Large-Scale Production of 3D Bioactive Glass Macroporous Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering

For tissue engineering applications, a scaffold is required that can act as a template and guide for cell proliferation, cell differentiation and tissue growth. Interconnected pores with diameters greater than 100 m are required for tissue ingrowth, vascularisation and nutrient delivery to the centre of the scaffold. 3D bioactive glass scaffolds have been produced, by foaming sol-gel derived bioactive glasses. The method to produce foams with a modal macropore diameter of 100 m, and a handling strength suitable for cell culture, was to foam 50 ml batches of sol with the aid of a surfactant and gelling agent. In vitro and in vivo tests show that the scaffolds have high potential to be used in bone tissue engineering applications. Larger batches are required to produce scaffolds commercially. The aim of this work was to investigate how the process could be up-scaled for commercial use. This study shows that foaming larger aliquots of sol decreased the scaffold porosity and interconnectivity and investigates methods of modifying the process to obtain large quantities of foam scaffolds with pores in excess of 100 m. The optimum method to produce foams of similar pore structure from 200 ml sol to those produced from 50 ml sol comprised of adding 3 ml surfactant and 12 ml dionised water to the sol to start foaming and injecting a gas mixture (70% helium, 30% nitrogen) at 0.2 bar while applying vigorous agitation.     

Novel supramolecular isomerism in coordination polymer synthesis from unsymmetrical bridging ligands: solvent influence on the ligand placement orientation and final network structure

The assembly of Co(NCS)(2) with 1-methyl-1'-(3-pyridyl)-2-(4-pyridyl)ethene (L(1)) exhibits a novel supramolecular isomerism of [Co(L(1))(2)(NCS)(2)](infinity) caused by different placement orientation of L(1) around metal centers. The reaction in MeOH/H(2)O and EtOH/H(2)O resulted in a double chain structure of 1, and that in EtOH/CH(3)NO(2) led to an open framework structure of 2. The reaction in MeOH/CH(3)NO(2) solvent system concomitantly afforded 1 and 2. The assemblies of 1-(3-pyridyl)-2-(4-pyrimidyl)ethene (L(2)) with Co(NCS)(2) created the water-coordinated complexes of Co(L(2))(2)(H(2)O)(2)(NCS)(2) (3 and 4), an MeOH coordinated complex of Co(L(2))(2)(H(2)O)(2)(NCS)(2) (5), and an open framework coordination polymer of [Co(L(1))(2)(NCS)(2)](infinity) (6) depending on the reaction solvent system. From these observations, it is suggested that in the formation of 1, the solvent-coordinated intermediate species would be generated first and its trans coordination configuration should define the placement orientation of L(1) in the resulting polymer of 1. On the other hand, it is presumed that the solvent-coordinated intermediate would not be produced during the formation of 2 due to the weaker coordination ability of EtOH and CH(3)NO(2) molecules. The open framework coordination polymers of 2 and 6 are converted in the solid state into the isomeric coordination polymer of 1 and hydrogen bonded network structure of 3, respectively.     

Computational Modeling of Organizations Comes of Age

As they are maturing—i.e., as they are becoming validated, calibrated and refined—computational emulation models of organizations are evolving into: powerful new kinds of organizational design tools for predicting and mitigating organizational risks; and flexible new kinds of organizational theorem-provers for validating extant organization theory and developing new theory. Over the past 50 years, computational modeling and simulation have had enormous impacts on the rate of advancement of knowledge in fields like physics, chemistry and, more recently, biology; and their subsequent application has enabled whole new areas of engineering practice. In the same way, as our young discipline comes of age, computational organizational models are beginning to impact behavioral, organizational and economic science, and management consulting practice. This paper attempts to draw parallels between computational modeling in natural sciences and computational modeling of organizations as a contributor to both social science and management practice.To illustrate the lifecycle of a computational organizational model that is now relatively mature, this paper traces the evolution of the Virtual Design Team (VDT) computational modeling and simulation research project at Stanford University from its origins in 1988 to the present. It lays out the steps in the process of validating VDT as a computational emulation model of organizations to the point that VDT began to influence management practice and, subsequently, to advance organizational science. We discuss alternate research trajectories that can be taken by computational and mathematical modelers who prefer the typical natural science validation trajectory—i.e., who attempt to impact organizational science first and, perhaps subsequently, to impact management practice.The paper concludes with a discussion of the current state-of-the-art of computational modeling of organizations and some thoughts about where, and how rapidly, the field is headed.     

突破间接带局限创新Si基激光器

Si基高效发光与受激光发射是Si基光子学突破性发展的关键课题,它的实现对Si基微电子学的发展有深远的重大意义．由于受到天然Si材料间接带能带结构的限制,Si材料的发光效率极低,更谈不上可实现受激光发射,人工改性就成为当代研究、开拓的主要途径．新的Si基直接带体材料(如β-FeSi2等)的探索,Ge／Si量子阱、超晶格、量子点的能带工程介观改性,子带发光跃迁的探索,异类元素插入短周期超晶格中的化学键改性,以及SiO2高浓度nc-Si的生成和高激活度稀土离子的掺入发光等已开展了多途径的研究,不同程度上取得了重要的进展,一种MIS结构电子隧道注入高效发光器件已在SiO2：RE MOS结构中实现．运用激光器件物理的深入设计和新的器件技术的引入,可以预计本世纪初叶,对实现Si基激光器的奢望将会成为现实,无疑它对Si基光子学、Si基集成光电子学乃至信息高科技的发展将作出历史性的巨大贡献．     

Characterization and comparison of metal accumulation in two Escherichia coli strains expressing either CopA or MntA, heavy metal-transporting bacterial P-type adenosine triphosphatases

MntA from Lactobacillus plantarum and copA from Enterococcus hirae both encode membrane proteins that are members of the P-type family of adenosine triphosphatases (ATPases). Both transporters act as metal importers to take up nutritionally required substrates; MntA translocates Mn(II) and CopA translocates Cu(I). Both ATPases can also translocate secondary substrates, Cd(II) and Ag(I), respectively. Although functionally and sequentially similar, these ATPases differ in several key residues and in their membrane topologies. The bioaccumulation properties of these two proteins were examined by coexpressing the transporters with overexpressed metallothionein in Escherichia coli cells, a system that has previously shown high levels of substrate-specific uptake. Both strains exhibited rapid metal accumulation, both saturated at around 50 μM metal, and both displayed temperature-sensitive uptake. However, the transporters responded differently when external conditions were varied; MntA displayed increased sensitivity to ionic strength, while CopA was more pH sensitive and more inhibited by chelating agents. The differences in accumulation are likely owing to structural differences in the transmembrane region of these two ATPases.     

Mechanochemical preparation of hydrogen-bonded adducts between the diamine 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane and dicarboxylic acids of variable chain length: an X-ray diffraction and solid-state NMR study

Mechanical mixing of solid dicarboxylic acids of variable chain length HOOC(CH(2))(n)COOH (n = 1-7) with solid 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane generates the corresponding salts or co-crystals of the formula [N(CH(2)CH(2))(3)N]-H-[OOC(CH(2))(n)COOH] (n=1-7). Preparation of the same systems from solution has been instrumental for a full characterization of the mechanochemical products by means of single-crystal and powder-diffraction X-ray analyses, as well as by solid-state NMR. The acid-base adducts, whether involving proton transfer from the COOH group to the N-acceptor, that is having ((-))O...H-N((+)) interactions, or the formation of neutral O-H...N hydrogen bonds, show a melting point alternation phenomenon analogous to that shown by the neutral carboxylic acids. The carbon chemical shift tensors of the COOH group obtained from the sideband intensity of low speed spinning NMR spectra provide a reliable criterion for assigning the protonation state of the adducts.     

Design of Civil Engineering Frame Structures Using a Monomial/Newton Hybrid Method

This paper presents an application of a monomial approximation method for solving systems of nonlinear equations to the design of civil engineering frame structures. This is accomplished by solving a set of equations representing the state known as fully-stressed design, where each member of the structure is stressed to the maximum safe allowable level under at least one of the loading conditions acting on it. The monomial approximation method is based on the process of condensation, which has its origin in geometric programming theory. A monomial/Newton hybrid method is presented which permits some of the design variables to be free in sign, while others are strictly positive. This hybrid method is well suited to the structural design application since some variables are naturally positive and others are naturally free. The proposed method is compared to the most commonly used fully-stressed design method in practice. The hybrid method is shown to find solutions that the conventional method cannot find, while doing so with less computational effort. The impact of this approach on the activity of structural design is discussed.     

光电仪器结构设计中的经济性研究

针对光电仪器行业对降低光电仪器成本日趋渐高的呼声,提出了运用价值工程理论对光电仪器结构设计中的经济性进行研究的思路。从产品结构设计成本、材料成本、产品制造成本、生产周期这四个方面对光电仪器结构设计中的经济性进行了分析研究。研究结果表明,光电仪器结构设计经济性分析有助降低光电仪器产品的生产成本、缩短生产周期、提升产品价值,从而获得较好的社会效益和经济效益。