3D Bioprinting of Tissue/Organ Models

In vitro tissue/organ models are useful platforms that can facilitate systematic, repetitive, and quantitative investigations of drugs/chemicals. The primary objective when developing tissue/organ models is to reproduce physiologically relevant functions that typically require complex culture systems. Bioprinting offers exciting prospects for constructing 3D tissue/organ models, as it enables the reproducible, automated production of complex living tissues. Bioprinted tissues/organs may prove useful for screening novel compounds or predicting toxicity, as the spatial and chemical complexity inherent to native tissues/organs can be recreated. In this Review, we highlight the importance of developing 3D in vitro tissue/organ models by 3D bioprinting techniques, characterization of these models for evaluating their resemblance to native tissue, and their application in the prioritization of lead candidates, toxicity testing, and as disease/tumor models.     

A microfluidic device for parallel 3-D cell cultures in asymmetric environments

We demonstrate a concept for how a miniaturized 3-D cell culture in biological extracellular matrix (ECM) or synthetic gels bridges the gap between organ-tissue culture and traditional 2-D cultures. A microfluidic device for 3-D cell culture including microgradient environments has been designed, fabricated, and successfully evaluated. In the presented system stable diffusion gradients can be generated by application of two parallel fluid flows with different composition against opposite sides of a gel plug with embedded cells. Culture for up to two weeks was performed showing cells still viable and proliferating. The cell tracer dye calcein was used to verify gradient formation as the fluorescence intensity in exposed cells was proportional to the position in the chamber. Cellular response to an applied stimulus was demonstrated by use of an adenosine triphosphate gradient where the onset of a stimulated intracellular calcium release also depended on cell position.     

Development and application of an analytical protocol for evaluation of treatment processes for landfill leachates. I. Development of an analytical protocol for handling organic compounds in complex leachate samples

A strategy is presented for evaluation of treatment procedures for landfill leachate with emphasis on organic pollutants. An analytical scheme, the LAQUA protocol, was developed as a guide for the analytical work. The protocol includes organic as well as metals, inorganic ions, water-quality parameters, and toxicity. The proposed strategy considers the behaviour of both polar and non-polar organic substances at trace levels. For polar substances, phenols were chosen as markers and determined with an automated supported liquid membrane extraction device, coupled on-line to HPLC with a diode-array detector. For non-polar substances, PCBs and 10 unidentified compounds were chosen as markers and analysed by solid-phase extraction combined with supercritical fluid extraction with GC analysis. The chosen measurement strategy, based on the use of marker substances, difference measurements, and versatile data-handling procedures, provided essential information about complex systems at relatively low cost.     

Transition rates in97Tc

The de-excitation of the 215 keV $\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ and 324 keV $\text{5}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ levels in⁹⁷Tc, as observed in ⁹⁷Ru decay, was studied by means of internal conversion electron spectroscopy and the delayed electron-electron coincidence technique. From L-subshell intensity ratios, the E2 content in the 108 and 215 keV transitions were found to be (65 ± 12)% and (7 ± 4)%, respectively. The obtained level mean-lives were 0.75 ± 0.09 ns for the 324 keV level and 74 ± 15 ps for the 215 keV level.     

Decay studies of Au isotopes in the mass number region 186–189

Internal conversion electrons and gamma-rays emitted in the decays of the neutron deficient gold isotopes with mass numbers 186–189 have been studied with a double focussing beta-ray spectrometer and a Ge(Li) detector. Multipolarities for the strongest transitions have been deduced. A revised level scheme for¹⁸⁹Pt is proposed. The half-lives of¹⁸⁶Au,¹⁸⁸Au and¹⁸⁹Au are found to be (10.7±0.5), (9.0±0.4) and (28.6±1.0) minutes respectively.