limited in high-loading electrodes due to the lengthy and tortuous ion transport paths with their electrochemical behaviors governed by complicated electrode architectures still elusive. Here, we report the electrode-level tortuosity engineering design enabling improved charge storage kinetics in high-energy electrodes. Both high areal capacity and high-rate capability can be achieved beyond the practical level of mass loadings in electrodes with vertically oriented architectures. The electrochemical properties in electrodes with various architectures were quantitatively investigated through correlating the characteristic time with tortuosity. The lithium-ion transport kinetics regulated by electrode architectures was further studied via combining the three-dimensional electrode architecture visualization and simulation. The tortuosity-controlled charge storage kinetics revealed in this study can be extended to general electrode systems and provide useful design consideration for next-generation high-energy/power batteries.

We have investigated the influence of graphene nanoplatelet scaffolds for dental pulp cells (DPSCs) made from poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) either via spin-casting flat films or electrospinning nano- and microscale fibers. We found that graphene predominated over other factors in promoting differentiation of DPSCs. In the absence of graphene, real-time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses indicated that the DPSCs differentiated along odontogenic lineages only on the nano- and microelectrospun scaffolds. Closer scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging revealed formation of banded collagen structures, which nucleated on the electrospun fibers in the absence of graphene. Biomineral deposition was templated on these fibers, with mineral to protein ratios similar to dentin. In the microfibers, the graphene was completely encapsulated and appeared to hinder biomineralization. Previously minimal biomineralization and banded collagen were observed on flat spun cast substrates. Addition of graphene appeared to induce nucleation of banded collagen fibers and template biomineral deposition. Addition of graphene did not affect the outcome of the DPSCs cultured on the nanofibers, which biomineralized regardless of graphene inclusion. Based on these results, we hypothesize that direct contact with graphene is the primary factor determining differentiation of the DPSCs. On the flat surface and nanoscale electrospun fibers, the graphene protrudes from the sample enabling direct contact with the extracellular matrix (ECM) and cells, while on the microfibers, the graphene is fully encapsulated within the matrix. TUNA imaging with scanning force microscopy showed enhanced conductivity on fibers with encapsulated graphene, which we hypothesize may change the conformation of adsorbed ECM proteins, affecting DPSCs differentiation.

A combination of fused deposition modeling printing with atomic layer deposition (ALD) of titania was designed to achieve templated biomineralization and terminal odontogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells on three-dimensional (3D) printed polylactic acid (PLA) scaffolds. In the absence of the ALD-deposited titania coating, we had previously shown that both plating efficiency and differentiation are adversely impacted when scaffolds are produced by 3D printing rather than traditional polymer molding. These differences were removed when both printed and molded structures were coated with ALD of titania, which improved the outcomes regardless of the manufacturing method. In this case, on all titania-coated substrates, the plating efficiency increased, copious mineral deposition was observed, and RT-PCR indicated a significant upregulation of osteocalcin, a gene associated with mineral deposition. The influence of additional coatings of collagen, gelatin, or fibronectin on the ALD titania-coated and uncoated PLA-printed and molded scaffolds was also investigated. Upregulation of the odontogenic late-stage differentiation sibling protein, dentin sialoprotein, was observed on the collagen ALD-titania-coated scaffolds and to a lesser extent on the gelatin ALD-titania-coated scaffolds.

Polymer pollution from nonbiodegradable polymer blends is a source of increasing environmental concern. The obvious solution, the replacement of petroleum-based polymers with biodegradable polymers...

In situ wide-angle X-ray scattering together with infrared imaging was performed during three-dimensional material extrusion printing and correlated with the development of the crystalline structur...

We have shown that materials other than hydrogels commonly used in tissue engineering can be effective in enabling differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSC). Here we demonstrate that a hydrophobic elastomer, polyisoprene (PI), a component of Gutta-percha, normally used to obturate the tooth canal, can also be used to initiate differentiation of the pulp. We showed that PI substrates without additional coating promote cell adhesion and differentiation, while their moduli can be easily adjusted either by varying the coating thickness or incorporation of inorganic particles. DPSC plated on those PI substrates were shown, using SPM and hysitron indentation, to adjust their moduli to conform to differentially small changes in the substrate modulus. In addition, optical tweezers were used to separately measure the membrane and cytoplasm moduli of DPSC, with and without Rho kinase inhibitor. The results indicated that the changes in modulus were attributed predominantly to changes within the cytoplasm, rather than the cell membrane. CLSM was used to identify cell morphology. Differentiation, as determined by qRT-PCR, of the upregulation of OCN, and COL1α1 as well as biomineralization, characterized by SEM/EDAX, was observed on hard PI substrates in the absence of induction factors, i.e. dexamethasone, with moduli 3–4 MPa, regardless of preparation. SEM showed that even though biomineralization was deposited on both spun cast thin PI and filled thick PI substrates, the minerals were aggregated into large clusters on thin PI, and uniformly distributed on filled thick PI, where it was templated within banded collagen fibers. Statement of Significance This manuscript demonstrates the potential of polyisoprene (PI), an elastomeric polymer, for use in tissue engineering. We show how dental pulp stem cells adjust their moduli continuously to match infinitesimally small changes in substrate mechanics, till a critical threshold is reached when they will differentiate. The lineage of differentiation then becomes a sensitive function of both mechanics and morphology for a given chemical composition. Since PI is a major component of Gutta-percha, the FDA approved material commonly used for obturating the root canal, this work suggests that it can easily be adapted for in vivo use in dental regeneration.

Multiple studies exist on the influence of TiO

We have designed and engineered an environmentally sustainable ternary polymer blend with the mechanical properties comparable to high impact resistant conventional polymers under the guidance of the lattice self-consistent field model. In this blend system, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was used as the compatibilizer for the poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/poly(butylene adipate-co-butylene terephthalate) (PBAT) blend. We characterized the compatibility of those components and found PMMA was miscible with PLA and partially compatible with PBAT, which allowed it to self-assemble to a nanoscale interfacial layer on the PLA/PBAT interface. This PMMA layer can significantly decrease the interfacial energy and strongly entangle with either PLA or PBAT, resulting in the strengthening of the interface and dramatically enhancement of the impact resistance of the ternary blend. The optimal mechanical performance was achieved when the total PMMA concentration was less than 10 wt %. Higher PMMA content embrittled the ble...

With the increase in popularity of 3D printing, an important question arises as to the equivalence between devices manufactured by standard methods vs. those presenting with identical bulk specifications, but manufactured via fused deposition modeling (FDM) printing. Using thermal imaging in conjunction with electron and atomic force microscopy, we demonstrate that large thermal gradients, whose distribution is difficult to predict, are associated with FDM printing and result in incomplete fusion and sharkskin of the printing filament. Even though these features are micro or submicron scale, and hence may not interfere with the intended function of the device, they can have a profound influence if the device comes in contact with living tissue. Dental pulp stem cells were cultured on substrates of identical dimensions, which were either printed or molded from the same PLA stock material. The cultures exhibited significant differences in plating efficiency, migration trajectory, and morphology at early times stemming from attempts by the cells to minimize cytoplasm deformation as they attempt to adhere on the printed surfaces. Even though biomineralization without dexamethasone induction was observed in all cultures at later times, different gene expression patterns were observed on the two surfaces. (Osteogenic markers were upregulated on molded substrates, while odontogenic markers were upregulated on the FDM printed surfaces.) Our results clearly indicate that the method of manufacturing is an important consideration in comparing devices, which come in contact with living tissues.

We have engineered an environmentally sustainable, biodegradable, and flame retardant poly (lactic acid) (PLA) based composite by introducing resorcinol bis (diphenyl phosphate) (RDP) coated cellulose fibers at a mass fraction of only 8%. Mechanical testing showed that formation of the composite significantly improved the impact strength, dynamic and elastic moduli, and tensile strength relative to neat PLA. The composite self-extinguished in less than 2 s and had greatly reduced dripping, hence easily passing the UL-94 V0 criteria. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to elucidate the chemical mechanism responsible for these effects, which were interpreted in terms of a dehydration process of cellulose in the presence of RDP. This has an overall cooling effect and reduction of the combustion, which can be observed in the reduction of heat release rate (HRR) by cone calorimetry and increase in limiting oxygen index (LOI) value.

Flame retardant, environmentally sustainable nanocomposites were made by melt blending poly (lactic acid) (PLA) with melamine polyphosphate (MPP) and Cloisite 30B (C-30B). The composition of the nanocomposite was highly specific and guided by interfacial energy minimization principals which balanced enthalpic and mechanical contributions. In this critical range, even small changes in the filler concentration can have a large impact on the performance of the material. We showed that while addition of 17% MPP can increase the flame resistance of PLA, (achieving a UL-94 V2 rating) the mechanical properties were significantly degraded. Addition of only 1% C-30B reversed these effects and yielded a nanocomposite with enhanced mechanical properties and passing the UL-94 V0 flame test. This compound was able to be extruded and fed into a Makerbot Replicator 2X Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printer, where the printed samples were indistinguishable mechanically from their molded counterparts and also achieved the UL-94 V0 rating. The enhanced performance occurred only within a very narrow composition window. Cone calorimetry revealed that while a significant decrease in the heat release rate, accompanied by the formation of an intumescent char, was achieved by the addition of 1% C-30B to the MPP/PLA blend, a very poor char, corresponding the increase in the heat release rate, was obtained with addition of 2% C-30B. These results were explained in view of the altered phase morphology observed in Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).

We have successfully synthesized an ABA tri-block co-polymer of poly(methacrylic acid)-block-poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-block-poly(methacrylic acid), having Mw = 100k and 272k where we were able to insert RDG or RGD peptide sequences using thiol-acrylate Michael addition. A soft silicone stamp was then used to imprint a 0.4-micron wide grating of the copolymer with a period of 10 microns. The samples were then examined with atomic force microscopy after application of an external electric field and the pattern was observed to stretch by a factor of five. Cells plated onto these substrates showed clear preference for the striped patterns formed under the influence of the external field, and no preferential attachment to the patterns formed in the absence of the field. Cell migration experiments, using the agarose droplet method, performed on spun cast copolymer films showed minimal migration and adhesion on the substrates without peptides or those with only with the RDG peptide, while good adhesion and significant outward migration was observed for cells plated on the copolymers with the RGD sequence. Taken together these results confirmed our hypothesis that a smart biomimetic polymer substrate could be constructed where functional domains could be revealed selectively allowing us to mimic the natural design of engineered tissue constructs.

The influence of polymer blend coatings on the differentiation of mouse mesenchymal stem cells was investigated. Polymer blending is a common means of producing new coating materials with variable properties. Stem cell differentiation is known to be influenced by both chemical and mechanical properties of the underlying scaffold. We therefore selected to probe the response of stem cells cultured separately on two very different polymers, and then cultured on a 1:1 blend. The response to mechanical properties was probed by culturing the cells on polybutadiene (PB) films, where the film moduli was varied by adjusting film thickness. Cells adjusted their internal structure such that their moduli scaled with the PB films. These cells expressed chondrocyte markers (osterix (OSX), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), collagen X (COL-X), and aggrecan (ACAN)) without mineralizing. In contrast, cells on partially sulfonated polystyrene (PSS28) deposited large amounts of hydroxyapatite and expressed differentiation markers consistent with chondrocyte hypertrophy (OSX, ALP, COL-X, but not ACAN). Cells on phase-segregated PB and PSS28 films differentiated identically to those on PSS28, underscoring the challenges of using polymer templates for cell patterning in tissue engineering.

We have shown that materials other than hydrogels commonly used in tissue engineering can be effective in enabling differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSC). Here we demonstrate that a hydrophobic elastomer, polyisoprene (PI), a component of Gutta-percha, normally used to obturate the tooth canal, can also be used to initiate differentiation of the pulp. We showed that PI substrates without additional coating promote cell adhesion and differentiation, while their moduli can be easily adjusted either by varying the coating thickness or incorporation of inorganic particles. DPSC plated on those PI substrates were shown, using SPM and hysitron indentation, to adjust their moduli to conform to differentially small changes in the substrate modulus. In addition, optical tweezers were used to separately measure the membrane and cytoplasm moduli of DPSC, with and without Rho kinase inhibitor. The results indicated that the changes in modulus were attributed predominantly to changes within the cytoplasm, rather than the cell membrane. CLSM was used to identify cell morphology. Differentiation, as determined by qRT-PCR, of the upregulation of OCN, and COL1α1 as well as biomineralization, characterized by SEM/EDAX, was observed on hard PI substrates in the absence of induction factors, i.e. dexamethasone, with moduli 3-4 MPa, regardless of preparation. SEM showed that even though biomineralization was deposited on both spun cast thin PI and filled thick PI substrates, the minerals were aggregated into large clusters on thin PI, and uniformly distributed on filled thick PI, where it was templated within banded collagen fibers. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: This manuscript demonstrates the potential of polyisoprene (PI), an elastomeric polymer, for use in tissue engineering. We show how dental pulp stem cells adjust their moduli continuously to match infinitesimally small changes in substrate mechanics, till a critical threshold is reached when they will differentiate. The lineage of differentiation then becomes a sensitive function of both mechanics and morphology for a given chemical composition. Since PI is a major component of Gutta-percha, the FDA approved material commonly used for obturating the root canal, this work suggests that it can easily be adapted for in vivo use in dental regeneration.

Multiple studies exist on the influence of TiO2 nanoparticle uptake on cell behavior. Yet little is known about the lingering influence of nanoparticles accumulation within the external environment which is particularly important to stem cell differentiation. Herein, dental pulp stem cells were cultured on hard and soft polybutadiene substrates, where 0.1 mg/mL rutile TiO2 nanoparticles were introduced once, 24 h after plating. In the absence of TiO2, the doubling time on soft substrate is significantly longer, while addition of TiO2 decreases it to the same level as on the hard substrate. FACS analysis indicates particle uptake initially at 25% is reduced to 2.5% after 14 days. In the absence of TiO2, no biomineralization on the soft and snowflake-like hydroxyapatite deposits on the hard substrate are shown at week 4. With the addition of TiO2, SEM/EDAX reveals copious mineral deposition templated on large banded collagen fibers on both substrates. The mineral-to-matrix ratios analyzed by Raman spectroscopy are unremarkable in the absence of TiO2. However, with addition of TiO2, the ratios are consistent with native bone on the hard and dentin on the soft substrates. This is further confirmed by RT-PCR, which showed upregulation of markers consistent with osteogenesis and odontogenesis, respectively.

"Green" polymer nanocomposites were made by melt blending biodegradable poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(butylene adipate-co-butylene terephthalate) (PBAT) with either montmorillonite clays (Cloisite Na(+)), halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), the resorcinol diphenyl phosphate (RDP)-coated Cloisite Na(+), and coated HNTs. A technique for measuring the work of adhesion (Wa) between nanoparticles and their matrixes was used to determine the dispersion preference of the nanoparticles in the PLA/PBAT blend system. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of thin sections indicated that even though both RDP-coated nanotubes and clay platelets segregated to the interfacial regions between the two immiscible polymers, only the platelets, having the larger specific surface area, were able to reduce the PBAT domain sizes. The ability of clay platelets to partially compatibilize the blend was further confirmed by the dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) which showed that the glass transition temperatures of two polymers tended to shift closer. No shift was observed with either coated or uncoated HNTs samples. Izod impact testing demonstrated that the rubbery PBAT phase greatly increased the impact strength of the unfilled blend, but addition of only 5% of treated clay decreased the impact strength by nearly 50%. On the other hand, an increase of 9% relative to the unfilled blend sample was observed with the addition of 5% treated nanotubes. TEM cross-section analysis confirmed that the RDP-coated clay platelets covered most of the interfacial area. On one hand, this enabled them to reduce the interfacial tension effectively; on the other hand, it prevented chain entanglements across the phase boundary and increased the overall brittleness, which was confirmed by rheology measurements. In contrast, the RDP-coated HNTs were observed to lie perpendicular to the interface, which made them less effective in reducing interfacial tension but encouraged interfacial entanglements across the interface, resulting in "stitching" of the interface and an increase in the Izod impact of the blend.

Environmental concerns have resulted in the increased use of biodegradable polymers and their nanocomposites. We have developed a facile method for measuring the work of adhesion ( W a ) between nanoparticles and their matrix, which we showed can be used to determine their degree of intercalation within the matrix. This method was then applied to Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) nanocomposites with either sodium montmorillonite clays (C-Na+), organically modified clays (C-30B), resorcinol di (phenyl phosphate) (RDP) coated C-Na+ (C-RDP), Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) and RDP coated HNTs (H-RDP). The C-30B showed the highest W a within the PLA matrix, followed by the C-RDP and the C-Na+. X-ray diffraction and TEM indicated that the C-30B platelets were highly exfoliated, the C-RDP were intercalated, while the C-Na+ were aggregated in the PLA matrix. Oxygen gas permeability measurements showed the largest decrease in permeability for the C-30B nanocomposites, followed by the C-RDP, and the C-Na+ nanocomposites. The values of the particle aspect ratios obtained using Nielsen model were consistent with the TEM images. In contrast to clay platelets, HNTs and H-RDP were not effective in decreasing oxygen gas permeability of PLA matrix, which was in excellent agreement with the model we derived. Despite the higher degree of exfoliation, the C-30B nanocomposites had a significantly lower Izod impact than the C-RDP nanocomposites. SEM images showed numerous micro-voids on the Izod impact fracture surface of C-30B nanocomposites. On the other hand, the nanotubes were much more effective in reinforcing the mechanical properties, with RDP coated tubes having the better performance, consistent with their higher value of W a with PLA matrix. These results showed that RDP coated silicate nanoparticles can provide environmentally safe alternatives for modifying the mechanical and gas barrier properties of PLA.

The molecular imprinting technique has tremendous applications in artificial enzymes, bioseparation, and sensor devices. In this study, a novel molecular imprinting (MI) biosensor platform was developed for the detection of a broad range of biomolecules with different sizes. Previously this method has been applied to 2D molecular imprinting, where the height of the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of around 2 nm limited the maximum dimensions of the molecule that can be imprinted to create template-shaped cavities. In order to match the size of the imprinted molecules with the height of the SAM, we propose a model for 3D molecular imprinting where the analyte is sequestered within a niche created by the surface roughness. The SAM is assembled on the walls of the niche, forming a 3D pattern of the analyte uniquely molded to its contour. Surfaces with multi-scale roughness were prepared by evaporation of gold onto electropolished (smooth) and unpolished (rough) Si wafers, where the native roughness was found to have a normal distribution centered around 5 and 90 nm respectively. Our studies using molecules with size ranging on a nanometer scale, from proteins of a few nanometers to bacteria of hundreds of nanometers, showed that when the size of the analyte matched the roughness range of the gold surface, the molecular imprinting process was optimized for the best biosensing performance. After optimization, the MI biosensor platform enabled the identification and quantification of a broad range of biomolecules with great discrimination abilities. Hemoglobin under different pH values and several mutated fibrinogen molecules can also be well differentiated through the test.

In this study, a sensitive, yet robust, biosensing system with real-time electrochemical readout was developed. The biosensor system was applied to the detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), which is a common marker for many cancers such as pancreatic, breast, and colon cancer. Real time detection of CEA during a medical procedure can be used to make critical decisions regarding further surgical intervention. CEA was templated on gold surface (RMS roughness ∼3-4 nm) coated with a hydrophilic self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on the working electrode of an open circuit potentiometric network. The subsequent removal of template CEA makes the biosensor capable of CEA detection based on its specific structure and conformation. The molecular imprinting (MI) biosensor was further calibrated using the potentiometric responses in solutions with known CEA concentrations and a detection limit of 0.5 ng ml(-1) was achieved. Potentiometric sensing was then applied to pancreatic cyst fluid samples obtained from 18 patients when the cyst fluid was also evaluated using ELISA in a certified pathology laboratory. Excellent agreement was obtained between the quantitation of CEA obtained by both the ELISA and MI biosensor detection for CEA. A 3-D MI model, using the natural rms roughness of PVD gold layers, is presented to explain the high degree of sensitivity and linearity observed in those experiments.

Using known parameters for the surface and interfacial tension, the work of adhesion of PMMA with PLA and styrenic polymers has been calculated. The results indicated that PMMA, an abundant and economical homopolymer, could serve as an effective compatibilizer, rivaling complex and costly block copolymers for PLA/styrenic blends. Blends of PLA with either SAN or ABS were produced with added 1%–10% PMMA. Tensile and impact toughness data show that the blends display properties comparable to those of PP with only 4% added PMMA. Deuterated-secondary ion mass spectrometry (DSIMS) performed with deuterated PMMA indicated that this corresponded to the formation of an interfacial layer approximately 2Rg thick, as the optimal thickness for integrating two polymers, without the formation of a third brittle layer. Blends with ABS showed an increase of nearly 300% in impact toughness compared to that for polymer containing no PMMA, while blends with SAN formed ideal extruded filaments, which produced 3-D printed structures at least 58% stronger and more ductile than molded PS.

This study looks at the effects of imposed confinement on morphology related properties in vapor grown carbon nanofibers (VGCF) polypropylene nanocomposite filaments. Different levels of imposed confinement are achieved through varying the content of the VGCF and the dimensions of the nanocomposite filaments. The resulting molecular confinement is apparent through a sharp increase (termed the inversion point) in a number of properties at low filament diameters, which is associated with a formation of a ‘shish kebab’ structure and a transition from a skin/core morphology to an axially oriented lamellar structure.

Sulfoethylated nanofibrillated cellulose (NFCSulf) was produced by an industrially relevant process. The properties of the NFCSulf were compared with those of carboxymethylated nanofibrillated cellulose (NFCCarb), which has been identified as an attractive NFC for several industrial applications. The investigations revealed that NFCSulf is characterized by a higher degree of fibrillation and has superior redispersion properties. Furthermore, NFCSulf displays higher stability in varying pH values as compared to NFCCarb. Hence, NFCSulf may be a more attractive alternative than NFCCarb in applications such as rheological modifiers or adsorbing components in personal care products, in which the performance of NFC must remain unaffected in varying ambient conditions. The superior properties of NFCSulf compared to NFCCarb were proposed to be due to the combination of the unique chemical characteristics of the sulfoethylated reagent, and the larger size of the sulfonate group compared to the carboxymethyl group.

Aim To determine the psychological and physiological effects of a Laughing Qigong Program on an elderly population in an institutionalized setting. Methods Participants were recruited from a long-term care institution in northern Taiwan. A total of 99 residents were interviewed and 66 enrolled, there were 33 control participants and 33 experimental participants. The participants were matched according to their abilities as measured by the Barthel Index of Activities for Daily Living. Experimental participants attended the Laughing Qigong Program, twice a week for 4 weeks. Comparisons were made on the Mini-Mental State Examination, Faces Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale and cortisol levels. Results Psychometric measures for participants in the experimental group improved, whereas those in the control group decreased. The experimental group showed the following changes: improved Mini-Mental State Examination scores (Z = −2.28; P

1,8-Dicarbonylcarbazoles are important starting materials for various applications, especially for pincer-type ligands. The convenient synthesis of a series of 1,8-diacyl-3,6-di-tert-butyl-9H-carbazoles (2) by the direct Friedel-Crafts acylation of 3,6-di-tert-butyl-9H-carbazole (1) is described. During the reaction, the dealkylation also occurred, and 1,8-diacetyl-3-tert-butyl-9H-carbazole (4) was isolated as well as characterized by an X-ray diffraction analysis. In addition, the steric bulkiness of the acyl chlorides strongly affects the yields of 1,8-diacylation of 1.

Advances in treatment of tooth injury have shown that tooth regeneration from the pulp was a viable alternative of root canal therapy. In this study, we demonstrated that Gutta-percha, nanocomposites primarily used for obturation of the canal, are not cytotoxic and can induce differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSC) in the absence of soluble mediators. Flat scaffolds were obtained by spin coating Si wafers with three Gutta-percha compounds: GuttaCore™, ProTaper™, and Lexicon™. The images of annealed surfaces showed that the nanoparticles were encapsulated, forming surfaces with root mean square (RMS) roughness of 136–211 nm. Then, by culturing DPSC on these substrates we found that after some initial difficulty in adhesion, confluent tissues were formed after 21 days. Imaging of the polyisoprene (PI) surfaces showed that biomineral deposition only occurred when dexamethasone was present in the media. Spectra obtained from the minerals was consistent with that of hydroxyapatite (HA). In contrast, HA deposition was observed on all Gutta-percha scaffolds regardless of the presence or absence of dexamethasone, implying that surface roughness may be an enabling factor in the differentiation process. These results indicate that Gutta-percha nanocomposites may be good candidates for pulp regeneration therapy.

Conservation of energy and fuel is the trend in smart building design. Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC) technology is often used in temperature sensing and signal transmission to manage indoor temperature, but it is rarely applied to the shell of the building. Heat retention and poor insulation in building shells are the largest causes of high energy consumption by indoor air conditioning. Through combining RFIC technology with temperature sensors, this study will develop smart temperature information material that can be embedded in concrete. In addition to accurately evaluating the effectiveness of shell insulation material, the already-designed Building Physiology Information System can monitor long-term temperature changes, leading to smarter building health management.

Temperature grows up and climate changes year by year as result of global warming. One of the main reasons is the carbon dioxide emission. How to overcome global warming effect by means of energy conservation and carbon reduction is one of the important subjects and one of government's important administrative policies. Nowadays, the price of the international crude oil raised causes the price of the asphalt and ignition oil going up. Warm mix asphalt (WMA), a new-type mix asphalt technology, which has the characteristics of environmental protection, energy conservation and good workability is from Europe. Compared with Hot mix asphalt (HMA), the properties of the WMA is same as the HMA. Thus, the technology of WMA with emulsion asphalt mixture under energy conservation, carbon reduction, and cost reducing by way of temperature control, is introduced by this study in order to change the traditional HMA. The study used dense-graded aggregate with three nominal maximum aggregate sizes (NMAS) of 9.5mm, 12.5mm and 19mm is tested by indirect tensile strength, moisture sensitivity and permanent deformation test for evaluation and the results will be for reference of the HMA mix plant factories.

This research describes a new method of aqueous synthesis of gold nanoparticles in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and folic acid through a seed-mediated growth approach. These nanoparticles have a shape similar to corals, and therefore, we referred to them as 'gold nanocorals' (AuNCs). Specifically, AuNCs consist of a solid core surrounded densely by branches. The branches exhibit nanosized roughness that creates multiple plasmonic hot-spots that increase AuNCs' SERS activity. In this study, we demonstrated that at the fast scanning times necessary for biomedical applications, AuNCs exhibit an analytical enhancement factor greater than 103 and 7 times greater enhancement of the Raman signal compared to gold nanostars. AuNCs-based SERS substrates demonstrated a good ability to reproduce signals collected, and thereby confirmed AuNCs feasibility in generating reliable and sensitive SERS substrates.

Background/Purpose Individuals with mild-to-moderate dementia often exhibit depression and apathy as manifested by symptoms of negative affect. The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not reminiscence group therapy (RGT) reduces depression and improves symptoms of apathy. Methods The study was one of experimental design with a pre-post control group; 61 residents from two nursing homes were randomly distributed into two parallel groups. An RGT program consisting of 12 sessions, 40-50 minutes per week, was implemented for the residents in the experimental (intervention) group. The instruments used to collect data included the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale, the Geriatric Depression Scale, the Apathy Evaluation Scale, and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 15.0. Results After 12 sessions, the residents in the intervention group reported a reduction in depressed mood (Z = −2.99, p Conclusion RGT has significant efficacy in the treatment of depressed mood and apathy in patients with mild-to-moderate stage dementia. This non-pharmacological intervention reduced emotional distress among nursing home residents with dementia.

Norbornene derivatives 7–11 were prepared from norbornadiene and the corresponding diynes by Ru-catalyzed [(2+2)+2] cycloaddition and subsequent transfer hydrogenation. The structure and stereochemistry of the cycloadducts were confirmed by X-ray crystal analysis. This procedure provides high diastereoselectivity to generate norbornenes 7–11 in up to 82 % yield. The scope and limitations of this reaction were investigated. Compounds that contained the skeleton of 1,7-diaryl-1,6-heptadiynes were suitable starting materials. Additionly, 9h was empolyed in the synthesis of polynorbornene 31 by ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). The number-average molecular weight (Mn) and polymer-distribution index (PDI) of this new polymer were determined to be 28.6 kDa and 1.35, respectively.

Two novel iron and vanadium compounds, [OCMeCHCMeNAr]2Fe (1) and [OCMeCHCMeNAr]2VCl (2) have been synthesized by the reaction of FeCl2 with Li[OCMeCHCMeNAr] in THF and VCl3(THF)3 with OCMeCHCMeNHAr, in toluene and triethylamine, respectively, where Ar = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl. Both the complexes have been systematically characterized by elemental analysis, NMR spectroscopy and exhibit paramagnetically shifted resonances, with relative intensities as expected for the η2-ketiminate ligands. Single crystal X-ray structural analysis reveals that compound 1 adopts a distorted tetrahedral geometry consisting with a C2 symmetry where as in 2, the geometry around the vanadium atom can be described as a trigonal bipyramid. Concerning the atom-transfer radical polymerization behavior, complex 1 and 2 shows their catalytic activity on polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in toluene.

A series of dialuminum compounds have been synthesized and their reactivity and application for lactide polymerization have been studied. The reaction of AlH3 x NMe3 with [C4H3NH(2-CH2NHtBu)] in diethyl ether generated a dimeric aluminum hydride compound, [[[C4H3N(2-CH2NtBu)]AlH]2] (1). The structure of 1 was confirmed by spectroscopy of a deuterated analogue of 1 with an Al--D function. Direct treatment of [C4H3NH(2-CH2NHtBu)] with LiAlH4 in diethyl ether resulted in colorless crystals of [[Li[micro-eta1:eta5-C4H3N(2-CH2NtBu)]2Al]2] (2) in 80 % yield after recrystallization from a toluene solution. The micro-eta1:eta5-pyrrolyl protons exhibit high-field shifts at delta=5.73, 6.15, and 6.72 comparable to a similar eta5-bonding mode in the literature. Treatment of 1 with 1 equiv acetone oxime or acetone in dichloromethane gave [[[C4H3N(2-CH2NtBu)]Al[varkappaO,varkappaN-(ON==CMe2)]]2] (3) and [[[C4H3N(2-CH2NtBu)]Al(O--CHMe2)]2] (4) in 67 % and 60 % yield, respectively. Compounds 1-4 have been characterized by X-ray diffractometry and were used as catalysts for epsilon-caprolactone polymerization.

The nursing profession has generally accepted humor as beneficial to health care. As nursing has always emphasized holistic care and the importance of individual needs, the profession values the ability of humor to positively affect all aspects of a patient's well being. The purposes of this study were to develop a "Chinese Humor Scale (CHS)" for the nursing profession and then test its reliability and validity. The 405 individuals selected for participation in this study included nursing on-the-job students from a medical university and professional nurses practicing at four hospitals in north Taiwan. Researchers developed a list of 57 key humor measures which were filled out and returned by study participants. An evaluation of results using Cronbach's alpha coefficients demonstrated good consistency (alpha=.93) for the developed CHS. Intercorrelations amongst the four sub-scales were generally quite low, indicating each sub-scale measures dimensions relatively distinct from one another (r=.24 approximately .48, both p's.001). The CHS was tested using item analysis. The scale was constructed in accordance with exploratory factor analysis (EFA) (K.M.O.=.92). Thirty CHS items, categorized under the four indices of "humorous creativity", "tendency to laugh", "perceptivity to humor", and "humorous attitude", were found to explain 55.42% of total variances. The CHS was found to provide good validity using a content validity index (CVI) developed by five experts. The results of this study provide encouraging evidence for the construct validity and reliability of the proposed humor scale and support its application by nursing educators and clinicians to further test and assess concepts related to humor. Further research is needed to explore more fully the implications of humor in nursing.

Mental health is a human right and fundamental to good personal health. Developing, planning, and implementing mental health programs is a key part of health policies worldwide. This paper uses the perspective of "mental health mainstreaming" to define mental health and explore its relationship with mental illness and psychiatric disease. Further, we apply this perspective to Taiwan's three-tiered community mental illness prevention strategy as a reference for mental health promotion and rehabilitation programs in hopes that all healthcare providers help facilitate holistic community health.心理健康主流化—促進與復元心理健康是人權，也是健康的基礎，而心理健康的發展、計畫與執行是全球健康政策發展的重要趨勢。本文目的將採用心理健康主流化的觀點，說明心理健康定義，與心理疾病的關係，進而闡述社區心理衛生的三段預防策略，藉此作為推動社區心理衛生的心理健康促進行動與復健方案之參考，期盼所有健康服務從業人員可朝全民均健的目標邁進。

Objective: This study tried to explore gender differences in Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and disparities in adaptation strategies used to cope with LUTS. Materials and Methods: From July 2013 to December 2013, 184 consecutive patients who came to a tertiary center seeking medical treatment for LUTS including stress urinary incontinence (SUI), overactive bladder (OAB), and mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) were recruited in this study. OABSS, IPSS and UDI-6 were used to evaluate severities of these symptoms and IIQ-7 was used to measure the impact of these three symptoms on the quality of life. Patients’ coping strategies were also compared to evaluate gender differences. Results: In total, 184 patients (81 men and 103 women) were recruited into this study. The LUTS between genders were significant. Women had significantly more SUI and MUI than that of men, but men had significantly more OAB. The LUTS in men seemed to have less impact on quality of life than in women. Preventive toileting use before going out, restricting fluid intake, or seeking treatment at primary care clinics were adaptive strategies used by both genders. However, one-third of the women used incontinence pads or performed pelvic floor exercises to prevent urine leakage and nearly one-fourth of the women avoided contact with cold water or performed urge strategies to control the urge to void. Conclusions: Gender differences in LUTS are significant. Similar LUTS also result in different impact on men and women. Women used more coping strategies than men to handle their bothersome LUTS.

To determine the psychological and physiological effects of a Laughing Qigong Program on an elderly population in an institutionalized setting.Participants were recruited from a long-term care institution in northern Taiwan. A total of 99 residents were interviewed and 66 enrolled, there were 33 control participants and 33 experimental participants. The participants were matched according to their abilities as measured by the Barthel Index of Activities for Daily Living. Experimental participants attended the Laughing Qigong Program, twice a week for 4 weeks. Comparisons were made on the Mini-Mental State Examination, Faces Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale and cortisol levels.Psychometric measures for participants in the experimental group improved, whereas those in the control group decreased. The experimental group showed the following changes: improved Mini-Mental State Examination scores (Z=-2.28; P0.05), improved mood states (Z=-4.47; P0.001) and decreased Geriatric Depression Scale scores (Z=3.79; P0.001). There were no significant changes for the experimental group in cortisol levels. By comparison, the control group showed: decreased mood states (Z=2.53; P0.011), increased Geriatric Depression Scale scores (Z=4.34; P0.001) and significant increases in cortisol levels (Z=2.62; P0.009).The Laughing Qigong Program has shown to be an effective, cost-effective non-pharmacological therapy for cognitive impairment, mood states and elderly depression.

We developed a zygosity questionnaire for use in young twins and assessed its validity using the results of DNA diagnosis. The participants were divided into two groups: 105 pairs of adolescent twins (12–16 years old), 47 pairs of child twins (2–12 years old), and their respective parents. The DNA diagnosis of zygosity was made with polymarker polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of five loci, using the AmpliType PM PCR Amplification and Typing Kit; this method has an accuracy rate of 99.0%. A parsimonious model for each sample was established using stepwise logistic regression analysis of the 20 items of the questionnaire. The total accuracy rate of the model was satisfactory for both parental reports (three items) and self-reports (three items) of adolescent twins (97.4 and 95.6%, respectively), while that for parental reports on child twins (two items) was less satisfactory (92.5%). For adolescent twins, if DNA diagnostic workups were limited to those with discordant reports either from themselves or from their parents, the accuracy rate increased to 100% for parental reports and 98% for self-reports.

A newly developed phase-unwrapping algorithm, which is termed Tapestry Cellular Automata, are presented. Fundamental restrictions of traditional path-dependent phase unwrapping algorithms such as noise propagation and inconsistent data reconstruction are discussed first. The advantages and drawbacks of a path-independent algorithm, Cellular Automata, are then examined. The parallel and distributed processing nature of Tapestry Cellular Automata is shown to be able to keep the merits of traditional Cellular Automata algorithm while taking advantage of the rapid advancement of personal computers such as distributed computing over internet or intranet and multi-tasks operating environment. Both numerical simulation and experiments used to examine the effectiveness of this newly developed algorithm are presented in detail as well.

Phase shifting technique is one of the most important technologies in the metrology field. Simply by performing an interferogram measurement, and then adopting the phase shifting technique to unwrap the interferogram into a phase map, tasks such as object surface profile reconstruction, holographic interferometry, electronic speckle pattern interferometry, etc., can all be easily accomplished. An innovative phase shifting system, which uses piezoelectric actuators to execute phase shifting first and then implementing a cellular automata algorithm to unwrap phase data, was designed, built, and tested. Since cellular automata is a true parallel process, and noise appearing within the interferogram will not get propagated, this novel system is far more robust than the systems based on the traditional path following phase-unwrapping algorithm. In addition, this new algorithm also provides us with a way to adopt phase-masks within the cellular automata implementations of the phase unwrap operations. All these newly developed techniques make this newly developed system adaptable to many metrology applications, even when high noise is present or when lateral shear exists within the image field. The successful incorporation of the phase-mask approach into the cellular automata phase unwrapping algorithm essentially makes this newly developed system adaptable to take phase map measurements in many practical applications.

The purpose of this study was to explore the menopause experiences of Chinese women in Taiwan. Six hundred and seventy-three women, aged 40 to 60 years, in the Taipei metropolitan area were chosen as the sample. These women were categorized into four groups in terms of their menopausal experiences: surgical menopause, natural menopause, perimenopause, and premenopause. The results show that the three most frequently reported discomforts that women experienced during menopause were backache/lumbago, amentia, and tiredness. The frequency of reported discomforts was low compared with frequencies reported in Western countries. The surgical group reported higher rates of symptoms than others. In addition, the hormone use rate was 13.5% for the natural menopause group, 34.4% for the surgical menopause group, 12% for the perimenopause group, and 1.9% for the premenopausal group. Higher hormone use rates were inconsistent with the general negative attitudes toward hormone use in Chinese society. Among those 59 women ever using hormones, only one third reported improvement in their symptoms. Women in Taiwan have an inadequate knowledge of menopause. Further health care education and research are needed.