Ensuring a sufficient oxygen supply is pivotal for the success of bioprinting applications since it fosters tissue integration and natural regeneration.Variation in oxygen concentration among diverse tissues necessita...Ensuring a sufficient oxygen supply is pivotal for the success of bioprinting applications since it fosters tissue integration and natural regeneration.Variation in oxygen concentration among diverse tissues necessitates the precise recreation of tissue-specific oxygen levels in imprinted constructs to support the survival of targeted cells.Although oxygen-releasing biomaterials,such as oxygen-generating microparticles(OMPs),have shown promise for enhancing the oxygen supply of microenvironments in injured tissues,whether this approach is scalable for large tissues and whether tissue-specific bioinks with varying OMP concentrations remain printable remain unknown.This study addresses this critical gap by introducing an innovative class of engineered oxygenated bioinks that combine colloidal-based microgels with OMPs.We report that incorporating nanosized calcium peroxide(nCaO_(2))and manganese oxide nanosheets(nMnO_(2))into hydrophobic polymeric microparticles enables precise modulation of oxygen release while controlling hydrogen peroxide release.Moreover,the fabrication of oxygenating and cytocompatible colloidal gels is achieved using an aqueous two-phase system.This study thoroughly evaluates the fundamental characteristics of the resulting bioink,including its rheological behaviors,printability,shape fidelity,mechanical properties,and oxygen release properties.Moreover,this study demonstrates the macroscopic scalability and cytocompatibility of printed constructs produced via cell-laden oxygenating colloidal bioinks.By showcasing the effectiveness of extrusion-based bioprinting,this study underscores how it can be used to fabricate biomimetic tissues,indicating its potential for new applications.The findings presented here advance the bioprinting field by achieving scalability with both high cell viability and the possibility of mimicking specifically oxygenated tissues.This work thereby offers a promising avenue for the development of functional tissues with enhanced physiological relevance.展开更多
Lunar soil simulants(LSS)have been pivotal in the success of past and current lunar missions.They have enhanced the design of lander and rover wheels through interaction studies on the lunar testbed under simulated en...Lunar soil simulants(LSS)have been pivotal in the success of past and current lunar missions.They have enhanced the design of lander and rover wheels through interaction studies on the lunar testbed under simulated environmental conditions.They have also been used to evaluate the geotechnical,geomechanical,and dynamic characteristics of the lunar soil(LS),which is vital for future lunar outposts.While most simulants have focused on either the chemical and mineralogical or geotechnical properties,developing a comprehensive LSS that mimics the lunar soil is of paramount importance for lander and rover soft-landing and future lunar habitation.This article presents the significant development and characterization of the new LSS NYUAD-1,the first regional soil simulant tailored for the planned Emirates lunar missions.The material and geotechnical properties of NYUAD-1,including chemical composition,mineralogy,particle size,morphology,specific gravity,density,shear strength,and compressibility behaviors,were assessed through laboratory tests conducted per ASTM standards.Comparative analysis with authentic lunar regolith and various regolith simulants confirms the significance and applicability of NYUAD-1 for lunar-based research,offering a promising step toward future lunar habitation.展开更多
Because of my carelessness,Eq.(1)in the paper "An approximate method for calculating the fluid force and response of a circular cylinder at lock-in"(China Ocean Engineering,22(3),2008,pp.373)should be f...Because of my carelessness,Eq.(1)in the paper "An approximate method for calculating the fluid force and response of a circular cylinder at lock-in"(China Ocean Engineering,22(3),2008,pp.373)should be f’-1.0/U’-5.0=f’;-1.0/5.75f’;-5.0,not f’=U’/5.75. My apology is hereby given.展开更多
Globally,groundwater has globally emerged as a crucial freshwater source for domestic,irrigation,and industrial needs.The evaluation of groundwater quality in the Toshka region is imperative to ensure its suitability ...Globally,groundwater has globally emerged as a crucial freshwater source for domestic,irrigation,and industrial needs.The evaluation of groundwater quality in the Toshka region is imperative to ensure its suitability for the extensive agricultural and industrial activities underway in this promising,groundwater-dependent development area.This is particularly significant as Egypt increasingly relies on groundwater reserves to address freshwater deficits and to implement mega-development projects in barren lands.In this study,fifty-two samples were collected from the recently drilled wells tapping into the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer(NSA)in the Toshka region.Groundwater quality was assessed through hydrochemical analysis,Piper diagram,and various indicators such as Na%,SAR,RSC,KR,MH and PI.The hydrochemical analysis revealed improved groundwater quality characteristics,attributed to continuous recharge from Lake Nasser.The Piper diagram categorised most of the water samples as"secondary salinity"water type.Almost all wells proved suitable for irrigation with only two wells unsuitable based on MH values and six wells based on KR values.Considering Total Hardness(TH)values,all samples were classified as"Soft",indicating their suitability for domestic and industrial purposes.Water Quality Index(WQI)results concluded that all samples met WHO and FAO guidelines for drinking and irrigation,respectively.Spatial distribution maps,constructed using GIS,facilitate the interpretation of the results.Regular monitoring of quality parameters is essential to detect any deviation from permissible limits.展开更多
Magnesium(Mg)and its alloys have recently gained increasing attention in the biomedical field as promising biodegradable materials with harmless degradation products.Magnesium-based alloys have a wide range of biomedi...Magnesium(Mg)and its alloys have recently gained increasing attention in the biomedical field as promising biodegradable materials with harmless degradation products.Magnesium-based alloys have a wide range of biomedical applications because of their outstanding biocompatibility and unique mechanical properties.Widespread use of Mg-based biomedical devices eliminates the need for post-healing biomaterial removal surgery and minimizes the negative consequences of the implantation of permanent biomaterials,including stress shielding and undesired metal ion release in the body.This paper provides a literature review on the properties and manufacturing methods of Mgbased alloys for biomedical applications,including orthopedic implants,cardiovascular applications,surgical wires and staplers,and antitumor activities.Each application of Mg-based biomaterials is investigated from a biological perspective,including matching functional properties,biocompatibility,host tissue responses,and anti-microbial strategies,along with potential additive manufacturing technologies for these applications.Finally,an outlook is presented to provide recommendations for Mg-based biomaterials in the future.展开更多
Tunneling wounds create passageways underneath the skin surface with varying sizes and shapes and can have twists and turns,making their treatment extremely difficult.Available wound care solutions only cater to super...Tunneling wounds create passageways underneath the skin surface with varying sizes and shapes and can have twists and turns,making their treatment extremely difficult.Available wound care solutions only cater to superficial wounds,and untreated tunneling wounds pose major health concerns.This study aims to fulfill this challenge by fabricating tunnel wound fillers(TWFs)made of natural polymers that mimic the dermal extracellular matrix.In this study,cellulose microfibers(CMFs)derived from banana stem and fish skin-derived collagen were used to formulate bio-inks with varying CMF contents(25,50,and 75 mg).Tri-layered(CMFs,primary and secondary collagen coatings),drug-eluting(Baneocin),and cell-laden(human mesenchymal stem cells)TWFs were three-dimensional(3D)-printed and extensively characterized.CMFs showed the most suitable rheological properties for 3D printing at 50 mg concentration.The Alamar Blue data showed significantly increased cell proliferation from Day 1 to Day 7,and scratch tests used to evaluate in vitro wound healing revealed that the best coverage of the wound area was achieved using CMFs in combination with collagen and alginate.Finally,the TWF showed promising capability and tunability in terms of wound shape and size upon testing on a chicken tissue model.The results demonstrate the tremendous potential of TWFs in treating deep tunneling wounds with unique advantages,such as patient-specific customization,good wound exudate absorption capability while releasing wound healing drugs,and the inclusion of stem cells for accelerated healing and tissue regeneration.展开更多
The similarity criterion for water flooding reservoir flows is concerned with in the present paper. When finding out all the dimensionless variables governing this kind of flow, their physical meanings are subsequentl...The similarity criterion for water flooding reservoir flows is concerned with in the present paper. When finding out all the dimensionless variables governing this kind of flow, their physical meanings are subsequently elucidated. Then, a numerical approach of sensitivity analysis is adopted to quantify their corresponding dominance degree among the similarity parameters. In this way, we may finally identify major scaling law in different parameter range and demonstrate the respective effects of viscosity, permeability and injection rate.展开更多
We develop a two dimensional model of a vesicle adhered on a curved substrate via long-range molecular interactions while subjected to a detachment force. The relationship between the force and displacement of the ves...We develop a two dimensional model of a vesicle adhered on a curved substrate via long-range molecular interactions while subjected to a detachment force. The relationship between the force and displacement of the vesicle is investigated as a function of the substrate shape. It is shown that both the force- displacement relationship and the maximum force at pull-off are significantly dependent on the substrate shape. The results suggest that probes with different tip shapes may be designed for cell manipulation. For example, we demonstrate that a vesicle can be pulled off a fiat surface using a probe with a curved tip.展开更多
Orthopedic bone plates are most commonly used for bone fracture fixation for more than 100 years.The bone plate design had evolved over time overcoming many challenges such as insufficient strength and excessive plate...Orthopedic bone plates are most commonly used for bone fracture fixation for more than 100 years.The bone plate design had evolved over time overcoming many challenges such as insufficient strength and excessive plate–bone contact affecting the blood circulation.However,it is only made of two materials,either stainless steel(AISI 316L)or titanium(Ti–6Al–4V).There are two main limitations of metallic bone implants,namely stress shielding and the problem of malocclusion caused by the displacement of the fracture site during healing.To overcome the two problems,a new bone plate design with the incorporation of auxetic structures is proposed in this work.This study aims to use auxetic structure section in the bone plate that would decrease the stiffness of the region,thereby mitigating the stress-shielding effect and at the same time act as a deformable section to enable intra-operative bending for effective alignment while having enough bending strength and stiffness.Two different auxetic structures namely re-entrant honeycomb and missing rib structures were considered.The auxetic structure incorporated bone plates were designed,finite element analysis was done,fabricated using direct metal laser sintering technique,and tested.The results indicate that the re-entrant honeycomb structure incorporated bone plates serve as an effective bone design compared to the conventional bone plate design,in terms of stress shielding and intra-operative bending while offering similar mechanical and bending strength.展开更多
The three-dimensional (3D)bioprinting technology has progressed tremendously over the past decade.By controlling the size, shape,and architecture of the bioprinted constructs,3D bioprinting allows for the fabrication ...The three-dimensional (3D)bioprinting technology has progressed tremendously over the past decade.By controlling the size, shape,and architecture of the bioprinted constructs,3D bioprinting allows for the fabrication of tissue/organ-like constructs with strong structural-functional similarity with their in vivo counterparts at high fidelity.The bioink,a blend of biomaterials and living cells possessing both high biocompatibility and printability,is a critical component of bioprinting.In particular, gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA)has shown its potential as a viable bioink material due to its suitable biocompatibility and readily tunable physicochemical properties.Current GelMA-based bioinks and relevant bioprinting strategies for GelMA bioprinting are briefly reviewed.展开更多
In the era of burgeoning breakthroughs around medical and biomedical technologies,personalizing our medicine still sounds like a dream yet to be realized.Take cancer as an example,while the pool of anti-cancer therape...In the era of burgeoning breakthroughs around medical and biomedical technologies,personalizing our medicine still sounds like a dream yet to be realized.Take cancer as an example,while the pool of anti-cancer therapeutic agents is tremendously large,pinpointing a drug or a combination of drugs that would always work out well for a given patient,remains quite impossible—in fact,we are not even close to this ideal scenario.Such an incapability,of course,originates primarily from the overly complex,volumetrically structured and dynamic microenvironments in a patient’s tumor,meaning that the same tumor as seen on Day 1 might be entirely different than when seen again a month later.展开更多
Motivated by recent experimental observations that carbon nanotubes (CNT) can enter animal cells, here we conduct coarse grained molecular dynamics and theoretical studies of the intrinsic interaction mechanisms bet...Motivated by recent experimental observations that carbon nanotubes (CNT) can enter animal cells, here we conduct coarse grained molecular dynamics and theoretical studies of the intrinsic interaction mechanisms between CNT's and lipid bilayer. The results indicate that CNT-cell interaction is dominated by van der Waals and hydrophobic forces, and that CNT's with sufficiently small radii can directly pierce through cell membrane while larger tubes tend to enter cell via a wrapping mechanism. Theoretical models are proposed to explain the observed size effect in transition of entry mechanisms.展开更多
The slack-taut state of tether is a particular adverse circumstance, which may influence the normal operation state of tension leg platform (TLP). The dynamic responses of TLP with slack-taut tether are studied with...The slack-taut state of tether is a particular adverse circumstance, which may influence the normal operation state of tension leg platform (TLP). The dynamic responses of TLP with slack-taut tether are studied with consideration of several nonlinear factors introduced by large amplitude motions. The time histories of stresses of tethers of a typical TLP in slack- taut state are given. In addition, the sensitivities of slack to stiffness and mass are investigated by varying the stiffness of tether and mass of TLP. It is found that slack is sensitive to the mass of TLP. The critical curved surfaces ( over which indicates the slack) for the increase of mass are obtained.展开更多
In the present paper, we endeavor to accomplish a diagram, which demarcates the validity ranges for interfacial wave theories in a two-layer system, to meet the needs of design in ocean engineering. On the basis of th...In the present paper, we endeavor to accomplish a diagram, which demarcates the validity ranges for interfacial wave theories in a two-layer system, to meet the needs of design in ocean engineering. On the basis of the available solutions of periodic and solitary waves, we propose a guideline as principle to identify the validity regions of the interfacial wave theories in terms of wave period T, wave height H, upper layer thickness dl, and lower layer thick-ness d2, instead of only one parameter-water depth d as in the water surface wave circumstance. The diagram proposed here happens to be Le Mehaute's plot for free surface waves if water depth ratio r= d1/d2 approaches to infinity and the upper layer water density p1 to zero. On the contrary, the diagram for water surface waves can be used for two-layer interfacial waves if gravity acceleration g in it is replaced by the reduced gravity defined in this study under the condition of σ=(P2 - Pl)/P2 → 1.0 and r 〉 1.0. In the end, several figures of the validity ranges for various interfacial wavetheories in the two-layer fluid are given and compared with the results for surface waves.展开更多
Reconnaissance reports and pertinent research on seismic hazards show that liquefaction is one of the key sources of damage to geotechnical and structural engineering systems. Therefore, identifying site liquefaction ...Reconnaissance reports and pertinent research on seismic hazards show that liquefaction is one of the key sources of damage to geotechnical and structural engineering systems. Therefore, identifying site liquefaction conditions plays an important role in seismic hazard mitigation. One of the widely used approaches for detecting liquefaction is based on the time-frequency analysis of ground motion recordings, in which short-time Fourier transform is typically used. It is known that recordings at a site with liquefaction are the result of nonlinear responses of seismic waves propagating in the liquefied layers underneath the site. Moreover, Fourier transform is not effective in characterizing such dynamic features as time-dependent frequency of the recordings rooted in nonlinear responses. Therefore, the aforementioned approach may not be intrinsically effective in detecting liquefaction. An alternative to the Fourier-based approach is presented in this study, which proposes time-frequency analysis of earthquake ground motion recordings with the aid of the Hilbert-Huang transform (HHT), and offers justification for the HHT in addressing the liquefaction features shown in the recordings. The paper then defines the predominant instantaneous frequency (PIF) and introduces the PiF-related motion features to identify liquefaction conditions at a given site. Analysis of 29 recorded data sets at different site conditions shows that the proposed approach is effective in detecting site liquefaction in comparison with other methods.展开更多
Crack initiation, propagation and microfracture processes of austempered high silicon cast steel have been investigated by using an in-situ tensile stage installed inside a scanning electron microscope chamber. It is ...Crack initiation, propagation and microfracture processes of austempered high silicon cast steel have been investigated by using an in-situ tensile stage installed inside a scanning electron microscope chamber. It is revealed that micro cracks always nucleate at the yielding near imperfections and the boundary of matrix-inclusions due to the stress concentration. There are four types of crack propagations in the matrix: crack propagates along the boundary of two clusters of bainitic ferrite; crack propagates along the boundary of ferrite-austenite in bainitic ferrite laths; crack propagates into bainitic ferrite laths; crack nucleates and propagates in the high carbon brittle plate shape martensite which is transformed from some blocky retained austenite due to plastic deformation. Based on the observation and analysis of microfracture processes, a schematic diagram of the crack nucleation and propagation process of high silicon cast steel is proposed.展开更多
There has been an increasing demand for bioengineered blood vessels for utilization in both regenerative medicine and drug screening.However,the availability of a true bioengineered vascular graft remains limited.Thre...There has been an increasing demand for bioengineered blood vessels for utilization in both regenerative medicine and drug screening.However,the availability of a true bioengineered vascular graft remains limited.Three-dimensional(3D)bioprinting presents a potential approach for fabricating blood vessels or vascularized tissue constructs of various architectures and sizes for transplantation and regeneration.In this review,we summarize the basic biology of different blood vessels,as well as 3D bioprinting approaches and bioink designs that have been applied to fabricate vascular and vascularized tissue constructs,with a focus on small-diameter blood vessels.展开更多
A quasistatic homogenized projection is made to characterize the effective cohesive zone behavior for rough-surface adhesion. In the context of the homogenized projection, the traction versus separation relation for t...A quasistatic homogenized projection is made to characterize the effective cohesive zone behavior for rough-surface adhesion. In the context of the homogenized projection, the traction versus separation relation for the homogenized cohesive zone (HCZ) of a rough interface can be highly oscillatory due to instabilities during microscopic adhesion and decohesion processes. The instabilities are found to occur not only individually but also collectively among the adhesive micro-asperity contacts, leading to extensive energy dissipation. Based on the behaviors of the HCZ relations, a framework for describing instability-induced energy dissipation in rough-surface adhesion is proposed to elucidate the effect of roughness on apparent interface adhesion. Two non- dimensional parameters, α related to roughness morphology and n related to flaw distribution, are identified to be most crucial for controlling the energy dissipation. For an interface with a shallow roughness and a strong intrinsic adhesive strength, the interface adhesion can be stronger if we make it rougher (reducing α) or lower its flaw density (increasing n). The HCZ projection method can be potentially extended and employed to bridge the apparent adhesion from intrinsic adhesion properties for engineering surfaces with multi-scale shallow roughness.展开更多
The Central India Tectonic Zone (CITZ) marks the trace of a major suture zone along which the south Indian and the north Indian continental blocks were assembled through subduction-accretion- collision tectonics in ...The Central India Tectonic Zone (CITZ) marks the trace of a major suture zone along which the south Indian and the north Indian continental blocks were assembled through subduction-accretion- collision tectonics in the Mesoproterozoic. The CITZ also witnessed the major, plume-related, late Cretaceous Deccan volcanic activity, covering substantial parts of the region with continental flood basalts and associated magmatic provinces. A number of major fault zones dissect the region, some of which are seismically active. Here we present results from gravity modeling along five regional profiles in the CITZ, and combine these results with magnetotelluric (MT) modeling results to explain the crustal architecture. The models show a resistive (more than 2000 Ω. m) and a normal density (2.70 g/cm3) upper crust suggesting dominant tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite (TTG) composition. There is a marked correlation between both high-density (2.95 g/cm3) and low-density (2.65 g/cm3) regions with high conductive zones (〈80 Ω. m) in the deep crust. We infer the presence of an interconnected grain boundary network of fluids or fluid-hosted structures, where the conductors are associated with gravity lows. Based on the conductive nature, we propose that the lower crustal rocks are fluid reservoirs, where the fluids occur as trapped phase within minerals, fluid-filled porosity, or as fluid-rich structural conduits. We envisage that substantial volume of fluids were transferred from mantle into the lower crust through the younger plume-related Deccan volcanism, as well as the reactivation, fracturing and expulsion of fluids transported to depth during the Mesoproterozoic subduction tectonics. Migration of the fluids into brittle fault zones such as the Narmada North Fault and the Narmada South Fault resulted in generating high pore pressures and weakening of the faults, as reflected in the seismicity. This inference is also supported by the presence of broad gravity lows near these faults, as well as the low velocity in the lower crust beneath regions of recent major earthquakes within the CITZ.展开更多
Paper devices have recently attracted considerable attention as a class of cost-effective cell culture substrates for various biomedical applications.The paper biomaterial can be used to partially mimic the in vivo ce...Paper devices have recently attracted considerable attention as a class of cost-effective cell culture substrates for various biomedical applications.The paper biomaterial can be used to partially mimic the in vivo cell microenvironments mainly due to its natural three-dimensional characteristic.The paper-based devices provide precise control over their structures as well as cell distributions,allowing recapitulation of certain interactions between the cells and the extracellular matrix.These features have shown great potential for the development of normal and diseased human tissue models.In this review,we discuss the fabrication of paper-based devices for in vitro tissue modeling,as well as the applications of these devices toward drug screening and personalized medicine.It is believed that paper as a biomaterial will play an essential role in the field of tissue model engineering due to its unique performances,such as good biocompatibility,eco-friendliness,cost-effectiveness,and amenability to various biodesign and manufacturing needs.展开更多
基金funded by the National Insti-tutes of Health(No.R01 AR074234)AHA collaborative award(No.944227)the Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Inno-vation at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
文摘Ensuring a sufficient oxygen supply is pivotal for the success of bioprinting applications since it fosters tissue integration and natural regeneration.Variation in oxygen concentration among diverse tissues necessitates the precise recreation of tissue-specific oxygen levels in imprinted constructs to support the survival of targeted cells.Although oxygen-releasing biomaterials,such as oxygen-generating microparticles(OMPs),have shown promise for enhancing the oxygen supply of microenvironments in injured tissues,whether this approach is scalable for large tissues and whether tissue-specific bioinks with varying OMP concentrations remain printable remain unknown.This study addresses this critical gap by introducing an innovative class of engineered oxygenated bioinks that combine colloidal-based microgels with OMPs.We report that incorporating nanosized calcium peroxide(nCaO_(2))and manganese oxide nanosheets(nMnO_(2))into hydrophobic polymeric microparticles enables precise modulation of oxygen release while controlling hydrogen peroxide release.Moreover,the fabrication of oxygenating and cytocompatible colloidal gels is achieved using an aqueous two-phase system.This study thoroughly evaluates the fundamental characteristics of the resulting bioink,including its rheological behaviors,printability,shape fidelity,mechanical properties,and oxygen release properties.Moreover,this study demonstrates the macroscopic scalability and cytocompatibility of printed constructs produced via cell-laden oxygenating colloidal bioinks.By showcasing the effectiveness of extrusion-based bioprinting,this study underscores how it can be used to fabricate biomimetic tissues,indicating its potential for new applications.The findings presented here advance the bioprinting field by achieving scalability with both high cell viability and the possibility of mimicking specifically oxygenated tissues.This work thereby offers a promising avenue for the development of functional tissues with enhanced physiological relevance.
基金from Sandooq al Watan is acknowledged(No.ADHPG-S1570)This work was partially supported by the Sand Hazards and Opportunities for Resilience,Energy,and Sustainability(SHORES)Center,funded by Tamkeen under the NYUAD Research Institute Award CG013The authors also acknowledge the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre’s(MBRSC)Emirates Lunar Mission(EML)group’s continued support in making the research project successful.
文摘Lunar soil simulants(LSS)have been pivotal in the success of past and current lunar missions.They have enhanced the design of lander and rover wheels through interaction studies on the lunar testbed under simulated environmental conditions.They have also been used to evaluate the geotechnical,geomechanical,and dynamic characteristics of the lunar soil(LS),which is vital for future lunar outposts.While most simulants have focused on either the chemical and mineralogical or geotechnical properties,developing a comprehensive LSS that mimics the lunar soil is of paramount importance for lander and rover soft-landing and future lunar habitation.This article presents the significant development and characterization of the new LSS NYUAD-1,the first regional soil simulant tailored for the planned Emirates lunar missions.The material and geotechnical properties of NYUAD-1,including chemical composition,mineralogy,particle size,morphology,specific gravity,density,shear strength,and compressibility behaviors,were assessed through laboratory tests conducted per ASTM standards.Comparative analysis with authentic lunar regolith and various regolith simulants confirms the significance and applicability of NYUAD-1 for lunar-based research,offering a promising step toward future lunar habitation.
文摘Because of my carelessness,Eq.(1)in the paper "An approximate method for calculating the fluid force and response of a circular cylinder at lock-in"(China Ocean Engineering,22(3),2008,pp.373)should be f’-1.0/U’-5.0=f’;-1.0/5.75f’;-5.0,not f’=U’/5.75. My apology is hereby given.
基金supported by the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation 2016(MWRI)which permitted access to the pumping wells,hydrogeological cross section near the study area and administered the sampling procedures。
文摘Globally,groundwater has globally emerged as a crucial freshwater source for domestic,irrigation,and industrial needs.The evaluation of groundwater quality in the Toshka region is imperative to ensure its suitability for the extensive agricultural and industrial activities underway in this promising,groundwater-dependent development area.This is particularly significant as Egypt increasingly relies on groundwater reserves to address freshwater deficits and to implement mega-development projects in barren lands.In this study,fifty-two samples were collected from the recently drilled wells tapping into the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer(NSA)in the Toshka region.Groundwater quality was assessed through hydrochemical analysis,Piper diagram,and various indicators such as Na%,SAR,RSC,KR,MH and PI.The hydrochemical analysis revealed improved groundwater quality characteristics,attributed to continuous recharge from Lake Nasser.The Piper diagram categorised most of the water samples as"secondary salinity"water type.Almost all wells proved suitable for irrigation with only two wells unsuitable based on MH values and six wells based on KR values.Considering Total Hardness(TH)values,all samples were classified as"Soft",indicating their suitability for domestic and industrial purposes.Water Quality Index(WQI)results concluded that all samples met WHO and FAO guidelines for drinking and irrigation,respectively.Spatial distribution maps,constructed using GIS,facilitate the interpretation of the results.Regular monitoring of quality parameters is essential to detect any deviation from permissible limits.
基金supported by National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)grants funded by the Korean Government(MSIT)[grant numbers RS-2023-00207763 and NRF-2022R1A2C2010350].
文摘Magnesium(Mg)and its alloys have recently gained increasing attention in the biomedical field as promising biodegradable materials with harmless degradation products.Magnesium-based alloys have a wide range of biomedical applications because of their outstanding biocompatibility and unique mechanical properties.Widespread use of Mg-based biomedical devices eliminates the need for post-healing biomaterial removal surgery and minimizes the negative consequences of the implantation of permanent biomaterials,including stress shielding and undesired metal ion release in the body.This paper provides a literature review on the properties and manufacturing methods of Mgbased alloys for biomedical applications,including orthopedic implants,cardiovascular applications,surgical wires and staplers,and antitumor activities.Each application of Mg-based biomaterials is investigated from a biological perspective,including matching functional properties,biocompatibility,host tissue responses,and anti-microbial strategies,along with potential additive manufacturing technologies for these applications.Finally,an outlook is presented to provide recommendations for Mg-based biomaterials in the future.
基金supported by the start-up funds from New York University Abu Dhabipartially carried out using the Core Technology Platforms resources at New York University Abu Dhabi。
文摘Tunneling wounds create passageways underneath the skin surface with varying sizes and shapes and can have twists and turns,making their treatment extremely difficult.Available wound care solutions only cater to superficial wounds,and untreated tunneling wounds pose major health concerns.This study aims to fulfill this challenge by fabricating tunnel wound fillers(TWFs)made of natural polymers that mimic the dermal extracellular matrix.In this study,cellulose microfibers(CMFs)derived from banana stem and fish skin-derived collagen were used to formulate bio-inks with varying CMF contents(25,50,and 75 mg).Tri-layered(CMFs,primary and secondary collagen coatings),drug-eluting(Baneocin),and cell-laden(human mesenchymal stem cells)TWFs were three-dimensional(3D)-printed and extensively characterized.CMFs showed the most suitable rheological properties for 3D printing at 50 mg concentration.The Alamar Blue data showed significantly increased cell proliferation from Day 1 to Day 7,and scratch tests used to evaluate in vitro wound healing revealed that the best coverage of the wound area was achieved using CMFs in combination with collagen and alginate.Finally,the TWF showed promising capability and tunability in terms of wound shape and size upon testing on a chicken tissue model.The results demonstrate the tremendous potential of TWFs in treating deep tunneling wounds with unique advantages,such as patient-specific customization,good wound exudate absorption capability while releasing wound healing drugs,and the inclusion of stem cells for accelerated healing and tissue regeneration.
基金The project supported by the Innovative Project of CAS (KJCX-SW-L08)the National Basic Research Program of China(973)
文摘The similarity criterion for water flooding reservoir flows is concerned with in the present paper. When finding out all the dimensionless variables governing this kind of flow, their physical meanings are subsequently elucidated. Then, a numerical approach of sensitivity analysis is adopted to quantify their corresponding dominance degree among the similarity parameters. In this way, we may finally identify major scaling law in different parameter range and demonstrate the respective effects of viscosity, permeability and injection rate.
基金The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (10525210 and 10121202)the 973 Program
文摘We develop a two dimensional model of a vesicle adhered on a curved substrate via long-range molecular interactions while subjected to a detachment force. The relationship between the force and displacement of the vesicle is investigated as a function of the substrate shape. It is shown that both the force- displacement relationship and the maximum force at pull-off are significantly dependent on the substrate shape. The results suggest that probes with different tip shapes may be designed for cell manipulation. For example, we demonstrate that a vesicle can be pulled off a fiat surface using a probe with a curved tip.
文摘Orthopedic bone plates are most commonly used for bone fracture fixation for more than 100 years.The bone plate design had evolved over time overcoming many challenges such as insufficient strength and excessive plate–bone contact affecting the blood circulation.However,it is only made of two materials,either stainless steel(AISI 316L)or titanium(Ti–6Al–4V).There are two main limitations of metallic bone implants,namely stress shielding and the problem of malocclusion caused by the displacement of the fracture site during healing.To overcome the two problems,a new bone plate design with the incorporation of auxetic structures is proposed in this work.This study aims to use auxetic structure section in the bone plate that would decrease the stiffness of the region,thereby mitigating the stress-shielding effect and at the same time act as a deformable section to enable intra-operative bending for effective alignment while having enough bending strength and stiffness.Two different auxetic structures namely re-entrant honeycomb and missing rib structures were considered.The auxetic structure incorporated bone plates were designed,finite element analysis was done,fabricated using direct metal laser sintering technique,and tested.The results indicate that the re-entrant honeycomb structure incorporated bone plates serve as an effective bone design compared to the conventional bone plate design,in terms of stress shielding and intra-operative bending while offering similar mechanical and bending strength.
基金the National Institutes of Health (K99CA201603,R21EB025270, R21EB026175)Doctoral New Investigator Grant from American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund (56840-DNI7).G.L. Y.acknowledges Natural and Science Foundation of Hubei Province (2014CFB778).
文摘The three-dimensional (3D)bioprinting technology has progressed tremendously over the past decade.By controlling the size, shape,and architecture of the bioprinted constructs,3D bioprinting allows for the fabrication of tissue/organ-like constructs with strong structural-functional similarity with their in vivo counterparts at high fidelity.The bioink,a blend of biomaterials and living cells possessing both high biocompatibility and printability,is a critical component of bioprinting.In particular, gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA)has shown its potential as a viable bioink material due to its suitable biocompatibility and readily tunable physicochemical properties.Current GelMA-based bioinks and relevant bioprinting strategies for GelMA bioprinting are briefly reviewed.
文摘In the era of burgeoning breakthroughs around medical and biomedical technologies,personalizing our medicine still sounds like a dream yet to be realized.Take cancer as an example,while the pool of anti-cancer therapeutic agents is tremendously large,pinpointing a drug or a combination of drugs that would always work out well for a given patient,remains quite impossible—in fact,we are not even close to this ideal scenario.Such an incapability,of course,originates primarily from the overly complex,volumetrically structured and dynamic microenvironments in a patient’s tumor,meaning that the same tumor as seen on Day 1 might be entirely different than when seen again a month later.
文摘Motivated by recent experimental observations that carbon nanotubes (CNT) can enter animal cells, here we conduct coarse grained molecular dynamics and theoretical studies of the intrinsic interaction mechanisms between CNT's and lipid bilayer. The results indicate that CNT-cell interaction is dominated by van der Waals and hydrophobic forces, and that CNT's with sufficiently small radii can directly pierce through cell membrane while larger tubes tend to enter cell via a wrapping mechanism. Theoretical models are proposed to explain the observed size effect in transition of entry mechanisms.
基金supported by the National High-Tech Research and Development Program of China(863 Program,Grant No.2006AA09Z350)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.10702073)the"Knowledge Innovation Program"of Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.KJCX2-YW-L02)
文摘The slack-taut state of tether is a particular adverse circumstance, which may influence the normal operation state of tension leg platform (TLP). The dynamic responses of TLP with slack-taut tether are studied with consideration of several nonlinear factors introduced by large amplitude motions. The time histories of stresses of tethers of a typical TLP in slack- taut state are given. In addition, the sensitivities of slack to stiffness and mass are investigated by varying the stiffness of tether and mass of TLP. It is found that slack is sensitive to the mass of TLP. The critical curved surfaces ( over which indicates the slack) for the increase of mass are obtained.
基金the Knowledge Innovation Project of CAS(KJCX-YW-L02)the National 863 Project of China(2006AAO9A103-4)+1 种基金China National Oil Corporation in Beijing(CNOOC)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(10672056).
文摘In the present paper, we endeavor to accomplish a diagram, which demarcates the validity ranges for interfacial wave theories in a two-layer system, to meet the needs of design in ocean engineering. On the basis of the available solutions of periodic and solitary waves, we propose a guideline as principle to identify the validity regions of the interfacial wave theories in terms of wave period T, wave height H, upper layer thickness dl, and lower layer thick-ness d2, instead of only one parameter-water depth d as in the water surface wave circumstance. The diagram proposed here happens to be Le Mehaute's plot for free surface waves if water depth ratio r= d1/d2 approaches to infinity and the upper layer water density p1 to zero. On the contrary, the diagram for water surface waves can be used for two-layer interfacial waves if gravity acceleration g in it is replaced by the reduced gravity defined in this study under the condition of σ=(P2 - Pl)/P2 → 1.0 and r 〉 1.0. In the end, several figures of the validity ranges for various interfacial wavetheories in the two-layer fluid are given and compared with the results for surface waves.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China Under Grant 50278090 the National Science Foundation of the USA with Grant Nos. 0085272 and 0414363 US-PRC Researcher Exchange Program administered by the MCEER
文摘Reconnaissance reports and pertinent research on seismic hazards show that liquefaction is one of the key sources of damage to geotechnical and structural engineering systems. Therefore, identifying site liquefaction conditions plays an important role in seismic hazard mitigation. One of the widely used approaches for detecting liquefaction is based on the time-frequency analysis of ground motion recordings, in which short-time Fourier transform is typically used. It is known that recordings at a site with liquefaction are the result of nonlinear responses of seismic waves propagating in the liquefied layers underneath the site. Moreover, Fourier transform is not effective in characterizing such dynamic features as time-dependent frequency of the recordings rooted in nonlinear responses. Therefore, the aforementioned approach may not be intrinsically effective in detecting liquefaction. An alternative to the Fourier-based approach is presented in this study, which proposes time-frequency analysis of earthquake ground motion recordings with the aid of the Hilbert-Huang transform (HHT), and offers justification for the HHT in addressing the liquefaction features shown in the recordings. The paper then defines the predominant instantaneous frequency (PIF) and introduces the PiF-related motion features to identify liquefaction conditions at a given site. Analysis of 29 recorded data sets at different site conditions shows that the proposed approach is effective in detecting site liquefaction in comparison with other methods.
基金supported by Swedish Institute of Sweden (No. 200/01954/2007/China Bilateral programme)
文摘Crack initiation, propagation and microfracture processes of austempered high silicon cast steel have been investigated by using an in-situ tensile stage installed inside a scanning electron microscope chamber. It is revealed that micro cracks always nucleate at the yielding near imperfections and the boundary of matrix-inclusions due to the stress concentration. There are four types of crack propagations in the matrix: crack propagates along the boundary of two clusters of bainitic ferrite; crack propagates along the boundary of ferrite-austenite in bainitic ferrite laths; crack propagates into bainitic ferrite laths; crack nucleates and propagates in the high carbon brittle plate shape martensite which is transformed from some blocky retained austenite due to plastic deformation. Based on the observation and analysis of microfracture processes, a schematic diagram of the crack nucleation and propagation process of high silicon cast steel is proposed.
基金funding from the US National Institutes of Health(R00CA201603,R21EB025270,R21EB026175,R01EB028143)and the Brigham Research Institute.
文摘There has been an increasing demand for bioengineered blood vessels for utilization in both regenerative medicine and drug screening.However,the availability of a true bioengineered vascular graft remains limited.Three-dimensional(3D)bioprinting presents a potential approach for fabricating blood vessels or vascularized tissue constructs of various architectures and sizes for transplantation and regeneration.In this review,we summarize the basic biology of different blood vessels,as well as 3D bioprinting approaches and bioink designs that have been applied to fabricate vascular and vascularized tissue constructs,with a focus on small-diameter blood vessels.
基金Project supported in part by the Nano and Bio Mechanics Program,under award CMS-0511961in part by the MRSEC Program,under award DMR-0520651,of the National Science Foundation
文摘A quasistatic homogenized projection is made to characterize the effective cohesive zone behavior for rough-surface adhesion. In the context of the homogenized projection, the traction versus separation relation for the homogenized cohesive zone (HCZ) of a rough interface can be highly oscillatory due to instabilities during microscopic adhesion and decohesion processes. The instabilities are found to occur not only individually but also collectively among the adhesive micro-asperity contacts, leading to extensive energy dissipation. Based on the behaviors of the HCZ relations, a framework for describing instability-induced energy dissipation in rough-surface adhesion is proposed to elucidate the effect of roughness on apparent interface adhesion. Two non- dimensional parameters, α related to roughness morphology and n related to flaw distribution, are identified to be most crucial for controlling the energy dissipation. For an interface with a shallow roughness and a strong intrinsic adhesive strength, the interface adhesion can be stronger if we make it rougher (reducing α) or lower its flaw density (increasing n). The HCZ projection method can be potentially extended and employed to bridge the apparent adhesion from intrinsic adhesion properties for engineering surfaces with multi-scale shallow roughness.
文摘The Central India Tectonic Zone (CITZ) marks the trace of a major suture zone along which the south Indian and the north Indian continental blocks were assembled through subduction-accretion- collision tectonics in the Mesoproterozoic. The CITZ also witnessed the major, plume-related, late Cretaceous Deccan volcanic activity, covering substantial parts of the region with continental flood basalts and associated magmatic provinces. A number of major fault zones dissect the region, some of which are seismically active. Here we present results from gravity modeling along five regional profiles in the CITZ, and combine these results with magnetotelluric (MT) modeling results to explain the crustal architecture. The models show a resistive (more than 2000 Ω. m) and a normal density (2.70 g/cm3) upper crust suggesting dominant tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite (TTG) composition. There is a marked correlation between both high-density (2.95 g/cm3) and low-density (2.65 g/cm3) regions with high conductive zones (〈80 Ω. m) in the deep crust. We infer the presence of an interconnected grain boundary network of fluids or fluid-hosted structures, where the conductors are associated with gravity lows. Based on the conductive nature, we propose that the lower crustal rocks are fluid reservoirs, where the fluids occur as trapped phase within minerals, fluid-filled porosity, or as fluid-rich structural conduits. We envisage that substantial volume of fluids were transferred from mantle into the lower crust through the younger plume-related Deccan volcanism, as well as the reactivation, fracturing and expulsion of fluids transported to depth during the Mesoproterozoic subduction tectonics. Migration of the fluids into brittle fault zones such as the Narmada North Fault and the Narmada South Fault resulted in generating high pore pressures and weakening of the faults, as reflected in the seismicity. This inference is also supported by the presence of broad gravity lows near these faults, as well as the low velocity in the lower crust beneath regions of recent major earthquakes within the CITZ.
基金This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health(R00CA201603,R21EB025270,R21EB026175,R01EB028143)the Brigham Research Institute.
文摘Paper devices have recently attracted considerable attention as a class of cost-effective cell culture substrates for various biomedical applications.The paper biomaterial can be used to partially mimic the in vivo cell microenvironments mainly due to its natural three-dimensional characteristic.The paper-based devices provide precise control over their structures as well as cell distributions,allowing recapitulation of certain interactions between the cells and the extracellular matrix.These features have shown great potential for the development of normal and diseased human tissue models.In this review,we discuss the fabrication of paper-based devices for in vitro tissue modeling,as well as the applications of these devices toward drug screening and personalized medicine.It is believed that paper as a biomaterial will play an essential role in the field of tissue model engineering due to its unique performances,such as good biocompatibility,eco-friendliness,cost-effectiveness,and amenability to various biodesign and manufacturing needs.