Characterization and optimization of a positively charged poly (ethylene glycol)diacrylate hydrogel as an actuating muscle tissue engineering scaffold

Hydrogels have been used for many applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine due to their versatile material properties and similarities to the native extracellular matrix. Poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) is an ionic electroactive polymer (EAP), a material that responds to an electric field with a change in size or shape while in an ionic solution, that may be used in the development of hydrogels. In this study, we have investigated a positively charged EAP that can bend without the need of external ions. PEGDA was modified with the positively charged molecule 2‐(methacryloyloxy)ethyl‐trimethylammonium chloride (MAETAC) to provide its own positive ions. This hydrogel was then characterized and optimized for bending and cellular biocompatibility with C2C12 mouse myoblast cells. Studies show that the polymer responds to an electric field and supports C2C12 viability.     

Recurring angular distribution patterns in resonant heavy-ion reactions

It has been noticed that a distinct resemblance exists at large angles among angular distributions measured for reaction channels at the energies of some resonance-like structures in the ¹²C+¹²C and ¹⁴C+¹⁶O systems. It is pointed out that such forms are typical of a diffraction pattern of a broad band of coherent partial waves. Received: 5 October 1998 / Revised version: 8 December 1998     

Parallel globally adaptive quadrature on the KSR-1

New algorithms for parallel one-dimensional globally adaptive quadrature are developed. The algorithms are implemented on a Kendall Square Research KSR-1 parallel computer and numerical results are presented. The most successful algorithm gives significant speedups on a range of hard problems, including ones with singular integrands. Both authors acknowledge the support of the EEC Esprit Basic Research Action Programme, Project 6634 (APPARC). The second author acknowledges the support of the NATO Collaborative Research Grant 920037.     

Automated Processing of Two-Dimensional Correlation Spectra

An automated scheme is described which locates the centers of cross peaks in two-dimensional correlation spectra, even under conditions of severe overlap. Double-quantum-filtered correlation (DQ-COSY) spectra have been investigated, but the method is also applicable to TOCSY and NOESY spectra. The search criterion is the intrinsic symmetry (or antisymmetry) of cross-peak multiplets. An initial global search provides the preliminary information to build up a two-dimensional “chemical shift grid.” All genuine cross peaks must be centered at intersections of this grid, a fact that reduces the extent of the subsequent search program enormously. The program recognizes cross peaks by examining the symmetry of signals in a test zone centered at a grid intersection. This “symmetry filter” employs a “lowest value algorithm” to discriminate against overlapping responses from adjacent multiplets. A progressive multiplet subtraction scheme provides further suppression of overlap effects. The processed two-dimensional correlation spectrum represents cross peaks as points at the chemical shift coordinates, with some indication of their relative intensities. Alternatively, the information is presented in the form of a correlation table. The authenticity of a given cross peak is judged by a set of “confidence criteria” expressed as numerical parameters. Experimental results are presented for the 400-MHz double-quantum-filtered COSY spectrum of 4-androsten-3,17-dione, a case where there is severe overlap.     

The variance of the error function in the shifted circle problem is a wild function of the shift

We prove that the variance of the error function in the shifted circle problem, as a function of the shift, is a continuous function which has a sharp local maximum with infinite derivatives at every rational point on a plane.